what is the difference between desktop and saws?
**Desktop vs. SaaS (Genymotion Cloud)**
| Feature | **Genymotion Desktop** | **Genymotion SaaS (Cloud)** |
|---------|------------------------|-----------------------------|
| **Where it runs** | Installs locally on Windows, macOS or Linux PCs. | Runs in the cloud – you access virtual devices through a web console or APIs. |
| **Installation** | Requires a one‑time download and install on your machine. | No installation needed; you just sign up and launch devices via the browser. |
| **Device management** | Devices are stored and managed on your local machine. | Devices live in the cloud; you can spin up as many as you need on demand. |
| **Use case** | Ideal for offline development, quick local testing, or when you want full control of the host OS. | Great for automated testing pipelines, CI/CD integration, or when you need scalable, on‑demand devices without local hardware. |
| **Scalability** | Limited to the resources (CPU, RAM, disk) of your PC. | Scales with your cloud plan – spin up multiple devices simultaneously. |
| **Licensing** | One‑time license (free tier has limited devices). | Subscription‑based per device or per usage; includes automated test suites and integrations. |
| **Supported OS** | Windows (≥ 8.1), macOS, Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, etc.). | Platform‑agnostic – accessed from any OS with a browser. |
| **Offline capability** | Works fully offline once installed. | Requires internet connectivity to create, start, or interact with devices. |
| **Maintenance** | You manage updates manually. | Updates are handled automatically by Genymotion. |
> **Bottom line:**
> *Desktop* is for developers who prefer a local, offline environment with full control over the host system.
> *SaaS* is for teams and enterprises that need scalable, cloud‑based emulation with CI/CD integration and automated testing.