I had a meeting recently with someone who was hesitant to sign up for my SaaS. He needed all the features my platform offers, but he was tossing around the idea of building a stripped-down standalone version instead.
That’s when I laid out the reality check.
Even if he went standalone, he’d still be on the hook for monthly hosting fees. Anything connected to the internet costs something to keep online. And yes, even so-called “serverless” setups eventually need attention — images get deprecated, dependencies need updating, and something always breaks when you least expect it.
Then there’s the upfront bill. Building custom means a significant initial cost before you even have something usable. And after that? Every tweak, improvement, or new feature would be treated as a change request — with more invoices to follow.
SaaS = Predictable Budgeting and Better Maintenance
With SaaS, it’s different. The subscription cost is often just a bit more than hosting alone, but it covers far more.
You’re not guessing what your next feature will cost or wondering how to pay for surprise maintenance. Improvements roll out regularly, and support is built in. Because multiple customers use the same platform, the software gets constant real-world testing, meaning issues are caught and fixed faster. Uptime, server maintenance, and security are handled without you lifting a finger.
SaaS turns improvements and upkeep into something you can budget for instead of an unpredictable money pit.
When Standalone Makes Sense
Custom builds have their place — if you need highly specialized features, plan to resell the software, or have strict privacy requirements that mean you have to keep all data in-house.
But for most businesses, SaaS checks the boxes with less stress, less cost, and way more flexibility.
The “Locked In” Fear
I get it — there’s a concern about “stickiness,” where once you’re in, your data is in, and prices creep up. But in most markets, competition keeps that in check. Providers can’t go wild with price hikes without risking customers jumping ship.
Migrating your data is annoying, but it’s not impossible — and in almost every niche, there’s more than one option.
My Bottom Line
For most businesses, SaaS is the better bet. You avoid massive upfront costs, you can plan your budget around a predictable subscription, and you get improvements and maintenance without constantly pulling out your wallet.
Standalone might sound like freedom, but it often turns into a slow-motion trap of ongoing costs, unplanned work, and surprise fires to put out.
