Cloud vs Desktop bakery software: why your recipes should stay offline

Cloud (SaaS): the software is accessed through a web browser. Your data is stored on the vendor's servers, somewhere in the world.

Desktop (local): the software is installed on your computer. Your data is on your hard drive, in your bakery.

For the past 10 years, the trend has been toward cloud. But for an artisan baker, desktop offers practical advantages that cloud simply cannot match.

Cloud software requires a permanent internet connection. Without internet:

• You cannot open your recipe sheets.
• You cannot check your costs.
• You cannot generate allergen labels.

In a bakery, production starts at 3 AM. If the internet goes down at 3 AM, who is going to fix it? With desktop software, your production kitchen never depends on a connection.

With cloud software:

• Your recipes, margins, suppliers and purchase prices are on the vendor's servers.
• If the vendor shuts down (it happens), your data may be lost.
• The vendor could theoretically analyze your data (average industry margins, supplier prices).

With desktop software:

• Your data is a file on your computer.
• You can copy it, back it up, move it.
• Nobody else has access.

Cloud platforms centralize the data of thousands of customers in one place. That makes them a prime target for cyberattacks. Several SaaS vendors have suffered data breaches exposing all of their customers in a single attack. Ransomware has also paralyzed cloud services for days, blocking hundreds of artisans.

Desktop software is not immune to viruses, but the attack surface is much smaller: a single computer, not thousands of accounts.

	Cloud (typical)	Desktop (LogiBake)
Monthly subscription	79 EUR/month	29 EUR/month
Cost over 5 years	4,740 EUR	1,740 EUR
Updates	Included	Included
Data ownership	Vendor	You
Works offline	No	Yes

Over 5 years, the difference is 3,000 EUR — the price of a good used mixer.

Cloud has genuine advantages in certain scenarios:

• Multi-location: if you have 5 bakeries, cloud simplifies synchronization.
• Remote team: a recipe consultant working from a distance.
• No computer in the production kitchen: a phone is enough with cloud.

For an artisan bakery with 1 to 3 locations, desktop offers the best value for money and security.

If you are an artisan baker or pastry chef with 1 to 3 locations:

1. Choose desktop for data ownership and offline operation.
2. Require automatic backups: a hard drive can fail. Your software should back up regularly.
3. Check the export options: you should be able to export your recipes at any time, without being locked in.

LogiBake combines the best of both worlds: local storage (your data stays with you), one-click backup from settings, and regular updates just like cloud software.