Dries Buytaert on Why SaaS Should Let You Leave — And How That Builds Trust

Staff Reporter

Dries Buytaert believes that the freedom to leave is what makes customers stay—and he’s applying that principle to Acquia Source. In a recent blog post, Dries Buytaert explains how Acquia Source allows users to export a fully functioning Drupal site, including the codebase, theme, configuration, content, and data, at any time. This sets it apart from traditional SaaS platforms, which often restrict code access and limit portability.

When customers can leave easily, Dries argues, vendors are held accountable and must earn loyalty through continuous value—not technical barriers. This model supports long-term flexibility: teams can start small and scale as complexity grows, moving their site to any infrastructure when needed. Acquia calls this model “Open SaaS,” a direct reflection of Drupal’s open-source ethos.

The concept isn’t new. Acquia first implemented full-export functionality with Drupal Gardens in 2010, and one of its earliest adopters later evolved into a major enterprise client, now running some of the world’s largest media properties on Acquia platforms.

The exit door you’ll never use is exactly what makes you confident enough to stay.

Reference: The freedom to leave is what makes customers stay by Dries Buytaert (3 December 2025)

Dries Buytaert

Acquia

SaaS

Drupal

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