Download Odoo for Free: Complete Installation Steps
Quick answer: You can get Odoo for free in three ways, depending on your goal: (1) an instant trial with no installation through Odoo's free cloud trial, (2) a quick Docker installation for a development or testing server, or (3) a full installation from source on an Ubuntu server for real production use. This guide explains all three methods in detail, with copy-ready commands.
Before You Start: Which Method Is Right for You?
Your Goal | Recommended Method | Estimated Time |
I just want a quick look at the interface and apps | Free cloud trial | 2 minutes |
I develop or test on my local machine | Docker | 15-30 minutes |
I want to run Odoo on a real production server | Installation from source on Ubuntu | 1 to 2 hours |
Official System Requirements for Odoo 19
Before any installation, make sure your environment meets these requirements (they have been updated from previous versions):
Operating system: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or 24.04 LTS (officially recommended for production). Odoo also runs on Windows and macOS, but for development purposes only, not for real production use.
Python: version 3.10 or later (Ubuntu 24.04 ships with Python 3.12 by default, which is compatible).
PostgreSQL: version 13 or later. Note: this requirement changed in Odoo 19 (version 12 was sufficient in older releases).
Node.js: version 16 or later (18 LTS preferred) for processing front-end assets.
wkhtmltopdf: specifically the patched version 0.12.6 (not the standard package from the Ubuntu repositories) to ensure PDF reports render correctly with headers and footers.
Memory and CPU (for a small production server with up to 5 concurrent users): in practice, a minimum of 4 vCPUs and at least 8 GB of RAM is recommended, along with enough SSD storage to grow with your data.
Method 1: Instant Trial Without Installation
If your goal is simply to explore the interface and apps without any technical commitment, Odoo offers a free cloud trial directly from its official website (odoo.com):
Go to the official "Free Trial" page on the Odoo website.
Choose the app you want to try first (for example, Accounting or CRM).
Create a simple account with your email address.
Within minutes, you get a complete Odoo environment running on Odoo's own servers, ready to explore.
This method requires no technical knowledge and is the best way to evaluate whether the system fits your business before moving on to an actual installation.
Method 2: Installation via Docker (Fastest for Hands-On Testing)
If you already have Docker installed, this is the fastest way to run a real Odoo instance on your machine or server for development and testing.
Step 1: Create a docker-compose.yml file with the following content:
services:
db:
image: postgres:15
environment:
POSTGRES_USER: odoo
POSTGRES_PASSWORD: odoo
POSTGRES_DB: postgres
volumes:
- odoo-db-data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
odoo:
image: odoo:19
depends_on:
- db
ports:
- "8069:8069"
volumes:
- odoo-web-data:/var/lib/odoo
- ./addons:/mnt/extra-addons
volumes:
odoo-web-data:
odoo-db-data:
Step 2: Start the containers from the same folder:
docker compose up -d
Step 3: Open your browser at http://localhost:8069. The screen for creating your first Odoo database will appear right away.
Important note: There is no official Docker image for the Enterprise edition, but you can manually add Enterprise modules on top of the container through the extra add-ons path (extra-addons) if you have an active subscription.
Method 3: Full Installation from Source on Ubuntu 24.04
This method is best suited for a real production server that you manage yourself. The following steps are based on the official Odoo 19 requirements:
1. Update the system and install the core packages:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install -y git python3-pip python3-dev python3-venv build-essential \
libxslt1-dev libzip-dev libldap2-dev libsasl2-dev libssl-dev \
libjpeg-dev zlib1g-dev libpq-dev wget
2. Install PostgreSQL (version 13 or later):
sudo apt install -y postgresql
sudo su - postgres -c "createuser -s odoo"
3. Create a dedicated system user for Odoo:
sudo useradd -m -d /opt/odoo -U -r -s /bin/bash odoo
4. Download the Odoo 19 source code from the official repository:
sudo su - odoo
git clone https://github.com/odoo/odoo --depth 1 --branch 19.0 /opt/odoo/odoo-server
5. Create a Python virtual environment and install the dependencies:
python3 -m venv /opt/odoo/venv
source /opt/odoo/venv/bin/activate
pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel
pip install -r /opt/odoo/odoo-server/requirements.txt
deactivate
exit
6. Install the patched version of wkhtmltopdf (required for correct PDF reports):
wget https://github.com/wkhtmltopdf/packaging/releases/download/0.12.6.1-2/wkhtmltox_0.12.6.1-2.jammy_amd64.deb
sudo apt install ./wkhtmltox_0.12.6.1-2.jammy_amd64.deb
7. Create the configuration file /etc/odoo.conf:
[options]
admin_passwd = your_strong_password_here
db_host = False
db_port = False
db_user = odoo
db_password = False
addons_path = /opt/odoo/odoo-server/addons
logfile = /var/log/odoo/odoo.log
8. Create a systemd service to run Odoo automatically:
[Unit]
Description=Odoo 19
Requires=postgresql.service
After=network.target postgresql.service
[Service]
Type=simple
User=odoo
ExecStart=/opt/odoo/venv/bin/python3 /opt/odoo/odoo-server/odoo-bin -c /etc/odoo.conf
Restart=always
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
Save this to /etc/systemd/system/odoo.service, then enable it:
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable --now odoo
First Login and Database Creation
Once any of the methods above succeeds, open your browser at http://localhost:8069 (or your server's address):
The "Create a New Database" screen will appear. Enter a database name, your email address, and a strong administrator password.
Choose the language (Arabic is officially available) and the country so that local settings are configured automatically.
After the database is created, log in and go to the "Apps" page to install the first app you need (Accounting, Sales, Inventory, and so on).
Common Installation Issues and How to Fix Them
Database connection error: Make sure the PostgreSQL service is actually running (sudo systemctl status postgresql) and that the odoo user was created with the correct privileges.
Port 8069 conflict: Check whether another service is using the same port, or change the port in the configuration file.
PDF report issues (missing header or footer): Usually caused by using the standard wkhtmltopdf package from the Ubuntu repositories instead of the patched version mentioned above.
Python dependency errors during installation: Make sure you activate the virtual environment (venv) before running pip install, to avoid conflicts with system-wide packages.
When Do You Need a Certified Odoo Partner Instead of Self-Installation?
The basic installation described above is suitable for testing and development, but moving to a real production environment that serves an actual business requires additional considerations: automated backups, a firewall and security hardening, a reverse proxy (Nginx) and SSL certificate setup, PostgreSQL performance tuning, and specific localization if you operate in Saudi Arabia (such as e-invoicing support). If you don't have an in-house technical team capable of covering all of these areas, working with a certified Odoo partner becomes the safest and most efficient option, as we explain in detail in our article [How to Choose a Certified Odoo Partner in Saudi Arabia].
Conclusion
Downloading and running Odoo for free is much easier than many people expect, from an instant trial with no installation, to a ready-made Docker environment in minutes, all the way to a full production installation on your own server. The key is choosing the method that fits your current stage: try it first, then move gradually toward a carefully managed production environment once you decide to rely on the system to actually run your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is downloading Odoo Community really free, with no hidden fees? Yes, the source code itself is completely free under the LGPL v3 license. The only potential cost is server hosting if you choose to self-host, which is entirely separate from the software license.
What is the difference between a Docker installation and an installation from source? Docker is faster and easier for testing and development because it isolates all dependencies automatically, while installing from source gives you finer control, suited to long-term production environments.
Can I install Odoo on Windows? Yes, for development and testing only. However, using Windows in a real production environment is not officially recommended, for performance and stability reasons.
What if I run into technical problems during installation? Review the "Common Installation Issues" section above first. If the problem persists, consulting the official documentation at odoo.com/documentation or getting help from an experienced Odoo developer will save you a lot of time compared to lengthy trial and error.
Do I need programming experience to install Odoo? The free cloud trial requires no technical experience. Installing from source on a server, however, requires basic familiarity with Linux terminal commands. If you are not comfortable with them, the first method or working with a technical partner are the best options.
