PaaS vs Serverless: What’s the Difference?
PaaS and serverless both promise one thing: less server work for you. Because of that, people often treat them as the same. They are close cousins, but they work in different ways and suit different apps.
Quick answer: PaaS gives you a managed platform where your application runs continuously, and the provider handles servers, runtime and scaling. Serverless runs your code as small functions that start only when something triggers them, and you pay for the time they run. PaaS suits regular web apps and APIs. Serverless suits short, event driven tasks.
If PaaS is new to you, read our guide on what PaaS is first.
What Is Serverless?
Serverless does not mean there are no servers. It means you do not manage them. You write small pieces of code called functions. The provider runs a function only when an event happens, such as a file upload, a form submit or a scheduled time, then shuts it down.
Good things about serverless:
- You pay for the time your code actually runs
- Scales up and down very quickly
- Great for short, event driven jobs
- No servers or runtimes to manage
Things to think about:
- Functions are usually short lived
- Apps can be harder to design and test as many small pieces
- A first call after a quiet period can be slower
- Not ideal for long running or always on workloads
What Is PaaS?
With PaaS, your application runs as a normal, always available app on a managed platform. The provider handles servers, the operating system, runtime updates, security patching and scaling. You push your code and connect a database.
Our PaaS platform works this way, and our guide on how PaaS works shows the steps from code to live app.
An Easy Way to Picture It
PaaS is like having a shop that is open all day, with the building looked after for you. Serverless is like a pop up stall that appears only when a customer arrives and disappears afterwards.
PaaS vs Serverless: Side by Side
| Feature | PaaS | Serverless |
|---|---|---|
| How code runs | As a running application | As short functions started by events |
| Always on | Yes | No, runs when triggered |
| Scaling | Platform scales the app | Scales per function call |
| Pricing style | Often based on resources used | Often based on number and length of runs |
| Best for | Web apps, APIs, full products | Short tasks, event processing, scheduled jobs |
| App structure | Normal app structure | Many small functions |
| Long running work | Works well | Often limited |
| Learning curve | Low to medium | Medium |
Key Differences in Practice
How your app is built
On PaaS you build a normal application, such as a PHP or Laravel app, and deploy it. With serverless you split logic into small functions and connect them with triggers.
Running time
PaaS apps run all the time and can handle long requests and steady traffic. Serverless functions are meant to run briefly, then stop.
Scaling
Both scale, but differently. Serverless scales by running more copies of a function for each event. PaaS scales the whole application, and you can see how the layers work together in our guide on PaaS architecture.
Cost
Serverless can be very cheap for occasional tasks since you pay only for runs. For steady traffic, an always on PaaS plan can be easier to predict. Neither is always cheaper. You can see how our plans work on the PaaS pricing page.
Databases and storage
Most apps need data in either model. Our managed databases include MySQL hosting, PostgreSQL hosting, MariaDB hosting and MongoDB hosting. For files, see our file storage and storage services.
When PaaS Is the Better Choice
- You are building a full web app, website or API
- Your app needs to be always available
- You want a normal app structure that is easy to follow
- You run a stack such as PHP or Laravel
- You have steady or growing traffic
When Serverless Is the Better Choice
- You have short, event driven tasks, such as image processing or sending notifications
- Work happens in bursts with long quiet periods
- You run scheduled jobs
- You want to pay only when code runs
Can You Use Both?
Yes, and many teams do. A common setup is to run the main application on PaaS and use serverless functions for small side jobs, such as sending emails after a sign up or resizing uploaded images. To see which projects fit PaaS best, read our guide on PaaS applications.
Final Thoughts
PaaS and serverless both reduce server work, but they fit different jobs. PaaS is best for full, always available applications. Serverless is best for short tasks that run on demand. Many teams use both, each where it fits.
Ready to run your application on a managed platform? Explore our PaaS platform or talk to our team.
