Looking for an AFAS alternative?
AFAS is strong in HR, payroll and administration - but for some businesses it is too costly per employee, too rigid, or too narrow outside HR. Here are the best alternatives side by side, including the honest answer on Dutch payroll.
Odoo Gold Partner · Amsterdam · experienced with switches off Dutch ERP packages
What is the best alternative to AFAS?
It depends on what you use AFAS for. If your organisation mainly runs on Dutch payroll and HR, no broad platform replaces that one-for-one - you pair a payroll specialist such as Nmbrs or Loket. If you mainly want a broader, more flexible business platform - sales, stock, manufacturing, projects and a webshop - Odoo is usually the strongest alternative. If your need is mostly accounting, Exact is a lighter option.
The best AFAS alternatives, honestly scored
We are an Odoo partner, so we are not neutral about what we build. But an honest overview is the only one that counts: AFAS is strong where it is strong (Dutch payroll and HR). The difference is what you need most.
| Alternative | Breadth (ERP + HR) | Flexibility / customisation | eCommerce & trade | Pricing model | SMB fit | Short verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OdooTop pick | Broad ERP, HR on board, payroll via integration | High (open source) | Native and strong | Per user | Strong | Best if you want a broad, flexible platform |
| Exact Online | Bookkeeping-first, narrower | Medium | Via integrations | Per user, tiered | Reasonable | Strong Dutch accounting, narrower as a platform |
| Dynamics 365 BC | Broad ERP | High (Microsoft stack) | Via apps | Per user, higher | Heavier | Strong in Microsoft shops, pricier and partner-dependent |
| NetSuite | Broad, enterprise | High | Strong | High | For scale/international | Cloud ERP for growth and international; often overkill for SMBs |
| Visma.net | Accounting + HR | Medium | Limited | Per module | Reasonable | Solid NL/Nordic mid-option, less broad |
Which alternative fits which situation?
Briefly per option, so you can shorten the shortlist faster:
Odoo
Strongest if you are outgrowing AFAS or find it too rigid and want a broad, flexible platform: sales, stock, manufacturing, projects, webshop and finance on one model, with HR on board. Open source, so extensible without vendor lock-in. For the Dutch payroll run you integrate a specialist - deliberately separate, not half-done.
Exact Online
The lighter choice if your need is mostly accounting and invoicing. Strong and proven in the Netherlands, but narrower as a company-wide platform: trade, manufacturing and projects lean on integrations sooner.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Logical if your organisation is already deep in the Microsoft stack (Teams, Power BI, Azure AD). Broad and powerful, but heavier to implement, priced higher and more partner-dependent than Odoo at comparable scope.
NetSuite
A cloud ERP for businesses scaling fast or going international, with strong multi-entity and consolidation. Powerful, but pricey and often too heavy for the Dutch SMB outgrowing AFAS.
Visma.net
A solid mid-option with accounting and HR, strong in the Benelux and Northern Europe. Less broad and less flexible than Odoo, but a safe choice if you stay close to administration and HR.
What AFAS does, and where you find it in Odoo
AFAS bundles a lot into one package. Here is how each area maps to Odoo:
| In AFAS | In Odoo |
|---|---|
| Finance & accounting | Native Accounting on one ledger |
| Invoicing & subscriptions | Sales, Invoicing and Subscriptions |
| HR, leave & absence | Employees, Time Off and Attendances |
| Payroll (NL) | No native Dutch payroll; integrate a payroll specialist (Nmbrs, Loket) |
| CRM & sales | CRM and Sales on one customer view |
| Projects & time | Projects and Timesheets, billed through to invoicing |
| Workflows & approvals | Studio and Approvals for tailored processes |
| Stock & manufacturing | Inventory and Manufacturing (MRP), native |
Why businesses look for an AFAS alternative
The reasons we hear most: the all-in price per employee climbs as you grow, including for people who barely touch the system; the package is powerful but rigid, so processes that do not fit the AFAS model take effort; and outside HR, payroll and finance it thins out - trade, manufacturing, eCommerce and project portfolio soon call for integrations or a second system.
The payroll question: the honest answer
AFAS is famous for its integrated Dutch payroll, and rightly so. None of the alternatives above - Odoo included - replaces it natively, one-for-one. If you use AFAS mainly for the payroll run, weigh that honestly. The usual route on a switch: the broad platform for finance, HR, sales and operations, integrated with a Dutch payroll specialist such as Nmbrs or Loket. Deliberately separate, not half-finished - and your payroll stays with a party that does only that.
Per employee or per user: what it does to the price
AFAS charges all-in per employee. That is clear, but you also pay for people who barely open the system, and the bill scales with headcount. Odoo charges per active user, all modules included. For a business with many employees but few system users that gap can be large; where nearly everyone works in the system, they sit closer together. Run it on your own numbers.
How to choose
Three rules of thumb. One: if your organisation mainly runs on Dutch payroll and HR, no broad platform is a one-for-one replacement - pick a payroll specialist and build the rest around it. Two: if you want a broad, flexible business platform that grows with you, Odoo is usually the strongest choice. Three: if your need is mostly accounting, or you are already deep in Microsoft, then Exact and Dynamics 365 respectively are the logical candidates. Unsure? Start from what you need most, not from the feature list.
Curious about realistic hours, cost and timelines? See the Odoo implementation benchmark →
Frequently asked questions about AFAS alternatives
Is Odoo a good alternative to AFAS?
For businesses that want a broad, flexible platform - sales, stock, manufacturing, projects, webshop and finance on one model - Odoo is usually the strongest alternative. You integrate a specialist for the Dutch payroll run; the rest runs natively in Odoo.
Can an alternative replace AFAS payroll?
Not natively, one-for-one. The strength of AFAS is its integrated Dutch payroll. On a switch you integrate the new platform with a Dutch payroll specialist such as Nmbrs or Loket. That is a deliberate choice, not a half measure.
What is the cheapest AFAS alternative?
It depends on your use. If your need is mostly accounting, a light package like Exact is cheap. For a broad platform the pricing model matters: AFAS charges per employee, Odoo per user with all modules included - run it on your own numbers.
How long does switching from AFAS take?
A well-scoped implementation takes weeks to a few months, depending on scope and customisation. We start with a fit-gap and a data plan; the payroll integration and open items are planned in explicitly.
Will I lose functionality leaving AFAS?
On payroll no broad alternative matches the native depth of AFAS; you cover that with an integration. On most other fronts - sales, stock, manufacturing, eCommerce, projects - you actually gain back breadth and flexibility that are thinner or rigid in AFAS.
Outgrown AFAS? Pick what fits your business.
We are happy to think along about which alternative fits your situation - even if that is not Odoo, and honest about the payroll question. One conversation saves months of doubt.