Odoo
Odoo is the most flexible ERP route for Kenyan SMEs that want accounting, inventory, POS, CRM and payroll in one system. A Kenyan payroll localisation exists in Odoo’s app store, and Nairobi partners ship eTIMS connectors. Quality depends heavily on the partner, and per-user pricing is regionalised — get the shilling quote.
Last verified 28 Oct 2026 · Reviewed by Accounting Software Africa editorial, Publisher editorial desk. Tax figures are cited to the Nigeria Tax Act 2025. Assign a named ICAN reviewer in this field before treating a page as a signed professional opinion.
- Product kind
- All-in-one
- Made in
- Belgium
- Headquarters
- Belgium
- Founded
- 2005
Strengths
- Not African-made
- Inventory + sales + books
- Modular apps
- POS path
What it actually is
Odoo is an ERP. Accounting is one app among inventory, sales, POS and HR. Strength is one database for stock and invoices. Weakness is vanilla tax: NTA 2025 and NRS XML are only as good as the Nigerian implementer you name in the contract.
Features
| Feature | Coverage | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory | Core strength | The reason to buy Odoo rather than a cheap ledger. |
| POS | Strong | Retail and distribution sites join POS to the same database. |
| Invoicing | Strong | Sales orders become invoices. E-invoice XML is a localisation. |
| Double-entry ledger | Present | Accounting app is real. Quality equals partner quality. |
| Financial reports | Present | Standard P&L/BS. Nigerian schedules are localisation work. |
| Multi-currency | Strong | Core accounting. |
| Approvals | Present | Purchase and spend approvals are typical ERP work. |
| Payroll / PAYE | Present | HR/Payroll apps exist. NTA 2025 must be specified. |
| VAT | Present | 7.5% can live in the accounting app. Return format depends on the partner. |
| WHT | Limited | Usually a localisation, not vanilla Odoo. |
| E-invoicing | Limited | Possible through a localisation app. Not automatic on Online. |
| Bank feeds | Limited | Statement import is the Nigerian default unless a connector is scoped. |
| Spend / cards | Present | Expenses and purchase apps. Not a Visa-card spend unicorn. |
| Fixed assets | Present | Available as an app. Confirm it is in the quote. |
Africa reach
| Countries | Presence |
|---|---|
 Nigeria | Partner-led |
 Ghana | Partner-led |
 Kenya | Partner-led |
 South Africa | Partner-led |
Pricing
| Plan | Amount | Billing | Includes | As of |
|---|
Compliance
| Requirement | Status | Note | Verified on |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-invoicing | Via third party | eTIMS connectors from Kenyan partners/app store; confirm KRA approval. | 28 Oct 2026 |
| VAT filing | Partial | Kenyan VAT taxes configurable; VAT3 report via localisation or partner. | 28 Oct 2026 |
| WHT | Partial | Withholding configured as taxes. | 28 Oct 2026 |
| PAYE | Supported | Kenya payroll localisation covers PAYE, NSSF, SHIF and Housing Levy (app store module). | 28 Oct 2026 |
| Local COA | Supported | Configurable chart. | 28 Oct 2026 |
| Multi-currency | Supported | Standard. | 28 Oct 2026 |
| Bank feeds | Partial | Statement import; M-Pesa via partner modules. | 28 Oct 2026 |
Best for
- Retailers wanting POS, inventory and accounting together
- Companies that want payroll in the ERP
- Businesses with an in-house tech person
Not suitable for
- Buyers who want zero configuration
- Teams without budget for a good partner
Local support
A sizeable Odoo partner community operates in Nairobi. Ask for eTIMS references and who maintains custom modules after upgrades.
Migration notes
Phase it: accounting and inventory first, then POS and payroll. Each module added is another cutover.
How is Odoo priced for Kenya?
Odoo publishes per-user plans (Standard and Custom) on its pricing page, with regional pricing and first-year discounts; the One App Free plan covers a single app with unlimited users. Implementation by a Nairobi partner is usually the larger cost.
Can Odoo run Kenyan payroll?
Yes, via a Kenyan payroll localisation module covering PAYE, NSSF, SHIF at 2.75% and the Housing Levy. Validate it against your current payroll for two months.
What about eTIMS?
Partners provide eTIMS integration modules. Ask whether it is OSCU or VSCU, whether it is on KRA’s approved integrator list, and how it handles POS volume.
Sources
- Odoo pricing 28 Oct 2026
- Odoo Apps — Kenya payroll localisation 28 Oct 2026
- FaidiHR — PAYE, NSSF and SHIF explained 28 Oct 2026
Keep reading
- SAP Business One in Kenya
The partner-led alternative.
- Choosing software in Kenya
App or ERP?
Related in Kenya
- How to choose accounting software in Kenya
- Business Central is a strong Kenyan mid-market ERP for distributors, manufacturers and NGOs, with several Nairobi partners offering eTIMS (VSCU-style system integration) and Kenyan payroll extensions. Budget about KSh 10,393–14,290 per full user per month at list plus implementation.
- QuickBooks Online is still widely used by Kenyan accounting firms, but in 2026 it carries an eTIMS tax: Intuit does not ship a KRA integration, so you need a third-party connector, and you pay in dollars. For a new Kenyan SME, Zoho Books is cheaper and eTIMS-ready; QuickBooks makes sense when your accountant’s practice runs on it.
- Kenya has one of the deepest SAP Business One partner benches in Africa, which makes B1 a credible ERP for Nairobi distributors, manufacturers and regional groups expanding into Uganda and Tanzania. Pricing is partner-quoted; eTIMS integration is a partner deliverable you should see working at another customer.
- Tyms suits Kenyan founders and accounting firms who need books caught up and kept current from bank and M-Pesa statements, at $200 per seat per year (about KSh 25,982). It is not an eTIMS integrator, so VAT-registered businesses still need eTIMS invoicing elsewhere — Zoho Books beats Tyms on that for most Kenyan SMEs. Tyms Inc. publishes this site.
- Zoho Books is the best default for Kenyan SMEs in 2026: shilling pricing from KSh 849 a month billed annually, eTIMS transmission on every paid plan as a KRA-approved OSCU integrator, VAT3 return reports, and a direct M-Pesa integration in the Kenya edition. Prices exclude VAT; growing teams hit the user caps before the feature caps.
- PaySpace, now Deel Local Payroll, is a strong choice for Kenyan employers that want a cloud payroll engine maintained for 2026 rules — PAYE, NSSF with the KSh 6,480 cap, SHIF at 2.75% and the Housing Levy — especially groups also paying staff in other African countries. Pricing is by quote.
- TallyPrime is the strongest option in Kenya for inventory-heavy traders who want to own a licence rather than rent software: KSh 57,600 for Silver or KSh 172,800 for multi-user Gold, excluding VAT, with direct eTIMS integration, QR codes and eTIMS status reports. It is desktop software, so remote teams need hosting.