Ask HN: Is it ethical to sell subscriptions to software without a cloud? 5 by internetter | 3 comments on Hacker News. Hello! I'm working on a novel service that feels most likely to materialize as a cloud based SaaS application. I'd like to provide a cloud component as that does present advantages, however for privacy I'd like to provide a cheaper option that runs locally on a person's device (say, 1$ a month vs 3$). I'll say, renting local software, such as the adobe suite, is a very frustrating experience. I'd much, much, much prefer to own it outright. When presented with a subscription that doesn't have an obvious reason (such as streaming services), I tend to look for alternatives. But at the same time, the program is the sort of thing you'd see as a SaaS. The local option is certainly not the primary option, it's more like a "if this can't work for you, we might be able to offer this, which comes with plenty of it's own issues...