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Software · head to head

Metasfresh vs QAD

Metasfresh logo

Metasfresh

Software

Open-source ERP for mid-sized wholesale and manufacturing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
QAD logo

QAD

Software

Cloud and on-premise ERP for manufacturers

From
$2000/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; QAD no price, per user rate, minimum or contract term is published on the site; the only routes are a demo request and a Contact Sales link
  • They diverge on capability: Metasfresh covers Inventory, QAD covers Financial management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Metasfresh and QAD actually diverge.

Attributes where Metasfresh and QAD differ
AttributeMetasfreshQAD
Starting priceFree$2000/month
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsSelf-hosted, Cloud, WebCloud, On-premise, Web
Founded20151979

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 QAD

  • Financial management
  • Inventory management
  • Quality management
  • REST APIs
  • EDI
  • IoT integration
  • 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 QAD
  • Hosting an ERP in a German data centre on a dedicated servernot QAD
  • Self hosting an ERP where the source code must be inspectablenot QAD

QAD

  • ERP for manufacturers covering production execution and schedulingnot Metasfresh
  • Supply chain planning, purchasing and inventory controlnot Metasfresh
  • Quality management, traceability and supplier management for regulated manufacturingnot Metasfresh
  • Field service and enterprise asset managementnot 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

QAD

  • No price, per user rate, minimum or contract term is published on the site; the only routes are a demo request and a Contact Sales link
  • Field service management, enterprise asset management and quality management are presented as separate functional areas rather than a single priced bundle

Pricing, plan by plan

Metasfresh

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

QAD

$2000/month
  • Standard$2000/month
    • Financial management
    • Manufacturing
    • Supply chain
  • Premium$4000/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 QAD if

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

Questions people ask

Is Metasfresh or QAD better?
Neither clearly leads. Metasfresh starts at Free and QAD at $2000/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Metasfresh or QAD?
Metasfresh has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Metasfresh and $2000/month for QAD.
Does Metasfresh or QAD run on more platforms?
Metasfresh runs on Self-hosted, Cloud, Web. QAD 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. QAD starts at $2000/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 QAD is typically brought in for.
What can Metasfresh do that QAD cannot?
Metasfresh covers Inventory, Purchasing, Accounting, Wholesale management. QAD covers Financial management, Inventory management, Quality management, REST APIs. Both handle Supply chain, Manufacturing, Cloud support, Web support.
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