Software as a service (SaaS) refers to a model of software delivery in which a provider hosts and maintains the software and makes it available to customers over the internet. A self-hosted website, on the other hand, is a website that is hosted on a server that is owned and maintained by the website owner. Here are some benefits of using a SaaS model over a self-hosted website:

1. Cost: SaaS providers often offer subscription-based pricing models, which can be more cost-effective than the upfront costs associated with setting up and maintaining a self-hosted website.

2. Maintenance and updates: With SaaS, the provider is responsible for maintaining and updating the software, which can save time and resources for the customer. With a self-hosted website, the website owner is responsible for maintaining and updating the software, which can be time-consuming and require technical expertise.

3. Scalability: SaaS providers often offer flexible options for scaling up or down as needed, which can be more convenient than having to purchase additional hardware and software for a self-hosted website.

4. Security: SaaS providers often have robust security measures in place to protect customer data, which can be more comprehensive than the security measures that a website owner can implement on a self-hosted website.

5. Reliability: SaaS providers typically have redundant servers and other infrastructure in place to ensure high availability, which can be more reliable than a self-hosted website that relies on a single server.

Overall, SaaS can be a convenient and cost-effective option for businesses and organizations that need to use software but do not want to bear the costs and responsibilities of hosting and maintaining it themselves.