Choosing an ERP for your company is a decision that will accompany you for years. Holded, A3ERP, and Odoo are three of the most popular options in the European market, but they are designed for very different company profiles. This guide helps you understand which best fits your current situation and growth plans.
At Soamee we have implemented and customized all three. We have integrated Holded with custom systems for clients needing extended capabilities, connected A3ERP with modern web platforms, and built complete modules on Odoo for companies with specific needs like Somos Musica. This comparison reflects real experience, not just product sheets.
Quick Comparison
| Criteria | Holded | A3ERP | Odoo Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary target | Freelancers & SMBs | SMBs & accountancies | SMBs & mid-sized |
| Base price | 40 EUR/month | 80 EUR/month | 25 EUR/user/month |
| Accounting | Basic-intermediate | Very complete | Complete |
| Local tax compliance | Good | Excellent (Spain) | With localization module |
| Inventory | Basic | Limited | Very complete |
| Manufacturing | No | No | Yes (MRP) |
| CRM | Basic | No | Complete |
| E-commerce | No | No | Yes |
| API for integrations | Yes (REST) | Limited | Yes (XML-RPC, REST) |
| Customization | Very limited | Limited | Very high (code) |
| Open source | No | No | Yes (Community) |
| Learning curve | Low | Medium | Medium-high |
| Mobile app | Yes | Partial | Yes |
| Multi-company | Yes (premium) | Yes | Yes |
Holded: The ERP for SMBs That Want Simplicity
Who is Holded for
Holded is designed for freelancers and SMBs of up to 20-30 employees who need invoicing, basic accounting, and cash flow management without complications. Its interface is modern, intuitive, and requires no specialized training.
Strengths
- Exceptional interface: probably the most beautiful and usable ERP in the European market
- Automated accounting: automatic bank reconciliation with Open Banking (PSD2)
- Modern invoicing: e-invoicing, recurring subscriptions, client portal
- Implementation speed: operational in 1-2 days
- Native integrations: Stripe, PayPal, Amazon, Shopify, WordPress
Limitations
- Basic inventory: no batch traceability, limited multi-warehouse, no manufacturing
- Almost no customization: cannot modify fields, workflows, or reports beyond what’s offered
- Limited accounting for complex companies: corporate groups, consolidation, advanced cost analytics
- No complete HR module: payroll requires third-party integration
- Limited API: cannot access everything via API
Pricing 2026
- Basic Plan: 40 EUR/month (invoicing + accounting)
- Advanced Plan: 60 EUR/month (+ inventory + projects)
- Premium Plan: 90 EUR/month (+ multi-company + advanced API)
A3ERP: The ERP for Companies with Accountancy Firms
Who is A3ERP for
A3ERP (by Wolters Kluwer) is the preferred option for tax advisory and accounting firms in Spain. If your accountant works with A3 and you want maximum integration for tax matters, it’s the natural choice. Also strong for companies needing advanced accounting with exhaustive Spanish tax compliance.
Strengths
- Accounting and taxation: covers absolutely all Spanish tax forms
- Accountancy firm integration: direct data exchange without intermediaries
- Regulatory compliance: always updated with Spanish legal changes
- Specialized support: tax and accounting queries resolved by experts
Limitations
- Outdated interface: UX hasn’t evolved at market pace
- Accounting-oriented: management modules (inventory, CRM, projects) are secondary
- Limited customization: few options to adapt the system to non-standard processes
- Limited API: difficult to integrate with modern web applications
- No e-commerce: no online sales modules
Pricing 2026
- From 80 EUR/month for accounting module
- Additional modules at separate cost
- Certified partner implementation: 2,000-8,000 EUR
Odoo: The ERP for Companies That Need Flexibility
Who is Odoo for
Odoo is for companies that need a complete and customizable ERP. It covers from accounting to manufacturing, through CRM, inventory, e-commerce, HR, and marketing. Its open-source nature allows maximum customization, but requires more implementation effort.
Strengths
- Functional completeness: modules for virtually everything (30+ official apps)
- Unlimited customization: being open source, you can modify any aspect
- Scalability: from 5 users to 500+, grows with you
- Partner ecosystem: 3,000+ implementation partners worldwide
- Powerful API: XML-RPC, JSON-RPC, and REST API (v17+) for complex integrations
- Free Community: use the community version at no license cost
Limitations
- Implementation complexity: needs a partner or technical team for proper setup
- Learning curve: more complex than Holded for non-technical users
- Local tax compliance varies: localization modules are functional but require tuning
- Performance at volume: with heavy data or customizations, may need optimization
- Higher real cost: while licensing is economical, implementation and customization add up
Pricing 2026
- Community: free (self-hosted, no official support)
- Enterprise: 25-50 EUR/user/month (depending on apps)
- Implementation: 5,000-60,000 EUR depending on complexity
- Customization: variable based on needs
When to Choose Each
Choose Holded if…
- You are a freelancer or SMB with fewer than 20 employees
- Your primary need is invoicing and accounting
- You want to be operational in 1-2 days without external help
- Your inventory is simple (no manufacturing or traceability)
- You value a modern, easy-to-use interface
Choose A3ERP if…
- Your accountancy firm works with the Wolters Kluwer ecosystem
- You need exhaustive local tax compliance
- Analytical accounting and tax forms are your priority
- You don’t need advanced inventory, CRM, or e-commerce modules
- You prefer your accountant to manage the system for you
Choose Odoo if…
- You need a complete ERP with multiple integrated modules
- Your company has specific processes requiring customization
- You have technical staff or budget for an implementation partner
- You need manufacturing (MRP), advanced inventory, or integrated e-commerce
- You plan to grow significantly and need a system that scales
The Option Not Listed: Custom ERP
If after evaluating all three options none fits well with your business process, a custom ERP may be the answer. It’s more expensive to implement, but has no platform limitations and you don’t pay recurring licenses.
In our experience, a custom ERP makes sense when:
- Your processes are so specific you would customize over 40% of Odoo
- The 3-year licensing cost exceeds custom development cost
- You need very deep integrations with existing systems
- Code ownership and vendor independence are priorities
Conclusion
There is no universally “best” ERP. Holded excels at simplicity, A3 at local tax compliance, and Odoo at flexibility and completeness. The key is choosing what fits your current needs and growth capacity.
If you need help deciding or integrating any of these ERPs with your tech stack, at Soamee we work with all three and can advise you. Schedule a free consultation to analyze your case.