Choosing between the two comes down to your priorities.
Odoo is a good option for businesses that need a fully integrated ERP with e-commerce capabilities.
Shopify, on the other hand, is an ideal choice those who prioritise a flexible, easy to use and scalable e-commerce store that connects with third-party tools.
Below, we compare both platforms in detail to help you make an informed decision.
Odoo vs Shopify at a glance
Odoo is a comprehensive ERP solution that integrates multiple business functions. It offers a centralised system for managing operations beyond e-commerce.
However, its deeply interconnected ecosystem means businesses primarily rely on Odoo’s own modules and architecture to expand functionality.
Shopify, in contrast, is a dedicated e-commerce platform built for businesses that want to sell online efficiently. It provides built-in tools for inventory, sales reporting, POS, and multi-channel selling while allowing businesses to integrate effortlessly with their existing tools and best-in-class third-party solutions.
This makes Shopify particularly well-suited for businesses that prefer a modular approach where they work with specialised software for different business functions.
| Feature | Odoo | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | All-in-one business management (ERP + E-Commerce) | E-Commerce platform with integrated business tools |
| Business Size | Small to enterprise | Small to enterprise |
| Customisation | Highly configurable within Odoo’s ecosystem | Flexible through themes, apps, APIs, and third-party integrations |
| Required Technical Skills | Moderate to high | Low |
| Pricing Model | Per app/user + hosting costs | Subscription-based, with optional apps |
| Setup Time | Weeks to months | Hours to days |
Verdict: Shopify is the faster and more scalable solution for e-commerce, offering a more adaptable approach for businesses that want to integrate with external tools. Odoo provides broader business functionality, making it a strong option for companies that prefer a fully integrated system with minimal reliance on third-party software.
1. Overview of Odoo
Odoo is an open-source business management software that extends far beyond just E-Commerce. It offers a variety of business applications that work seamlessly together to handle virtually every aspect of operations.
1.1 Key Features of Odoo
- Integrated ERP system with 40+ applications
- Complete inventory management
- CRM and sales pipelines
- Manufacturing capabilities
- Human resources management
- Accounting and finance tools
- E-Commerce platform
What makes Odoo powerful is its ability to handle nearly every aspect of business operations in one unified system. It eliminates data silos and reduces the need for multiple software solutions.
Think of Odoo as a digital ecosystem where your entire business can live.
2. Overview of Shopify
Shopify is a specialised E-Commerce platform designed to help businesses build and manage online stores quickly and effectively.
Shopify is built specifically for online selling.
2.1 Key Features of Shopify
- User-friendly store builder
- Built-in payment processing
- Extensive theme marketplace
- Mobile-optimised storefronts
- Point of sale integration
- Marketing and SEO tools
Shopify excels at getting you selling online quickly, with minimal technical hurdles to overcome. If you are looking for a detailed breakdown of how Shopify works, here is a detailed “grow-with-Shopify” guide.
Detailed Comparison of Shopify vs Odoo
1. Pricing
Odoo offers a flexible pricing model with a free Community Edition and paid Enterprise Editions, where costs can increase with additional users and customisation needs.
Shopify, on the other hand, provides tiered pricing plans starting at $19 per month, with additional expenses including app fees and transaction charges that can impact the overall cost.
Odoo Pricing
Odoo offers a flexible pricing structure, making it possible to start with a free version if you only need a single app, such as CRM.
The platform is available in two main editions: Community and Enterprise.
The Community Edition is open-source and free but has limited features. Businesses needing a full suite of tools, including Sales, Marketing, Accounting, Website, Inventory, and HR, will require the Enterprise Edition.
While Odoo’s base cost can be low, expenses can increase with business growth. Additional costs may include:
- Hosting fees for self-hosted setups
- Extra charges for additional users and third-party modules
- Fees for hiring Odoo consultants or developers for customisation and setup
Shopify Pricing
Shopify follows a tiered pricing model, starting at $39 per month for the Basic plan. Shopify Plus offers enterprise-level features and scalability, starting at around $2,300 per month.
While third-party apps and premium themes can add to the cost, the base Shopify plans provide an all-in-one solution with hosting, security, and essential e-commerce tools included.
Businesses using external payment providers should factor in transaction fees (ranging from 0.5% to 2%), which can be avoided by using Shopify Payments.
Note: Pricing plans may vary and the ones listed above are taken at the moment of writing this article. For accurate data, please check the official websites of both platforms.
Which Platform Offers Better Value For Money – Shopify or Odoo?
Shopify’s pricing is predictable, starting with affordable plans for small businesses and scaling up to Shopify Plus, which offers automation, advanced customisation, and support for high-growth brands. However, additional costs for third-party apps and transaction fees can impact long-term expenses.
For a deeper look at Shopify’s scalability and added benefits, read our article about Shopify Plus benefits.
Odoo’s modular pricing allows businesses to start with essential tools and expand as needed. While its open-source flexibility offers deep customisation, costs can rise with additional users, hosting, and development work.
Both platforms are scalable but serve different priorities. Shopify is ideal for businesses focusing on straightforward online sales with minimal complexity, while Odoo suits those needing an integrated system that connects e-commerce with wider business operations.
2. Ease of use
Shopify provides a user-friendly, intuitive platform with a gentle learning curve and minimal technical requirements, making it easy to launch and manage an online store.
Odoo, in contrast, offers greater flexibility and deeper functionality, but it comes with a more complex interface that requires technical knowledge and training to fully utilise.
| Feature | Odoo | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Learning Curve | Steep | Gentle |
| Setup Time | Days to weeks | Hours to days |
| User Interface | Business-focused, more complex | Retail-focused, easy to use |
| Technical Skills | Some technical knowledge needed | Little to no technical skills required |
| Training Needed | Important for full use | Minimal for basic tasks |
Verdict: Shopify is significantly more user-friendly for beginners and non-technical users. Odoo requires more investment in training but provides deeper functionality across business processes.
3. Customisation & Flexibility
Odoo provides extensive customisation capabilities with full open-source access, allowing businesses to modify core processes and tailor the platform to unique operational needs.
Shopify offers customisation through professional themes, API access, Liquid coding, and Shopify Functions. All these capabilities allow businesses to tailor their store experience. However, unlike Odoo, it does not allow direct database modifications, but this, in turn, ensures security and platform stability.
| Feature | Odoo | Shopify |
| Development | Python-based, fully customisable | Liquid template language, API access |
| Theme Options | Fewer themes, more customisable | Many professional themes |
| Business Logic | Can modify core business processes | Limited to platform constraints |
| Database Access | Direct database modification possible | No direct database access |
| Code Access | Full access (open-source) | Limited (proprietary) |
Verdict: Odoo provides full control over system customisation, allowing businesses to modify core processes. Shopify offers extensive front-end and workflow customisation through Liquid, APIs, and Shopify Functions, making it highly flexible for e-commerce businesses.
4. Features & Functionality
4.1 E-Commerce Features
Shopify focuses on powerful e-commerce tools, including abandoned cart recovery and a seamless mobile experience. This makes it ideal for online selling and marketing.
Odoo takes a broader approach. It combines e-commerce with business management features like inventory and HR.
| Feature | Odoo | Shopify |
| Product Management | Good | Excellent |
| Discount Tools | Basic | Advanced |
| Abandoned Cart | Available via app | Built-in |
| Multi-currency | Built-in | Available on higher plans |
| SEO Tools | Basic | Advanced |
| Mobile Experience | Good | Excellent |
| Payment Options | Multiple integrations | Multiple + Shopify Payments |
Verdict: For pure online retail functionality, Shopify edges ahead with E-Commerce-specific features. Odoo provides sufficient online store capabilities with better back-office integration.
For a deeper comparison of the three leading E-Commerce platforms, check out our BigCommerce vs Shopify vs WooCommerce article, where we break down their key differences in detail.
4.2 Business Management
Odoo is a full enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution that integrates e-commerce with core business functions such as inventory, accounting, HR, CRM, manufacturing, and project management. It is designed for businesses that require a centralised system to manage multiple operations.
Shopify includes essential business management tools such as inventory tracking, sales reporting, and POS integration. With automation features like Shopify Flow, multi-location inventory support, and integrations with accounting, ERP, and CRM systems, Shopify can serve as both an e-commerce and operational hub for many businesses.
| Feature | Odoo | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory Management | Advanced, multi-location, and warehouse management | Multi-location inventory tracking and stock management |
| Accounting | Full accounting system | Basic sales reporting; integrates with accounting tools like QuickBooks & Xero |
| HR Management | Comprehensive HR and payroll | No built-in HR, but integrates with HR/payroll solutions |
| CRM | Full-featured CRM system | Basic customer profiles; integrates with CRM tools like HubSpot & Salesforce |
| Manufacturing | Complete MRP system for production | No built-in manufacturing, but integrates with ERP/MRP apps |
| Project Management | Built-in project tracking | Available via third-party apps |
| POS System | Integrated with back-office ERP | Native Shopify POS with multi-location support |
Verdict: While Odoo is a full ERP solution for businesses needing integrated operations, Shopify provides strong business management tools for e-commerce and integrates with independent ERP systems for businesses that require additional functionality.
5. App Store & Integrations
Odoo and Shopify both offer ways to extend their functionality, but their ecosystems work differently.
- Odoo uses modules, which are components that integrate with its ERP system to enhance different business functions, from inventory to accounting. Many of its 30,000+ modules are community-developed, offering deep customisation but often requiring technical expertise.
- Shopify relies on apps, which are designed to add features specifically for e-commerce, such as marketing automation, payment gateways, and customer service tools. With 6,000+ apps in the Shopify App Store, most are easy to install and maintained through a strict review process.
| Feature | Odoo Modules | Shopify Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Extends ERP & business functions | Enhances e-commerce operations |
| Number Available | 30,000+ | 6,000+ |
| Integration Scope | Works across multiple business areas | Focuses on e-commerce features |
| Quality Control | Community + official | Strict review process |
| Ease of Installation | Often requires technical knowledge | One-click install for most apps |
Verdict: Odoo’s modules allow businesses to customise and expand their entire operational workflow, making it ideal for those needing full business management integration. Shopify’s apps focus on optimising e-commerce performance, offering an easier way to enhance an online store’s capabilities.
If you are thinking of starting a Shopify store or already have one, our team at what. is specialised in helping you develop and grow your Shopify store to its full capacity. Get in touch with us for more information!
6. Hosting & Security
Shopify is a fully managed, cloud-based platform that handles hosting, security, and updates automatically. Businesses don’t need to manage servers, SSL certificates, or backups, as these are included in all Shopify plans.
Odoo offers multiple hosting options:
- Self-hosted (on-premise): Businesses manage their own servers, security, and updates.
- Odoo Online (cloud-based): Fully managed by Odoo with automatic updates and security included.
- Odoo.sh (custom cloud hosting): A middle-ground option where businesses have more control over hosting while Odoo manages infrastructure.
| Feature | Odoo (Various Hosting Options) | Shopify (Fully Managed) |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting Options | Self-hosted, Odoo Online, or Odoo.sh | Cloud-only (fully managed) |
| Security Responsibility | Varies (self-managed or Odoo-managed) | Managed by Shopify |
| SSL Certificates | Self-managed or included (depending on plan) | Included in all plans |
| Updates | Manual (self-hosted) or automatic (Odoo Online) | Automatic |
| Backup Systems | Self-managed or included (Odoo.sh & Online) | Included in all plans |
Verdict: Shopify removes the complexity of hosting, security, and updates, making it ideal for businesses without IT resources. Odoo provides greater flexibility with its hosting options, allowing businesses to choose between a fully managed solution or self-hosted control, depending on their technical capabilities.
7. Scalability & Business Growth
Odoo is designed to scale across complex business operations, supporting multi-country, multi-store, and multi-company management. Its flexibility makes it well-suited for businesses that need to expand beyond e-commerce into broader enterprise functions. However, the level of scalability depends on the chosen hosting setup and technical resources.
Shopify is optimised for scaling e-commerce sales volume and product catalogues, with built-in infrastructure that supports high-traffic stores. Shopify Plus enhances scalability with multi-store capabilities, international pricing, and automation tools, but businesses may still need third-party apps to extend functionality beyond e-commerce.
| Feature | Odoo | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Handling | Depends on hosting setup | Fully hosted, auto-scaled |
| Business Complexity | Handles complex operations well | Optimised for e-commerce growth |
| International Expansion | Strong multi-country support | Available, enhanced with Shopify Plus & apps |
| Multi-store Management | Built-in for multiple stores/companies | Available on Shopify Plus |
| Product Catalogue Size | Excellent for large catalogues | Scales well, some limitations on lower plans |
Verdict: Odoo scales across diverse business operations, making it ideal for companies managing multiple business functions. Shopify scales efficiently for e-commerce growth, particularly with Shopify Plus, which offers advanced multi-store and international selling features.
8. Support & Community
Shopify offers comprehensive 24/7 support across all plans with multiple contact channels, while Odoo relies more on a developer community and implementation partners for technical assistance, with support options varying by plan and typically requiring additional investment.
| Feature | Odoo | Shopify |
| Direct Support | Limited (community) or paid | 24/7 for all plans |
| Support Channels | Email, paid phone support | Chat, email, phone |
| Community Size | Large developer community | Large merchant community |
| Implementation Help | Partner network | Expert marketplace |
Pros and Cons of Odoo vs Shopify
Pros of Odoo:
- All-in-one solution for entire business operations
- Open-source core with high customisation potential
- Eliminates data silos between departments
- Reduces multiple software costs in the long term
- Scales from small business to enterprise
Cons of Odoo:
- Higher learning curve and implementation time
- Requires technical expertise for full benefit
- Initial setup costs can be significant
- More complex user interface
- E-Commerce features not as polished as dedicated platforms
Pros of Shopify:
- Quick and easy setup for online stores
- User-friendly interface requires minimal training
- Purpose-built for E-Commerce with focused features
- Predictable pricing model
- Excellent support
Cons of Shopify:
- Limited beyond E-Commerce capabilities
- Transaction fees unless using Shopify Payments
- Ongoing costs for apps to extend functionality
- Less control over technical architecture
- Data remains in Shopify ecosystem
Best for Whom? Which Platform Should You Choose: Odoo vs Shopify
Choose Odoo if:
- You need an integrated business management system that goes beyond e-commerce.
- You want full control over customisation and business processes.
- You have technical resources or an implementation partner to support setup and customisation.
- You require advanced multi-company, multi-store, or industry-specific solutions.
- You’re looking for long-term cost efficiencies by consolidating multiple tools into one system.
Choose Shopify if:
- Your primary focus is selling online and optimising e-commerce operations.
- You need a fast, user-friendly setup with minimal technical complexity.
- You want a scalable e-commerce platform that can grow with your business, from startup to enterprise (with Shopify Plus).
- You value a predictable pricing structure with built-in hosting, security, and automatic updates.
- You prefer using independent business apps and tools, rather than an all-in-one system.
- You need extensive app integrations to enhance marketing, payments, and fulfilment.
Verdict:
Odoo is ideal for businesses that need a fully integrated ERP with e-commerce capabilities, while Shopify suits those who prioritise a flexible e-commerce store that connects with third-party tools. The right choice depends on whether you want a centralised system (Odoo) or prefer integrating independent apps and services (Shopify).
Unique Strengths Worth Highlighting
Odoo’s Unique Advantages
- Business Intelligence: Provides a centralised dashboard for tracking performance across multiple business functions.
- Process Automation: Allows businesses to automate workflows between different departments, improving efficiency.
- Community & Open-Source Development: Leverages a global community of developers, enabling continuous innovation and flexibility.
- Data Ownership & Control: As an open-source platform, businesses retain full control over their data and system customisation.
Shopify’s Unique Advantages
- Fast & Simple Deployment: Enables businesses to launch a professional online store quickly without complex setup.
- Conversion Optimisation: Designed to maximise sales with built-in features like abandoned cart recovery and fast checkout.
- Advanced Marketing Tools: Includes SEO, email marketing, and integrations with social media and ad platforms.
- Fully Managed Infrastructure: Handles hosting, security, updates, and scalability, reducing technical overhead.
Conclusion: Which is Right for You?
Choosing between Shopify vs Odoo isn’t about finding the “better” platform—it’s about selecting the one that best aligns with your business model, operational needs, and long-term strategy.
Shopify is the ideal choice for businesses that want to tap into an e-commerce-first ecosystem, leveraging best-in-class independent tools for payments, marketing, CRM, and analytics. Its structured platform, extensive app marketplace, and seamless third-party integrations make it a strong option for businesses that prioritise flexibility, speed, and a best-of-breed software approach.
Odoo, on the other hand, is designed for businesses looking for a fully integrated system that connects e-commerce with core operational functions like inventory, accounting, HR, and manufacturing. Its all-in-one ERP framework is well-suited for companies that want a centralised approach to managing their entire business from a single platform.
Still unsure which platform to choose?
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