Odoo Enterprise can be hosted on 3 different platforms: Odoo Online, Odoo.sh (dedicated cloud), or on-premises using your own infrastructure. Let's compare the pros and cons of each platform to help you find the option that best fits your business.
Odoo Online - The easiest solution
Odoo Online is a SaaS (Software as a Service) solution. Within a few seconds and a few clicks, your cloud installation is ready and set to use. Odoo Online even comes with a preconfigured email server!
The biggest advantage of Odoo Online is its simplicity. You never have to worry about the technical aspects, because Odoo takes care of everything. Odoo monitors the platform 24/7 to ensure that Odoo always performs well. As your business grows, Odoo scales with it. Of course, backups are well taken care of, and bug fixes and security updates are applied automatically.
Every day, Odoo makes a full backup of your database(s), and they are replicated on at least 3 different machines on different continents. From your own database control center, you can download all your backups from the past 3 months. You can also easily duplicate your production database for a temporary test environment, which can be very useful when implementing new features. Odoo Online has a Cloud Service Level Agreement. Odoo guarantees 99.9% uptime (excluding scheduled maintenance).
On Odoo Online, you can only install standard Odoo apps and no third-party apps or custom developments. Standard apps are the apps developed, maintained, and upgraded by Odoo SA. Small adjustments, such as customizing screens or reports, are possible by using Odoo Studio.
Odoo also offers upgrades to the latest Odoo version for all the apps you use. All additional services (hosting, maintenance, support, backups, upgrades) are included in the price of Odoo Online. With Odoo Online, your costs are predictable.
Odoo On-Premises - Endless possibilities
Odoo Enterprise can also be installed on your own server or on a rented server from Odoo Experts. When you use Odoo On-Premises, you have full control and autonomy over your installation. This is why you can use all available apps and also implement your own custom developments. We do not recommend installing Odoo yourself, and we advise you to engage Odoo Experts for this. If you are looking for Odoo Hosting, please feel free to contact us for information and advice.
We recommend installing Odoo on your own server if you have specific requirements regarding security, scalability, or performance. We also recommend your own server when connecting (interfaces) with other software via the Odoo API. When using the API on Odoo Online or Odoo.sh, you may run into performance limits that you cannot influence. Your own server is the best solution for this.
With your own server, the possibilities are endless, but you do need a lot of technical knowledge to set up a proper infrastructure. With your own server, you need to think about:
- One or more servers in a cluster
Setting up an OTAP environment
Odoo updates
Installing a reverse proxy
Linking email servers and domains
Installing an SSL certificate
Creating backups
Tuning Odoo
Tuning the PostgreSQL database
etc.
Odoo.sh - The best of both worlds
Odoo.sh is a PaaS (Platform as a Service) managed by Odoo SA. With Odoo.sh, you can deploy your own cloud platform in just a few clicks. Odoo.sh also comes with an email server, but you can also use your own email server.
Odoo.sh is designed for customized Odoo implementations. You can easily install all standard Odoo apps, as well as all third-party apps available in the Odoo apps store.
In addition, you will find built-in tools that allow you to develop and test new apps and custom features, such as:
Integration with GitHub
An online editor
Continuous integration
Your own OTAP environment
Version control (track, fork, merge, etc ...)
Automated testing of every new commit
And more
The platform is managed by Odoo SA, and they guarantee the same Service Level Agreement as for Odoo Online, namely: 99.9% uptime. Odoo also makes a full incremental backup of your production environment every day. These backups are stored in 3 different data centers, on different continents, so you can download all backups from the past 3 months.
Odoo.sh gives you the flexibility to choose the best implementation architecture (number of employees, storage, and number of test environments), and you can easily adjust the configuration to what you need. You can scale the platform as your business grows!
The platform offers you the best of both worlds. The ease of use and maintenance of Odoo Online combined with the freedom of Odoo On-Premises.
We are very enthusiastic about the possibilities of Odoo.sh, and since 2019, we have delivered 90% of our customers on Odoo.sh.
Migration to another platform
Migrating from one platform to another is always an option. Odoo Experts has carried out several migrations from Odoo Online to On-Premises or Odoo.sh. If you want to switch from Odoo Online to, for example, Odoo.sh then please feel free to contact us for information and advice.
Summary
Choosing your hosting environment is an important decision before implementing Odoo. You have the freedom to choose what suits you best. Odoo Online is the best solution if you are looking for standard software that is easy to install and maintain.
Using Odoo On-Premises is also an option, but you do need to know what you are doing. If you want to use Odoo On-Premises without technical knowledge, we strongly recommend contacting us for advice. Finally, Odoo.sh is the best option if you are looking for a customizable solution, with incredible tools for developers and without the hassle of system administration.
Source: How to Choose Your Hosting Type
