When choosing a licensing option, perhaps the most-important factor
to consider is what is available. As the subscription economy, cloud
computing, and SaaS continue to grow, perpetual licensing options are
becoming less readily available. As such, subscription licensing may be
the only option for certain software types.
When perpetual licensing options are available, and there is a choice
to be made between a subscription option and purchasing the software
via a perpetual pay model, the decision should be based upon needs and
resources.
Organizations that need continued support and ongoing maintenance at
no additional charge may wish to choose a subscription model. Likewise,
those that aren’t likely to continue to need to use the software for
longer than a few years may prefer the lower monthly or annual payments
rather than having to make a larger purchase upfront.
On the other hand, businesses that can afford the initial cost, and
that plan on using the software for an extended amount of time may find
that a perpetual license is a better investment. These businesses will need to be capable of handling their own software maintenance and repairs.