Odoo 9, released in 2015, is mainly an accounting release: a reworked Accounting app with bank reconciliation, VAT reporting and multi-currency, alongside multi-website support, a drag-and-drop website builder and MRP work orders and routings. Neither Odoo 8 nor Odoo 9 is supported today — Odoo grants three years of standard support per major version, and its support table shows every release older than Odoo 14 as unsupported on Odoo Online and Odoo.sh, with paid extended support on-premise only. The real decision for anyone on these versions is which supported release to land on: Odoo 17, 18 or Odoo 19.
Comparing Odoo 8 and Odoo 9
Introduction: Odoo 9 continued the evolution of the platform, offering significant enhancements over Odoo 8. In this comparison, we'll explore the major differences between Odoo 8 and Odoo 9, focusing on the new features, improved performance, and overall user experience.
1. The New Accounting Features in Odoo 9
One of the standout improvements in Odoo 9 was the complete overhaul of the Accounting module. This version introduced more robust accounting features, making it more suitable for businesses with complex accounting needs.
Key Differences
- Full Accounting Suite: Odoo 9 included advanced accounting features such as journal entries, VAT reports, multi-currency support, and bank reconciliation, which were more streamlined and better integrated compared to Odoo 8.
- Accounting Dashboard: Odoo 9 introduced a more detailed accounting dashboard, helping users get a clear overview of financial health in real time.
2. Multi-Website Feature in Odoo 9
With the introduction of the Multi-Website feature, Odoo 9 made it easier for businesses to manage multiple websites from a single Odoo instance. This was a game changer for businesses with diverse product offerings or regional operations.
Key Differences
- Multi-Website Management: Odoo 9 allowed businesses to create and manage multiple websites from one Odoo instance, offering greater flexibility and control over their online presence.
- Website Customization: With Odoo 9, users could customize different websites individually, which was not possible in Odoo 8.
3. HR and Payroll Enhancements
Odoo 9 brought several improvements to the Human Resources and Payroll modules. The HR module was more comprehensive, with better payroll management, employee performance tracking, and other HR-related features.
Key Differences
- Employee Appraisal: Odoo 9 introduced employee appraisal features to help businesses assess employee performance.
- Payroll Integration: The Payroll module was greatly improved, including better salary structure management and seamless payroll processing.
4. Improved Website Builder
The Website Builder received a major upgrade in Odoo 9, making it easier for businesses to create and maintain websites without requiring extensive coding knowledge.
Key Differences
- Drag-and-Drop Interface: Odoo 9 introduced a more user-friendly drag-and-drop interface for building websites, which made website creation accessible to non-technical users.
- SEO Features: Odoo 9's website builder came with better SEO features to help businesses improve their search engine rankings.
5. New Manufacturing and MRP Features
Odoo 9 also saw enhancements to the Manufacturing and MRP modules. These improvements were aimed at companies that needed more sophisticated manufacturing processes and better inventory management.
Key Differences
- Manufacturing Orders: Odoo 9 allowed for better management of manufacturing orders, with more detailed workflows and status tracking.
- Routing and Work Orders: Odoo 9 introduced routing and work orders for manufacturing processes, making it easier to track the production lifecycle.
Conclusion
Odoo 9 brought a host of significant improvements over Odoo 8, including a complete accounting overhaul, multi-website management, enhanced HR features, and better website building tools. These advancements allowed Odoo to cater to more complex business needs and further cemented its position as an all-in-one business management solution.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Odoo 8 | Odoo 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | Basic accounting features | Advanced features like VAT reports, multi-currency, and bank reconciliation |
| Multi-Website | Not available | Multi-website management and customization |
| HR & Payroll | Basic HR functionality | Improved payroll, appraisals, and employee performance tracking |
| Website Builder | Basic website builder | Drag-and-drop builder with SEO features |
| Manufacturing & MRP | Basic manufacturing features | Advanced MRP with work orders and routing |
Questions we get asked
Is Odoo 9 still supported?
No. Standard support runs three years from release and covers helpdesk, bug fixing and security updates; Odoo 9's ended long ago. Odoo's support table lists every version older than Odoo 14 as unsupported on Odoo Online and Odoo.sh, with paid extended support available only on-premise, and that extended support means helpdesk and bug fixes, not security patches. An Odoo 9 database is running without security updates.
Can I upgrade from Odoo 9 directly to Odoo 19?
Yes. Odoo allows an upgrade from any version, but only onto a supported target, which today means 17.0, 18.0 or 19.0 — the only options its upgrade platform offers. The database conversion is a single request, not nine consecutive upgrades. The effort sits in your custom modules, which must exist in a version compatible with the target before the upgrade can complete.
Does the Odoo 9 accounting setup carry across to a current version?
The concepts do; the data model does not. Odoo 9's Accounting app is the ancestor of today's, but invoices, vendor bills and journal entries now share the single account.move model, and the reconciliation tools and tax reports were rebuilt more than once in between. Odoo's upgrade scripts convert standard accounting data. Custom accounting reports written for Odoo 9 will not survive the move.
Is the multi-website feature from Odoo 9 still available?
Yes. A single database can still serve several websites with their own pages, products and settings, and Odoo documents multi-website setup for the current release. The building blocks, themes and checkout flow have been rewritten repeatedly since 2015, so site content is normally rebuilt rather than migrated. Plan the website as separate work from the ERP database upgrade.
Should I move off Odoo 9 now or wait?
Now, and the reason is exposure rather than features: no security updates, no helpdesk unless you pay for extended support on-premise, and a longer list of customisations to port with every year. Odoo only accepts upgrades onto supported versions, so waiting does not shorten the work. Start with an upgraded test copy; our upgrade guide covers the sequence.