What is the difference between a client and a server?
What is the difference between an IDES24 private client and a private server?
A comprehensive comparison: security, scalability, integrations, multi-tenancy, and more.
SAP Client or SAP Server?
The most important difference for your SAP Sandbox project—explained simply.
What is an SAP client?
An SAP client is an isolated tenant within an existing SAP system.
Ideal for training sessions, demonstrations, or standardized development projects
Typical characteristics:
Separate clients, but a shared system
Low cost
Ready to go in no time
No database or server administration
Limited customization
What is an SAP server?
An SAP server is a fully dedicated SAP system, exclusively for your company.
Typical characteristics:
Our own database & our own application server
Full system and basic control
Top Performance & Security
Ideal for development, testing, and industry-specific solutions
Higher costs—but maximum freedom
Client vs. Server: A Direct Comparison
| Category | Dedicated Client Access | Dedicated Server Access |
|---|---|---|
| Typical customers | Companies, consultants, training teams, ISV developers | Company-wide teams, partners, core teams, ISV developers, industry-specific users |
| Cost level | Standard (billed per client) | Premium (per server; same price for 1–500 users) |
| Primary use cases | Stable demos, customization, integration, development | Full-scale development, industry solutions, advanced integrations, basic admin training |
| Secondary use cases | Structured training courses, proofs of concept (POCs) | Large-scale training sessions, load and performance tests |
| Data stability | ✔ Stable (dedicated tenant) | ✔✔ Fully isolated, with its own database and application server |
| Customizing Isolation | ✔ Yes – on a per-client basis | ✔✔ Complete isolation of the entire system |
| Multiple clients | ✔ Yes (each additional client is billed separately) | ✔✔ Yes – unlimited (already included in the server price) |
| Industry-specific solutions | ✖ Not supported | ✔ Supported – requires full system isolation |
| Risk posed by other users | Low | No risk |
| Demo version | ✔ Good & sturdy | ✔✔ Ideal – fully insulated & fully customizable |
| ABAP Development | ✔ Possible – Code visible system-wide and across clients | ✔✔ Full development using a private, isolated ABAP repository |
| Admin / Basic Access | ✖ No technical access (client level only) | ✔ Full admin access (Client 000, user and role management, STMS, SCC4, etc.) |
| Direct database access | ✖ Not allowed | ✔ Supported (ODBC / JDBC, plugins, direct integrations) |
| Supported integrations | ✔ SMS9, RFCs, Cloud Connector | ✔✔ Fully supported – including database-level and complex integrations |
| Cloud Connector | ✔ Yes (requires a separate BTP subscription) | ✔ Yes (requires a separate BTP subscription) |
| System performance | Stable | Top-tier performance & guaranteed results |
| Flexibility | Medium | Full |
Which system is right for me?
SAP Client is ideal for:
Training Teams & Courses
Freelancers & Independent Developers
Consultant for Demos & Workshops
Proof of Concepts
Standard Customizing
SAP Server is ideal for:
Companies with development projects
ISV & Product Developers
Industry Solutions (IS-Retail, IS-Oil, etc.)
Load & Performance Testing
Integration scenarios with third-party systems
Select your SAP test system
Public SAP User
with Fully Activated Appliance + Fiori
for individual users, freelancers, and students
Starting at €100/month
Private SAP Client
SAP S/4 HANA Access
1 client with a fully activated appliance
, including 4 user IDs + 1 ABAP user ID
Starting at €800/month
Private SAP Server
Dedicated SAP system (
) including 2 clients + custom configurations
Starting at €2,500/month
