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ERP · head to head

Dynamics AX vs OpenBravo

Dynamics AX logo

Dynamics AX

ERP

Comprehensive ERP for enterprise operations

From
$210/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenBravo logo

OpenBravo

ERP

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only OpenBravo has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Dynamics AX dynamics 365 Finance is 210 USD per user per month paid yearly, and Finance Premium is 300 USD per user per month paid yearly; 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.
  • They diverge on capability: Dynamics AX covers Financial management, OpenBravo covers Retail point of sale.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Dynamics AX and OpenBravo actually diverge.

Attributes where Dynamics AX and OpenBravo differ
AttributeDynamics AXOpenBravo
Starting price$210/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloud, Web, MobileSelf-hosted, Web
Founded19752000

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 Dynamics AX

  • Financial management
  • Supply chain
  • Manufacturing
  • Project accounting
  • Human resources
  • Power BI
  • Power Apps
  • Office 365

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.

Dynamics AX

  • Core financial management and accounting for large enterprisesnot OpenBravo
  • Consolidating multi entity and multi currency finance operationsnot OpenBravo
  • Manufacturing and supply chain operations on the Dynamics 365 platformnot OpenBravo

OpenBravo

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

Where each one falls short

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

Dynamics AX

  • Dynamics 365 Finance is 210 USD per user per month paid yearly, and Finance Premium is 300 USD per user per month paid yearly
  • Higher capacity and storage entitlements are reserved for the Premium tier
  • Copilot Credits for agent features are bought separately, either pre purchased with up to 20 percent off for committed units or paid as consumed
  • Agent features require a separate Azure subscription

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

Dynamics AX

$210/month
  • Finance$210/month
    • General ledger
    • Accounts payable
    • Accounts receivable
  • Operations$210/month
    • Supply chain
    • Manufacturing
    • Inventory

OpenBravo

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Dynamics AX if

  • You need financial management.
  • You work on Cloud, Web, Mobile.
  • You also want supply chain.
Dynamics AX review

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.
OpenBravo review

Questions people ask

Is Dynamics AX or OpenBravo better?
Neither clearly leads. Dynamics AX starts at $210/month and OpenBravo at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Dynamics AX or OpenBravo?
OpenBravo has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $210/month for Dynamics AX and Free for OpenBravo.
Does Dynamics AX or OpenBravo run on more platforms?
Dynamics AX runs on Cloud, Web, Mobile. 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. Dynamics AX starts at $210/month.
What is Dynamics AX best used for?
Dynamics AX is most often used for core financial management and accounting for large enterprises, consolidating multi entity and multi currency finance operations, manufacturing and supply chain operations on the dynamics 365 platform. Of those, core financial management and accounting for large enterprises and consolidating multi entity and multi currency finance operations are not what OpenBravo is typically brought in for.
What can Dynamics AX do that OpenBravo cannot?
Dynamics AX covers Financial management, Supply chain, Manufacturing, Project accounting. OpenBravo covers Retail point of sale, Omnichannel order management, Inventory and warehouse, Procurement.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Dynamics AX: Where can I find Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations pricing?

Microsoft directs visitors to a dedicated pricing overview page and encourages starting a free trial. Specific pricing tiers and costs are not displayed on the main product landing page.

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.

Dynamics AX: Does Microsoft Dynamics 365 offer a free trial?

Yes. Microsoft emphasizes the availability of a free trial option throughout the Dynamics 365 landing page, though specific trial duration is not specified.

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.

Dynamics AX: What Dynamics 365 applications are included in the Finance & Operations suite?

The platform includes Sales, Customer Service, Finance, Supply Chain Management, and Business Central applications, each with their own pricing structures.

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.

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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