---
title: "What is software as a service?"  
description: "What is software as a service?"  
author: "Arezio Aurechio"  
published: 2017-11-16  
canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/30805/what-is-software-as-a-service  
category: "software"  
reading_time: 2 minutes  

---

# What is software as a service?

What is [software as a service](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/11196/distributed-computing-services)?

## Answers

### Answer by Harshal Vispute

**SaaS is a [software](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/23272/why-software-localization-is-important-for-your-business) distribution model in which a cloud provider hosts programs and makes them available to end customers via the internet.** In this case, an independent software seller could contract **a third-party cloud** provider to host the application. Alternatively, in the case of larger companies such as **[Microsoft](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/72268/who-is-the-founder-of-microsoft), the cloud provider may also be the software provider.** \
Along with infrastructure as a service and platform as a service, SaaS is one of the **three primary types of cloud computing**. **SaaS apps are used by a wide range of IT experts, commercial users, and consumer users.** Personal entertainment, such as **Netflix**, to advanced IT tools, are all available. **SaaS** products, unlike **IaaS and PaaS**, are commonly offered to both **[B2B and B2C](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/30685/is-social-media-marketing-better-for-b2c-or-b2b-businesses) customers**. \
The **cloud delivery model is used for SaaS**. An **ISV can hire a cloud provider** to host the application and related data in the provider's data center or a software provider can use its own **servers, databases, networking, and computing resources** to host the program and related data. Any device with a network connection will be able to use the app. **Web browsers** are commonly used to access SaaS apps.


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Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/30805/what-is-software-as-a-service

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