Odoo2 min read
Odoo Hosting Options: Online vs Odoo.sh vs Self-Hosted
Comparing Odoo Online, Odoo.sh and self-hosting on cloud or on-premise servers: custom modules, control, performance, backups, upgrades and which suits which business.
Platform comparison
Odoo.sh vs Odoo Online: where should Odoo Enterprise run?
Platform hosting with custom code versus fully managed SaaS with standard apps only.
Context
Before comparing feature lists
Odoo Online is Odoo's SaaS: Odoo runs and upgrades it, and you use standard apps plus Studio. Odoo.sh is Odoo's platform for hosting Enterprise with your own code, connected to a GitHub repository with staging and development branches.
The deciding question is simple: will you need custom modules or third-party apps? If yes, Odoo Online is not an option.
Licensing, editions and features change frequently. Treat this as a structural comparison and confirm current pricing and capabilities with each vendor before deciding.
01At a glance
Odoo.sh and Odoo Online side by side
| Criterion | Odoo.sh | Odoo Online |
|---|---|---|
| Custom modules | Yes, from your GitHub repository | No; Studio customisations only |
| Third-party App Store modules | Yes | No |
| Environments | Production, staging and development branches | Production only |
| Upgrades | You plan and test them; custom code must be ported | Odoo upgrades the database on its schedule |
| Cost | Enterprise licences plus a hosting fee by workers and storage | Enterprise licences only |
| Technical skills needed | A developer or partner for code and deployments | None beyond configuration |
02
When Odoo Online is right
Small and growing companies whose processes fit standard Odoo, with light Studio changes, get the lowest cost and least maintenance from Odoo Online. Upgrades happen for you, and there is no server to manage.
03
When Odoo.sh is right
As soon as you need an integration module, a custom report engine, a localisation module from the community or any custom code, you need Odoo.sh or self-hosting. Odoo.sh gives you staging databases for testing and a deployment pipeline without running servers yourself.
04
The third option: self-hosting
Self-hosting on your own cloud or servers gives full control over performance, data location and cost at scale, at the price of running backups, monitoring and security yourself or through a partner.
Decision guide
Which one fits your situation
Choose Odoo.sh when…
- You need custom modules or third-party apps
- You want staging environments to test changes
- You have a developer or partner managing code
Choose Odoo Online when…
- Standard Odoo fits your processes
- You want the lowest cost and no technical maintenance
- You are happy for Odoo to schedule upgrades
Verdict
Our honest take
Start on Odoo Online if standard Odoo fits; it is the simplest and cheapest way to run Enterprise. Move to Odoo.sh when you need code. Choose self-hosting when you need full control or very large scale.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can we move from Odoo Online to Odoo.sh later?
Yes. The database can be moved to Odoo.sh or a self-hosted server when you need custom modules.
Does Odoo Community run on Odoo.sh?
No. Odoo.sh and Odoo Online are for Enterprise. Community is self-hosted.
Who upgrades an Odoo.sh database?
You or your partner, using Odoo's upgrade service for standard data and porting custom modules.
Insights
Related reading
Odoo2 min read
Odoo Pricing Explained: What You'll Really Pay
How Odoo pricing works across Community, Standard and Custom plans, Odoo Online vs Odoo.sh vs self-hosting, and the implementation, hosting and support costs to budget for.
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Next step
Still undecided? Get a second opinion before you sign.
We will review your requirements, volumes and integration needs and tell you plainly which platform fits — including when it is not one we implement.