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ERP · head to head

IFS Cloud vs OpenBOM

IFS Cloud logo

IFS Cloud

ERP

Single-codebase ERP, EAM and field service for asset-heavy industries

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenBOM logo

OpenBOM

Manufacturing

Cloud bill of materials and part catalogue management priced per seat, with free read-only users

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only OpenBOM has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: IFS Cloud the partner ecosystem is a fraction of the size of SAP or Microsoft, so day rates for experienced IFS consultants are high and availability is genuinely constrained; a failing implementation is hard to rescue because there are few alternative firms to bring in.; OpenBOM pricing has three axes, editing seats plus data record count plus per-seat CAD add-ins at $25 to $45 each, so the real annual cost is well above the advertised per-seat figure.
  • They diverge on capability: IFS Cloud covers Single codebase, OpenBOM covers Multi-level BOMs.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which IFS Cloud and OpenBOM actually diverge.

Attributes where IFS Cloud and OpenBOM differ
AttributeIFS CloudOpenBOM
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotePer user per month
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, WindowsWeb, Windows, macOS, API
CategoryERPManufacturing

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

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 Cloud

  • Single codebase
  • Aviation MRO
  • Field service management
  • Enterprise asset management
  • Copperleaf decision analytics
  • Composable deployment
  • Twice-yearly release train
  • Project-driven manufacturing

Only in OpenBOM

  • Multi-level BOMs
  • Part catalogue
  • CAD add-ins
  • Change management
  • Free read-only users
  • REST API

What people use each for

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

IFS Cloud

  • An airline or defence operator that needs airworthiness-compliant maintenance records tied to the same system that runs procurement and financenot OpenBOM
  • A utility that must justify capital asset spend to a regulator and wants the investment case and the work orders in one placenot OpenBOM
  • A contract manufacturer running engineer-to-order projects where project accounting, shop floor and service revenue need to reconcilenot OpenBOM
  • An industrial services firm replacing a separate ERP, CMMS and field scheduling tool with one vendor contractnot OpenBOM

OpenBOM

  • A hardware startup replacing a shared BOM spreadsheet before its first contract manufacturing runnot IFS Cloud
  • A contract manufacturer sharing structured BOMs with customers who should see but not edit themnot IFS Cloud
  • An electronics team pulling BOMs straight out of Altium and mechanical CAD instead of retyping themnot IFS Cloud
  • A small manufacturer that needs part numbering and revision discipline but cannot fund a PLM projectnot IFS Cloud

Where each one falls short

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

IFS Cloud

  • The partner ecosystem is a fraction of the size of SAP or Microsoft, so day rates for experienced IFS consultants are high and availability is genuinely constrained; a failing implementation is hard to rescue because there are few alternative firms to bring in.
  • Financial accounting and consolidation are the weakest part of the suite relative to the asset and service modules, and finance teams at group level often end up keeping a separate consolidation tool, which undermines the single-system business case.
  • Licensing is per capability area on top of user counts, so a scope change during implementation can produce a licence uplift that was not in the original business case, and the price is only discoverable through sales.
  • Upgrades between major releases still require regression testing of customisations, and organisations that have extended the product heavily report multi-month upgrade projects rather than the low-effort updates the cloud positioning implies.
  • IFS is private-equity owned and has acquired several companies in quick succession, so the portfolio and the roadmap have shifted more than once; a capability you buy on a roadmap promise may be delivered by an acquired product with a different data model.

OpenBOM

  • Pricing has three axes, editing seats plus data record count plus per-seat CAD add-ins at $25 to $45 each, so the real annual cost is well above the advertised per-seat figure.
  • Paying yearly nearly halves the seat price, from $55 to $30 and $165 to $90, so monthly billing carries an unusually heavy penalty for teams that want flexibility.
  • Change management, revision control and CAD file management are absent from the entry Team plan, so the cheapest tier is a catalogue rather than a working PLM.
  • It lacks the approval workflows, effectivity dating and audit depth that regulated medical and aerospace suppliers need, so companies pursuing ISO 13485 or AS9100 typically migrate away.
  • Record count is metered separately and a large imported part library can push a small team into a higher data tier without adding a single user.

Pricing, plan by plan

IFS Cloud

On request
  • IFS Cloud$undefined/year
    • Named and concurrent user licensing
    • Capability areas licensed separately
    • Cloud, customer-cloud or on-premises deployment

OpenBOM

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 2,000 data records
    • Basic BOM and catalogue management
    • Non-commercial and educational use
  • Professional Team$55/month
    • $30 per seat per month billed yearly
    • BOM management, part catalogue, inventory
    • RFQ and purchase orders
  • Company$165/month
    • $90 per seat per month billed yearly
    • Everything in Team
    • CAD file management and revision control
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Single sign-on
    • Custom integrations
    • Private or custom hosting

Which should you pick?

Choose IFS Cloud if

  • You need single codebase.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows.
  • You also want aviation mro.
IFS Cloud review

Choose OpenBOM if

  • You need multi-level boms.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, API.
  • You also want part catalogue.
OpenBOM review

Questions people ask

Is IFS Cloud or OpenBOM better?
Neither clearly leads. IFS Cloud starts at On request and OpenBOM at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, IFS Cloud or OpenBOM?
OpenBOM has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for IFS Cloud and Free for OpenBOM.
Does IFS Cloud or OpenBOM run on more platforms?
IFS Cloud runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows. OpenBOM runs on Web, Windows, macOS, API.
Can I use OpenBOM for free?
Yes. OpenBOM has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. IFS Cloud starts at On request.
What is IFS Cloud best used for?
IFS Cloud is most often used for an airline or defence operator that needs airworthiness-compliant maintenance records tied to the same system that runs procurement and finance, a utility that must justify capital asset spend to a regulator and wants the investment case and the work orders in one place, a contract manufacturer running engineer-to-order projects where project accounting, shop floor and service revenue need to reconcile, an industrial services firm replacing a separate erp, cmms and field scheduling tool with one vendor contract. Of those, an airline or defence operator that needs airworthiness-compliant maintenance records tied to the same system that runs procurement and finance and a utility that must justify capital asset spend to a regulator and wants the investment case and the work orders in one place are not what OpenBOM is typically brought in for.
What can IFS Cloud do that OpenBOM cannot?
IFS Cloud covers Single codebase, Aviation MRO, Field service management, Enterprise asset management. OpenBOM covers Multi-level BOMs, Part catalogue, CAD add-ins, Change management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

IFS Cloud: Is IFS Cloud one product or a suite of separate ones?

One product on one codebase. You licence capability areas within it rather than buying separate applications, though acquired products such as Copperleaf are still being folded in.

OpenBOM: Is OpenBOM free?

There is a genuine free tier limited to 2,000 data records and aimed at non-commercial and educational use. Commercial teams start at $30 per seat per month billed yearly.

IFS Cloud: How much does IFS Cloud cost?

IFS does not publish pricing. Cost depends on user counts and which capability areas you licence, and implementation is usually the larger line item.

OpenBOM: Do I pay for people who only look at BOMs?

No. Read-only users are unlimited and free on every paid plan, which is the main reason the total cost undercuts seat-for-seat PLM tools.

IFS Cloud: Is IFS a credible replacement for SAP S/4HANA?

In asset-heavy and service-heavy industries, yes. For a finance-first, multi-country group with complex statutory consolidation, SAP remains stronger.

OpenBOM: Are the CAD add-ins included?

No. They are $25 per seat per month billed yearly, $45 monthly, and require an active Team or Company subscription.

IFS Cloud: Who owns IFS?

It is privately held, majority owned by EQT and Hg. That funds acquisitions but also means the portfolio changes shape.

OpenBOM: Can OpenBOM replace a full PLM?

For a startup, usually yes. For regulated manufacturing needing controlled workflows and full audit trails, no.

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