Fleet Management: Self-Hosted vs. SaaS
Three axes that decide it — data sovereignty, total cost of ownership over five years, and exposure to vendor consolidation. The honest comparison.
Side-by-side
SaaS fleet platforms vs. MobilityManager
| Aspect | Typical SaaS | MobilityManager |
|---|---|---|
| License model | Monthly/annual subscription | Perpetual license |
| Per-vehicle pricing | €8-15 / vehicle / month | Built into the license tier |
| Per-user pricing | Often per-seat | ✅ Unlimited users |
| Data location | Vendor cloud | Your infrastructure / EU partner |
| Sub-processors | Often 10+ undisclosed | None — you operate the system |
| Schrems II exposure | ⚠️ SCC-dependent | ✅ Not applicable |
| Price guarantee | ❌ 5-8% annual hike typical | ✅ One-time price |
| Auto-assignment | Tier-dependent | ✅ Included |
| Approval workflows | Tier-dependent | ✅ Multi-step, configurable |
| Multi-tenant | ❌ (separate accounts) | ✅ DB-level isolation |
| SSO / OIDC | Tier-dependent | ✅ Azure AD, Keycloak, ADFS |
| Vendor M&A risk | ⚠️ Service may change | ✅ Your software keeps running |
| 5-year TCO (50 vehicles) | ~€30,000 + inflation | ~€12,100 |
Reference values, April 2026. SaaS pricing taken from publicly published list prices and may vary by tier and volume.
FAQ — self-hosted vs. SaaS
When does self-hosted fleet software beat SaaS?+
Self-hosted is the better fit when (a) data sovereignty is non-negotiable (regulated industries, public sector, post-Schrems II EU operators), (b) total cost of ownership over 5+ years matters more than upfront expense, or (c) you want to avoid vendor lock-in after a market consolidation. SaaS is convenient for very small fleets (<10 vehicles) where the operational overhead of self-hosting outweighs the savings.
What does fleet management SaaS typically cost?+
Mid-market SaaS fleet platforms typically charge €8-15 per vehicle per month for the core product. Add-ons (SSO, advanced reporting, telematics integrations) often sit in higher tiers. Annual price increases of 5-8% are common. A 50-vehicle fleet typically lands at €5,000-9,000 per year.
What is the 5-year TCO of a perpetual-license alternative?+
Essentials costs €115 per vehicle once, Professional €233; minimum 10 vehicles. First-year care is included; renewal is optional at 20% of net licence value, minimum €490/year. Mobile Connect costs €2/named user/month, minimum €29/month, billed annually, for either relay or direct connection. Hosting and internal IT are separate. Use the price calculator with your actual comparison quote.
What about updates and support with a perpetual license?+
MobilityManager ships with current updates included for the version you purchase. Optional Software Assurance (yearly maintenance) covers future major versions and priority support. You decide whether to renew — even without it, the version you bought continues to run indefinitely.
Is there a hosted option if I don't want to run servers myself?+
MobilityManager runs anywhere .NET 10 + SQL Server or PostgreSQL run — including managed hosting via your existing IT partner or an EU cloud provider. The vendor (Cloudkasten) does not operate a SaaS — but your existing managed-hosting relationship works fine.