Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central vs Microsoft Dynamics SL comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Busi...
Ranking in ERP
5th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.4
Number of Reviews
67
Ranking in other categories
Activity Based Costing Software (2nd)
Microsoft Dynamics SL
Ranking in ERP
24th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
3
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2026, in the ERP category, the mindshare of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is 4.0%, down from 6.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Dynamics SL is 1.0%, up from 0.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
ERP Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central4.0%
Microsoft Dynamics SL1.0%
Other95.0%
ERP
 

Featured Reviews

reviewer2746122 - PeerSpot reviewer
Automation Engineer
Integrations Help Bring Efficiency while Documentation Needs Improvement
When I started working with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, I was new and didn't know what ERP was or its purpose, but I was eager to learn more each day. The system can become overwhelmed because you cannot control the number of integrations, and our team struggled to manage the numerous integrations we had. More documentation is needed on how to use Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and its capabilities. From a technical perspective, it was challenging because understanding the system requires familiarity with financial sectors. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central could benefit from more AI integration. Learning the application was challenging as there was much to understand about accounts payable, receivable, accounting, and general ledger.
Marisol Caamaño - PeerSpot reviewer
Information Technology Manager at Clarimex
Reliable product with straightforward setup process
Overall, Dynamics SL served us well for many years. However, organizations should consider more modern solutions, especially those that support transactional processing, to avoid the inefficiencies associated with batch processing. I would advise looking into more modern solutions that avoid batch processing. While it was reliable, its batch system is outdated compared to newer transactional systems. I rate it a nine out of ten.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"The solution's integrations and interface are very good."
"Dynamics NAV can be customized to suit the client’s requirements, whether it be functionality, integrations, or interfaces."
"One of the reasons why NAV was best suited for us was the fact that it was customizable."
"The most valuable features of Business Central for me are its seamless integration with Power BI and the ability to create customized reports."
"We have everything recorded in the database, so our data is much more manageable than before, and that's one of the greatest advantages."
"The product is customizable so we can tune it according to our requirements."
"One of the most valuable features of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is its ease of installation and user-friendly interface."
"The most valuable feature of Microsoft Dynamics NAV is its simplicity of accounting and receiving reports. The solution is similar to Microsoft Excel, and that similarity is good. All the functions of Microsoft Dynamics are user-friendly."
"The solution has many helpful features, the stability is very good, its performance is reliable, the solution is extremely useful for e-commerce companies, the compliance has been very useful, the solution is quite stable, the scalability is good, and it is pretty easy to set up."
"The solution has provided a good return on investment by ensuring our financial and operational information is accurate and timely."
"If I put myself in the customer's shoes, it's easier to use. Reporting would be a very valuable feature."
"It's pretty easy to set up."
 

Cons

"I wouldn't say that Microsoft Dynamics is very scalable."
"Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central has been buggy in my experience and they should improve in this area. Additionally, there are too many updates. The updates involve a whole bunch of applications as part of the package, such as the Edge browser. The updates are too broad across the whole package of applications."
"There is a lot of improvement needed in the top model, such as better integration with logistics, quality management, and data modeling for all revenue types."
"I would like to improve the tool’s reporting and coding part."
"Batch Processing Function should be developed to schedule running in the background at nighttime for posting a Purchase Receipt/Invoice, Sales Order/Invoice, Day End Statement or Item Journal Adjustment to minimize the Classic NAV table locking."
"The solution must provide more AI features."
"The solution is not best suited for larger-scale businesses."
"Any request that had come from the website had to go through an e-form which was then plugged into Microsoft Dynamics NAV. There was no direct data capture. That was the pain point, where clients had to build e-forms, and that caused delays in transactions and getting information."
"An area of improvement could be around automation and predictability."
"The product's primary improvement area would be its batch processing system."
"The licensing of the solution should be adjusted; the policies aren't ideal and they should make it easier to understand because right now it's too confusing."
"The licensing of the solution should be adjusted. The policies aren't ideal. They should make it easier to understand. Right now, it's too confusing."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central could improve. It is costly. We are paying for the solution on a monthly basis."
"You have to pay a yearly licensing fee for the solution."
"We have an agreement with Microsoft and pricing is okay for us."
"Its licensing is yearly. In addition to the licensing cost, there is the cost of hosting on Azure."
"The per user price of $100 a month is better than competitors."
"The license changes every year. Sometimes it's for fixed users, and sometimes it's for concurrent users."
"I think the pricing is the best; it's cost effective for sure."
"The price of the solution is reasonable."
"If the value proposition is clear for the customer, they won't see it as an expensive solution. A solution becomes expensive when it doesn't do what it promises."
"The licensing costs were reasonable."
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which ERP solutions are best for your needs.
885,264 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Manufacturing Company
12%
Computer Software Company
8%
Comms Service Provider
8%
Construction Company
7%
No data available
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business40
Midsize Enterprise12
Large Enterprise19
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Microsoft Dynamics NAV?
The platform offers a robust and comprehensive cycle for supply chain and inventory management, with features like minimum and maximum settings, dynamic monitoring of inventory levels, and integrat...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Dynamics NAV?
I don't have specific information about the pricing of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. However, it was very costly due to the numerous integrations we had.
What needs improvement with Microsoft Dynamics NAV?
A point of sale solution is still lacking in the retail industry. A basic point of sale would help a great deal because there are certain requirements where Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central ...
What needs improvement with Microsoft Dynamics SL?
The product's primary improvement area would be its batch processing system. Transitioning to a transactional processing system would significantly enhance its efficiency and usability.
What is your primary use case for Microsoft Dynamics SL?
Our primary use case for the platform was managing our financial and operational processes across multiple companies. We are a group with 11 to 12 companies, and Dynamics SL has been integral in ma...
What advice do you have for others considering Microsoft Dynamics SL?
Overall, Dynamics SL served us well for many years. However, organizations should consider more modern solutions, especially those that support transactional processing, to avoid the inefficiencies...
 

Also Known As

Dynamics NAV, MS Dynamics NAV
Dynamics SL, MS Dynamics SL
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Harris Farm Markets, Mister Spex GmbH, Bounce Foods, Eurofin Services SA, Medica Medizintechnik, Associated Gaskets, Onduline, Sitka Surfboard Corporation, World Animal Protection
ASAP, Espartec, S.A de C.V., TGLT, Calder‹n Autopartes El_ctricas, GGS Systems, CLEAResult, Shared Spectrum Company, Scope Global Pty Ltd
Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central vs. Microsoft Dynamics SL and other solutions. Updated: March 2026.
885,264 professionals have used our research since 2012.