Odoo vs Exact Online: Full ERP or Accounting Tool?

Exact Online is one of the most widely used business software tools in Belgium and the Netherlands. Millions of businesses rely on it for accounting, invoicing, and basic project management. So when Belgian businesses start looking at ERP systems, the comparison with Exact Online comes up constantly.

But this comparison is a bit like comparing a Swiss Army knife to a really good screwdriver. They overlap in some areas, but they are fundamentally different tools designed for different needs. Understanding that distinction is the key to making the right choice.

What Exact Online does well

Exact Online is an excellent cloud accounting platform. It handles bookkeeping, invoicing, bank reconciliation, VAT returns, and financial reporting very well. The integration with Belgian banks and the accounting workflow is smooth. Many Belgian accountants know it inside out, which makes collaboration easy.

It also offers basic CRM, project management, and inventory features in its higher-tier subscriptions. For service-based businesses that primarily need accounting plus light project tracking, Exact Online does the job without the complexity of a full ERP.

The interface is functional if not beautiful, and because it is cloud-native, there is nothing to install or maintain. For a small business that just needs solid accounting, Exact Online is a proven choice.

Where Exact Online hits its limits

The problems start when your business outgrows basic accounting. Exact Online was built as an accounting tool first and has expanded from there. The CRM is basic. The inventory management is limited. Manufacturing, e-commerce, HR, helpdesk, and marketing are not part of the platform.

When you need these functions, you end up bolting on separate tools. A separate CRM, a separate project management tool, a separate e-commerce platform, each with its own login, its own data, and its own subscription fee. Data flows between these tools through integrations that may or may not work reliably.

This patchwork approach works until it does not. At some point, the overhead of managing multiple disconnected systems becomes a bigger problem than the problems each tool was meant to solve.

What Odoo brings to the table

Odoo is a full ERP platform that covers the entire business in one system: accounting, CRM, sales, purchasing, inventory, manufacturing, e-commerce, website, HR, project management, helpdesk, marketing, and more. All modules share the same database, which means data flows naturally between departments.

When a sales order is confirmed, inventory is updated, a delivery is created, and an invoice is generated automatically. When a customer submits a support ticket, the helpdesk agent can see their entire history, purchases, invoices, and previous communications, without switching tools.

Odoo's accounting module handles Belgian requirements well: CODA file import, structured communication, VAT declarations, and Belgian chart of accounts. It may not have the depth of a purpose-built accounting tool in every edge case, but for the vast majority of Belgian businesses, it covers what is needed.

Feature comparison

• Accounting and invoicing: Both are strong. Exact Online has an edge in pure accounting depth and accountant familiarity. Odoo covers all standard needs and integrates accounting with the rest of the business.
• CRM: Odoo's CRM is a proper full-featured CRM with pipeline management, lead scoring, and marketing automation. Exact Online's CRM is basic contact management.
• Inventory and warehouse: Odoo offers multi-warehouse management, barcode scanning, automated replenishment, and routes. Exact Online has basic stock tracking.
• Manufacturing: Odoo includes full MRP with bills of materials, work orders, and quality control. Exact Online does not cover manufacturing.
• E-commerce: Odoo has a built-in e-commerce platform linked directly to inventory and accounting. Exact Online requires a third-party shop.
• HR: Odoo covers recruitment, employees, time off, appraisals, and expenses. Exact Online does not offer HR features.
• Reporting: Both offer business reports. Odoo's reporting spans the entire platform, giving you cross-functional insights that are impossible when data lives in separate tools.

Pricing comparison

Exact Online pricing in Belgium starts at around 30 euros per month for the basic accounting package and goes up to roughly 100 to 200 euros per month for the advanced package with CRM and project features. Additional users add to the cost.

Odoo Enterprise starts at approximately 25 euros per user per month, with the price varying based on the number of apps you use. For a small team of five users running accounting, CRM, and inventory, the monthly license costs are comparable. But Odoo includes far more functionality at that price.

The real cost difference shows up in implementation. Exact Online is simpler to set up since it does less. A basic Exact Online setup might cost nothing beyond the subscription. An Odoo implementation for a comparable business might cost 5,000 to 20,000 euros in consulting time. However, once you factor in the cost of the additional tools you need to supplement Exact Online (CRM, e-commerce, project management), the total cost picture shifts.

When to stay with Exact Online

• Your primary need is accounting and invoicing, and you are happy with the current workflow.
• Your business is small, service-based, and does not need inventory, manufacturing, or e-commerce.
• Your accountant works in Exact Online and the collaboration workflow is critical to you.
• You want the simplest possible setup with minimal implementation effort.
• You are a solo entrepreneur or very small team without complex business processes.

When to move to Odoo

• You are using three or more separate tools alongside Exact Online and tired of the disconnected data.
• You need proper inventory management, manufacturing, or warehouse operations.
• You want integrated e-commerce that syncs with your stock and accounting.
• Your team is growing and you need HR, recruitment, and employee management tools.
• You are spending more time exporting, importing, and reconciling data between tools than actually using it.
• You want one system where everyone works, instead of a patchwork of subscriptions.

Making the switch

Migrating from Exact Online to Odoo is a well-trodden path. Your accounting data, customer database, product catalog, and open invoices can all be transferred. The migration typically takes two to four weeks with an experienced consultant.

The key is having someone who understands both systems and can map your Exact Online workflow to Odoo's structure. Through odoone, you can find vetted consultants who have done this migration multiple times, starting at 80 euros per hour. A free 10-minute call can help you scope out whether the move makes sense for your specific situation.

Many Belgian businesses make this transition when they reach 10 to 20 employees and realize that their patchwork of tools is holding them back. The investment in a proper ERP pays for itself through eliminated subscriptions, reduced manual work, and better business visibility.