ERPNext vs Tally
ERPNext vs Tally — which, and how we help you move
Tally is the most common accounting software in Indian mid-market operators; ERPNext is the most common open-source full ERP. They are not rival products doing the same job — Tally is accounting, ERPNext is a full ERP. The honest 2026 comparison is on the long-form guide — this page is the service offer for the mid-market operators that have decided ERPNext is the move and want help with the migration, or for the mid-market operators that are still on the fence and want a short, side-by-side read.
Side by side
| Dimension | ERPNext | Tally |
|---|---|---|
| Per-user licence fee | None (GPL-3.0) | Tally Prime: perpetual or rental |
| Scope | Full ERP — accounting + inventory + manufacturing + CRM + projects | Accounting, with inventory on Tally Prime |
| Implementation cost (30-user Indian mid-market operator) | ₹8–18 lakh | ₹50K–2 lakh (Tally is largely self-implemented) |
| Ongoing cost (30 users, managed) | ₹1.5–4 lakh / year hosting | Tally AMC + TSS, ₹10K–30K / year |
| Manufacturing | First-class — BOM, routing, work orders, subcontracting | Limited; not the primary use case |
| Multi-user concurrency | Unlimited | Single-user on Tally Prime; multi-user on Tally Server |
The detailed feature comparison — every dimension we evaluated and the verdict per row — is on the long-form ERPNext vs Tally guide.
The case for moving
If you are a 10–100 person Indian business on Tally and asking the question, the most useful reframe is: Tally is accounting software, ERPNext is a full ERP. They are not rival products. The decision is whether you need a full ERP — inventory across warehouses, manufacturing, CRM, projects, HR — or whether Tally plus a few other point tools is the right answer. If the answer is a full ERP, ERPNext is the open-source option. The migration is straightforward: masters, open items, opening balances, cutover; transaction history stays in Tally as a read-only archive.
How we help
We deliver Tally → ERPNext migrations for Indian businesses that have decided to move. The engagement follows the masters → open items → opening balance → cutover flow, with one ERPNext company per Tally company (or consolidated, depending on the buyer's policy). Most engagements are 6–10 weeks from kickoff to go-live, depending on the data volume and the number of Tally companies being consolidated.
Engagement shape — Fixed-scope or T&M, with a discovery-led scope freeze. Indicative cost band for a 10–100 person Indian business: ₹8–18 lakh implementation + ₹1.5–4 lakh / year for managed hosting. The detailed comparison is on the ERPNext vs Tally guide.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Tally → ERPNext migration take?
Most engagements are 6–10 weeks from kickoff to go-live, depending on the data volume and the number of Tally companies being consolidated. Tally stays as a read-only archive; transaction history does not migrate.
What does a Tally → ERPNext migration cost in India?
For a 10–100 person Indian business, the implementation cost is typically ₹8–18 lakh, plus ₹1.5–4 lakh per year for managed hosting. The full range is on our pricing hub.
Can we keep Tally and add ERPNext for one module?
Yes — common as a stepping stone, with ERPNext taking inventory + manufacturing and Tally continuing for accounts. We have done this transition; it works but the cutover is more complex than a single cutover.
Should we stay on Tally instead?
Possibly, if your needs are accounting-only and you are happy with Tally's scope, or if the team has deep Tally expertise you do not want to retire. The decision is not about ERPNext being better; it is about whether a full ERP is what your business needs next.
Not sure where to start?
Know your budget? Plan your ERPNext stack.
Three minutes, no signup wall. We ask about your sector, team size, compliance, urgency — and your budget — and recommend a full open-source stack across ERP, commerce, CRM and marketing, with a cost band and a go-live timeline you can download as a PDF proposal. If you already know your number, share it and we will pick the highest-value task that fits.
No email required. The PDF is yours to keep.