Buying Guide
What Is a One-Time Fee Web App vs a SaaS Subscription?
· 6 min read
A SaaS subscription rents you access to software someone else owns and operates. A one-time fee web app is built for your process, deployed to your domain, and belongs to you once the final invoice is settled. Both are legitimate; they suit different situations.
The three-year cost picture
| Model | Year 1 | Year 3 cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| SaaS at $60/month × 5 users | $3,600 | $10,800 |
| One-time build at $700 + hosting | ~$800 | ~$1,000 |
Figures are illustrative, but the shape holds: subscription cost scales with headcount and time, while a build is front-loaded and then flat.
When a subscription is genuinely better
- You need a category with constant regulatory change, such as payroll filing
- You want a vendor shipping new features you will actually use
- Your process is completely standard and the tool fits without workarounds
- You need enterprise compliance certifications out of the box
When a one-time build wins
- Your workflow is specific and stable — the reason no tool quite fits
- You are paying for a large plan to unlock one feature
- You need your own branding on client-facing screens and documents
- You want the data model and the deployment under your control
Questions to ask before you commit
- Who owns the code and the data if we part ways?
- What happens when we need a change in six months, and what does it cost?
- Where is it hosted and who holds the domain?
- Is pricing per user, and what happens when the team doubles?
At DVA Workflows small edits are $30 SGD, simple functions $100 SGD and complex functions $300 SGD — quoted per change, never as a retainer.