01What differs in practice
Installed (desktop or on-premise) software is bought or licensed and installed on a computer or on a server at the business. Data stays local, and the business takes care of updates, backups and access from other locations.
Cloud software runs on the vendor's servers. You sign in from a browser or an app, usually with a monthly or yearly subscription, and maintenance happens centrally.
Both can transmit to myDATA and connect to a certified provider. The difference is who does what.
02Updates and myDATA
AADE revises the myDATA technical specifications from time to time: new versions, new classifications, new document types. With cloud software the change is made centrally and you see it next time you sign in. With installed software you usually have to download and install an update, sometimes on every computer, and make sure your licence entitles you to it.
03Security and backups
With local software the data is in your hands, and so is the risk: a disk failure, theft or ransomware on a computer without a recent backup can mean lost documents. With cloud software the vendor keeps the copies and protects the infrastructure, so it is worth asking where the data is hosted, whether it is encrypted and how often it is backed up.
04Access and collaboration
Cloud wins when you work from several places or with others: the same account opens at the office, at home and on your phone, and your accountant can have their own access. Installed software usually needs a remote connection or a network installation to do the same.
05Internet and speed
The main drawback of cloud software is that it depends on an internet connection: without one, the app does not open. In practice, though, transmitting to myDATA needs the internet too, so local software without a connection can issue a document but cannot complete the transmission. A phone with mobile data is usually enough of a fallback.
06Cost
Installed software usually has an up-front licence cost, often with a yearly maintenance contract for updates, plus hardware (computer, server, backup). Cloud software has a predictable subscription with no up-front cost. For a small business or a freelancer, cloud is almost always cheaper overall. Large installations with heavy customisation may have reasons to stay local.
07Which suits whom
- Freelancers and small businesses: usually cloud. No IT staff, a need to invoice from the phone too, and no wish to deal with updates.
- Businesses with several locations or colleagues: cloud, for shared access without network installations.
- Businesses with an external accountant: cloud, so the accountant can see documents with their own access.
- Sites with a weak or no connection: local software may be more practical, with the caveat that myDATA transmission needs the internet anyway.
- Large, specialised systems: where infrastructure and an IT team already exist, a local installation can make sense.
08Where eFluper fits
eFluper is cloud invoicing software. There is nothing to install: you sign in at app.efluper.com from any browser and start. The same account opens on a computer, tablet and phone, and there is an app for Android and iOS.
Data is stored encrypted on cloud infrastructure with daily backups. You can bulk-export all your documents and their attachments, invite your accountant or colleagues with per-user permissions, and see who changed each record.
If your work needs to run with no internet connection at all, cloud software, eFluper included, is not the right choice. For everyone else, subscriptions start at 8 €/month billed yearly, and there is a free plan to get started. See also how to choose invoicing software.