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Software · head to head

Metasfresh vs Aptean

Metasfresh logo

Metasfresh

Software

Open-source ERP for mid-sized wholesale and manufacturing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Aptean logo

Aptean

Software

ERP solutions for manufacturing and distribution

From
$1500/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Metasfresh has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 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; Aptean a portfolio of industry-specific products rather than one platform, spanning ERP, TMS, PLM, EAM, WMS, MES and more, so the evaluation is which Aptean product before any feature comparison
  • They diverge on capability: Metasfresh covers Inventory, Aptean covers Financial management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Metasfresh and Aptean actually diverge.

Attributes where Metasfresh and Aptean differ
AttributeMetasfreshAptean
Starting priceFree$1500/month
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsSelf-hosted, Cloud, WebCloud, On-premise, Web
Founded20152017

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

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 Metasfresh

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

Only in Aptean

  • Financial management
  • Inventory management
  • Quality management
  • REST APIs
  • EDI
  • IoT systems
  • Third-party systems
  • Enterprise encryption

Both cover

  • Supply chain
  • Manufacturing
  • Cloud support
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Metasfresh

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

Aptean

  • Industry-specific ERP for manufacturing and distributionnot Metasfresh
  • Transportation and warehouse managementnot Metasfresh
  • Product lifecycle management for food and apparelnot Metasfresh
  • Enterprise asset management and maintenancenot Metasfresh
  • EDI and payment processing alongside the core systemsnot Metasfresh

Where each one falls short

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

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

Aptean

  • A portfolio of industry-specific products rather than one platform, spanning ERP, TMS, PLM, EAM, WMS, MES and more, so the evaluation is which Aptean product before any feature comparison
  • Pricing is not published for any product
  • Aimed at mid-sized and large businesses rather than small operations

Pricing, plan by plan

Metasfresh

Free
  • Self-hostedFree
    • Open-source
    • Full functionality
    • Community support
  • Cloud Enterprise$150/month
    • Cloud hosting
    • Professional support
    • Custom development

Aptean

$1500/month
  • Standard$1500/month
    • Core ERP modules
    • Manufacturing
    • Supply chain
  • Premium$3000/month
    • Advanced modules
    • Analytics
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose Metasfresh if

  • You need inventory.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Self-hosted, Cloud, Web.
  • You also want purchasing.
Metasfresh review

Choose Aptean if

  • You need financial management.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premise, Web.
  • You also want inventory management.
Aptean review

Questions people ask

Is Metasfresh or Aptean better?
Neither clearly leads. Metasfresh starts at Free and Aptean at $1500/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Metasfresh or Aptean?
Metasfresh has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Metasfresh and $1500/month for Aptean.
Does Metasfresh or Aptean run on more platforms?
Metasfresh runs on Self-hosted, Cloud, Web. Aptean runs on Cloud, On-premise, Web.
Can I use Metasfresh for free?
Yes. Metasfresh has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Aptean starts at $1500/month.
What is Metasfresh best used for?
Metasfresh is most often used for open source erp for procurement, sales, warehouse and accounting, hosting an erp in a german data centre on a dedicated server, self hosting an erp where the source code must be inspectable. Of those, open source erp for procurement, sales, warehouse and accounting and hosting an erp in a german data centre on a dedicated server are not what Aptean is typically brought in for.
What can Metasfresh do that Aptean cannot?
Metasfresh covers Inventory, Purchasing, Accounting, Wholesale management. Aptean covers Financial management, Inventory management, Quality management, REST APIs. Both handle Supply chain, Manufacturing, Cloud support, Web support.
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