Subscription software or owned software with a one-time payment?
By Neurtul Team · Published · Updated
If your operation is stable and you will use the software for several years, owned software paid once usually gives you more control: you do not depend on a fee to keep operating and you own the code. If you need to start with little investment or your operation is very simple, a subscription may be enough. Compare them on total cost over 3–5 years, not on the first month's price.
How to calculate total cost
Subscription: monthly fee × 12 × years of use × number of users or locations (if priced that way), plus any extra modules you add over time.
Owned software: one-time price + implementation + hosting (server) and maintenance over the years. Any owned software has hosting costs; ask for them in writing before you buy.
Use each vendor's current public prices, noting the date you checked them, and run the numbers at 3 and 5 years.
What each option is good at
Subscription: lower upfront cost, the vendor updates and hosts; in exchange, if you stop paying you lose access, and the vendor decides the rules, prices and features.
Owned software: code and data are in your name, you can adapt it to your process and there is no license fee to keep operating; in exchange, the upfront investment is higher and you must plan for hosting and maintenance.
How Neurtul does it
We publish one-time prices in Colombian pesos before VAT (for example, hotel software from COP 8,000,000 and store POS from COP 4,000,000). Online you only pay a COP 2,500,000 reservation that is credited to the total and is non-refundable; the balance is agreed with sales. Implementation runs until the full process is delivered with its roles, followed by 2 months of support.