Introduction

When choosing how to deploy eLabFTW, organizations usually compare two options: SaaS and On-Premise.

At first glance, the difference seems simple. With SaaS, the service is hosted and maintained by the provider. With On-Premise, the organization installs and operates the software on its own infrastructure.

Both models are valid. On-Premise can be the right choice for organizations with strict internal policies, dedicated infrastructure teams, or specific regulatory constraints. But in practice, the real difference is not only where the software runs. The real difference is who is responsible for keeping it secure, updated, backed up, and operational over time.