Financing
In a financing model, customers acquire ownership of a product upfront by paying through installments over an agreed period, typically with interest. Unlike renting, the product is treated as purchased from the start.
Rent-to-own/Mietkauf
In a rent-to-own model, customers pay a recurring fee to use a product with the option — or obligation — to purchase it after a set period. Payments often contribute toward the final purchase price, allowing customers to spread out the cost of ownership over time.
Subscription
In a subscription model, customers pay a recurring fee (typically monthly) for continuous access to a product — often bundled with services like maintenance, upgrades, and customer support.
Introduction.
Buying isn’t the only way anymore. For years, leasing and financing were the go-to alternatives for making high-ticket products more accessible. But today, companies are rethinking how they get products into customers’ hands — since customers expect more flexible options.
Models like subscriptions and rent-to-own have emerged, giving people new ways to use (and eventually own) products without the upfront commitment.
This guide breaks down how leasing, rent-to-own, and subscription models compare, so you can better understand the differences and decide what might work best for your business or customers.
