Website as a Service

What is WaaS?

Website as a Service means you subscribe to a website instead of buying one. Design, build, hosting, security and ongoing changes are bundled into a single monthly fee — so the site is launched, looked after and kept current without you managing any of it.

The short definition

A traditional website is a project: you pay once, it launches, and then it slowly falls behind. WaaS turns the website into an ongoing service. You pay monthly, and in return the site is designed, hosted, monitored, updated and improved over time — the same way you subscribe to the software you already use every day.

What is included

Design and build of the site
Hosting, domain setup and SSL
Security updates and backups
Performance and uptime monitoring
Small content and copy changes
Admin login so you can edit text yourself

01

Scope

A short call about your business, your audience and what the site has to do.

02

Build

Design and build, then review together. Launch happens within weeks, not months.

03

Run

Hosting, updates, monitoring and changes continue for as long as you subscribe.

WaaS vs a fixed-price project

Upfront cost
WaaSLow — you start with a monthly fee
FixedHigh — the full build is paid before launch
Ongoing care
WaaSIncluded: updates, hosting, monitoring
FixedUsually extra, or nothing at all
Changes after launch
WaaSPart of the agreement
FixedQuoted and invoiced per request
Ownership
WaaSYou own your content and domain; the service runs the site
FixedYou own the files — and the maintenance
Best when
WaaSYou want the site to keep evolving
FixedYou have a one-off, tightly scoped build

What does WaaS stand for?

Website as a Service. It applies the subscription model of software as a service to websites: instead of buying a website once, you subscribe to one that is built, hosted and maintained for you.

What does WaaS cost?

With Iris it is a one-time setup fee of 290 € plus 95 € per month for Essential or 180 € per month for Growth. There is no large upfront build fee — hosting, SSL, backups and maintenance are part of the monthly price, and the setup fee is waived if you pay the first year annually.

Do I own my website?

You own your domain, your content and your brand assets. The subscription covers the design, build, hosting and ongoing work that keeps the site running.

Can I cancel?

Yes. The full terms — notice period, what is included and what is billed separately — are written out on the Terms and Service description pages.

Is WaaS the same as a website builder?

No. With a builder you do the work yourself on a template. With WaaS someone designs, builds and maintains the site for you, and you still get a simple admin to edit your own text.

Think WaaS fits you?

Tell me what the site needs to do and you get an honest recommendation — including if a fixed project is the better answer.

Start a projectWaaS overviewFor service businesses