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ERP · head to head

Metasfresh vs QAD

Metasfresh logo

Metasfresh

ERP

Open-source ERP for mid-sized wholesale and manufacturing

From
€99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
QAD logo

QAD

ERP

Cloud and on-premise ERP for manufacturers

From
$2000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Metasfresh and QAD actually diverge.

Attributes where Metasfresh and QAD differ
AttributeMetasfreshQAD
Starting price€99/month$2000/month
PlatformsSelf-hosted, Cloud, WebCloud, On-premise, Web
Founded20151979

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 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

€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

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 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 €99/month 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 starts at €99/month and QAD at $2000/month.
Does Metasfresh or QAD run on more platforms?
Metasfresh runs on Self-hosted, Cloud, Web. QAD runs on Cloud, On-premise, Web.
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.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
QAD: How can I get pricing information for QAD manufacturing software?

QAD does not publish standard pricing on their homepage. Pricing discussions occur during personalized consultations. Interested parties can request a demo, contact the sales team, or download brochures to discuss pricing based on specific organizational needs.

Source
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
QAD: What deployment options does QAD offer?

QAD provides adaptive ERP solutions for various industries including Automotive, Food & Beverage, and Life Sciences. Their offerings include connected workforce solutions and supply chain management, with implementation and advisory services available.

Source
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
QAD: Is there a trial available for QAD software without contacting sales?

The QAD homepage does not mention a free trial or self-serve trial option. The primary engagement path is through "Request a Demo" or "Contact Sales" buttons, suggesting trial access requires sales team interaction.

Source
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