Finding the right ERP system for your business is crucial for streamlining processes and ensuring seamless integration across various departments. With numerous options available in the market, it can be overwhelming to determine which ERP is the best fit for your organization. As a leading ERP solution, NetSuite has become a popular choice for businesses of all sizes. In this article, we will discuss the top NetSuite competitors, delving into their features, strengths, and weaknesses to help you make an informed decision and select the perfect ERP system tailored to your needs.
It's no surprise businesses looking for ERP solutions want to know who NetSuite's competitors are and how they compare.
In this guide, we're comparing NetSuite to some of its top alternatives:
Many of NetSuite's competitors aren't full-fledged ERP systems. While there are a few competitive ERPs, many of NetSuite's competitors are the best-in-breed of a specific business area, such as sales, CRM, or accounting.
Here are some of NetSuite's competitors and how they compare.
Salesforce is the world's #1 CRM tool — Gartner named it the top CRM platform for 13 years. Primarily aimed at sales companies, Salesforce contains a powerful CRM with multiple "clouds" that give you additional functionalities such as marketing, IT, and eCommerce.
While NetSuite has its own CRM, many companies integrate NetSuite and Salesforce to continue using the Salesforce CRM but combine it with the rest of their business data.
Best for: Sales companies of all sizes.
Sage Intacct is a cloud accounting software. As a "best of breed" in the financial space, Sage Intacct offers a wide range of financial capabilities that aren't found in most ERP systems. While this is incredibly strong accounting software, it doesn't offer all of the benefits of an ERP.
Best for: Small to medium-sized companies who need a standalone accounting solution.
Categories That Overlap With NetSuite: Project-Based ERP, Accounting, Nonprofit Accounting, and Subscription Billing.
Why NetSuite is Better: NetSuite excels in multiple areas compared to Intacct, making it a more suitable option for some businesses.
Acumatica is a fully customizable ERP system. This is a huge benefit to the cloud software; however, it's also one of its biggest weaknesses — Acumatica doesn't offer pre-built setups.
Everything has to be created from the ground up, which is great for organizations that need complex setups but not as great for smaller companies that would be fine with pre-built workflows. Another plus of Acumatica is that it integrates with many other applications, allowing you to build whatever you need.
Best for: Small to mid-sized businesses who don't need advanced functionalities.
Categories That Overlap With NetSuite: Accounting, Project-Based ERP, and Distribution ERP.
Why NetSuite is Better: NetSuite outshines Acumatica with its unified general ledger and robust out-of-the-box reporting, eliminating the need for programming knowledge and third-party analytics. As a true cloud solution, NetSuite ensures seamless upgrades and offers advanced "no-code/low-code" customization options. Its international subsidiary functionality and support for multiple base currencies are more comprehensive, providing real-time foreign exchange feeds, country-specific customizations, and multi-book accounting. Additionally, NetSuite's intercompany accounting and multi-entity branch accounting capabilities are more flexible, catering to diverse business needs.
SAP started as an on-premise solution and started offering cloud software solutions in 2012. Now, SAP has a comprehensive suite of cloud ERP solutions for businesses of all sizes. Depending on whether you're a small business ready for growth or an enterprise-level company, SAP has a software solution designed for you.
SAP Business One is an ERP for small and medium-sized companies. Offered as an on-premise or cloud solution, this software includes accounting and financials, inventory, purchasing, sales, and CRM functionalities.
SAP's mid-market cloud ERP solution is called Business ByDesign. It contains pre-built processes for every business facet, from sales to product management and finance, and is a great solution for manufacturing and distribution companies.
The most advanced version of SAP's software is SAP S/4HANA. It was built for enterprise companies and has more advanced technology than other versions of the software, as it includes AI, machine learning, and analytics.
Best for: SAP ByDesign is great for manufacturing and distribution companies, while SAP S/4HANA is great for enterprise companies.
Categories That Overlap With NetSuite: Accounting, Project-Based ERP, Distribution ERP, and Project-Based ERP.
Why NetSuite is Better: Compared to NetSuite, SAP Business One has limitations in customization, reporting, scalability, and cloud deployment. NetSuite offers seamless integration with third-party apps and a unified platform, while SAP B1 often involves multiple software providers and consulting fees. NetSuite's powerful native reporting contrasts with SAP B1's reliance on additional software packages. As NetSuite is built to scale, SAP B1 targets smaller companies, with performance declines for larger user numbers and the need for new implementations to upgrade. Finally, NetSuite leads in true cloud implementations, while SAP B1 uses single-tenant solutions with manual upgrades and additional costs.
Oracle's Fusion Cloud ERP is an advanced cloud ERP system that integrates AI to automate processes, provide real-time analytics, and help companies gain a competitive advantage.
If your business is looking for a comprehensive ERP solution, Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP is a top contender. Oracle owns NetSuite, so it's an interesting bit of friendly competition here.
Best for: Enterprise companies looking for advanced resource planning.
QuickBooks is an accounting software solution tailored for small businesses, offering features such as invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting. It is easy to use and can be customized to fit the needs of various businesses.
Best for: NetSuite and QuickBooks cater to different business sizes and industries, with NetSuite focusing on small to medium-sized businesses requiring integrated ERP solutions and QuickBooks targeting small businesses with basic accounting needs. NetSuite provides comprehensive solutions for manufacturing, distribution, services, and retail, offering integrated features like CRM and eCommerce. QuickBooks, on the other hand, excels in offering user-friendly accounting features for businesses with simpler financial requirements. While both platforms support a variety of industries, NetSuite's strength lies in its all-encompassing ERP functionality, while QuickBooks shines in its straightforward accounting capabilities for small businesses.
Why NetSuite is Better: Compared to NetSuite, QuickBooks has several limitations, particularly in its scope and functionality. As an accounting software designed for small businesses, QuickBooks offers basic features like invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting but lacks the comprehensive features of an ERP system like NetSuite. QuickBooks has limited reporting options, inventory management, and project management capabilities. It also lacks multi-subsidiary consolidation and advanced accounting functions, such as fixed assets, multibook accounting, and revenue recognition. In contrast, NetSuite offers a scalable and flexible all-in-one ERP solution, integrating seamlessly with other business applications and catering to a wide range of industries.
Epicor is a cloud ERP primarily created for the manufacturing industry. To date, Epicor has helped over 70,000 manufacturing users optimize processes, scale their capabilities, maximize revenue, and gain a competitive edge over other manufacturers.
This cloud solution also helps companies create a better user experience, whether you're managing multiple sales territories, following up on leads, or needing stronger business data.
Best for: Manufacturing and distribution companies looking to implement an on-premise or hybrid solution.
Categories That Overlap With NetSuite: Accounting, Discrete ERP, and Core HR.
Why NetSuite is Better: Epicor might have cornered the ERP market for manufacturing (and it isn’t close), but overall, NetSuite is the more well-rounded and easier-to-use product. Changes and updates in NetSuite can be completed with minimal downtime, if any. Epicor has a history of needing scheduled downtime for minor updates, and even then still causes a ripple effect of issues. If you’re looking for the truly optimal manufacturing ERP, get NetSuite with all the plug-ins you might need.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a business management ERP solution best for small and medium-sized companies, it includes extensive functionalities for sales management, marketing campaigns, and supply chain optimization.
Best for: Small and mid-sized companies, ideally in distribution, manufacturing, or retail.
Categories That Overlap With NetSuite: Accounting and Distribution ERP.
Why NetSuite is Better: Compared to NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics Business Central has limited reporting capabilities, lacking native financial consolidation and multi-country support. Its customization process is more challenging and often requires partner assistance. Microsoft Dynamics Business Central also relies on third-party applications for revenue recognition, subscription billing, and payroll. As a relatively young product with separate databases and user interfaces for additional CRM and HR modules, it creates siloed data and may not suit businesses with ambitious growth plans. NetSuite's more robust feature set and unified database structure make it a more comprehensive and scalable ERP solution
IFS Cloud ERP is an enterprise resource planning solution that caters to larger businesses, providing functionalities for various industries such as manufacturing, distribution, and service management. It offers capabilities for financial management, human resources, and project management.
Best for: NetSuite and IFS Cloud ERP cater to different business sizes and industries, with NetSuite focusing on small to medium-sized businesses and IFS Cloud ERP targeting larger enterprises. NetSuite provides comprehensive solutions for manufacturing, distribution, services, and retail, offering integrated features like CRM and eCommerce. IFS Cloud ERP, on the other hand, excels in industries like industrial manufacturing, construction, and service management, with advanced capabilities for complex production processes, asset management, and workforce scheduling. While both platforms support a variety of industries, NetSuite's strength lies in its retail-specific functionality, while IFS Cloud ERP shines in its support for asset-intensive and large-scale operations.
SYSPRO is an ERP software system that helps businesses manage their core business processes, such as accounting, manufacturing, and distribution. It’s a cloud-based or on-premises solution that can be customized to meet the specific needs of businesses of all sizes. SYSPRO is particularly well-suited for companies in the manufacturing and distribution industries.
Best for: Manufacturers and distributors who prioritize inventory management, production management, and supply chain optimization.
Why NetSuite is Better: NetSuite offers a more extensive range of functionalities than SYSPRO, making it a better choice for businesses that require a comprehensive ERP solution across multiple departments.
Infor ERP is a suite of ERP software solutions that helps businesses manage their core business processes. It’s a hybrid solution with both cloud and on-premises offerings. Infor ERP is known for its industry-specific focus and ability to scale to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes.
Best for: Businesses that require industry-specific solutions and tailored modules to address the specific needs of their sector. It’s particularly beneficial for organizations in manufacturing, distribution, retail, healthcare, and other industries that require supply chain and financial management capabilities.
Why NetSuite is Better: NetSuite is generally considered better than Infor ERP because it’s a cloud-native ERP system that’s more scalable, flexible, and user-friendly. It can also integrate with other cloud-based applications and has a wider global reach.
Odoo is an open-source ERP system that offers a wide range of business applications. Built on a community-driven model, Odoo encourages innovation and customization, allowing businesses to tailor the platform to their specific needs.
Best for: Odoo is great for larger businesses as it provides a unified platform to handle multiple applications. With flexible pricing and extensive features, it’s an appealing option for organizations looking to integrate across departments without paying separately for each user and app.
Categories That Overlap With NetSuite: Financial Management, Inventory and Supply Chain Management, and CRM.
Why NetSuite is Better: NetSuite is a top choice for most because it covers various functions in one package, works for small and large companies, and ensures smooth data flow between different parts of the business. Another thing that sets NetSuite apart is the robust support from Oracle, a global tech leader.
While Odoo has some of these features, NetSuite’s distinct advantages make it a preferred choice for those looking for a comprehensive, scalable, and well-supported ERO solution with global capabilities.
NetSuite offers a much more comprehensive cloud solution than most of its competitors. Most of the competitors on this list don't offer the full suite of functionalities NetSuite has.
For example, QuickBooks and Sage are mainly accounting programs, and Salesforce is primarily a CRM. Sure, you can still add on additional functionalities to many platforms, but if it wasn't built into the software, it could get expensive and difficult to add on.
Our team of cloud software experts is here to help you choose the best cloud ERP software for your business.
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