Epicor vs NetSuite: Which ERP Is Right for Your Business?

Choosing an ERP shapes how your business runs today and grows tomorrow. Epicor and NetSuite are two leading options, but they serve different needs. Epicor is strong in manufacturing and distribution, offering detailed control over production and supply chain processes. NetSuite is cloud-native, designed for global scalability, integrated financials, and multi-entity management.

In this blog, we’ll compare Epicor and NetSuite across deployment, features, scalability, pricing, and more. By the end, you’ll understand which system fits your business goals and growth strategy.

What Is Epicor?

Epicor is an ERP platform primarily designed for manufacturers, distributors, and supply-chain-driven businesses. Its strength lies in providing deep operational control, from production scheduling and shop-floor management to inventory and procurement. Epicor offers flexible deployment options, including on-premise, hosted, or cloud-based solutions (Epicor Kinetic). This flexibility appeals to businesses that need to maintain control over IT systems or have complex on-site operational requirements.

Over the years, Epicor has developed industry-specific functionality, particularly for discrete and process manufacturing. Companies that rely on precise production processes, complex bills of materials, or strict regulatory compliance often find Epicor’s depth invaluable.

What Is NetSuite?

NetSuite is a cloud-native ERP platform designed for businesses looking for a unified, scalable system. Unlike Epicor, NetSuite operates entirely in the cloud, providing automatic updates, multi-entity financial consolidation, and integrated NetSuite CRM, eCommerce, and supply chain modules.

Its strength lies in simplicity and scalability. Fast-growing companies, global organizations, and businesses with multi-location operations benefit from NetSuite’s centralized visibility and low IT overhead. NetSuite’s cloud-first design also allows businesses to deploy new features and integrate third-party applications quickly, making it ideal for organizations prioritizing agility and rapid expansion.

Deployment & Cloud Readiness Comparison

Deployment flexibility is a critical factor when evaluating ERP systems, as it impacts IT requirements, upgrade cycles, and integration with existing systems.

Epicor offers multiple deployment options, including on-premise, hosted, or cloud via Epicor Kinetic. This allows companies with strict control requirements, such as manufacturers with on-site production systems, to keep sensitive data in-house while still benefiting from cloud capabilities.

NetSuite, by contrast, is fully cloud-native. It requires no on-premise infrastructure and provides automatic updates and maintenance through its SaaS model. This reduces the burden on internal IT teams and allows businesses to scale quickly across multiple locations or subsidiaries. The trade-off is less control over upgrade timing and on-premise integration complexity, which may require additional planning.

Detailed Feature Comparison of Epicor and NetSuite

1. Financial Management & Accounting

Epicor’s financial management module is tailored for manufacturing and distribution businesses. It focuses on precise cost tracking, project accounting, and compliance reporting. Its strength lies in managing complex production costs and supporting detailed general ledger and accounts payable/receivable processes.

NetSuite, on the other hand, emphasizes global financial management. Multi-entity accounting, multi-currency transactions, and real-time consolidation make it a strong choice for businesses operating across borders. Its reporting dashboards allow executives to make fast, informed decisions without relying heavily on IT support.

2. Manufacturing Capabilities

Epicor is known for its advanced manufacturing features. It provides shop-floor control, production scheduling, and bill-of-material management designed for discrete and process manufacturing environments. Companies with complex production workflows benefit from its detailed operational tools.

NetSuite supports manufacturing but in a broader, less detailed manner. It is sufficient for light-to-medium manufacturing businesses, especially those that need to integrate production with global finance and supply chain operations.

3. Supply Chain & Inventory Management

Epicor provides robust supply chain planning, particularly for distribution-heavy businesses. It emphasizes accurate inventory management, demand forecasting, and supplier collaboration.

NetSuite excels in multi-location inventory visibility and warehouse management. Its cloud-based design allows real-time inventory tracking across global sites, integrated with eCommerce and order management.

4. CRM & Customer Management

Epicor includes CRM functionality, but it often requires third-party tools for advanced sales and marketing automation. Its focus is more operational than customer experience-driven.

NetSuite provides a fully integrated CRM. Sales, service, and marketing automation are natively connected with the ERP, giving businesses a single source of truth for customer data and pipeline management.

5. eCommerce Integration

Epicor offers limited native eCommerce capabilities, often requiring external solutions to support online sales. This can add complexity and integration cost for businesses looking for seamless online operations.

NetSuite’s SuiteCommerce is fully integrated, allowing omnichannel order management and a smooth order-to-cash process. B2B and B2C businesses benefit from a unified platform.

6. Analytics & Reporting

Epicor provides customizable reporting and analytics, but building dashboards often requires IT support. Businesses with strong technical teams can leverage it for detailed operational insights.

NetSuite emphasizes real-time dashboards and KPIs that are accessible to business users. Executives can get insights without deep technical involvement, making decision-making faster.

7. Scalability & Global Capabilities

Epicor is designed primarily for mid-market businesses and can scale with customization. However, global expansion may require additional configuration for multi-currency, multi-tax, and multi-subsidiary operations.

NetSuite is built for global scalability. It offers NetSuite OneWorld, which handles multi-entity, multi-currency, and multi-tax operations natively, making it ideal for companies with international growth plans.

8. Customization & Integration

Epicor is highly customizable, particularly for manufacturing workflows. However, deep customizations can be complex and expensive to maintain.

NetSuite provides SuiteApps, SuiteScript, and SuiteFlow, enabling fast customizations and integrations. Businesses benefit from a large ecosystem of prebuilt extensions.

9. User Experience & Adoption

Epicor’s interface has improved with Epicor Kinetic, but it still carries a steeper learning curve for new users.

NetSuite offers a modern, cloud-native UI with role-based dashboards, mobile access, and faster adoption for teams.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and Pricing

When evaluating ERP systems, it’s important to look beyond initial fees. Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) considers implementation, infrastructure, maintenance, upgrades, training, and scaling as your business grows.

Epicor offers flexible deployment: on-premise, hosted, or cloud (Epicor Kinetic). On-premise deployments require upfront license costs, servers, IT staff, and manual upgrades, which can make TCO higher over time. Cloud deployments reduce infrastructure overhead but may still involve costs for advanced modules, integrations with manufacturing systems, and ongoing support. Training employees on complex manufacturing or supply chain workflows also contributes to the overall TCO.

NetSuite, as a cloud-native ERP, operates on a subscription-based model. Oracle NetSuite Pricing generally includes a base license, per-user fees, and optional modules depending on functionality. The subscription covers hosting, maintenance, and automatic upgrades, making long-term costs more predictable. Implementation is typically faster, and the intuitive interface reduces training costs. However, TCO can increase as the number of users grows or additional modules are added, particularly for businesses expanding globally or requiring multi-entity setups.

Epicor’s TCO can be higher for on-premise deployments due to IT and maintenance demands but offers deep operational control for manufacturers. NetSuite provides a more predictable TCO with its cloud subscription model, making it easier to budget and scale globally. Businesses evaluating NetSuite cost should consider base license fees, per-user costs, and optional modules when planning for long-term growth.

Pros & Cons of Epicor vs NetSuite

To make an informed decision, it’s important to weigh both systems’ strengths and limitations in a structured way. Below is a breakdown of the pros and cons of each ERP.

1. Epicor Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Deep manufacturing and operational control, ideal for discrete and process manufacturers.
• Flexible deployment options: on-premise, hosted, or cloud (Epicor Kinetic).
• Strong supply chain and production workflow capabilities.
• Customizable to meet industry-specific requirements.

Cons:

• Implementation timelines can be longer, especially for on-premise setups.
• Higher IT involvement required for maintenance, upgrades, and infrastructure.
• Steeper learning curve for users due to complex modules.
• TCO can be high, depending on deployment and customization.

2. NetSuite Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Cloud-native SaaS platform with automatic updates and minimal IT overhead.
• Scales easily across multiple subsidiaries, currencies, and countries.
• Integrated modules covering financials, CRM, eCommerce, and supply chain.
• Predictable subscription-based costs; faster deployment compared to on-premise systems.

Cons:

• Less depth in manufacturing and shop-floor capabilities.
• Some complex workflows may require customizations or third-party integrations.
• Subscription costs increase as users and modules are added.

User Reviews & Feedback

Epicor: Users praise its manufacturing and operational depth and flexibility in deployment. Some note a steeper learning curve and need for IT support. 

Source: Epicor Reviews on G2

NetSuite: Users highlight its cloud scalability, integrated modules, and ease of use. Some mention less detailed manufacturing features requiring customization.

Source: NetSuite Reviews on G2

Which One Should You Choose?

Making the right ERP choice depends on your business priorities, industry, and growth strategy.

Choose Epicor if:

• Your business is manufacturing-heavy, with complex production workflows.
• You need detailed control over supply chain, inventory, and shop-floor operations.
• You have an existing IT infrastructure and resources to manage on-premise systems.
• Customization for industry-specific processes is a priority.
• You require flexible deployment options, including on-premise, hosted, or cloud.

Choose NetSuite if:

• Your business is growing rapidly or expanding globally.
• You need a cloud-native platform with minimal IT overhead.
• You want integrated financials, CRM, eCommerce, and supply chain in a single system.
• Predictable subscription-based costs and faster deployment are important.
• Multi-location or multi-entity operations require real-time visibility and consolidation.
  

Conclusion

Choosing the right ERP depends on your business needs and growth plans. Epicor is best for manufacturing-heavy businesses that need detailed operational control and flexible deployment. NetSuite works well for fast-growing, multi-location companies seeking a cloud-native platform with integrated financials, CRM, and eCommerce.

Consider your priorities—operational depth, IT resources, scalability, and global reach—to decide which ERP aligns with your long-term goals.