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ERP · head to head

bexio vs OpenBravo

bexio logo

bexio

ERP

Simple business software for Swiss SMEs, the self-employed and startups

From
35/month
Rated
-
OpenBravo logo

OpenBravo

ERP

Open-source-derived ERP that has narrowed its focus to retail commerce

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only OpenBravo has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: bexio pricing in Swiss francs only; prices exclude VAT; OpenBravo the commercial product is a paid subscription despite the open source lineage, so buyers who assume open source means low cost find the licence conversation no different from any other vendor's.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which bexio and OpenBravo actually diverge.

Attributes where bexio and OpenBravo differ
AttributebexioOpenBravo
Starting price35/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebSelf-hosted, Web
FoundedUnknown2000

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 bexio

Nothing recorded that OpenBravo does not also cover.

Only in OpenBravo

  • Retail point of sale
  • Omnichannel order management
  • Inventory and warehouse
  • Procurement
  • Financials
  • Modular architecture
  • Web-based interface
  • Open source lineage

What people use each for

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

bexio

  • SMB accountingnot OpenBravo
  • Invoice managementnot OpenBravo

OpenBravo

  • A retail chain replacing separate point of sale and back office systems with one platform across storesnot bexio
  • A retailer needing a single view of stock across shops, warehouse and online fulfilmentnot bexio
  • An organisation that requires source code access for auditability or long term control of its own extensionsnot bexio
  • A business in Europe or Latin America where Openbravo's partner presence is establishednot bexio

Where each one falls short

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

bexio

  • Pricing in Swiss francs only; prices exclude VAT
  • Add-on costs: Payroll CHF 7-25/month, bexio Pay CHF 14/month, QR scanning limited on lower tiers

OpenBravo

  • The commercial product is a paid subscription despite the open source lineage, so buyers who assume open source means low cost find the licence conversation no different from any other vendor's.
  • Development focus has narrowed towards retail commerce, so a buyer wanting a general purpose ERP for manufacturing or services is choosing a product whose investment is going somewhere else.
  • The community around the horizontal ERP is much quieter than it once was, so independent documentation, forum answers and third party modules are sparse and you are dependent on the vendor and its partners in practice.
  • The partner network is small and concentrated in particular regions, which limits your choice of implementer and leaves you exposed if the one available partner in your country is unavailable or underperforms.
  • Extending the platform requires Java and SQL skills specific to its framework, so customisation means hiring or contracting developers for a niche stack, and a heavily modified installation becomes yours to maintain across upgrades.

Pricing, plan by plan

bexio

35/month
  • Basic$35/month annual
    • 1 user
  • Advanced$25.2/month annual
    • 2 users
  • Optima$41.4/month annual
    • 5 users
  • Ultimate$71.4/month annual
    • 25 users

OpenBravo

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • Open-source
    • Core functionality
    • Community support
  • Enterprise Support$200/month
    • Professional support
    • Updates
    • Consulting

Which should you pick?

Choose bexio if

Nothing in the data separates bexio from OpenBravo on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Choose OpenBravo if

  • You need retail point of sale.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Self-hosted, Web.
  • You also want omnichannel order management.

Questions people ask

Is bexio or OpenBravo better?
Neither clearly leads. bexio starts at 35/month and OpenBravo at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, bexio or OpenBravo?
OpenBravo has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at 35/month for bexio and Free for OpenBravo.
Does bexio or OpenBravo run on more platforms?
bexio runs on Web. OpenBravo runs on Self-hosted, Web.
Can I use OpenBravo for free?
Yes. OpenBravo has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. bexio starts at 35/month.
What is bexio best used for?
bexio is most often used for smb accounting, invoice management. Of those, smb accounting and invoice management are not what OpenBravo is typically brought in for.
What can bexio do that OpenBravo cannot?
OpenBravo covers Retail point of sale, Omnichannel order management, Inventory and warehouse, Procurement.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

bexio: How much does Bexio's Basic plan cost?

Bexio's Basic plan costs CHF 35 per month with annual billing or CHF 45 per month with monthly billing, including 1 user.

Source
OpenBravo: Is Openbravo free?

The lineage is open source and source code is available, but the commercial retail product is sold as a subscription. Treat it as commercial software with an open codebase rather than as free software with paid support.

bexio: What discount do new Bexio customers receive?

New customers receive a 40% discount on Advanced and higher tiers during their first year when using code bx40 by August 28, 2026.

Source
OpenBravo: Can I still use it as a general ERP?

The horizontal capability exists in the architecture, but the commercial attention is on retail. If you are not a retailer, you would be relying on parts of the product that are not where investment is going.

bexio: Does Bexio offer a free trial?

Bexio provides a 30-day free trial with Ultimate plan features included, allowing users to test all functionality before committing.

Source
OpenBravo: What skills do I need in-house?

Java and SQL for anything beyond configuration, plus familiarity with the module framework. If you have no development capacity and no intention to acquire any, the open codebase gives you nothing you will use.

bexio: How many users can each Bexio plan support?

Bexio plans support 1 user (Basic), 2 users (Advanced), 5 users (Optima), and 25 users (Ultimate).

Source
OpenBravo: How do I judge the implementation risk?

By the partner, and specifically by whether there is more than one credible partner in your country. A single available implementer is a concentration risk that should be reflected in your contract terms.

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