Softwr

ERP · head to head

Odoo vs Tendenci

Odoo logo

Odoo

ERP

Open-source ERP and CRM suite for all business needs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tendenci logo

Tendenci

Nonprofits

Open-source association management system for nonprofits

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Odoo the free plan is limited to one app, so any second module moves the whole account to a paid per user plan; Tendenci self-hosting is a real operational commitment, and organisations without technical capacity should not treat the free licence as a free system
  • They diverge on capability: Odoo covers Sales management, Tendenci covers Open-source licence.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Odoo and Tendenci actually diverge.

Attributes where Odoo and Tendenci differ
AttributeOdooTendenci
Pricing modelsubscriptionOpen source, with paid hosting available
PlatformsCloud, On-premise, Web, MobileWeb, Linux, Self-hosted, Cloud
CategoryERPNonprofits
Founded2002Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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

  • Sales management
  • Inventory
  • Accounting
  • CRM
  • Project management
  • E-commerce
  • Email marketing
  • Payment gateways

Only in Tendenci

  • Open-source licence
  • Membership management
  • Events and registration
  • Donations
  • Content-managed website
  • Email

What people use each for

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

Odoo

  • Running ERP, CRM, inventory and accounting from one integrated suitenot Tendenci
  • Starting with a single business app and adding modules over timenot Tendenci

Tendenci

  • Nonprofits whose boards require member and donor data to stay under their own controlnot Odoo
  • Organisations with data residency obligations a hosted platform cannot satisfynot Odoo
  • Groups with technical capacity wanting to avoid per-member subscription costs at scalenot Odoo
  • Associations needing to customise workflows beyond what a proprietary platform allowsnot Odoo

Where each one falls short

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

Odoo

  • The free plan is limited to one app, so any second module moves the whole account to a paid per user plan
  • Standard runs $13.50 to $16.90 per user per month and Custom $20.40 to $25.50, both quoted with a yearly discount applied
  • Implementation services and custom development are not included in any plan
  • Odoo.sh hosting is required for custom modules and is charged separately from the subscription
  • SMS credits and AI scanning are billed on top of the per user price

Tendenci

  • Self-hosting is a real operational commitment, and organisations without technical capacity should not treat the free licence as a free system
  • The community is small compared with mainstream open-source projects, so answers are harder to find and contributors are few
  • The interface is dated against the commercial association platforms and this is the most common user complaint
  • Fewer integrations than commercial competitors, and building them is a development task rather than a configuration one
  • Feature depth in events and continuing education is behind the specialist commercial systems

Pricing, plan by plan

Odoo

Free
  • One App FreeFree
    • Unlimited users
    • One app included
    • Hosted on Odoo Online
  • Standard$13.5/month
    • All apps included
    • Odoo Online hosting
    • Unlimited support, hosting and maintenance
  • Custom$20.4/month
    • All apps, multi-company support
    • Odoo Studio access
    • External API access

Tendenci

Free
  • Self-hostedFree
    • Full source code
    • No per-member licence
    • Community support
  • Managed hosting$undefined/month
    • Hosted and maintained
    • Updates applied
    • Support included

Which should you pick?

Choose Odoo if

  • You need sales management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premise, Web, Mobile.
  • You also want inventory.
Odoo review

Choose Tendenci if

  • You need open-source licence.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Linux, Self-hosted, Cloud.
  • You also want membership management.
Tendenci review

Questions people ask

Is Odoo or Tendenci better?
Neither clearly leads. Odoo starts at Free and Tendenci at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Odoo or Tendenci?
Odoo starts at Free and Tendenci at Free.
Does Odoo or Tendenci run on more platforms?
Odoo runs on Cloud, On-premise, Web, Mobile. Tendenci runs on Web, Linux, Self-hosted, Cloud.
Can I use Odoo for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Odoo best used for?
Odoo is most often used for running erp, crm, inventory and accounting from one integrated suite, starting with a single business app and adding modules over time. Of those, running erp, crm, inventory and accounting from one integrated suite and starting with a single business app and adding modules over time are not what Tendenci is typically brought in for.
What can Odoo do that Tendenci cannot?
Odoo covers Sales management, Inventory, Accounting, CRM. Tendenci covers Open-source licence, Membership management, Events and registration, Donations.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Odoo: How much does Odoo cost per user?

Odoo pricing ranges from $0/month for one free app with unlimited users, to $13.50-$16.90/month per user for Standard, and $20.40-$25.50/month per user for Custom, depending on billing frequency (yearly vs monthly).

Source
Tendenci: Is Tendenci really free?

The software is, under an open-source licence with no per-member fee. Running it is not: hosting, updates, backups and security are the organisation responsibility unless managed hosting is purchased.

Odoo: Is there a free Odoo plan?

Yes, Odoo offers a free plan that includes unlimited users for one app with hosting and support included on Odoo Online.

Source
Tendenci: Who should choose it?

Organisations with a genuine requirement to control their own data, and the technical capacity to act on it. Choosing it purely to avoid subscription cost usually ends badly.

Odoo: How does Odoo define a paying user?

A paying user is typically an employee who has access to the Odoo backend to create, view, or edit documents. Customers and suppliers accessing portals are free users and do not count toward the seat limit.

Source
Tendenci: Can I move my data out?

Yes, entirely. That is the point. Data lives in a PostgreSQL database you control, and there is no vendor holding it.

Odoo: What is included in Odoo's Standard plan?

The Standard plan at $13.50-$16.90/user/month includes all Odoo apps, hosting, unlimited support and maintenance, daily backups, 24/7 monitoring and security, and free eLearning platform access.

Source
Tendenci: How does it compare to Wild Apricot?

Wild Apricot is easier, better supported and better looking. Tendenci is the answer when data ownership is a requirement rather than a preference.

Tendenci: Is it actively maintained?

It is developed openly on GitHub with a small team and community. Check recent commit activity before committing, as with any small open-source project.

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