What are the three ways?
- Self-hosting: You rent a server and take care of everything needed to run the app.
- No-code tools and app builders: You build without program code in a provider's interface, and the app runs there too.
- A platform like Auftrieb: You build with Claude or Codex. The platform runs the app and provides sign-in, backups and certificates.
The three ways compared
How much effort does running the app take?
- Self-hosting: You set up servers, backups, certificates and updates and keep them running. For this, you need someone who knows how to do it and has time for it in the long term.
- No-code: You can start quickly, and the provider handles operation. Effort arises when a requirement does not fit the tool.
- Auftrieb: Servers, backups and certificates are Auftrieb's job. You maintain the code of your own app yourselves, with your AI tool.
How does the company sign-in work?
- Self-hosting: You set up the connection to your company account yourselves for each app.
- No-code: This depends on the provider and often on the plan too.
- Auftrieb: Sign-in runs through Google Workspace or Microsoft Entra. When a company account is deactivated, access to the apps ends automatically.
What does it cost per user?
- Self-hosting: The costs lie in the server and above all in working time.
- No-code: Many providers charge per user or by usage.
- Auftrieb: Auftrieb is not charged per employee.
Where is the data stored?
- Self-hosting: You choose the location yourselves.
- No-code: The provider sets the location or offers a choice.
- Auftrieb: The servers are in Hetzner Online GmbH data centres in Germany, and the backups are in Germany too. On request, Auftrieb runs in your own Hetzner account. We are also glad to support other server environments. A data processing agreement under Art. 28 GDPR is available on request.
How much control do you have?
- Self-hosting: You decide on the technology, the provider and the timing of every change. In return, you also carry every outage yourselves.
- No-code: The app sits in the provider's format. Switching often means building it again.
- Auftrieb: You can download the code as a Git repository at any time, and you get an export of the data on request. Every change to apps, access and settings is recorded.
When is self-hosting the better choice?
- You have your own operations team with time for it in the long term.
- You want to decide the technology, the provider and the timing of every change yourselves.
When is a no-code tool the better choice?
- Nobody at your company builds with an AI tool.
- The task fits what the tool can already do, for example a form with a list behind it.
- Only a few people use the app.
- You already pay for a large app platform, and your departments work well with it.
When is a platform like Auftrieb the better choice?
- Someone at your company already builds with Claude or Codex, and the app has only run on a laptop so far.
- You would rather not build up operations yourselves.
- The apps should run behind the company sign-in and be listed in a central catalogue.
You can find a more detailed assessment under Who Auftrieb is for.