Self-hosted vs SaaS
The real question is not which is cheaper this month. It is who owns the customer, the code and the economics after year one.
| Self-hosted licence | Hosted SaaS | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront | $299 one-time (Foodomaa) | $0–$500 setup, often none |
| Recurring | VPS ~$10–$20/mo + services | $99–$499/mo + per-order fees |
| 3-year software cost | ~$299 + ~$432 server = ~$731 (illustrative) | $299/mo × 36 = ~$10,764 + fees (illustrative) |
| Code | Yours | outlet's |
| Customer data | Yours | Usually the outlet's; export varies |
| Customisation | Any developer, any change | Request queue or limited hooks |
| Hosting/security | You or your developer | outlet |
| Updates | You apply them | outlet applies them |
| Support | Install + 30 days, then optional care | Included, SLA varies |
| Time to launch | Days to weeks with install | Hours to days |
| Best for | Ownership, margin, long-term control | Fast validation, no ops team |
The three-year figures are illustrative, exclude payment-gateway fees, SMS, maps, support and your time, and will vary by provider. Use them to structure the comparison, not as a quote.
When self-hosted wins
- You want to own the customer list and the order history.
- You need custom delivery fee, zones, branding or workflow that a SaaS will not build for you.
- You plan to run for years and want the software cost to stop scaling with order volume.
- You have a developer or agency to handle hosting and upgrades.
When SaaS wins
- You are validating demand and do not want to hire a server/dev team.
- You need the outlet to handle uptime, security patches and support.
- Your order volume is low and the monthly fee is smaller than the ops burden.
- You are comfortable renting the customer relationship and exporting later.
The hidden costs
Self-hosted: server management, backups, SSL, security patches, upgrades, developer time. SaaS: per-order fees, price rises, limited customisation, data export friction and the cost of leaving. Add both columns before deciding.
Compare one-time licences with subscriptions or see the Foodomaa licence.
Self-hosted vs SaaS questions
Is self-hosted cheaper than SaaS?
Over three years, usually yes for a launch-stage business, but only if you account for server management and developer time. At very low volume, a SaaS starter can be cheaper.
Is self-hosted more secure?
Not automatically. You control the server, but you also own patching, backups and access control. A good SaaS provider may be more secure than a neglected VPS.
Can I move from SaaS to self-hosted?
Yes, with an export and a migration project. Confirm what the SaaS provider exports (customers, orders, menus) before you commit.