Microsoft Dynamics NAV is a legacy ERP platform, but NAV 2018 remains supported through January 12, 2028 under extended support rather than mainstream support.
If you are evaluating your NAV environment in 2026, consider three areas of cost:
This framing makes clear that NAV is still usable while also explaining the longer-term considerations for organizations planning their ERP strategy.
Key Takeaways
Microsoft Dynamics has undergone a lot of changes over the years. Your company may still use legacy versions of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, or Microsoft Dynamics AX. Microsoft has gradually rolled functionality into newer platforms from these older versions, but many companies continue to rely on MS Dynamics NAV for their enterprise resource planning (ERP) needs. You can obtain functionality that provides your company with a full-scale customer relationship management (CRM) or an ERP solution.
Understanding the cost of Microsoft Dynamics NAV is crucial for businesses planning their IT budget. From licensing fees to implementation expenses, knowing the full scope of pricing can help you make the best decision for your organization. Let’s look at how the pricing works for various Dynamics products.
The cost of Microsoft Dynamics NAV in 2026 depends largely on your current situation. Since NAV is a legacy ERP platform, businesses may be paying for ongoing support and infrastructure for an existing system, using Microsoft NAV through a hosted provider, or planning a move to Dynamics 365 Business Central.
If your organization already owns and uses Microsoft Dynamics NAV, ongoing costs may include:
The total cost will depend on the version of NAV, the complexity of the environment, and the level of support and customization required.
Businesses using Microsoft Dynamics NAV through a hosted environment may have costs that include:
The exact Microsoft Dynamics 365 pricing structure depends on the hosting provider and the licensing arrangements available to the organization.
Organizations replacing NAV with Dynamics 365 Business Central should plan for several cost components, including:
Customization requirements, the complexity of the existing NAV environment, and the amount of historical data being migrated can also affect the overall investment.
Microsoft Dynamics NAV licensing was historically structured around base licensing packages, with additional costs depending on the functionality and services an organization required. The following figures reflect historical NAV licensing rather than current pricing for a newly purchased Microsoft product.
The Microsoft Dynamics NAV Starter Pack was historically priced at approximately $5,000 and included licenses for three users. This figure should be viewed as a historical reference, as NAV licensing and availability have changed over time.
Organizations that required additional functionality could historically purchase the Extended Pack for approximately $10,000 for three users. Like the Starter Pack pricing, this figure represents historical NAV licensing and should not be treated as current pricing.
Customizations were an additional expense and could increase the overall cost of a NAV deployment. Microsoft Dynamics Pricing varied based on the complexity of the required modifications, integrations, and development work.
Maintenance and support costs were separate from the historical base licensing figures. Organizations may incur ongoing costs for technical support, system maintenance, hosting, customizations, and other services required to maintain their NAV environment.
IES Tip: When reviewing historical NAV costs, separate the original license investment from ongoing expenses such as maintenance, support, hosting, and customization. This gives you a clearer picture of the system’s current total cost of ownership.
The cost of maintaining, hosting, supporting, or replacing a Microsoft Dynamics NAV environment can vary based on several factors. For organizations continuing to use NAV or planning a move to Dynamics 365 Business Central, the following considerations can affect the overall investment:
IES Tip: Before estimating a NAV migration or modernization project, review your current customizations, integrations, data, and NAV version. These factors can affect the overall project scope and cost.
Businesses evaluating their cloud options may encounter both hosted Microsoft Dynamics NAV environments and Dynamics 365 Business Central. While both can be accessed through the cloud, they differ significantly in product lifecycle, deployment, licensing, updates, and long-term direction.
|
|
Hosted NAV |
Dynamics 365 Business Central |
|
Product |
Legacy NAV |
Current Microsoft ERP |
|
Deployment |
Partner or third-party hosted |
Microsoft SaaS/cloud |
|
New NAV licensing |
Not generally available from Microsoft |
Current offering |
|
Updates |
Depends on the environment and provider |
Microsoft's cloud release model |
|
Pricing |
Provider-dependent |
Microsoft published pricing |
|
Long-term direction |
Legacy |
Current strategic platform |
Hosted NAV may be suitable for organizations that want to continue using their existing NAV environment while moving infrastructure management to a hosting provider. However, businesses planning for long-term modernization may also evaluate Business Central as Microsoft's current cloud ERP platform.
IES Tip: Hosted NAV can extend the life of an existing environment, but businesses should also consider the long-term costs of maintaining a legacy platform. Comparing these costs with the investment required for Business Central can help guide your ERP strategy.
Organizations may also need to compare the costs and responsibilities associated with maintaining NAV on-premises, using a hosted NAV environment, or moving to Business Central SaaS.
|
Cost |
NAV On-Premises |
Hosted NAV |
Business Central SaaS |
|
Software |
Existing NAV entitlement |
Depends on arrangement |
Subscription |
|
Infrastructure |
Customer |
Hosting provider |
Microsoft |
|
Server management |
Customer or partner |
Provider |
Microsoft |
|
Backups |
Customer or provider |
Provider |
Cloud service |
|
Updates |
Customer or partner |
Provider-dependent |
Microsoft |
|
Customization |
High |
High, depending on environment |
Extensions/customization |
|
Migration requirement |
Eventually |
Eventually |
N/A for new implementation |
|
Long-term direction |
Legacy |
Legacy |
Current Microsoft ERP |
The right option depends on the organization's existing NAV environment, infrastructure requirements, customization needs, and long-term ERP strategy. Businesses that continue using NAV may incur ongoing costs for infrastructure, hosting, support, and maintenance, while organizations moving to Business Central typically shift toward a subscription-based model with implementation, migration, integration, and training costs.
For small and mid-sized businesses, Dynamics NAV pricing can be a significant factor in choosing an ERP system. The total cost of ownership includes more than just the initial Microsoft Dynamics NAV license cost. Businesses must also consider:
Microsoft Dynamics NAV is often compared to similar ERP systems, but its robust functionality makes it a preferred choice for businesses that need a scalable and reliable platform.
The Dynamics NAV implementation cost can depend on several factors, including:
Implementation can range from $20,000 for small businesses to well over $100,000 for enterprises. Investing in professional deployment services can help minimize errors and improve long-term efficiency.
One alternative to NAV is its newer counterpart, Dynamics 365. If you decide to go with Dynamics 365 for your CRM and ERP needs, you must go through a certified reseller partner. They can go over the standard licensing options available for different Microsoft Dynamics 365 products.
Before getting into the question of how much Microsoft Dynamics costs, let’s look at the two different versions of available licenses.
Depending on your needs, you can order both assigned and unassigned licenses as part of your Dynamics 365 package. Now, let’s do a deeper dive into the cost of Microsoft Dynamics products. When you purchase one Dynamics 365 product, you can buy an additional Dynamics 365 app at $20 per month per user.
Dynamics 365 Sales allows professionals control over every aspect of the digital selling journey. You can track promising leads and build relationships with customers. There are three different pricing levels available for Dynamics 365 Sales.
Dynamics 365 Customer Service provides users with tools that enable better customer experiences. Reps can personalize each contact with tools that help them be more productive. In addition, users can accept requests from customers through multiple channels. The features available to customer service reps vary depending on the license purchased.
Dynamics 365 Marketing allows users to create an elevated customer experience by orchestrating personalized journeys along each part of the marketing process. That way, businesses can strengthen the bonds they build with customers and earn their loyalty. In addition, Dynamics 365 Marketing integrates easily with other Dynamics products like Sales and Customer Insights.
The Marketing module starts at $1,500 per month per tenant. Your company must have at least ten users already working with a qualifying Dynamics 365 component.
Dynamics Commerce provides organizations with an omnichannel solution to help unify experiences in the store, from the back office, within the call center, and digitally. That way, you can keep building brand loyalty by giving customers a personalized experience regardless of how they interact with your company.
Pricing for the Commerce module is $180 per month per user. It costs you $30 per month per user to add on an additional qualifying Dynamics 365 application. Your organization can also add fraud protection at $1,000 per month per tenant.
Business Central offers SMBs a centralized solution for automating and streamlining business processes. It covers everything from finance to manufacturing. One of the main benefits of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is that organizations can modify the functionality to fit the region and industry in which they operate.
Please note that for Business Central Essentials and Business Central Premium, you do not have the option to purchase an additional Dynamics 365 business app for $20 per month.
Whether you're evaluating Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2018 pricing, looking to understand the Dynamics NAV support cost, or considering a Microsoft Dynamics upgrade cost by switching to NAV’s successor, Dynamics Business Central, IES can help. We provide expert consultation on Dynamics NAV pricing for small businesses, licensing strategies, and implementation best practices.
Contact us today to explore how Microsoft Dynamics NAV can drive efficiency and growth for your business.