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ERP · head to head

Axelor vs TOTVS

Axelor logo

Axelor

ERP

French open source ERP and CRM with a low-code studio for changing the data model without forking

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TOTVS logo

TOTVS

ERP

Brazilian cloud ERP for business management

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Axelor has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Axelor pro requires at least ten users and Enterprise at least twenty, so a six-person company either stays on unsupported Community or pays for seats it does not have.; TOTVS strongest in Brazil/Latin America; limited global brand recognition outside region
  • They diverge on capability: Axelor covers Axelor Studio, TOTVS covers Financial management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Axelor and TOTVS actually diverge.

Attributes where Axelor and TOTVS differ
AttributeAxelorTOTVS
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelPer user per monthUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Linux, Docker, iOS, AndroidCloud (SaaS)
FoundedUnknown1983

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (ERP).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Axelor

  • Axelor Studio
  • BPM engine
  • CRM and sales
  • Accounting
  • E-invoicing
  • Stock and logistics
  • REST API

Only in TOTVS

  • Financial management
  • Supply chain
  • CRM
  • Compliance
  • Brazilian tax systems
  • REST APIs
  • Third-party systems
  • Cloud platforms

Both cover

  • Manufacturing

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Axelor

  • A European SME that wants ERP on its own servers for data sovereignty rather than in a US cloudnot TOTVS
  • A company whose processes do not fit a standard ERP and that wants to model them in BPMN instead of paying for custom codenot TOTVS
  • A francophone business needing a French chart of accounts and local statutory reporting out of the boxnot TOTVS
  • A team validating an open source ERP on the free Community edition with the option to move the same database onto a commercial licence laternot TOTVS

TOTVS

  • Brazilian business managementnot Axelor
  • Tax compliancenot Axelor
  • Multi-module integrationnot Axelor
  • Regional supportnot Axelor

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Axelor

  • Pro requires at least ten users and Enterprise at least twenty, so a six-person company either stays on unsupported Community or pays for seats it does not have.
  • Documentation, community answers and partner material are substantially richer in French than English, which slows adoption for anglophone teams and makes hiring implementers outside Europe difficult.
  • The AGPL licence on Community obliges you to publish modifications if you offer the software as a network service, which is a genuine blocker for anyone planning to resell a hosted version.
  • The implementation partner network is concentrated in France and neighbouring markets, so buyers elsewhere have few local firms to tender against and limited support timezone coverage.
  • It is a smaller ecosystem than Odoo or ERPNext, so there is no large third-party app marketplace, and functionality the suite lacks has to be built rather than bought.

TOTVS

  • Strongest in Brazil/Latin America; limited global brand recognition outside region
  • Complex implementation required for enterprise deployments
  • Smaller feature set compared to global players like Oracle or SAP in some areas
  • Language and localization primarily focused on Portuguese and Spanish

Pricing, plan by plan

Axelor

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • AGPL licensed, self-hosted
    • Essential ERP and CRM modules
    • Forum and documentation support only
  • Pro$35/month
    • Minimum ten users
    • Commercial licence covering all business modules
    • E-invoicing included
  • Enterprise$55/month
    • Minimum twenty users
    • Advanced BI and dedicated AI agents
    • SSO and CAS authentication

TOTVS

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the TOTVS review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Axelor if

  • You need axelor studio.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Linux, Docker, iOS, Android.
  • You also want bpm engine.
Axelor review

Choose TOTVS if

  • You need financial management.
  • You work on Cloud (SaaS).
  • You also want supply chain.
TOTVS review

Questions people ask

Is Axelor or TOTVS better?
Neither clearly leads. Axelor starts at Free and TOTVS at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Axelor or TOTVS?
Axelor has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Axelor and On request for TOTVS.
Does Axelor or TOTVS run on more platforms?
Axelor runs on Web, Linux, Docker, iOS, Android. TOTVS runs on Cloud (SaaS).
Can I use Axelor for free?
Yes. Axelor has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. TOTVS starts at On request.
What is Axelor best used for?
Axelor is most often used for a european sme that wants erp on its own servers for data sovereignty rather than in a us cloud, a company whose processes do not fit a standard erp and that wants to model them in bpmn instead of paying for custom code, a francophone business needing a french chart of accounts and local statutory reporting out of the box, a team validating an open source erp on the free community edition with the option to move the same database onto a commercial licence later. Of those, a european sme that wants erp on its own servers for data sovereignty rather than in a us cloud and a company whose processes do not fit a standard erp and that wants to model them in bpmn instead of paying for custom code are not what TOTVS is typically brought in for.
What can Axelor do that TOTVS cannot?
Axelor covers Axelor Studio, BPM engine, CRM and sales, Accounting. TOTVS covers Financial management, Supply chain, CRM, Compliance. Both handle Manufacturing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Axelor: Is Axelor really free?

The Community edition is genuinely AGPL open source with no licence fee, but it lacks several business modules and has no vendor support, and you carry all hosting and upgrade work.

TOTVS: What markets does TOTVS operate in?

TOTVS operates in 41 countries with dominant presence in Brazil (over 50% market share) and ranks among the top 3 ERP providers in Latin America.

Source
Axelor: Can I upgrade from Community without losing data?

Yes, Axelor states that a Community deployment can move to Pro or Enterprise keeping its database and configuration, which is unusual among open core vendors.

TOTVS: When was TOTVS founded?

TOTVS (originally Microsiga) was founded in 1983 by Laércio Cosentino and Ernesto Haberkorn. The company changed its name to TOTVS in 2005.

Source
Axelor: Do I need Java developers?

Not for most changes. Studio handles entities, views and workflows as configuration. Deep integrations and new module logic still need Java skills.

TOTVS: Is TOTVS publicly traded?

Yes. TOTVS is publicly traded as a Brazilian company, providing financial transparency and corporate governance oversight.

Source
Axelor: Does it handle EU e-invoicing mandates?

E-invoicing is included on the paid editions, which is the main reason French customers move off Community as mandates come into force.

TOTVS: What ERP solutions does TOTVS offer?

TOTVS provides cloud-based ERP systems designed for small, medium, and large enterprises with integrated modules for finance, supply chain, manufacturing, sales, and human resources.

Source
TOTVS: Is TOTVS only for Brazilian companies?

No. TOTVS serves 41 countries globally, though it has strongest market penetration in Brazil and Latin America where it ranks as the largest emerging markets software firm.

Source
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