{"id":17982,"date":"2026-09-24T15:08:09","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T13:08:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visual-planning.com\/en\/?p=17982"},"modified":"2026-09-25T09:31:27","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T07:31:27","slug":"saas-what-is-software-as-a-service-definition-examples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visual-planning.com\/en\/glossary-technical\/saas-what-is-software-as-a-service-definition-examples","title":{"rendered":"SaaS: What Is Software as a Service? Definition &#038; Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"et_pb_section_0 et_pb_section et_section_regular et_flex_section\">\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_0 et_pb_row et_flex_row\">\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_0 et_pb_column et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_24_24 et_flex_column_24_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_0 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h1>Integrations & technical<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_1 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2>What is SaaS?<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_1 et_pb_row et_pb_row_nested et_flex_row\">\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_1 et_pb_column et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_12_24 et_flex_column_12_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_2 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h3>SaaS (Software as a Service) is software delivered as an online, subscription-based service, with no local installation required.<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_2 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_12_24 et_flex_column_12_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_image_0 et_pb_image et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visual-planning.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Integration-doutils-de-gestion-V9-FR-scaled.webp\" alt=\"Int\u00e9gration d&#039;outils de gestion Visual Planning\" title=\"Int\u00e9gration d&#039;outils de gestion Visual Planning\" width=\"2502\" height=\"1309\" class=\"wp-image-231923\" \/><\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_3 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h4>How does SaaS work?<\/h4>\n<p>The vendor hosts and maintains the application on its own servers. Users access it through a web browser or app, paying a monthly or annual subscription.<\/p>\n<h4>Why choose SaaS software?<\/h4>\n<p>There's no installation or IT maintenance burden on the customer's side: updates happen automatically, and the software is accessible from any connected device.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_4 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h5>Real-world example<\/h5>\n<p>Visual Planning is offered as SaaS: companies access their schedule through a browser, with no server to install or maintain in-house.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_5 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h4>What are the pros and cons of SaaS?<\/h4>\n<p>SaaS lowers IT infrastructure costs and makes updates effortless. Its limit: it requires a reliable internet connection and means relying on the vendor for hosting your data.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_6 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>SaaS vs on-premise software<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_code_0 et_pb_code et_pb_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_code_inner\"><div class=\"vp-compare-table\">\n  <table>\n    <thead>\n      <tr>\n        <th><\/th>\n        <th>SaaS<\/th>\n      <th>On-premise<\/th>\n      <\/tr>\n    <\/thead>\n    <tbody>\n      <tr>\n        <td class=\"vp-row-label\">Installation<\/td>\n        <td>None, browser access.<\/td>\n     <td>On internal servers.<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td class=\"vp-row-label\">Updates<\/td>\n        <td>Automatic, vendor-managed.<\/td>\n        <td>Manual, customer-managed.<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n        <td class=\"vp-row-label\">Cost<\/td>\n        <td>Recurring subscription.<\/td>\n     <td>Higher upfront investment.<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n    <\/tbody>\n  <\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n<style>\n.vp-compare-table {\n  width: 100%;\n  overflow-x: auto;\n  -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;\n}\n\n.vp-compare-table table {\n  width: 100%;\n  min-width: 500px;\n  border-collapse: collapse;\n  font-family: inherit;\n  font-size: 16px;\n}\n\n.vp-compare-table thead th {\n  background-color: #eef0f2;\n  color: #1e3a8a;\n  font-weight: 700;\n  text-align: left;\n  padding: 16px 18px;\n  border: 1px solid #d5d8db;\n}\n\n.vp-compare-table thead th:first-child {\n  background-color: transparent;\n  border-top: none;\n  border-left: none;\n}\n\n.vp-compare-table tbody td {\n  padding: 16px 18px;\n  border: 1px solid #d5d8db;\n  color: #333;\n  vertical-align: top;\n}\n\n.vp-compare-table tbody td:first-child {\n  border-left: none;\n}\n\n.vp-compare-table tbody tr:last-child td {\n  border-bottom: 1px solid #d5d8db;\n}\n\n.vp-compare-table .vp-row-label {\n  color: #444;\n  font-weight: 400;\n}\n\n@media (max-width: 767px) {\n  .vp-compare-table table {\n    min-width: 620px;\n  }\n\n  .vp-compare-table thead th,\n  .vp-compare-table tbody td {\n    padding: 12px 14px;\n    font-size: 14px;\n  }\n}\n<\/style><\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_7 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><strong>Key takeaways<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Software accessed online through a subscription, with no installation.<\/li>\n<li>Hosting and maintenance handled by the vendor.<\/li>\n<li>Visual Planning is available as SaaS.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_2 et_pb_row et_pb_row_nested et_flex_row\">\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_3 et_pb_column et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_12_24 et_flex_column_12_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_8 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Visual Planning is available as SaaS, accessible from any browser.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_4 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_12_24 et_flex_column_12_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_button_module_wrapper et_pb_button_0_wrapper\"><a class=\"et_pb_button_0 et_pb_button et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\" href=\"https:\/\/www.visual-planning.com\/en\/platform\/plans-pricing\" data-icon=\"$\">See access options<\/a><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_accordion_0 et_pb_accordion et_pb_module et_flex_module\">\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_9 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_accordion_item_0 et_pb_accordion_item et_pb_toggle et_pb_module et_pb_toggle_open et_flex_module\"><h5 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">Are SaaS and cloud the same thing?<\/h5><div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content et_flex_module\"><p>SaaS is a specific form of cloud service for software; \"cloud\" is a broader term that also covers storage or on-demand computing power.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_accordion_item_1 et_pb_accordion_item et_pb_toggle et_pb_module et_pb_toggle_close et_flex_module\"><h5 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">Is SaaS secure for sensitive data?<\/h5><div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content et_flex_module\"><p>Yes, as long as the vendor follows recognized security standards (encryption, certified hosting) \u2014 worth checking before choosing a SaaS vendor.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_accordion_item_2 et_pb_accordion_item et_pb_toggle et_pb_module et_pb_toggle_close et_flex_module\"><h5 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">Can you use SaaS software offline?<\/h5><div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content et_flex_module\"><p>Generally not, or only in a limited offline mode; an internet connection is required for most features.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_accordion_item_3 et_pb_accordion_item et_pb_toggle et_pb_module et_pb_toggle_close et_flex_module\"><h5 class=\"et_pb_toggle_title\">Does SaaS cost more than on-premise software long term?<\/h5><div class=\"et_pb_toggle_content et_flex_module\"><p>It depends: SaaS spreads the cost over time through a subscription, while on-premise software has a higher upfront investment but can sometimes be cheaper over several years.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_10 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Related terms<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_3 et_pb_row et_pb_row_nested et_flex_row\">\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_5 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_24_24 et_flex_column_24_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\">\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_11 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_clickable et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>ERP<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_12 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_clickable et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>HRIS<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_13 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_clickable et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>API<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[72],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17982","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-glossary-technical"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>SaaS: What Is Software as a Service? 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