NetSuite is a cloud-native ERP system serving mid-market to enterprise companies with integrated financials, inventory, and CRM, while Sage offers on-premise and cloud accounting software primarily for SMBs with lower pricing but less integrated functionality. NetSuite costs 3-5x more but handles complex multi-subsidiary operations; Sage is better for simpler accounting needs.
Sage vs NetSuite — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Accounting and business management software for SMBs with on-premise and cloud options
Cloud-native ERP platform for mid-market and enterprise with integrated financials, inventory, CRM, and e-commerce
Deployment Model. Starting Price (Monthly). ERP Functionality (Financials + Inventory + CRM). Multi-Subsidiary Support. Target Market Revenue. Implementation Time. Global Tax Localization
Choose Sage if you're a small-to-medium business (under $50M revenue) needing straightforward accounting, invoicing, and basic inventory management at an affordable price point with quick implementation. Choose NetSuite if you're a growing mid-market or enterprise company requiring an integrated ERP platform with advanced inventory management, multi-subsidiary consolidation, global scalability, and sophisticated financial reporting—and can justify the higher investment.
Sage: $0 (Unlimited on Enterprise) | NetSuite: N/A
Sage: Unlimited (All Enterprise tiers) | NetSuite: N/A
Sage: Dashboard view only | NetSuite: N/A
Sage: 3-5 basic features | NetSuite: N/A
Sage: 3 options (AWS, Azure, on-premise) | NetSuite: N/A
Sage: 2-3 basic connections | NetSuite: N/A
5-Year Total Cost of Ownership (50 users)
Sage: 3.8/5 stars (8,500+ reviews) | NetSuite: N/A
Sage: 14-42 days | NetSuite: 12-24 weeks
Sage: 40-168 (varies by plan) | NetSuite: N/A
Sage: Advanced (batch, serial, multi-warehouse) | NetSuite: N/A
Sage: 5-10 (with workarounds) | NetSuite: 200+
Integrated Modules (Financials, Inventory, CRM, E-commerce)
Sage: 1-2 (Financials, basic Inventory) | NetSuite: 4 (All integrated)
Sage: Unlimited (enterprise) | NetSuite: N/A
Sage: 500 (Sage Intacct) | NetSuite: N/A
Sage: 999 (Sage Intacct) | NetSuite: N/A
Sage: Sage Business Cloud (limited) | NetSuite: N/A
Sage: Unlimited entities | NetSuite: N/A
Sage: 300+ integrations | NetSuite: 600+ apps
Sage: Invoice viewing, basic read-only access | NetSuite: N/A
Sage: Standard feature on all tiers | NetSuite: N/A
Sage: No; per-user licensing model | NetSuite: N/A
Sage: Limited (document comments only) | NetSuite: N/A
Maximum Company Accounts (Single Subscription)
Certified Professional Partners (Global)
Sage: 500-1,000 concurrent users | NetSuite: N/A
Sage: Basic forecasting; no Copilot | NetSuite: N/A
Sage: Limited (requires third-party connectors) | NetSuite: N/A
Sage: 12-15 core modules | NetSuite: N/A
Sage: Unlimited (all tiers) | NetSuite: N/A
Sage: N/A | NetSuite: Included (additional $200/user)
Sage: N/A | NetSuite: iOS, Android (view-only or limited)
Sage: N/A | NetSuite: Advanced (cycle counting, multi-location, demand planning, lot traceability)
Average Total Cost of Ownership (Year 1)
Sage vs NetSuite — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Sage vs NetSuite. Contains 85 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Sage vs NetSuite — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Sage vs NetSuite.
Can Sage handle multiple companies or subsidiaries?
Sage can manage 2-3 separate company instances with manual consolidation, but this is cumbersome. NetSuite is purpose-built for multi-entity operations with automated intercompany accounting, making it 10x easier for companies with 10+ subsidiaries.
How long does it take to go live with each system?
Sage typically takes 2-4 months for standard implementations. NetSuite averages 6-12 months due to higher complexity, customization requirements, and the need for data migration from legacy systems. Budget 4-8 weeks for Sage training; 8-16 weeks for NetSuite.
Which system is better for e-commerce businesses?
NetSuite has native e-commerce functionality integrated with financials and inventory, making it ideal for omnichannel retailers. Sage requires third-party e-commerce connectors (Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento), which adds complexity and cost.
What's the total cost of ownership for each system over 3 years?
Sage typically costs $15,000-$30,000 over 3 years (software + minimal customization). NetSuite ranges from $180,000-$300,000+ depending on modules, user count, and customization needs. NetSuite's higher cost is justified for companies needing full ERP integration and global scalability.
Sage offers both on-premise and cloud options, giving flexibility for companies with data sovereignty requirements. NetSuite is 100% cloud-only SaaS with no on-premise option, though it complies with major data residency regulations (GDPR, SOC 2).
Deployment Model: Sage has On-premise + Cloud hybrid options, while NetSuite has 100% Cloud-native SaaS.
Starting Price (Monthly): Sage has $300-$500, while NetSuite has $3,000-$5,000.
Consider: ERP Functionality (Financials + Inventory + CRM)
ERP Functionality (Financials + Inventory + CRM): Sage has Inventory only in higher tiers, no native CRM, while NetSuite has Fully integrated ERP suite included.
Multi-Subsidiary Support: Sage has Limited, requires workarounds, while NetSuite has Native support for 200+ subsidiaries.
Target Market Revenue: Sage has $1M-$50M annually, while NetSuite has $50M-$10B+ annually.
Implementation Time: Sage has 2-4 months, while NetSuite has 6-12 months.
Global Tax Localization: Sage has 70+ countries, while NetSuite has 190+ countries.