Self-host vs. SaaS
Both product lines run the same pipeline. The difference is where it runs and who holds the keys.
| Self-host | SaaS | |
|---|---|---|
| Data ownership | You own and control everything — it never leaves your machine. | You own your data; it lives in an isolated tenant on Qafila's servers. |
| Where files live | On disk, on the hardware you run Qafila on. | In per-tenant storage on Qafila's hosting, separated from other tenants. |
| Who holds AI keys | You — stored locally in your own configuration, or none if using local AI only. | You, via BYOK — encrypted per-account and never readable across tenants. |
| License vs. account | An offline, Ed25519-signed license file (perpetual-fallback: your build keeps working forever). | A hosted account tied to your email, provisioned after purchase. |
| Updates | Free upgrades up to the license's version_max; new major versions need a new purchase. | Continuously updated by the operator — no action needed on your side. |
| Bulk archive engine | Included with a paid license (the licensed differentiator). | Included with a paid account. |
| Single-URL downloads | Free, even in trial (no license required). | Included with a paid account. |
| Local/offline AI | Yes — local Whisper and Ollama run on your own hardware. | No — hosted deployments use cloud AI (BYOK) only. |