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ERP · head to head

IFS Applications vs Metasfresh

IFS Applications logo

IFS Applications

ERP

ERP for asset-heavy and service-heavy industries, now delivered as IFS Cloud

From
$3000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Metasfresh logo

Metasfresh

ERP

Open-source ERP for mid-sized wholesale and manufacturing

From
€99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: IFS Applications iFS Applications 10 is the older line and the current product is IFS Cloud, so an existing customer's move is a re-implementation with data migration and process redesign rather than an upgrade, and it needs its own budget and business case.; Metasfresh cloud hosting is charged separately from user licences at EUR 299 per month on monthly billing or EUR 249 per month on annual billing
  • They diverge on capability: IFS Applications covers Enterprise asset management, Metasfresh covers Inventory.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which IFS Applications and Metasfresh actually diverge.

Attributes where IFS Applications and Metasfresh differ
AttributeIFS ApplicationsMetasfresh
Starting price$3000/month€99/month
PlatformsCloud, Web, MobileSelf-hosted, Cloud, Web
Founded19832015

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 IFS Applications

  • Enterprise asset management
  • Field service management
  • Project-based operations
  • Maintenance, repair and overhaul
  • Financials
  • Regular release cadence

Only in Metasfresh

  • Inventory
  • Purchasing
  • Accounting
  • Wholesale management
  • Custom modules
  • EDI systems
  • Business analytics
  • User roles

Both cover

  • Manufacturing
  • Supply chain

What people use each for

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

IFS Applications

  • An aerospace or defence organisation performing regulated maintenance, repair and overhaul with full traceabilitynot Metasfresh
  • A utility or energy company managing distributed physical assets and the field crews who maintain themnot Metasfresh
  • A manufacturer that services and maintains the equipment it sells and wants that revenue in the same systemnot Metasfresh
  • An engineering or construction firm running long projects where cost control and progress billing drive the financesnot Metasfresh

Metasfresh

  • Open source ERP for procurement, sales, warehouse and accountingnot IFS Applications
  • Hosting an ERP in a German data centre on a dedicated servernot IFS Applications
  • Self hosting an ERP where the source code must be inspectablenot IFS Applications

Where each one falls short

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

IFS Applications

  • IFS Applications 10 is the older line and the current product is IFS Cloud, so an existing customer's move is a re-implementation with data migration and process redesign rather than an upgrade, and it needs its own budget and business case.
  • The partner and consultant pool is far smaller than for SAP, Oracle or Microsoft, so experienced implementers are scarce, expensive and concentrated in a few firms, and availability rather than price often sets your start date.
  • IFS Cloud ships on a regular release cadence, so you must fund regression testing and change communication repeatedly rather than treating an upgrade as an occasional event you can plan around a quiet quarter.
  • Deployment is commonly private cloud or on premise rather than shared multi-tenant, so infrastructure management, environment refreshes and operational responsibility remain yours or your partner's.
  • The product's depth is in asset-heavy and service-heavy industries, and outside those sectors, for example in retail or consumer goods, you would be paying for capability you do not need while competing products fit better.

Metasfresh

  • Cloud hosting is charged separately from user licences at EUR 299 per month on monthly billing or EUR 249 per month on annual billing
  • The EUR 79 per user per month annual rate requires minimum user quantities that depend on company size; monthly billing costs EUR 99 per user per month
  • The mandatory starter package covering setup, customisation, project management and training is priced individually on request
  • Standard support is email only during business hours; a 24/7 SLA is a separate contract on request
  • All published prices exclude VAT
  • Projects larger than the L size starter package require an individual quote

Pricing, plan by plan

IFS Applications

$3000/month
  • Core$3000/month
    • Financial management
    • Field service
    • Asset management
  • Premium$5500/month
    • Advanced modules
    • IoT integration
    • Priority support

Metasfresh

€99/month
  • Starter Package$null/custom
    • Initial system setup
    • Customization of windows and documents
    • Project management
  • User Fee$99/month
    • Monthly billing
    • Access to all developments
    • Support and integration
  • User Fee (annual)$79/month
    • Annual billing minimum
    • Access to all developments
    • Support and integration
  • Cloud Hosting$299/month
    • Monthly billing
    • Secure data transfer
    • Real-time backup

Which should you pick?

Choose IFS Applications if

  • You need enterprise asset management.
  • You work on Cloud, Web, Mobile.
  • You also want field service management.
IFS Applications review

Choose Metasfresh if

  • You need inventory.
  • You work on Self-hosted, Cloud, Web.
  • You also want purchasing.
Metasfresh review

Questions people ask

Is IFS Applications or Metasfresh better?
Neither clearly leads. IFS Applications starts at $3000/month and Metasfresh at €99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, IFS Applications or Metasfresh?
IFS Applications starts at $3000/month and Metasfresh at €99/month.
Does IFS Applications or Metasfresh run on more platforms?
IFS Applications runs on Cloud, Web, Mobile. Metasfresh runs on Self-hosted, Cloud, Web.
What is IFS Applications best used for?
IFS Applications is most often used for an aerospace or defence organisation performing regulated maintenance, repair and overhaul with full traceability, a utility or energy company managing distributed physical assets and the field crews who maintain them, a manufacturer that services and maintains the equipment it sells and wants that revenue in the same system, an engineering or construction firm running long projects where cost control and progress billing drive the finances. Of those, an aerospace or defence organisation performing regulated maintenance, repair and overhaul with full traceability and a utility or energy company managing distributed physical assets and the field crews who maintain them are not what Metasfresh is typically brought in for.
What can IFS Applications do that Metasfresh cannot?
IFS Applications covers Enterprise asset management, Field service management, Project-based operations, Maintenance, repair and overhaul. Metasfresh covers Inventory, Purchasing, Accounting, Wholesale management. Both handle Manufacturing, Supply chain.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

IFS Applications: Is IFS Applications still current?

No. IFS Applications 10 is the older line and IFS Cloud is the current product, which combined the separate ERP, asset management and field service products into one. Check your support dates for Applications and plan the transition explicitly.

Metasfresh: What is metasfresh's monthly user fee?

metasfresh charges per-user monthly fees starting at 99 euros per user with monthly billing or 79 euros per user with annual billing (minimum user quantity required based on company size). This includes access to all ERP developments, support, integration, and custom configuration.

Source
IFS Applications: Why choose IFS over SAP or Oracle?

Because asset management and field service are in the core rather than integrated alongside. If your business revolves around maintaining physical assets or dispatching technicians, that single data model removes a class of integration and reconciliation work. If it does not, the argument largely disappears.

Metasfresh: How much does metasfresh cloud hosting cost?

metasfresh Cloud Hosting costs 299 euros per month with monthly billing or 249 euros per month with annual billing. This includes secure data transfer, real-time backup, dedicated German server infrastructure, and comprehensive support.

Source
IFS Applications: What does the move from IFS Applications to IFS Cloud involve?

Data migration, reconfiguration and retraining, closer to a new implementation than an upgrade. Get a scoped estimate before committing, and be clear about how long your existing version remains supported so the deadline is a known quantity.

Metasfresh: Is there a one-time setup fee for metasfresh?

Yes, metasfresh includes a Starter Package with one-time costs for initial system setup, customization, project management, and multiplier training with online meeting room access. Exact pricing is available upon request based on company size and requirements.

Source
IFS Applications: How do I manage the release cadence?

Budget for regular regression testing as a standing operational cost, automate the tests that cover your critical processes, and assign an owner for reviewing each release's changes. Organisations that treat each release as a surprise project struggle with this model.

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