Odoo Online vs Odoo.sh vs On-Premise — and which plan actually lets you customize
Almost every business new to Odoo trips over the same thing: they mix up three separate decisions and assume they're one. They're not. Pick the wrong combination and you either overpay for what you won't use — or you get locked out of the customizations your business actually needs. Here's the plain-English version we walk every client through, so you pick right the first time.
The three decisions, kept separate:
- Edition — Community (free, open-source) vs Enterprise (paid). See our Odoo editions comparison.
- Hosting / deployment — Odoo Online vs Odoo.sh vs On-Premise. Where your Odoo actually runs.
- Plan — Standard vs Custom. What your subscription unlocks.
Odoo hosting: Online vs Odoo.sh vs On-Premise
This is where your Odoo runs — and it's the choice that decides whether you can customize at all.
- Odoo Online (SaaS) — hosted and fully managed by Odoo. Easiest to start, auto-updated, zero DevOps. The catch: you cannot install custom code or third-party modules. You can still use Odoo Studio (no-code) on the Custom plan, but not custom Python modules.
- Odoo.sh (PaaS) — Odoo's managed cloud platform built for customization: Git-based deployment, staging and development branches, and full support for custom and third-party modules — without you running servers. Requires the Custom plan, and the Odoo.sh hosting fee is billed on top of your subscription.
- On-Premise — you host Odoo on your own servers or cloud. Total control over data, integrations and upgrade timing — and the most DevOps responsibility. Works with a paid Enterprise/Custom licence or with free Community.
| Odoo Online (SaaS) | Odoo.sh (PaaS) | On-Premise | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who runs the server | Odoo | Odoo (managed cloud) | You / your host |
| Custom code & 3rd-party modules | ✘ No | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Odoo Studio (no-code) | ✔ (Custom plan) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Staging / dev / Git branches | ✘ | ✔ | Manual |
| Automatic upgrades | ✔ | ✔ (you time them) | ✘ (you manage) |
| DevOps effort | None | Low | High |
| Data control / residency | Limited | Cloud (Odoo/AWS) | Full — your infra |
| Which plan it needs | Standard or Custom | Custom plan (+ .sh hosting fee) | Custom / Enterprise licence, or free Community |
| Best for | Fast start, standard needs | Customized Odoo without a DevOps team | Full control, data residency, self-hosting |
Odoo plans: Standard vs Custom
This is what your subscription unlocks. The single most important line: Standard runs on Odoo Online only, so it can't run custom code. The Custom plan is what opens up Odoo.sh and on-premise — plus Studio, multi-company and the external API.
| Standard | Custom | |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting options | Odoo Online only | Online / Odoo.sh / On-premise |
| All apps included | ✔ | ✔ |
| Odoo Studio (no-code builder) | ✘ | ✔ |
| Multi-company | ✘ | ✔ |
| External API | ✘ | ✔ |
| Custom code / 3rd-party modules | ✘ | ✔ (on Odoo.sh or on-prem) |
| Per-user price | See current Odoo pricing | See current Odoo pricing |
So which should you choose?
| Your situation | What to pick |
|---|---|
| I just need standard Odoo, fast, with zero IT | Standard plan on Odoo Online |
| I need custom modules but have no DevOps team | Custom plan on Odoo.sh |
| I need full control, data residency, or to self-host | Custom plan On-Premise (or free Community, self-hosted) |
| I need multi-company or external API access | Custom plan (any hosting) |
| I just want to try one app for free | One App Free (Odoo Online) |
Two quick rules of thumb: if you'll ever need bespoke workflows, integrations or industry modules, go Custom + Odoo.sh from day one — moving later is more disruptive than starting right. And if data must stay on your own infrastructure (a common requirement for regulated and UAE businesses), that's an on-premise conversation.
Where OdooVizion fits
Odoo genuinely gives you flexibility — Online, Odoo.sh or your own servers; Community or Enterprise; Standard or Custom. The trade-offs are real, and the right answer depends on your business. As an Odoo Certified Partner, our job is to match you to the plan and hosting that fit — so you don't overpay for what you won't use, or get locked out of the customization you'll need. If you're migrating to Odoo or planning custom development, the hosting and plan choice should be made before you buy, not after.
FAQs
Can Odoo Online run custom code or third-party modules?
No. Odoo Online (SaaS) cannot run custom Python modules or third-party apps, on either the Standard or Custom plan. You can use Odoo Studio (no-code) on Custom, but for real custom modules you need Odoo.sh or on-premise.
What's the difference between the Standard and Custom plans?
Standard runs on Odoo Online only and includes all apps. Custom adds Odoo Studio, multi-company and external API access, and unlocks Odoo.sh and on-premise hosting — which is what allows custom code. See current Odoo pricing for the per-user cost.
What is Odoo.sh?
Odoo.sh is Odoo's managed cloud platform (PaaS) for running customized Odoo — Git deployment, staging/dev branches and custom modules — without managing your own servers. It requires the Custom plan, and its hosting fee is billed on top of your subscription.
Is Odoo.sh included in the Custom plan?
No. The Custom plan lets you use Odoo.sh, but the Odoo.sh hosting cost is separate and added to your subscription.
Do I need Enterprise to customize Odoo?
You need either a paid Custom plan hosted on Odoo.sh/on-premise, or the free Community edition self-hosted. What you cannot do is run custom modules on Odoo Online (SaaS).
Odoo.sh vs on-premise — which is better?
Odoo.sh gives you customization without DevOps (Odoo manages the infrastructure). On-premise gives you full control and data residency but you manage servers, backups and upgrades. Choose Odoo.sh for low-ops customization, on-premise for control or data-residency requirements.
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