SaaS means ready-made software used over the internet for a monthly or yearly fee, rather than bought outright. The cost is low per billing period, but it keeps running for as long as the service is used.
Also known as: Software as a Service, Monthly subscription
€20/month sounds small, but over five years that's €1,200, often more than a one-off custom solution for the same need. It's worth comparing total cost over a few years, not just the monthly price.
When the need is ordinary and things need to get up and running fast, a ready-made SaaS service is often a workable choice. The problem shows up once the monthly price scales with volume, or the service doesn't do what's actually needed.
Written by Eetu Huotari