Odoo · ERP · Peru
Odoo Online vs Odoo.sh vs on-premise hosting
Three hosting models, three ways of splitting responsibility. The decision depends on how much custom code you need and who you want answering when something breaks.
Last updated: September 2026
Cumulative cost by year
Differences that matter
Odoo Online
Odoo operates the platform: upgrades, backups and availability. No custom code, so the company adapts to the standard. Lowest operating cost and the sensible option when scope is standard.
Odoo.sh
A managed platform that does support development, with production, staging and development branches and deployment control. The middle ground: Odoo runs the infrastructure, the project controls the code. The usual choice when there are integrations and developments.
On-premise
Full control and full responsibility: upgrades, backups, security, monitoring, certificates and the time of whoever sustains it. It makes sense with specific infrastructure requirements, data residency rules or internal systems that cannot be exposed.
Comparison
| Online | Odoo.sh | On-premise | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom code | No | Yes | Yes |
| Upgrades | Odoo | Odoo, with deployment control | The company |
| Backups | Included | Included | Own responsibility |
| Test environment | Limited | Yes, by branch | Whatever you build |
| Operating cost | Low | Medium | Variable, usually underestimated |
The frequent mistake
Choosing on-premise to save money. The hosting saving is consumed by administration hours, and the risk shows up the day you must restore a backup nobody tested.
How to decide
Three questions: do you need custom code now or within twelve months? Do you have someone to administer infrastructure, with cover when they are away? Is there a formal requirement about where data must reside?
Changing later
Migration between models is possible with work. Online to Odoo.sh is common once the first real development need appears; moving on-premise usually answers a new requirement, not a saving.
FAQ
Does Odoo Online allow customisation?
It allows configuration and interface-level adjustments, but no custom code. For development, the route is Odoo.sh or on-premise.
Which is more secure?
Managed platforms shift patching and backups to Odoo. An own server can be equally secure if someone is dedicated to maintaining it.
Can we try before deciding?
Yes. Starting on Online or an evaluation environment and deciding once the development scope is clear is reasonable.