Acumatica vs. NetSuite: Which ERP Puts You in Control?

Who’s Really in Control of Your ERP?

Your business is growing fast. You need more control over your ERP—perhaps a private cloud setup for security or an on-premises solution for compliance. But with NetSuite, you hit a wall. You’re locked into Oracle’s cloud, forced to follow their update schedule, and left with limited control over your own data.

Acumatica: A Deployment Model That Works for You

With Acumatica, your ERP works for your business—not the other way around.

• Choose your deployment—cloud, private cloud, or on-premises.
• Switch models without switching systems—so if your needs change, your ERP changes with you.
• Full control over your data, security, and uptime—because no one knows your business better than you.

“The key thing for us with Acumatica is that not only was it web-based, but it wasn’t purely cloud. We liked that we could control it ourselves.” — Ryan Brown, CEO of xByte Technologies

NetSuite: Oracle’s Cloud, Oracle’s Rules

NetSuite offers one way to deploy: their way.

• SaaS-only deployment—locked into Oracle’s cloud, whether or not it fits your business.
• Limited control over data and security—Oracle makes the rules, and you follow them.
• Costly workarounds—if you need a different setup, expect added complexity and expenses.

Why It Matters?

Your business should dictate how your ERP works, not the vendor. With Acumatica, you control your data, your security, and your ERP’s future.

Will Your ERP Costs Stay Predictable, or Spiral Out of Control?

You plan your budget carefully. Your ERP should respect that.

But here’s the problem: Some ERP vendors lure businesses in with low upfront costs, only to ratchet up pricing later. And before you know it, what seemed like a smart investment turns into an unpredictable expense—one that grows faster than your business does.

Acumatica: Pricing That Rewards Growth, Not Punishes It

Your business is thriving. You’re adding employees, expanding operations, and gaining momentum. With Acumatica, your ERP supports that growth, not penalizes it.

• Transparent, predictable pricing—no hidden fees, no mid-contract surprises.
• Unlimited users—your entire team, employees, vendors, and customers can access the system without extra per-user fees.
• Pay for what you use—pricing is based on resources consumed, not headcount, so your costs grow in alignment with your business—not against it.

“Acumatica’s unlimited pricing structure was a big factor. With NetSuite, we knew we would be dealing with Oracle and felt its pricing would go up, knowing how large companies operate.”—Brett Davis, Operations Manager, Bob Davis Sales

NetSuite: Confusing Pricing That Can Cost You More Than You Expect

At first, NetSuite’s pricing might seem reasonable. But then renewal time hits. Suddenly, your costs skyrocket, higher per-user fees, surprise charges, and ‘mandatory’ add-ons. Budgeting becomes a nightmare.

• Per-user pricing inflates costs as your team grows.
• Price hikes are common at contract renewals.
• Many features require costly add-ons.

Does Your ERP Fit Your Business—Or Force You to Fit It?

Your business is one-of-a-kind, so why shouldn’t your ERP be? You need a system that works for you—not one that forces you to change your processes, pay for expensive customizations, or rely on costly third-party tools just to make things work.

Acumatica: Built to Adapt to Your Business

With Acumatica, your ERP works the way you work.

• Industry-specific editions—construction, manufacturing, distribution, retail, and services.
• Open APIs for seamless integrations—connect Acumatica to the tools you already use.
• Custom workflows, reports, and dashboards—built-in, without expensive developer intervention.
• No vendor lock-in—you’re in control of your system, not forced into proprietary limitations.

“Acumatica has been a game-changer for us. We automated so many workflows and customized reporting with no need for expensive third-party tools. It’s saved us both time and money.”—Shaun Jackson, VP of Operations, Quantum Group.

NetSuite: Customization at a Cost

NetSuite claims to be flexible—but flexibility comes with a price tag.

• Customizations require expensive SuiteScript developers.
• Industry-specific solutions often require third-party apps.
• Limited API access makes integrations harder and more expensive.
• Locked into Oracle’s ecosystem, switching or customizing beyond their parameters is difficult.

Why It Matters?

Your ERP should adapt to your business—not force you to adapt to it. Acumatica gives you control and flexibility without the hidden costs.

Reporting & Analytics: Instant Insights or Hidden Costs?

Your ERP should do more than store data—it should turn that data into insights that drive smarter decisions.

Acumatica: Powerful Reporting, No Extra Fees

Acumatica delivers real-time insights from day one—no pricey add-ons required.

• Customizable dashboards & real-time reporting—access the data you need, when you need it.
• Built-in AI and machine learning tools—turn raw data into useful insights.
• Seamless Excel and BI integrations—analyze data your way.
• No extra licensing fees for advanced analytics—because data shouldn’t be a luxury.

“I can drill down into reports and get real-time data at a level of detail we never had before. Acumatica gives us clarity we didn’t even know we were missing.”—Mark Shane, CFO, Bob Davis Sales

NetSuite: Strong Reporting—If You’re Willing to Pay for It

NetSuite’s reporting capabilities are solid—but advanced, Power BI-style analytics often come with extra costs.

• Many custom reports need a NetSuite developer to configure.
• Data extraction can be cumbersome, with limited out-of-the-box customization.
• Costs increase if you need external business intelligence tools.

Why It Matters?

The right ERP doesn’t just store information, it helps you make better decisions, faster. With Acumatica, your team always has instant access to the insights they need—without waiting on IT or paying extra for reporting features that should come standard.

Will Your ERP Grow with You—or Hold You Back?

Your business is growing. New hires, new locations, new opportunities. But with growth comes a big question: Will your ERP keep up—or will it slow you down?

Too many businesses start strong with an ERP, only to find that growth means paying more, upgrading on someone else’s schedule, or struggling to get decent support when it matters most. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

Acumatica: Transparent Support and Seamless Scalability

Acumatica grows with you—without the hidden costs or frustrating restrictions.

•  No per-user fees mean your team can expand freely, without software costs increasing with headcount.
•  You control when and how to update, ensuring technology works on your schedule—not the vendor’s.
• A customer-first commitment—Acumatica’s Customer Bill of Rights guarantees fair pricing and long-term transparency.

“We needed an ERP that would grow with us, not one that would nickel-and-dime us as we expanded. Acumatica gave us that freedom.”—Brandon Dunn, COO, Shoebacca.

NetSuite: Price Hikes and Tiered Support Can Slow You Down

NetSuite claims to be scalable—but growing often means paying more.

•  Per-user pricing adds up fast. Every new hire means a bigger bill.
•  Mandatory upgrades force businesses to update on NetSuite’s timeline, not theirs.
•  Tiered support means better service requires premium pricing.
•  Unexpected renewal price hikes leave businesses feeling trapped.

Why It Matters?

Your ERP should be a growth enabler, not a financial burden. With Acumatica, you get cost predictability, accessible support, and the flexibility to grow on your own terms—so you can focus on growing your business, not your software bill.