SaaS
Software as a Service
ELI5 — The Vibe Check
SaaS is software you use through a browser without installing anything — you just pay a subscription and the company handles everything. Gmail, Slack, Notion, GitHub — all SaaS. You're renting the software, not owning it. Non-tech people use SaaS all day without knowing it.
Real Talk
Software as a Service is a software distribution model where applications are hosted by the provider and delivered over the internet to end users, typically via a web browser. The provider manages all infrastructure, updates, security, and maintenance. Customers subscribe rather than install.
When You'll Hear This
"We use a dozen SaaS tools — Slack, Notion, Linear, Figma." / "Building SaaS is the goal — recurring subscription revenue."
Related Terms
BaaS (Backend as a Service)
BaaS is when someone provides you a ready-made backend so you can build your frontend without writing any server code.
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing means using computers that live in someone else's giant warehouse instead of your own machine.
IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)
IaaS is when you rent the raw computer hardware in someone else's data center.
PaaS (Platform as a Service)
PaaS is when someone else handles the boring server stuff (OS, security patches, networking) and you just throw your code at it.