Loading TechDinoLoading TechDinoLoading TechDinoClient-Hosted Software runs on your own VPS or cloud account (DigitalOcean, AWS, Hostinger), giving you complete control over database backups, SSL certificates, and server access. Vendor-Hosted SaaS runs on third-party vendor servers where you log into a shared environment and pay recurring monthly fees without server or database access.
| Feature | Client-Hosted (TechDino Model) | Vendor-Hosted SaaS |
|---|---|---|
| Server Infrastructure | Client-controlled VPS or cloud account | Shared vendor cloud server |
| Database Access | Direct SQL access & self-controlled backups | Restricted / No direct database access |
| Security & Compliance | Complies with strict local data localization rules | Vendor decides server location & privacy policies |
Client-hosted means the application runs on infrastructure you own and control, so uptime, patching and backups are yours. Vendor-hosted means the provider carries all three and you accept their decisions about when to upgrade, where data lives and how long they keep it. The choice is a transfer of responsibility as much as a technical arrangement.
Be realistic about capacity. Client hosting needs someone who will apply security updates and notice when a disk fills. That is a few hours a quarter rather than a full role, but a business with nobody willing to own it should not pretend otherwise.
Some sectors remove the choice. Healthcare records, financial data and personal information covered by residency rules may need to stay within a jurisdiction or on infrastructure you can name during an audit. Vendor hosting can satisfy these requirements, but only if the provider contractually commits to the region and the controls, which many standard subscriptions do not.
Many buyers land on client-hosted infrastructure with a support retainer: the server, the data and the source code are yours, while the vendor keeps a maintenance window for patches and upgrades. That keeps ownership and data control with the business while buying back the operational burden that made vendor hosting attractive.