Odoo Apps

CRM

Odoo S.A. · CRM & sales clouds

Best for: Python developers shipping ERP/CRM modules across Odoo's many business apps.

Overview

The Odoo Apps Store is the module marketplace for Odoo, the open-source suite whose CRM, Sales, Invoicing, Inventory, and dozens of other apps share one data model. It is one of the largest business-software module ecosystems, built by the Odoo community (notably the OCA), independent developers, and Odoo partners who publish both free and paid modules and themes for every supported Odoo version.

Modules are Python/XML packages tied to a Git repository: developers register a repo, Odoo scans it, and the module is published against a chosen Odoo version. External integrations authenticate primarily via API keys passed as the password in XML-RPC or JSON-RPC calls or through an X-Api-Key header, with session and database-uid auth as alternatives, and Odoo 19 adding OAuth2 provider capability. Publishing is deliberately open — Odoo does not pre-review every module and instead removes listings reactively when users report abuse. Choose the Odoo Apps Store when extending the Odoo ERP/CRM stack itself with vertical modules, localizations, or connectors for self-hosted and Odoo-cloud customers.

How to build & ship

  1. 1Scaffold an Odoo module with a valid __manifest__.py (name, version, license, depends)
  2. 2Implement models in Python (ORM), views/data in XML, and front-end widgets with OWL/JS
  3. 3Add a static/description/index.html listing page plus icon and cover image
  4. 4Test that the module installs cleanly by dropping it into the addons path, and set a version per Odoo release
  5. 5Upload via the Odoo Apps Store submission form, choosing price or free

Key APIs & SDKs

Odoo ORM (Python models)
__manifest__.py module definition
XML views / QWeb templates
OWL (Odoo Web Library) JS framework
XML-RPC / JSON-RPC external API
Controllers (HTTP routes)

Authentication & security

  • Primary auth: API key
  • Also supports: OAuth 2.0, None
  • Security review: Not required
  • Odoo does not pre-review every module; it acts reactively on user-reported abuse (data theft, hidden code, undisclosed data collection).
  • Apps are scored against baseline criteria (icon, cover, license, description, ratings) and must install cleanly and be version-specific; review is lightweight relative to enterprise stores.
  • Odoo core does not enforce rate limits; SaaS/odoo.sh apply infrastructure limits (commonly cited around 60 requests/minute).

Monetization

Onboarding
$0 (free Odoo and VCS account required)
Commission
Odoo takes a cut of paid-app sales (developer take-rate not publicly disclosed)
Merchant of Record
Odoo processes paid-app purchases

Pros & cons for builders

Pros

  • Familiar, well-documented Python/XML stack with a large developer pool
  • Huge Odoo install base across ERP, CRM, and business apps
  • Low barrier to publish and a low minimum price
  • Modules are self-contained and easy to distribute

Cons

  • Odoo takes a revenue-share commission on paid sales
  • Apps must be maintained separately for each Odoo major version
  • Community vs. Enterprise edition differences complicate compatibility