SAP vs. Oracle

Last Updated: August 27th, 2024
Researched and Written by: Lexi Wood

SAP and Oracle provide some of the most popular ERP software products on the market. The main functions covered by these ERP vendors primarily include financials, sales, supply chain management, and human resources, though they have specialized applications available for specific industries. Find out which SAP or Oracle ERP product suits your business best.

What is SAP ERP?

SAP Business One
SAP Business One Screenshot
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$410/user/year
Client OS
Windows
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
What We Like
Highly customizable
Improved decision-making capabilities via extensive BI
Multi-currency/multi-language support
What We Don’t Like
Requires phone consult for pricing
Setup usually requires help from a Value Added Reseller (VAR)
No payroll module
A comprehensive business management capabilities for small to medium-sized companies. This system provides integrated departmental support for finance, sales, supply chain management, production, project management, and production processes.
SAP Business All-in-One
SAP Business All-in-One Screenshot
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Client OS
Windows
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
What We Like
Supported multiple real-time ledgers for local GAAP, IFRS, tax, and US-GAAP processes
Managed multiple processes and reports required for foreign trade
Integrated with CAD systems, geographic information systems (GIS)
What We Don’t Like
Discontinued
Tedious setup
An on-premise or cloud-based ERP system for midsize organizations up to enterprise businesses. This ERP can work in any area across your operation, particularly manufacturing.
SAP S/4HANA
SAP S/4HANA Screenshot
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Client OS
Windows, Web
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
What We Like
HANA database
Large network of resellers
Strong BI tools
What We Don’t Like
Difficult setup
Lack of pricing transparency
Relatively new and unproven
An intelligent, integrated ERP system built to run on the in-memory database, SAP HANA. Deployable in the cloud or on-premise to help drive instant value across all lines of business and industries. Plan, execute, predict, and simulate with real-time data insights. Includes personalized user experience with SAP Fiori.

SAP was founded in 1972 by five former IBM engineers. Since then, the company has evolved significantly, launching various versions of its software and expanding into a leading multinational business. Each of SAP’s ERP products is designed with a different audience and goal in mind.

The flagship SAP S/4HANA is perhaps the most well-known, followed by Business One and Business All-in-One. Of the three, S/4HANA makes both the Internet of Things (IoT) and big data accessible with real-time insight into any data. This allows companies to better plan, execute, predict, and simulate at all times.

SAP Business One provides comprehensive business management capabilities for small and medium-sized companies. There is also SAP Business All-in-One, an ERP solution designed for mid-market to enterprise-size businesses. Both cloud platform systems provide integrated departmental support for finance, sales, supply chain management, production, project management, and production processes.

SAP ERP solutions offer a wide range of functional support for a variety of industry types. These three ERP products are primarily used by manufacturers and distributors, but they are also used in real estate and healthcare. Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) functions help customize these solutions to your business needs.

SAP Business One primarily functions as a cloud-based platform. However, these three products are also available with on-premise implementation. Depending on your needs, you can customize a hybrid model between the on-premise and cloud-based products.

What is Oracle?

Oracle ERP Cloud
Oracle ERP Cloud Screenshot
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$175/user/month
Client OS
Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
What We Like
Automated and controlled financial planning and reporting
Flexible scalability
No expensive hardware required for deployment
What We Don’t Like
Additional costs for integrated products
Basic reporting tools
High implementation costs
Oracle Cloud ERP is an integrated suite of business modules composed of various ERP tools. The cloud-based platform assists with functions of business intelligence (BI), finance, project management, procurement, risk management, and other day-to-day activities.
NetSuite ERP
NetSuite ERP Screenshot
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$99/user/month
Client OS
Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
What We Like
Hundreds of third-party add-ons available
Feature sets for multiple industries
Highly customizable
What We Don’t Like
Must schedule a consult for pricing details
Tedious setup
Difficult to build reports
NetSuite ERP is designed for modern companies that require cloud access and mobile-enabled tools. This works great for companies with multiple locations by offering real-time access information wherever they are located. NetSuite is designed to support growing organizations, as it lets you add or customize features as your company grows.

Oracle was founded in 1977 under Software Development Laboratories (SDL). In the 1980s, the company changed its name to Oracle Corporation and expanded its product portfolio, incorporating ERP and CRM software.

Oracle Cloud ERP, formerly Oracle Fusion, is an integrated suite of business modules capable of various ERP functions. This suite allows organizations to manage their financial operations, procurement, inventory, workforce, project delivery, and compliance requirements under one roof.

NetSuite ERP is another product offered through Oracle. It offers strong built-in modules, including ones for inventory control, project management, HR, and more, and can integrate with eCommerce and point-of-sale systems.

These systems can be scaled depending on the applications needed, the number of users requiring access, the number of transactions you process, and more. They are only available as cloud-based solutions.

Pricing Models

Pricing on ERP products depends on various factors, including required functionality, support expectations, implementation and training needs, deployment preference, active promotions, annual revenue, and user count. Consequently, pricing on SAP and Oracle solutions can vary significantly. Also, ERP vendors are software-as-a-service (SaaS) subscriptions, meaning payments are made continually by month or year.

SAP S/4HANA pricing primarily depends on if you’re using the on-premise or cloud option. SAP Business One and Business-All-in-One costs are based on the number of users. Most mid-market to enterprise corporations expect to spend tens of thousands over the first 3 years of use. As an example, the following chart calculates the average spending range over a 3 year SaaS period of total ownership reported by SAP Business One reviewers:

SAP Business One Pricing
Cost estimates for SAP software over 3 years.

Oracle Cloud ERP has a different pricing structure. The basic platform begins at $175 per user per month, and additional financial controls are available for an additional $80 per user per month. Then, access controls are an added $150 per user per month. NetSuite ERP is available for $99 per user per month.

Organization Size

Both Oracle and SAP offer ERP solutions for businesses ranging from freelancers to global enterprises. Oracle Cloud ERP is mainly intended for mid-market and enterprise corporations, although small businesses can use it. NetSuite is more appropriate for smaller companies.

SAP S/4HANA is intended for enterprises, particularly those with a global presence. Additionally, SAP’s Business One software is popular with mid-market to small businesses, while larger companies prefer the Business All-in-One.

SAP vs Oracle: Which ERP is Best?

SAP and Oracle ERP products both have benefits and drawbacks. Your selection will depend on your business needs, company size, and industry. SAP products tend to be used by enterprise-level manufacturers, while Oracle is better suited to enterprise and midmarket companies in any field. Yet no single platform has a clear advantage over the others without considering your current business processes.

SAP S/4HANA
SAP S/4HANA Screenshot
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Client OS
Windows, Web
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
What We Like
HANA database
Large network of resellers
Strong BI tools
What We Don’t Like
Difficult setup
Lack of pricing transparency
Relatively new and unproven
Oracle ERP Cloud
Oracle ERP Cloud Screenshot
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$175/user/month
Client OS
Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
What We Like
Automated and controlled financial planning and reporting
Flexible scalability
No expensive hardware required for deployment
What We Don’t Like
Additional costs for integrated products
Basic reporting tools
High implementation costs
SAP Business One
SAP Business One Screenshot
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$410/user/year
Client OS
Windows
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
What We Like
Highly customizable
Improved decision-making capabilities via extensive BI
Multi-currency/multi-language support
What We Don’t Like
Requires phone consult for pricing
Setup usually requires help from a Value Added Reseller (VAR)
No payroll module
NetSuite ERP
NetSuite ERP Screenshot
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$99/user/month
Client OS
Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
What We Like
Hundreds of third-party add-ons available
Feature sets for multiple industries
Highly customizable
What We Don’t Like
Must schedule a consult for pricing details
Tedious setup
Difficult to build reports
SAP Business All-in-One
SAP Business All-in-One Screenshot
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Client OS
Windows
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
What We Like
Supported multiple real-time ledgers for local GAAP, IFRS, tax, and US-GAAP processes
Managed multiple processes and reports required for foreign trade
Integrated with CAD systems, geographic information systems (GIS)
What We Don’t Like
Discontinued
Tedious setup

Looking for a new ERP system by SAP or Oracle? Get free help from one of our software advisors.

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