You only notice the difference when you want to leave.
Open source software is freely available and can be modified by any developer, so you are not tied to one supplier. A closed system is owned by the provider: you receive convenience and support, but are dependent on its rates, choices and continued existence.
NEXT TO EACH OTHER
The differences at a glance
| ASPECT | Open source | Closed system |
|---|---|---|
| Transferable | Yes, every developer can move forward | No, only the provider |
| licence fees | None | Usually per month |
| Support | Community or your own builder | From the provider, often included |
| Adaptable | Completely | Within what the provider allows |
| Maintenance | Your responsibility | From the provider |
| Risk | Neglected maintenance | Provider stops or increases the price |
WHEN WHAT
When which
A closed system is not bad. For companies without a technical partner, 'someone else will take care of it' is a real value, and the convenience is real.
What you always check: can you export your data in a usable format? Without it, the choice is not convenience but dependence.
- Open source from our own builder — every developer can go further.
- Open source for custom wishes — no boundaries of a provider.
- Open source if you want to own — no licence, no notice period.
- Pay attention to maintenance — freedom means personal responsibility.
- Closed without technical partner — someone else takes care of the maintenance.
- Closed to standard needs — convenience then weighs more heavily.
- Closed when in need of support — one party responsible.
- Do check the export — otherwise convenience is just dependence.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
More about the choice
What do you use?
We build with standard technology without licensing costs, so that any other developer can take over. That is not an ideology but practical: it protects you from dependence on us.
Is open source more secure?
Not automatically. Commonly used open source is viewed by many people, which helps. But poorly maintained open source is less secure than a well-maintained closed system. Maintenance is the determining factor, not the licence.
What if my closed provider stops?
Then everything depends on your export options. Check today to see if you can download your data in a usable format: that's the answer to how bad that scenario is for you.
CONTINUE READING
Of course, continue reading about this subject.
Freedom or convenience?
Tell us what you are using now. We say how transferable it is and what that means for you.