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Inventory · head to head

Odoo Inventory vs QAD Adaptive ERP

Odoo Inventory logo

Odoo Inventory

Inventory

Open source inventory management module

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
QAD Adaptive ERP logo

QAD Adaptive ERP

ERP

ERP for regulated and supply-chain-heavy manufacturers, strongest in automotive and life sciences

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Odoo Inventory has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Odoo Inventory the One App Free plan covers a single app, so using Inventory alongside another Odoo app moves the account onto a paid plan; QAD Adaptive ERP no pricing is published and licensing splits across user types and separately sold modules, so first quotes routinely come in well above the number buyers had in their heads.
  • They diverge on capability: Odoo Inventory covers Inventory management, QAD Adaptive ERP covers Automotive EDI.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Odoo Inventory and QAD Adaptive ERP actually diverge.

Attributes where Odoo Inventory and QAD Adaptive ERP differ
AttributeOdoo InventoryQAD Adaptive ERP
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Mobile app, Cloud/On-premiseWeb, Windows, iOS, Android
CategoryInventoryERP
Founded2005Unknown

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 Odoo Inventory

  • Inventory management
  • Barcode scanning
  • Multi-warehouse
  • Automated replenishment
  • Odoo ERP modules
  • E-commerce
  • Manufacturing
  • Accounting

Only in QAD Adaptive ERP

  • Automotive EDI
  • Manufacturing execution
  • Supply chain planning
  • Quality management
  • Global financials
  • Traceability and recall
  • Connected workforce
  • Adaptive UX

What people use each for

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

Odoo Inventory

  • Tracking stock across multiple warehouses and locationsnot QAD Adaptive ERP
  • Running receipts, deliveries and internal transfersnot QAD Adaptive ERP
  • Connecting inventory to Odoo sales, purchasing and manufacturingnot QAD Adaptive ERP

QAD Adaptive ERP

  • An automotive tier supplier that must accept OEM EDI releases and ship to AIAG or Odette labelling without building it themselvesnot Odoo Inventory
  • A multi-plant manufacturer consolidating several plant-level ERPs onto one ledger with local statutory reporting per countrynot Odoo Inventory
  • A food or pharmaceutical maker that needs lot genealogy fast enough to scope a recall in hoursnot Odoo Inventory
  • A manufacturer replacing an ageing QAD MFG/PRO installation and wanting continuity of process rather than a rewritenot Odoo Inventory

Where each one falls short

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

Odoo Inventory

  • The One App Free plan covers a single app, so using Inventory alongside another Odoo app moves the account onto a paid plan
  • The Standard plan at $16.90 per user per month is restricted to Odoo Online hosting
  • Odoo.sh and on premise hosting require the Custom plan at $25.50 per user per month
  • Odoo Studio, multi company management and external API access require the Custom plan
  • Billing is per user, defined as any employee with backend access to create, view or edit documents
  • The advertised discounted rates apply for the first 12 months, after which the list rates of $21.10 and $31.90 per user per month apply

QAD Adaptive ERP

  • No pricing is published and licensing splits across user types and separately sold modules, so first quotes routinely come in well above the number buyers had in their heads.
  • QAD has been owned by Thoma Bravo since the 2021 take-private, so roadmap and pricing decisions answer to an investment thesis rather than to public product commitments, and buyers should ask about contract terms at renewal.
  • The implementation partner network is small next to SAP, Oracle or Microsoft, which limits competitive tendering on services and makes regional coverage patchy.
  • Outside its target industries the vertical depth is dead weight, and a general distributor or services firm pays for automotive and life sciences function it will never switch on.
  • Long-standing QAD customers still run heavily customised MFG/PRO estates, and migrating those customisations to Adaptive ERP is a re-implementation, not an upgrade, which is why some sites have stayed on old versions for years.

Pricing, plan by plan

Odoo Inventory

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Open source
    • Basic features
    • Community support
  • Standard$20/month
    • Full features
    • Hosting included
    • Email support
  • Custom$40/month
    • Customization
    • Studio access
    • Priority support

QAD Adaptive ERP

On request
  • QAD Adaptive ERP$undefined/year
    • Subscription priced by user type, modules and deployment
    • Cloud or on-premise deployment
    • Implementation delivered by QAD or a partner and billed separately

Which should you pick?

Choose Odoo Inventory if

  • You need inventory management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app, Cloud/On-premise.
  • You also want barcode scanning.
Odoo Inventory review

Choose QAD Adaptive ERP if

  • You need automotive edi.
  • You work on Web, Windows, iOS, Android.
  • You also want manufacturing execution.
QAD Adaptive ERP review

Questions people ask

Is Odoo Inventory or QAD Adaptive ERP better?
Neither clearly leads. Odoo Inventory starts at Free and QAD Adaptive ERP at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Odoo Inventory or QAD Adaptive ERP?
Odoo Inventory has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Odoo Inventory and On request for QAD Adaptive ERP.
Does Odoo Inventory or QAD Adaptive ERP run on more platforms?
Odoo Inventory runs on Web, Mobile app, Cloud/On-premise. QAD Adaptive ERP runs on Web, Windows, iOS, Android.
Can I use Odoo Inventory for free?
Yes. Odoo Inventory has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. QAD Adaptive ERP starts at On request.
What is Odoo Inventory best used for?
Odoo Inventory is most often used for tracking stock across multiple warehouses and locations, running receipts, deliveries and internal transfers, connecting inventory to odoo sales, purchasing and manufacturing. Of those, tracking stock across multiple warehouses and locations and running receipts, deliveries and internal transfers are not what QAD Adaptive ERP is typically brought in for.
What can Odoo Inventory do that QAD Adaptive ERP cannot?
Odoo Inventory covers Inventory management, Barcode scanning, Multi-warehouse, Automated replenishment. QAD Adaptive ERP covers Automotive EDI, Manufacturing execution, Supply chain planning, Quality management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Odoo Inventory: How much does the Odoo Inventory app cost?

The Odoo Inventory app is free, forever, with unlimited users at no cost. Additional costs only apply if you install other applications in the Odoo suite.

Source
QAD Adaptive ERP: Who owns QAD?

Thoma Bravo, which took the company private in 2021. It is no longer publicly listed, so financials and roadmap commitments are not disclosed the way they once were.

Odoo Inventory: Do I need to pay to use Odoo Inventory?

No, Odoo Inventory is completely free with no credit card required to start. The free trial and app remain free indefinitely.

Source
QAD Adaptive ERP: Is QAD only for automotive?

No, but automotive supplier compliance is its deepest area, alongside life sciences, food and beverage and industrial manufacturing. Non-manufacturers are not the target.

QAD Adaptive ERP: Can it run on-premise?

Yes, both cloud and on-premise deployments are supported, which matters to manufacturers with plant-floor systems that cannot tolerate a WAN dependency.

QAD Adaptive ERP: Is Adaptive ERP an upgrade from MFG/PRO?

Not in practice for a customised site. Moving heavily modified MFG/PRO installations is a re-implementation project, and that cost should be in the business case from the start.

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