Odoo hosting guide
Odoo Online, Odoo.sh or on-premise: which hosting model is right for you?
Hosting is one of the first decisions in any Odoo project, and one of the hardest to undo. Choose the wrong model and you either pay for control you never use, or hit a wall the day you need a custom module. As a UK Odoo partner that implements and supports all three, here is our plain-English guide to Odoo hosting options.
- Written by certified Odoo consultants
- Facts checked against Odoo’s official documentation
- We implement and support all three models
Odoo Online
Odoo runs everything for you
Why it matters
A hosting decision is really a decision about control, cost and change.
Every hosting model runs the same Odoo software. What changes is who looks after the servers, how upgrades happen, what you are allowed to customise and where your data lives. Those trade-offs shape your total cost and your options for years.
of standard support for each major Odoo version, on every hosting model
uptime target on Odoo’s own cloud, excluding planned maintenance (a target, not a contractual guarantee)
full backups kept for up to three months on Odoo Online and Odoo.sh production databases
Common challenges
Six hosting traps we see businesses fall into.
Most hosting regrets come from the same handful of assumptions. Tap or hover over a card to see how to avoid each one.
Trap 1
“We chose Odoo Online, then needed a custom module.”
How to avoid it
How to avoid it
Odoo Online is not compatible with non-standard apps, so custom Python modules and third-party App Store apps are off the table. If bespoke development is likely within two to three years, plan for Odoo.sh or on-premise from the start.
Trap 2
“We self-hosted to save money.”
How to avoid it
How to avoid it
The Enterprise licence costs the same. On-premise adds servers, security patching, monitoring, backups and upgrade work. Cost these honestly over three to five years before deciding.
Trap 3
“We assumed upgrades would look after themselves.”
How to avoid it
How to avoid it
Each major Odoo version gets three years of standard support. On Odoo.sh and on-premise, your custom code must be ported at every major upgrade, so build it into your roadmap and budget.
Trap 4
“Nobody asked where our data would live.”
How to avoid it
How to avoid it
Odoo Online and Odoo.sh offer regional hosting, including Europe, but no UK-specific region, and Odoo Online backups are replicated to Europe and Canada. If your sector requires UK-only hosting, on-premise or a UK cloud may be needed.
Trap 5
“We picked Odoo.sh with nobody to manage the code.”
How to avoid it
How to avoid it
Odoo.sh runs the servers, but your GitHub repository, branches, testing and deployments still need a developer or partner who knows the platform.
Trap 6
“We got stuck on an in-between version.”
How to avoid it
How to avoid it
Odoo Online runs SaaS versions released every two to three months. They are not available on Odoo.sh or on-premise, so moving off Odoo Online can mean waiting for the next major release first.
The three options
Meet the three Odoo hosting models.
Same Odoo, three very different ways to run it. Choose a model to see how it works, who it suits and what to watch out for.
Model 1 of 3 · SaaS
Odoo Online: fully managed software as a service
Think of it as a fully serviced apartment. Odoo runs the servers, security, backups and upgrades. You simply log in and work.
Best forBusinesses that want standard Odoo quickly, with no IT overhead.
Plans: One App Free, Standard, CustomCustom code: NoHosting cost: Included
Benefits
- Fastest route to go-live
- Hosting, maintenance and support included in the licence
- New features first, with SaaS releases every two to three months
- 99.9% uptime target and backups managed by Odoo
- Available on the One App Free, Standard and Custom plans
Trade-offs to weigh
- No custom Python modules or non-standard apps
- Customisation limited to Odoo Studio, on the Custom plan
- No server, shell or direct database access
- Frequent releases mean regular change for users
- No extended support for older versions
Model 2 of 3 · Cloud platform
Odoo.sh: Odoo’s cloud platform for customised Odoo
A managed workshop. Odoo provides and runs the building, while your developers bring the tools and build exactly what you need.
Best forBusinesses that need custom modules or App Store apps without running their own servers.
Plan: CustomCustom code: YesHosting cost: Extra
Benefits
- Custom modules and third-party apps through GitHub
- Staging and development branches to test every change
- Automated testing and deployment on every commit
- Shell and SSH access, plus read-only database access
- Daily production backups, 14 kept for up to three months
Trade-offs to weigh
- Requires the Custom plan plus separate hosting fees
- Hosting priced on workers, storage and staging environments
- Needs a developer or partner to manage code and deployments
- Supported major versions only, not SaaS releases
- No UK-specific hosting region
Model 3 of 3 · Self-hosted
On-premise: self-hosted Odoo on your own infrastructure
Owning the building. You choose where it lives and how it runs, and you are responsible for keeping it safe and up to date.
Best forOrganisations with strict data residency rules, complex integrations or a capable IT team.
Plan: Custom (Enterprise) or CommunityCustom code: YesHosting cost: Your own
Benefits
- Full control over servers, location and configuration
- Host in the UK, in your own data centre or on AWS, Azure or Google Cloud
- Unlimited customisation and full database access
- Upgrade on your own timetable
- Extended support available for any version, for an additional fee
Trade-offs to weigh
- You own security, monitoring, backups and disaster recovery
- Infrastructure and IT time add to the total cost
- Upgrades and code porting are your responsibility
- Odoo Enterprise on-premise needs the Custom plan
- Community edition is free but lacks Enterprise apps such as Studio
Side by side
Odoo hosting compared, side by side.
Switch between who is responsible for what, and how the features compare. Highlight a model to follow it down the table.
| Responsibility | Odoo Online | Odoo.sh | On-premise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Servers and infrastructure | Odoo | Odoo | You |
| Security patches and monitoring | Odoo | Odoo | You |
| Backups and disaster recovery | Odoo | Odoo (production) | You |
| Odoo version upgrades | Odoo, you test | Shared: you port custom code | You |
| Custom code and modules | Not allowed | You | You |
| Performance and scaling | Odoo | You choose workers | You |
“You” means your team or your Odoo partner.
| Feature | Odoo Online | Odoo.sh | On-premise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licence plan | One App Free, Standard or Custom | Custom | Custom (Enterprise) or free Community |
| Hosting cost | Included in licence | Extra: workers, storage, staging | Your own infrastructure |
| Custom Python modules | No | Yes | Yes |
| Third-party App Store apps | No | Yes | Yes |
| Odoo Studio | Custom plan | Yes | Enterprise only |
| Versions | Major and SaaS releases | Supported major versions | Any version |
| Extended support (paid) | Not available | Limited versions | Any version |
| Backups | 14 full backups, up to 3 months | Daily, 14 kept up to 3 months | Your responsibility |
| Hosting location | Odoo regions, including Europe | Google Cloud zones, including Belgium | Anywhere, including the UK |
| Server and database access | None | Shell, SSH, read-only PostgreSQL | Full |
| Monitoring | 99.9% uptime target | Monitored 24/7 by Odoo | Depends on your setup |
Sources: Odoo pricing, Odoo.sh pricing and FAQ, Odoo Cloud SLA and Odoo’s support policy, checked October 2026.
Decision factors
Eight questions that decide your hosting model.
Before comparing prices, answer these honestly with your team. They matter far more than the monthly hosting fee.
1. Customisation
Will you need custom modules or third-party apps, now or within three years?
2. IT capability
Who will manage servers, security, monitoring and backups day to day?
3. Data residency
Do contracts, regulators or customers require UK-only hosting?
4. Upgrade cadence
Do you want new features every few months, or planned major upgrades?
5. Integrations
Will you connect ecommerce, EDI, carriers or legacy systems, and need database access?
6. Performance and scale
How many users, transactions and sites will you have in three years?
7. Total cost of ownership
Have you costed licences, hosting, IT time and upgrades over three to five years?
8. Flexibility to change
How easily could you switch models later if your needs change?
Hosting fit finder
Find your best-fit Odoo hosting model in 60 seconds.
Answer six quick questions. We will score each hosting model against your answers and explain why, just as we would in a consultation.
- Six questions, no email needed
- Explains the reasoning behind every result
- Based on Odoo’s official hosting rules
Our recommendation
This tool gives guidance only. Your final choice should follow a proper review of your requirements.
FAQs
Odoo hosting questions we often hear.
Odoo Online is fully managed software as a service: Odoo runs everything, but you cannot install custom or non-standard apps. Odoo.sh is Odoo’s cloud platform for customised Odoo: Odoo runs the servers, while you or your partner manage custom code through GitHub, with staging branches and automated testing.
No. Odoo Online is not compatible with non-standard apps, so custom Python modules and third-party App Store apps cannot be installed. You can still customise with Odoo Studio on the Custom plan. If you need custom modules, choose Odoo.sh or on-premise.
No. Odoo.sh needs the Custom plan, and hosting is charged separately based on workers, storage and staging environments.
Yes. Odoo supports moving between Odoo Online, Odoo.sh and on-premise. Moving to Odoo Online means removing non-standard apps first. Moving away from Odoo Online may mean upgrading to the next major version first, because SaaS versions are not available on Odoo.sh or on-premise.
You choose a hosting region, such as Europe, when the database is created. Odoo does not currently offer a UK-specific region, and Odoo Online backups are replicated across data centres in Europe and Canada. If you need UK-only hosting, on-premise or a UK cloud provider is the usual route.
Each major version gets three years of standard support on every hosting model. After that, paid extended support is available on Odoo.sh for a limited number of versions, and on-premise for any version. Odoo Online SaaS versions are not eligible for extended support.
Odoo Community is free and open source, but it can only be self-hosted, and it lacks Enterprise apps such as Studio, as well as Odoo’s own support and upgrade services. It can suit businesses with strong in-house technical skills and simpler needs.
Next step
Still weighing it up? Let’s decide together.
In a free 30-minute hosting consultation, a certified Odoo consultant will review your customisation needs, IT capacity, compliance requirements and budget, then recommend the model that fits. No obligation, no jargon.