Odoo Community: proper definition and real ecosystem
Odoo Community is one of the most widely used—and poorly explained—terms within the Odoo ecosystem.
On this page we clarify what it really means, what it includes and what it does not, and why reducing it to 'the free version of Odoo' creates confusion and poor decisions.
Editorial note
On this website we use the term Odoo Community to refer to a model of building solutions based on Odoo Core, community modules and custom developments. See definition
Odoo Community is a model for building ERP solutions based on free software: Odoo Core + OCA modules + custom developments, implemented and maintained by a specialized consultancy.
The problem is not technical, it is semantic
One of the main problems around Odoo has nothing to do with the software, but with the language used to explain it.
In official and commercial discourse, Odoo Community is often used as a synonym for:
In practice, this usage is incomplete and leads to incorrect comparisons.
80% of “Community vs Enterprise” comparisons compare different things.
They compare Odoo Core (minimal) against Enterprise (complete), without considering the OCA ecosystem.
What Odoo Core really is
Odoo Core is the core of the Odoo ERP. It is the open source foundation on which all other layers of the ecosystem are built.
Includes
- Base modules for sales, purchasing, inventory, accounting, CRM, manufacturing, etc.
- Data model and technical framework
- Extension and customization capabilities
Does not include
- Enterprise modules (closed source)
- Advanced industry-specific features
- Support or associated services
What we mean by Odoo Community
When we talk about Odoo Community in a rigorous sense, we are referring to something broader than Odoo Core.
Odoo Community =
In other words: Odoo Community is not a closed product, but a model for building solutions on free software.
Two Odoo Community projects can be radically different from each other. The difference is not in the license, but in the approach, design and implementer.
The role of OCA in the ecosystem
The Odoo Community Association (OCA) is a non-profit organization that coordinates the development of thousands of community modules.
Its main function
- Establish quality standards
- Maintain organized repositories
- Facilitate collaboration
OCA is not
- A company
- A support provider
- A substitute for an implementer
OCA modules often cover features that do not exist in Odoo Core, or are better implemented than in Enterprise in certain contexts (for example, tax localizations).
Community does not mean “simple” or “risk-free”
Another common mistake is thinking that Odoo Community is:
- simpler
- cheaper by definition
- easier to implement
In reality, Odoo Community:
- Depends heavily on the implementer
- Requires functional design
- Demands scope control
The most common risks do not come from the software, but from:
When it fits and when it does not
It usually fits well when...
- 1The company needs real flexibility
- 2There are advanced functional requirements
- 3Control over the code is valued
- 4The ERP is understood as an evolving project
- 5Working with a consultancy with proven experience
It may not be the best option when...
- 1Looking for a "turnkey" solution
- 2Not wanting to depend on an implementer
- 3No room for a definition project
- 4The organization is not ready for change
- 5Standard support without external involvement is expected
Relationship with Odoo Enterprise
Odoo Enterprise is another way to build on Odoo Core, based on:
- Official closed-source modules
- Per-user licenses
- Associated services offered by Odoo S.A.
It is not better or worse by definition. It is different.
Odoo Core vs Odoo Enterprise
and calling it “Community vs Enterprise”.
On the next page we analyze this comparison honestly and completely.
Complete comparison
Community vs Enterprise without commercial bias. TCO, flexibility, and real criteria.
View comparisonOdoo Community is not a reduced version of Odoo. It is an ecosystem, with advantages, risks and nuances.
Understanding it well is the first step to deciding well.
We do not tell an absolute truth. We tell what usually happens.