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ERP · head to head

iDempiere vs TOTVS

iDempiere logo

iDempiere

ERP

Community-governed open source ERP, CRM and supply chain built on Java, OSGi and PostgreSQL

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 iDempiere has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: iDempiere there is no vendor, so there is no support contract, no service level agreement and nobody to escalate to; you either build the skills internally or you depend entirely on a local partner whose quality you must judge yourself.; TOTVS strongest in Brazil/Latin America; limited global brand recognition outside region
  • They diverge on capability: iDempiere covers Application dictionary, TOTVS covers Financial management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which iDempiere and TOTVS actually diverge.

Attributes where iDempiere and TOTVS differ
AttributeiDempiereTOTVS
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feeUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Self-hosted, Docker, Linux, WindowsCloud (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 iDempiere

  • Application dictionary
  • OSGi plug-in architecture
  • Multi-organisation accounting
  • Materials management
  • Workflow engine
  • Report and print engine
  • No paid edition

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.

iDempiere

  • A distributor wants multi-organisation, multi-currency accounting and warehouse costing without a per-user ERP licence that scales with headcount.not TOTVS
  • An organisation that has been caught by an open core vendor moving features into a paid tier wants an ERP with no company that can make that decision.not TOTVS
  • A team needs heavy customisation of screens, fields and approval workflows that must survive version upgrades, which the application dictionary makes possible without forking.not TOTVS
  • A public sector or university body in Latin America or Indonesia needs a locally supportable ERP where the source and the implementation skills are both available in-country.not TOTVS

TOTVS

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

Where each one falls short

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

iDempiere

  • There is no vendor, so there is no support contract, no service level agreement and nobody to escalate to; you either build the skills internally or you depend entirely on a local partner whose quality you must judge yourself.
  • It demands real Java, OSGi and PostgreSQL administration, so the running cost is a systems engineer rather than a subscription, and that engineer is harder to hire than a PHP developer.
  • The ZK-based interface is dense and dated, with a data-entry feel inherited from Compiere that staff used to modern software find hostile, which drives up training cost.
  • Localisation depends on community contribution, so tax, payroll and statutory reporting for your country may be absent, out of date or maintained by one person, and you may end up funding it yourself.
  • The documentation is a community wiki with gaps and stale pages, and much of the practical knowledge sits in forum threads and partner heads rather than in anything you can hand to a new administrator.

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

iDempiere

Free
  • iDempiereFree
    • Full ERP, CRM and supply chain source
    • Unlimited users and organisations
    • No enterprise edition and no feature gating
  • Implementation partner$undefined/year
    • Local partners provide installation, configuration, training and support
    • Priced per engagement, not published
    • Realistically the only viable route for a production deployment

TOTVS

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the TOTVS review.

Which should you pick?

Choose iDempiere if

  • You need application dictionary.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Self-hosted, Docker, Linux, Windows.
  • You also want osgi plug-in architecture.
iDempiere review

Choose TOTVS if

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

Questions people ask

Is iDempiere or TOTVS better?
Neither clearly leads. iDempiere 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, iDempiere or TOTVS?
iDempiere has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for iDempiere and On request for TOTVS.
Does iDempiere or TOTVS run on more platforms?
iDempiere runs on Web, Self-hosted, Docker, Linux, Windows. TOTVS runs on Cloud (SaaS).
Can I use iDempiere for free?
Yes. iDempiere has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. TOTVS starts at On request.
What is iDempiere best used for?
iDempiere is most often used for a distributor wants multi-organisation, multi-currency accounting and warehouse costing without a per-user erp licence that scales with headcount., an organisation that has been caught by an open core vendor moving features into a paid tier wants an erp with no company that can make that decision., a team needs heavy customisation of screens, fields and approval workflows that must survive version upgrades, which the application dictionary makes possible without forking., a public sector or university body in latin america or indonesia needs a locally supportable erp where the source and the implementation skills are both available in-country.. Of those, a distributor wants multi-organisation, multi-currency accounting and warehouse costing without a per-user erp licence that scales with headcount. and an organisation that has been caught by an open core vendor moving features into a paid tier wants an erp with no company that can make that decision. are not what TOTVS is typically brought in for.
What can iDempiere do that TOTVS cannot?
iDempiere covers Application dictionary, OSGi plug-in architecture, Multi-organisation accounting, Materials management. TOTVS covers Financial management, Supply chain, CRM, Compliance. Both handle Manufacturing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

iDempiere: Is iDempiere the same as ADempiere or Compiere?

It shares the lineage. iDempiere forked from ADempiere in 2011 to rebuild the platform on OSGi, and it is the branch that remains actively developed.

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
iDempiere: Is there a paid or enterprise edition?

No. There is no commercial owner and no feature gating. Money is spent on implementation partners and hosting, not on licences.

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
iDempiere: What does it actually cost to run?

Nothing in licence fees, and a great deal in skills: expect a partner implementation and ongoing Java and PostgreSQL administration, which for a mid-sized company is comparable to a commercial subscription.

TOTVS: Is TOTVS publicly traded?

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

Source
iDempiere: Which database does it need?

PostgreSQL or Oracle. PostgreSQL is the mainstream community choice and the one most partners deploy.

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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