Is there a difference between SaaS and Cloud computing?

IMHO there is a difference. As stated above the term "cloud computing" has been overused and inaccurately used. My opinion falls along the lines of the definition provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. NIST names three service models: SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS but these don't have to run on cloud infrastructure. For instance software can be hosted and charged on a subscription basis and not be cloud computing. The key lies in NIST's enumeration of cloud computing's "essential characteristics" These are: On-demand self-service Broad network access Resource pooling Rapid elasticity Measured service Some say that cloud computing has been around for a long time under different names. I'd say yes and no. It has long been a goal to provide large scale compute resources that were flexible and on-demand. We've just come further so the architecture is more efficient and easy to use. Here's a link to the NIST definition: csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-145/SP800-145.pdf

SaaS is only one component of cloud computing as mentioned in the answer above.  But SaaS is the part of cloud computing that the consumer and the non-techie business person can easily understand.  It means that to access the software and tools you need to run you business, all you need to do is have a Web browser and login to an application online.  It's about accessing data stored for you on the Web.  It's as simple as that.  To read more about the implications of the Cloud on business, read this blog post: http://www.comparz.com/blog/2011-07-sorry-guys-but-the-it-guy-is-dead

No, there is no difference. The term "cloud computing" has been over determined and is meaningless. The term "cloud computing" pretty much means "any service connected to the Internet". I don't think that us a useful definition, but I'd have better success trying to hold back the tide with a bucket.

SaaS is basically one of the three Cloud service segments, the others being PaaS and IaaS. Most of the time it is referred to as the software delivered over the web that gets metered and priced on the "pay-as-you-go" model.

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is on of http://bit.ly/NIST_XaaS  in cloud computing. The other two are Infrastructure-aaS (IaaS) and Platform-aaS (PaaS). IaaS gives users the greatest control over cloud managed resources - computing, networking and storage, along with the ability to configure and manage software that is then run on that virtual infrastructure.  PaaS is focused on providing users with a software development and delivery environment with less visibility or control over the hardware that runs the software - the infrastructure part is taken care of for users, allowing them to focus on developing and managing the software. An IaaS or PaaS system could both be used to deliver a SaaS offering. SaaS gives users the least access to the infrastructure or code of software running in the cloud. The software provides a service that could be word processing (e.g. Microsoft 365), storage (e.g. DropBox), social communications (e.g. Facebook, Slack), etc. The main consideration is that a user can get access when they want (e.g. create an account) and further have the potential to get access to more resources on demand (though this may cost you - think the pro version of Slack or paying for more storage on DropBox).  While it may be necessary to download a client to a local machine and potentially copy files locally, the benefit of SaaS systems is that they are keeping your data secure 'in the cloud,' essentially a chunk of cloud storage. Users then have on demand access to data (Dropbox/MicroSoft365/GoogleOffice) from any device they are using to log into the software with (remember, your stuffs is in the cloud right?). The cloud model also gives users the potential to access much greater processing power (in the cloud) than is available on their device (Adobe's Creative Suite). So to recap - SaaS is a part of cloud computing and is one of three cloud services that is focused on providing users access to software functionality rather than the ability to  build software (PaaS) or manage cloud infrastructure (IaaS).If you want to check out the differences between the three X-aaS service models, this is a short (~5min) video that breaks them down nicely: http://bit.ly/NIST_XaaS

SaaS (Software as a Service) is a software sales and delivery model. It relies on delivery software on demand across the web and/or mobile devices, rather than buying it at a store or downloading it once to your computer and having it there. This model has many benefits, one if which it facilitates the payment for accessing the software (a subscription) rather than paying for the software license once.Cloud computing is a computing model where computing resources and software are hosted on a remote site (also called a server farm or a cloud computing provider) and accessed through a network, rather than having them on site.In many ways, cloud computing has enabled SaaS and driven it to success.

SaaS is one of the fundamental models of Cloud Computing: IaaS. Infrastructure as a Service PaaS. Platform as a Service SaaS. Software as a Service. In SaaS, all the components are managed by the provider, customer only turns on/off features. It's a fully managed service, examples: Office 365 SalesForce Have a look at http://allthingscloud.info/cloud-computing-the-basics-part-1/ for the basics.

In Cloud Computing there are 3 Service Models i.e 1)IAAS(Infrastructure As A Service) 2)PAAS(Platform As A Service) & 3)SAAS(Software As A Service). So SAAS is one type of Service Model in Cloud Computing. In which Individual or a Company gets a software on rent from the Vendor for eg.: Office-365 is SAAS provided by the Vendor Microsoft(Other SAAS eg.: Citrix Go to Meeting, Cisco WebEx etc). You will be charged on the basis of usage of software or there will be specific charge for a monthly or yearly package depends on the Software and the Vendor. Internet connection is required to access the cloud softwares.Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility (like the electricity grid) over a network (typically the Internet). Clouds can be classified as public, private or hybrid.SAAS describes any cloud service where consumers are able to access software applications over the internet. The applications are hosted in “the cloud” and can be used for a wide range of tasks for both individuals and organisations. Google, Twitter, Facebook etc.

For starters, one of them is a pricing model and the other one is a form of deployment of software.SaaS is a term first coined by Salesforce and means letting the user pay for the software on a subscription basis, like paying for a monthly service.Cloud Computing on the other hand means simply running software on the cloud, making it accessible from anywhere.