Odoo Online vs Odoo.sh vs self-hosted Odoo
There are three ways to run Odoo: Odoo Online, the SaaS run by Odoo S.A.; Odoo.sh, Odoo's platform for Enterprise projects with custom code; and self-hosting, on-premise or on a cloud server you choose. Here is how they compare, and where managed self-hosting fits.
Based on Odoo’s documentation and pricing pages, checked 4 November 2026
The Odoo hosting types side by side
| Question | Odoo Online | Odoo.sh | Self-hosted (on-premise or cloud) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Run by | Odoo S.A. | Odoo S.A. | You, or a platform such as CloudPilot |
| Odoo Community | — | — | ✓ |
| Odoo Enterprise plan needed | Standard or Custom | Custom, plus Odoo.sh hosting | Custom (Enterprise only) |
| Custom and third-party modules | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Root access and system packages | — | — | ✓ |
| Choose the cloud provider and country | Region only | Region only | ✓ |
| Versions | Major and online (SaaS) versions | Major versions | Major versions |
Odoo Online: the simplest option
Odoo Online is Odoo's software-as-a-service. Hosting is included in the Standard and Custom plans (see Odoo pricing explained), and Odoo runs everything for you. The trade-off is customisation: Odoo's hosting documentation says "Odoo Online is not compatible with non-standard apps", so you cannot install custom or third-party modules. Odoo Online also gets intermediate online versions every two to three months, according to Odoo's support policy.
Odoo.sh: Odoo's platform for custom code
Odoo.sh runs Odoo Enterprise from a GitHub repository, with development, staging and production branches. It needs the Custom plan, and Odoo.sh hosting is billed on top by workers, storage and staging environments. You get a shell but not root access, and the Odoo.sh FAQ says system packages cannot be installed in general. Read Odoo.sh limitations before you commit.
Self-hosted Odoo: on-premise or in your cloud
Self-hosting means installing Odoo on a server you control: on-premise hardware, a VPS or a cloud instance. It is the only option for Odoo Community, and for Enterprise it needs the Custom plan. You choose the provider, the country and the server size, and you can install anything. In return you are responsible for installation, backups, security updates, monitoring and upgrades.
Managed self-hosting
A control panel can take on that work while the server stays yours. CloudPilot installs and runs Odoo Community or Enterprise on servers in your own AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, DigitalOcean, Hetzner, Vultr or Akamai account, or any server over SSH, with backups, staging, Git deploys and monitoring. Starter runs one instance on CloudPilot's servers. See self-hosting Odoo on your own server and Odoo VPS hosting.
Which Odoo hosting type should you choose?
- Odoo Online if you use standard apps only and want no technical work.
- Odoo.sh if you run Enterprise with custom modules, want Odoo S.A. to run the platform, and its limits do not affect you.
- Self-hosted if you run Odoo Community, need system packages or root access, must keep data with a specific provider or country, or want flat hosting costs.
Moving between Odoo hosting types
Odoo's hosting documentation explains how to transfer a database between Odoo Online, Odoo.sh and on-premise. Moving to Odoo Online means uninstalling non-standard apps first. Odoo Online's intermediate versions are not supported on Odoo.sh or on-premise, so a database running one cannot move there directly. Our guides cover moving from Odoo Online to your own server and migrating from Odoo.sh.
Sources
- Odoo hosting documentation (Odoo 19), checked 4 November 2026.
- Odoo standard and extended support, checked 4 November 2026.
- Odoo pricing and Odoo.sh pricing, checked 4 November 2026.
- Odoo.sh FAQ, checked 4 November 2026.
Odoo hosting types: questions
What is the difference between Odoo Online and Odoo.sh?
Odoo Online is Odoo’s SaaS for standard apps only; it does not accept custom modules. Odoo.sh is Odoo’s platform for Enterprise projects with custom code, deployed from GitHub, and it is billed on top of the Custom plan.
What is Odoo.sh?
Odoo.sh is the hosting platform run by Odoo S.A. for Odoo Enterprise. It builds development, staging and production environments from Git branches and is billed by workers, storage and staging environments, in addition to the Enterprise licence.
Can Odoo be self-hosted?
Yes. Odoo Community is open source and can run on any server. Odoo Enterprise can be self-hosted on-premise or in the cloud with the Custom plan.
Is on-premise Odoo cheaper?
The licence is the same or free (Community), and a server can cost less than Odoo.sh, but you also pay for the time to run it. A managed platform such as CloudPilot keeps a flat monthly cost while you keep the server.
Related guides
Self-host Odoo without running it yourself
CloudPilot runs Odoo on your cloud or ours, from $19 a month.