In a constantly evolving technological environment, regularly updating your Odoo system is essential to ensure its performance, security, and access to new features. However, for businesses using customized solutions, each upgrade can present additional challenges. In this article, we share the mechanisms of mandatory updates, the impacts on clients with a customized implementation, as well as recommendations for adopting an optimal update cycle.
Mandatory upgrades: how does it work?
Odoo releases a major new version every year (Odoo 15, 16, 17, 18, etc.). For clients on Odoo Online, the upgrade is automatic and unavoidable. For Odoo.sh and instances on private servers, the update is technically avoidable in the short term, but it becomes necessary to benefit from official support, avoid security vulnerabilities, and take advantage of new features.
Impacts for a client with a customized implementation
When a client goes through an Odoo partner for an implementation with customizations (specific modules, workflow adaptations, third-party integrations), each upgrade can lead to:
An adaptation of specific developments: The developed modules must be updated and tested to ensure their compatibility with the new version.
Testing and validation: Before going into production, it is necessary to verify that everything works as expected and to correct any potential issues.
An additional cost: Depending on the extent of the customizations, the upgrade can represent a significant cost, as it requires code update work and thorough testing.
Recommendation for a 2-year upgrade cycle
Rather than updating every year, a more balanced approach would be to adopt an update cycle every 2 years:
✅ Lower recurring costs: An upgrade every 2 years reduces the frequency of adaptations and optimizes the investment in development.
✅ Avoid obsolescence: Staying too long on an old version can make updates more complex and costly in the long run.
✅ Adaptation time for users: A 2-year cycle allows employees to
iN SUMMARY
Decision table – Odoo migrations (situation in 2026)
| Your current version | Situation in 2026 | Odoo.sh hosting | Short-term risk | Recommended decision |
| Odoo V15 | ❌ No longer supported by Odoo (bugs & security) | ❌ End of Odoo.sh in Sept. 2026 | 🔴 Critical (security & stability) | 🚨 Migrate immediately to V19 |
| Odoo V16 | ⚠️ End of standard support included (end 2025) / Licenses will cost more | ⚠️ Allowed until Sept. 2027 | 🟠 High in 2026 | 🔁 Migrate to V19 as a priority |
| Odoo V17 | ⚠️ Last year of included support | ✅ Until Sept. 2028 | 🟠 To be anticipated now | 🔁 Plan migration to V19 |
| Odoo V18 | ✅ Stable and supported version | ✅ Until Sept. 2029 | 🟢 Low | ✅ Good version, migration to be planned later |
| Odoo V19 | 🟢 Last major version | ✅ Until Sept. 2030 | 🟢 None | 🚀 Recommended target version |
Update - April 2026
Here is the table provided by Odoo that shows year after year the coverage of versions.
- 'Uncovered versions' indicates that support and security vulnerability updates are no longer included in the price of your licenses if you hold the indicated version or lower.
- "Upgrade due date" : date after which you will have to pay an additional 25% on the cost of your licenses from Odoo in order to continue to be supported. This is not a choice but an obligation. And this applies whether you are on odoo.sh or on external servers to Odoo (on premise). SaaS users are automatically migrated, and are therefore never subject to this increase.
Conclusion and recommendations
From the initial implementation, it is important to integrate the perspective of upgrades into the customization strategy.
Favor customizations based on Odoo's native tools (Studio, Automations) as much as possible to reduce technical debt.
Include a projected upgrade budget from the start to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Work with the Odoo partner to establish an upgrade plan every 2 years, rather than annually, to better manage costs and impacts on the business.
These upgrade costs are not included in our annual support service.
More info on Odoo upgrades: click here to discover the official Odoo documentation.
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