Odoo vs Cin7 (Dear Inventory): Which Is Better for Australian Businesses?

Cin7 (which acquired Dear Inventory in 2022) is popular with Australian businesses that need inventory management and multi-channel order processing. It does those things well. But many businesses reach a point where they need more than inventory — they need an integrated system covering accounting, CRM, manufacturing, HR, and more. That's where the Odoo comparison becomes relevant.

What they have in common

• Multi-warehouse inventory management
• Multi-channel sales (Shopify, Amazon, eBay integrations)
• Purchase order management
• Barcode scanning
• Lot and serial number tracking
• Basic manufacturing / assembly
• Australian GST handling

Where Cin7 is stronger

• Marketplace integrations — Cin7 has native integrations with more online marketplaces out of the box (Amazon, eBay, Catch, TheMarket). These are mature, well-tested connections built specifically for Australian and APAC sellers.
• 3PL integration — Native integration with third-party logistics providers. If you outsource fulfilment, Cin7 has pre-built connections to major 3PLs.
• Quick setup for simple operations — If your business is primarily "buy stock, store it, sell it across channels," Cin7 gets you running faster with less configuration.
• B2B commerce portal — Cin7's B2B portal for wholesale ordering is well-regarded and purpose-built for the wholesale use case.

Where Odoo is stronger

• Complete business system — Odoo covers accounting, CRM, sales, HR, payroll, project management, POS, eCommerce, and website in addition to inventory. Cin7 is an inventory and order management system — you still need Xero or MYOB for accounting, HubSpot or Salesforce for CRM, and separate tools for everything else.
• Manufacturing — Odoo's manufacturing module is a proper MRP system with multi-level BOMs, work centres, routing, quality control, and maintenance. Cin7's manufacturing is more basic — adequate for simple assembly but limited for complex production.
• Accounting integration — With Odoo, your accounting is native — not a sync to a separate system. Inventory movements, COGS, and financial transactions are in one database. With Cin7, you're syncing to Xero/MYOB and reconciling discrepancies between two systems.
• Customisation — Odoo is open-source and highly customisable. You can add fields, modify workflows, and build custom modules. Cin7 is a SaaS platform with limited customisation options.
• POS — Odoo includes a full point-of-sale system sharing the same inventory. With Cin7, you need a separate POS system integrated via API.
• Pricing at scale — As you add users and features, Cin7's pricing escalates. Odoo's per-user pricing is generally more predictable and lower at scale.

Pricing comparison

• Cin7 Core (Dear) — Plans start around $350 USD/month for 5 users and go up based on features and order volume. Advanced features (automation, EDI, B2B portal) require higher-tier plans at $600–$1,000+ USD/month.
• Cin7 Omni — Enterprise pricing, typically $1,500+ USD/month. Required for advanced warehouse management and high-volume operations.
• Odoo Enterprise — Approximately $30–$45 AUD per user/month with access to all modules. A 10-user system with full functionality costs roughly $5,000–$7,000 AUD/year.

On software costs alone, Odoo is significantly cheaper. But remember: Cin7's price includes hosting and support, while Odoo's implementation cost is typically $25,000–$60,000. Over a 3-year period, total costs often converge for smaller operations.

When to stick with Cin7

• Your business is primarily multi-channel eCommerce selling (buy and resell, no manufacturing).
• You're happy with Xero/MYOB for accounting and don't need them integrated more deeply.
• You rely heavily on marketplace integrations (Amazon, eBay, Catch) that Cin7 handles natively.
• You use 3PL fulfilment and need Cin7's pre-built 3PL connections.
• Your team is small (under 5 users) and you don't need CRM, HR, or project management.

When to move to Odoo

• You're tired of reconciling between Cin7 and your accounting system.
• You need proper manufacturing capabilities beyond simple assembly.
• You want CRM, sales, inventory, and accounting in one system instead of three or four.
• You're adding retail stores and need integrated POS.
• You're growing and the total cost of Cin7 + all your other tools is becoming expensive.
• You need custom workflows or fields that Cin7's platform doesn't support.

If you're outgrowing Cin7 or Dear Inventory and considering Odoo, talk to us. We've migrated businesses from Cin7 to Odoo and can give you a realistic picture of what the transition involves.