What are OCA modules?

OCA modules are free, open-source Odoo addons developed and maintained by the Odoo Community Association (OCA). They extend Odoo's functionality across areas like accounting, e-commerce, manufacturing, CRM, and more. OCA maintains 250+ repositories with over 1000 modules, all rigorously reviewed and tested by the community.

Are OCA modules safe to use in production?

Yes, OCA modules are safe for production use. Every module undergoes strict code review, automated testing, and follows OCA's quality guidelines. Many large enterprises and Odoo partners use OCA modules in production. However, always test any new module in a staging environment first and ensure compatibility with your Odoo version.

How do I install OCA modules?

The most common method is to clone the OCA repository using Git (e.g., git clone https://github.com/OCA/account-financial-tools.git --branch 17.0), add the repository path to your Odoo addons_path configuration, install any required Python dependencies, restart Odoo, and then install the modules from the Apps menu. Alternatively, platforms like OEC.sh can automate this entire process.

Can I use OCA modules with Odoo Enterprise?

Yes, most OCA modules work with both Odoo Community and Enterprise editions. However, some modules may duplicate features already in Enterprise or have conflicts with Enterprise-specific modules. Always test in a staging environment first and check the module's documentation for any known compatibility issues with Enterprise.

Which OCA modules are most popular?

Popular OCA modules include: account-financial-tools (advanced accounting), web (UI/UX improvements), partner-contact (contact management), server-tools (backend utilities), sale-workflow (sales process enhancements), stock-logistics-warehouse (inventory management), and reporting-engine (custom reports). The specific modules you need depend on your business requirements.

How do I update OCA modules?

To update OCA modules, navigate to the cloned repository directory and run 'git pull' to get the latest changes. Then restart Odoo with the '-u module_name' flag to update the specific module, or use '-u all' to update all modules. Always backup your database before updating, test updates in staging first, and review the module's changelog for breaking changes.

What is the difference between OCA modules and official Odoo modules?

OCA modules are developed and maintained by the Odoo Community Association, a non-profit organization. While official Odoo modules come from Odoo S.A., OCA modules are community-driven, open-source, and often provide features that complement or extend the official modules. OCA modules undergo rigorous code review and follow strict quality guidelines, making them reliable for production use.

Are OCA modules free to use?

Yes, all OCA modules are 100% free and open-source under the LGPL-3 or AGPL-3 license. You can use them in commercial projects without any licensing fees. However, if you modify AGPL-licensed modules and distribute them, you must share your modifications under the same license.

OCA Modules Guide | Install Odoo Community Addons - OEC.sh

1What is OCA?

The Odoo Community Association (OCA) is a non-profit organization that coordinates the collaborative development of Odoo modules. Founded to promote the use of open-source software, the OCA brings together developers, integrators, and companies worldwide.

Non-Profit Organization

Run by the community, for the community. No commercial interests drive development decisions.

Open-Source Development

All code is freely available on GitHub under LGPL-3 or AGPL-3 licenses.

Quality Standards

Strict code review process ensures high-quality, maintainable modules.

Global Community

Thousands of contributors from over 50 countries maintain 250+ repositories.

Official OCA Website

Visit odoo-community.org to learn more about the organization, membership, and how to contribute.

2Why Use OCA Modules

OCA modules offer a cost-effective way to extend your Odoo installation with enterprise-grade features. Here is why businesses choose OCA modules in 2026:

100% Free and Open-Source

No licensing fees, ever. Use in development, staging, and production without any cost.

Well-Maintained and Tested

Every module passes automated tests, code review, and community validation before release.

Active Community Support

Get help from thousands of developers via GitHub issues, forums, and community channels.

Enterprise-Equivalent Features

Many OCA modules provide functionality similar to Odoo Enterprise at no cost.

Regular Updates

Continuous bug fixes, security patches, and version migrations for each Odoo release.

3Popular OCA Module Categories

OCA maintains over 250 repositories organized by functionality. Here are the most popular categories for extending your Odoo installation:

Accounting

Financial tools, reconciliation, and reporting

account-financial-tools account-reconcile account-invoicing

E-commerce

Online store, product management, and cart features

e-commerce product-attribute sale-workflow

Manufacturing

MRP, BOM management, and production planning

manufacture manufacture-reporting stock-logistics-workflow

HR & Attendance

Employee management, timesheets, and attendance

hr hr-attendance hr-expense

CRM & Contacts

Lead management, partner contacts, and sales pipeline

crm partner-contact sale-reporting

Reporting

Report templates, PDF generation, and dashboards

reporting-engine server-ux server-tools

Web & API

Frontend enhancements, REST API, and widgets

web rest-framework server-auth

Stock & Logistics

Warehouse management, barcode, and shipping

stock-logistics-warehouse stock-logistics-barcode delivery-carrier

Browse All Repositories

Explore the full list of 250+ repositories at github.com/OCA

4How to Install OCA Modules

There are several methods to install OCA modules. The most common approach is using Git to clone repositories directly to your Odoo server. If you haven't deployed Odoo yet, check our complete deployment guide.

Installation Methods

1Git Clone (Recommended)

Clone the entire OCA repository and add it to your addons path. Best for development and customization.

git clone https://github.com/OCA/account-financial-tools.git --branch 17.0 --depth 1

2Git Submodules

Add OCA repositories as submodules to your project for version-controlled dependencies. Works great with Docker deployments.

git submodule add -b 17.0 https://github.com/OCA/account-financial-tools.git addons/oca/account-financial-tools

3OEC.sh Auto-Install

Specify OCA repositories in your project config and OEC.sh handles cloning, dependencies, and updates automatically.

# oec.yaml
addons:
  - repo: OCA/account-financial-tools
    branch: "17.0"
  - repo: OCA/web
    branch: "17.0"

5Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Follow these steps to manually install OCA modules on your Odoo server. This example uses the account-financial-tools repository.

Step 1: Create Addons Directory

Create OCA addons directorybash

# Create a directory for OCA modules
sudo mkdir -p /opt/odoo/oca-addons
sudo chown -R odoo:odoo /opt/odoo/oca-addons

Step 2: Clone the Repository

Clone OCA repositoriesbash

# Switch to odoo user
sudo su - odoo
# Clone the repository (replace 17.0 with your Odoo version)
cd /opt/odoo/oca-addons
git clone https://github.com/OCA/account-financial-tools.git --branch 17.0 --depth 1
# For multiple repositories
git clone https://github.com/OCA/account-reconcile.git --branch 17.0 --depth 1
git clone https://github.com/OCA/web.git --branch 17.0 --depth 1

Step 3: Update Odoo Configuration

Add the OCA directories to your addons_path in the Odoo configuration file:

/etc/odoo/odoo.confini

# Edit /etc/odoo/odoo.conf
[options]
addons_path = /opt/odoo/odoo/addons,/opt/odoo/custom-addons,/opt/odoo/oca-addons/account-financial-tools,/opt/odoo/oca-addons/account-reconcile,/opt/odoo/oca-addons/web

Step 4: Install Python Dependencies

Some OCA modules require additional Python packages. Check each repository for a requirements.txt file:

Install Python dependenciesbash

# Activate Odoo's virtual environment
source /opt/odoo/venv/bin/activate
# Install dependencies for each repository
pip install -r /opt/odoo/oca-addons/account-financial-tools/requirements.txt
pip install -r /opt/odoo/oca-addons/web/requirements.txt
# Or install all at once
find /opt/odoo/oca-addons -name "requirements.txt" -exec pip install -r {} \;

Step 5: Restart Odoo and Update Module List

Restart Odoobash

# Exit odoo user
exit
# Restart Odoo service
sudo systemctl restart odoo
# Check logs for any errors
sudo tail -f /var/log/odoo/odoo.log

Step 6: Install Modules from Odoo

After restarting, update the module list and install the desired modules:

Go to Apps menu in Odoo
Click Update Apps List (requires developer mode)
Search for the OCA module you want to install
Click Install

Enable Developer Mode

To update the apps list, enable developer mode by going to Settings and clicking "Activate the developer mode" at the bottom of the page.

6Best Practices

Follow these best practices to ensure a stable and maintainable OCA module installation. These recommendations apply whether you're managing modules manually or using managed hosting:

Pin to Specific Versions

Always pin your OCA modules to specific commits or tags for reproducible deployments:

# Clone and checkout a specific commit
git clone https://github.com/OCA/web.git --branch 17.0
cd web
git checkout abc123def  # specific commit hash
# Or use a tag if available
git checkout 17.0.1.0.0

Test in Staging First

Never install untested OCA modules directly in production. Always deploy to a staging environment first, verify functionality, and check for conflicts with existing modules.

Check Module Compatibility

Verify compatibility before installation:

Check the __manifest__.py for required Odoo version
Review module dependencies and ensure they are installed
Check open issues on GitHub for known problems
Verify Python dependencies are compatible with your environment

Handle Migrations Carefully

When upgrading Odoo versions:

Check if OCA modules are migrated to the new version
Review migration scripts in the module's migrations folder
Create a full backup before any upgrade
Test the upgrade on a copy of your database first

Document Your Modules

Maintain a list of installed OCA modules with their versions and commit hashes. This makes troubleshooting and replication easier. For development teams, see our developer-focused features.