You like the idea of PaaS. Now you face another choice: let a provider run the platform for you, or install and run a PaaS tool yourself. Both can work well. The right answer depends on your team, your budget and how much control you want.
Quick answer: With managed PaaS, a provider runs the whole platform and the servers underneath, so you only handle your application. With self-hosted PaaS, you install the platform software on your own servers and you are responsible for running, updating and securing it. Managed saves time and effort. Self-hosted gives more control and needs more skill.
If you want the basics of the managed model, read our guide on what managed PaaS is.
What Is Self-Hosted PaaS?
A self-hosted PaaS is platform software that you install on your own server, cloud machine or data centre. It gives you a PaaS style workflow, such as push to deploy, but you run the platform yourself.
Good things about self-hosted PaaS:
- Full control over the platform and the servers
- You choose where your data lives
- Can be customised to your needs
- Software itself is often free or low cost
Things to think about:
- You must install, update and secure the platform and the servers
- You handle backups, monitoring and fixes
- Scaling takes planning and skill
- Your team’s time becomes part of the cost
What Is Managed PaaS?
In managed PaaS, the provider runs the platform for you. They handle the servers, the platform software, runtime updates, security patching and scaling. You connect your code and your database and go live.
Our PaaS platform is managed in this way. You can see the steps in our guide on how PaaS works.
An Easy Way to Picture It
Self-hosted PaaS is like cooking at home with a smart kitchen you installed yourself. You control everything, and you also clean and repair it. Managed PaaS is like a good restaurant. You enjoy the meal, and someone else runs the kitchen.
Managed vs Self-Hosted PaaS: Side by Side
| Feature | Managed PaaS | Self-Hosted PaaS |
| Who runs the platform | The provider | You |
| Who manages servers | The provider | You |
| Setup time | Short | Longer |
| Updates and patches | Handled for you | Done by you |
| Scaling | Often built in | You plan and set it up |
| Control | Moderate | Very high |
| Team skills needed | Application development | DevOps and system administration |
| Cost shape | Plan or usage based | Servers plus your team’s time |
| Best for | Teams that want to focus on building | Teams that need custom control |
The Real Cost Question
Self-hosted looks cheaper because the software may be free. But the full cost includes the servers, the time to set up and maintain them, the cost of downtime if something breaks, and the effort of security updates. Managed PaaS puts a clear price on these things. You can see how our plans work on the PaaS pricing page.
Neither is always cheaper. If your team already has strong skills and spare capacity, self-hosted can be good value. If your team is small, managed often costs less in total.
Security and Reliability
With self-hosted PaaS, you are responsible for patching, firewalls, backups and monitoring. A missed update can become a risk. With managed PaaS, the provider handles platform level security and keeps the system updated. You still need to write secure application code in both cases.
Databases and Storage
Self-hosted setups often mean installing and tuning your own database. On our platform, managed databases cover MySQL hosting, PostgreSQL hosting, MariaDB hosting and MongoDB hosting. For files, see our file storage.
When Managed PaaS Is the Better Choice
- You want to launch quickly
- Your team is small or has no DevOps specialist
- You prefer less maintenance
- You run a stack such as PHP or Laravel
- You want predictable support and updates
When Self-Hosted PaaS Is the Better Choice
- You need full control over servers and data location
- You have skilled DevOps people who enjoy the work
- You have special rules about where software must run
- You want to customise the platform itself
A Simple Decision Checklist
- Do we have people who can run servers and a platform reliably?
- Do we need control over exactly where data lives?
- How much time can we spend on maintenance each month?
- How fast do we need to launch?
- What happens to our business if the platform goes down?
If most answers point to limited time and skills, managed is usually the safer pick. If they point to deep control needs and strong skills, self-hosted can fit.
Can You Mix Both?
Yes. Some teams use self-hosted tools for internal projects and managed PaaS for customer facing apps. Others start managed and move parts later. If your own servers are part of the plan, our sister brand Cantech offers server options too. For more on picking a platform, read our guide on how to choose a PaaS platform.
CANTECH CLOUD PAAS
Let Us Run the Platform While You Build
Servers, updates and scaling are handled for you. Talk to our experts to see if managed PaaS fits your team.
Final Thoughts
Managed PaaS trades some control for speed and less work. Self-hosted PaaS gives control and asks for skill and time. Look honestly at your team, your budget and your timeline, and the right choice becomes clear.
Want to see the managed route in action? Explore our PaaS platform or talk to our team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is self-hosted PaaS cheaper?
The software may be cheaper, but total cost includes servers and your team’s time. It is not always cheaper.
Is managed PaaS more secure?
Managed providers handle platform security consistently. Self-hosted can be very secure too, but only if your team keeps up with it.
Can I move from self-hosted to managed PaaS?
Yes, many teams do. Plan the move carefully, including data and settings.
Which is better for startups?
Managed PaaS is often easier for startups because it saves time and avoids hiring for infrastructure early.
