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Inventory · head to head

ERPNext vs UpKeep

ERPNext logo

ERPNext

Inventory

Open-source ERP solution for SMEs and growing businesses

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
UpKeep logo

UpKeep

Inventory

Mobile-first maintenance management

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ERPNext the software is AGPL-3.0 licensed, which imposes source disclosure obligations on anyone distributing a modified network service built on it; UpKeep offline mobile mode limited to Professional tier and above
  • They diverge on capability: ERPNext covers Accounting, UpKeep covers Work order management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ERPNext and UpKeep actually diverge.

Attributes where ERPNext and UpKeep differ
AttributeERPNextUpKeep
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsSelf-hosted, Cloud, WebWeb, iOS, Android

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Inventory), founded (2014).

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 ERPNext

  • Accounting
  • Inventory
  • Manufacturing
  • CRM
  • Human Resources
  • Payment gateways
  • Email systems
  • Custom extensions

Only in UpKeep

  • Work order management
  • Preventive maintenance
  • Asset management
  • Mobile-first
  • SAP
  • Oracle
  • Salesforce
  • QuickBooks

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

ERPNext

  • Enterprise resource planning for small to medium businessesnot UpKeep
  • Accounting and financial managementnot UpKeep
  • Inventory and stock managementnot UpKeep
  • Supply chain managementnot UpKeep

UpKeep

  • Preventive and reactive maintenance schedulingnot ERPNext
  • Work order management across multiple locationsnot ERPNext
  • Asset lifecycle tracking and compliancenot ERPNext

Where each one falls short

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

ERPNext

  • The software is AGPL-3.0 licensed, which imposes source disclosure obligations on anyone distributing a modified network service built on it
  • Managed hosting is priced per site and per server rather than per user, so a small team running several sites pays more than a large team on one
  • Dedicated server isolation and stronger reliability guarantees start at $125 a month
  • Self hosting is free but places upgrades, backups and availability entirely on the operator

UpKeep

  • Offline mobile mode limited to Professional tier and above
  • Per-user pricing model; costs scale significantly with team size
  • Free trial available but tier details not documented; duration unspecified

Pricing, plan by plan

ERPNext

Free
  • Community EditionFree
  • Frappe Cloud Starter$14/month
  • Frappe Cloud Standard$50/month
  • Frappe Cloud Professional$100/month

UpKeep

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the UpKeep review.

Which should you pick?

Choose ERPNext if

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

Choose UpKeep if

  • You need work order management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want preventive maintenance.
UpKeep review

Questions people ask

Is ERPNext or UpKeep better?
Neither clearly leads. ERPNext starts at Free and UpKeep at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ERPNext or UpKeep?
ERPNext starts at Free and UpKeep at Free.
Does ERPNext or UpKeep run on more platforms?
ERPNext runs on Self-hosted, Cloud, Web. UpKeep runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use ERPNext for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is ERPNext best used for?
ERPNext is most often used for enterprise resource planning for small to medium businesses, accounting and financial management, inventory and stock management, supply chain management. Of those, enterprise resource planning for small to medium businesses and accounting and financial management are not what UpKeep is typically brought in for.
What can ERPNext do that UpKeep cannot?
ERPNext covers Accounting, Inventory, Manufacturing, CRM. UpKeep covers Work order management, Preventive maintenance, Asset management, Mobile-first. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ERPNext: Is ERPNext free?

Yes, ERPNext Community Edition is completely free and open source with no hidden paywalls. Everything is available to use, modify, or resell at no cost. Users can also access professional hosting through Frappe Cloud starting at USD$14 per month.

Source
UpKeep: How much does UpKeep cost per user?

UpKeep pricing starts at $24/user/month for the Essential tier, $55/user/month for Premium, with Professional and Enterprise tiers available at custom quotes. All plans include unlimited work orders and locations.

Source
ERPNext: What is Frappe Cloud pricing based on?

Frappe Cloud pricing is compute-based rather than per-user licensing. Costs range from USD$14 to USD$108 per month depending on resource needs. The pricing advantage is that hosting costs do not scale linearly with the number of users, unlike traditional per-seat SaaS models.

Source
UpKeep: What does the free trial include?

UpKeep offers a free trial with no credit card required on the Essential and Premium tiers. Users can try the product before committing to paid plans.

Source
UpKeep: Are Nova AI credits included in the pricing?

Yes, Nova AI credits are included with every plan: 250 credits with Essential, 500 with Premium, 750 with Professional, and 1,000 with Enterprise tiers.

Source
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