Oracle’s NetSuite can be a good ERP solution for some businesses, but you should evaluate it carefully if you are not a large, multinational corporation. Many small and midsized companies that choose NetSuite find themselves stuck with a system that's too expensive and too complex for what they actually need.
Our expert team members have worked with dozens of ERP platforms over our decades in the industry, and we've seen this story play out countless times. Business owners are attracted by NetSuite's marketing, only to discover they're paying premium prices for features they'll never use. They struggle with a platform that seems designed for enterprise giants, not growing companies.
Fortunately, the ERP industry is full of options. Depending on your needs, an alternative ERP solution might fit your business better than NetSuite will. We'll explore some of the best options that avoid NetSuite's usual pain points (confusing pricing, overcomplicated setup, and limited support).
By the end of this article, you’ll know which of these NetSuite alternatives would be most suited to your business.
- Why Small and Midsized Businesses Look Beyond NetSuite
- Acumatica: Built for Growing Businesses
- Microsoft Dynamics 365: The Familiar Choice
- Odoo: The Open-Source Alternative
- Sage Intacct: The Finance-First Choice
- SAP S/4HANA: Enterprise Power
- Choosing the Best ERP Platform for Your Business Needs
Why Small and Midsized Businesses Look Beyond NetSuite
NetSuite often positions itself as the "next step" after QuickBooks. The problem is that this particular next step can feel more like a giant leap. Many businesses just aren't suited for NetSuite.
First, the NetSuite pricing structure is very complicated, which makes it hard to estimate total costs. There are base subscription fees, per-user costs, additional charges for modules you thought were included, and surprise increases that can jump 50% or more at renewal time. For a growing business trying to manage cash flow, these unpredictable costs can turn into a real burden.
Then there's the usability factor. NetSuite was built for large enterprises, and it shows. Simple tasks require multiple steps, customizations need specialist help, and training your team can become a months-long project instead of a quick onboarding process. As user Heidi Jo B comments on the objective review site G2, “NetSuite can be overwhelming for new users who aren't familiar with the system. Its complexity means that fully understanding everything it has to offer often requires extensive training.”
Professional reviews note that compared to other ERP publishers, NetSuite provides limited support. Users also report difficulty getting help when they need it. One typical user review on TrustRadius states, “Their support after your support period is over is basically nothing, unless your whole system crashes, so good luck fixing anything.”
Let's look at five popular alternatives that offer better pricing, usability, and support.
1. Acumatica: Built for Growing Businesses
Acumatica takes a completely different approach to ERP that makes sense for companies that want to grow without their software costs spiraling out of control.
Acumatica’s standout feature is a licensing model that includes unlimited users. Instead of charging per person, Acumatica bases pricing on transaction volume and resources consumed. This means you can add seasonal workers, bring on new team members, or expand departments without triggering a budget crisis. For growing companies, this pricing model is a game-changer.
What Makes Acumatica Different
Acumatica’s user experience gets high marks across the board. The interface feels modern and intuitive so your team can actually learn it without extensive training programs. Customization happens through open APIs and low-code tools rather than proprietary languages that require specialist knowledge.
Industry-specific solutions are where Acumatica really shines. Whether you're in eCommerce, manufacturing, distribution, or construction, the platform adapts to your workflows instead of forcing you to adapt to it. The built-in AI even catches data errors before they become problems.
Support comes from Acumatica-certified partners who often continue full proactive support long after implementation.
Where Acumatica Fits Best
Small to midsized businesses with growth plans find Acumatica particularly appealing. If you're tired of per-user licensing that penalizes success, or if you need configuration and personalization without expensive customization, Acumatica will be a good fit for you.
The system works especially well for retail and distribution companies that need real-time inventory tracking and financial reporting without enterprise-level complexity.
2. Microsoft Dynamics 365: The Familiar Choice
If your business already lives in the Microsoft world, Dynamics 365 offers the comfort of familiar territory. The integration with Office 365 means your team won't need to learn completely new interfaces, and data flows seamlessly between applications they already use.
Microsoft's Strengths
The AI capabilities through Microsoft Copilot can genuinely boost productivity, especially for sales and customer service teams. Power Platform integration allows technically minded users to create custom workflows without hiring developers.
For businesses with hybrid IT needs, the flexible deployment options accommodate different infrastructure preferences. You're not locked into one approach from day one.
The Trade-offs
The interface can feel clunky compared to newer ERP systems. Updates sometimes create compatibility issues, and the various components don't always feel like they were designed as a unified system.
Industry-specific functionality often requires additional customization, which adds complexity and cost.
Best Fit Scenarios
Dynamics 365 works best for businesses already invested in Microsoft's ecosystem. If your team is comfortable with Office 365 and you have internal IT resources to manage integration challenges, the familiar environment can reduce adoption friction.
3. Odoo: The Open-Source Alternative
Odoo appeals to businesses that value flexibility above all else. As an open-source platform, it offers customization possibilities that proprietary systems simply can't match.
Odoo's Unique Position
The app-based structure lets you implement only what you need, starting with core functionality and expanding over time. This modular approach keeps initial costs low while providing a clear growth path.
The active community provides extensive support and custom development options. For businesses with enough internal technical expertise, this ecosystem offers value.
Understanding the Limitations
Open-source means you'll need technical resources to manage customization and integration. Enterprise functionality requires the paid version, and support structures are less formal than traditional vendors provide.
Version upgrades can become complex if you've heavily customized your installation. The free community edition is limited in scope, so most growing businesses eventually need the paid enterprise version.
Where Odoo Works
Tech-savvy businesses with internal IT resources and tight budgets find Odoo attractive. The ability to start small and expand makes it appealing for startups and growing companies that prioritize flexibility over structured support.
4. Sage Intacct: The Finance-First Choice
Sage Intacct targets businesses where financial management is the primary concern. If accounting and reporting are your main ERP needs, Intacct delivers sophisticated capabilities without broader operational complexity.
Financial Management Strengths
The dimensional accounting structure provides transparency that accountants and CFOs appreciate. Revenue recognition capabilities work well for subscription businesses, and automated reporting handles compliance requirements efficiently.
Integration with third-party systems is robust, allowing you to keep existing tools while upgrading your financial backbone.
Scope Limitations
Intacct focuses on financial management rather than full ERP functionality. Manufacturing, inventory management, and operational workflows require additional systems or extensive integration work.
There's no built-in CRM functionality, so customer relationship management needs separate solutions.
Ideal Candidates
Service-based businesses and organizations that need sophisticated financial management without operational complexity find Intacct appealing. If accounting is your primary concern and you're comfortable managing other business functions through different systems, this focused approach can work well.
5. SAP S/4HANA: Enterprise Power
SAP S/4HANA represents the enterprise end of the ERP spectrum. For large organizations with complex, multinational operations, it provides capabilities that smaller systems can't match.
Enterprise Capabilities
In-memory database technology delivers performance that handles massive transaction volumes and complex analytics. Industry-specific accelerators can speed implementation for businesses in specialized sectors.
Global compliance and multi-currency support work seamlessly for international operations. The AI and analytics capabilities transform transactional data into business insights.
Complexity and Cost Considerations
Implementation requires significant resources and specialized expertise. The learning curve is steep, and the system can overwhelm businesses that don't need enterprise-grade complexity.
Costs rank among the highest in the ERP market, making it impractical for most small to midsized businesses.
Right-Sized Opportunities
Large enterprises with complex operations that have outgrown mid-market solutions find SAP's depth valuable. Multinational companies with industry-specific requirements may need the specialized modules and global capabilities that SAP provides.
Choosing the Best ERP Platform for Your Business Needs
The ERP solutions market offers several excellent alternatives to NetSuite's one-size-fits-all approach. Each system addresses different business needs and growth stages.
For small to midsized businesses, the choice often comes down to balancing functionality, cost, and complexity.
Consider your actual needs rather than what you think you should need. You want a solution that handles your current requirements well while providing clear growth paths. You don’t want an ERP system that promises everything but delivers complexity you don't need.
The wrong ERP choice creates years of frustration, unexpected costs, and productivity drains that hurt your business growth. The right choice becomes the foundation that supports everything you want to build.
At Stellar One, we've helped dozens of businesses navigate these decisions over the past decade. We understand that choosing an ERP system isn't just about features and pricing – it's about finding a partner that supports your business goals.
Ready to explore which ERP solution actually fits your business?
Check out the more in-depth guides to the Best ERP Software of 2025 or Acumatica vs Odoo.