EdTech: Should your school buy it or rent it?
Let’s start with the obvious disclaimer: we’re a company that provides rental finance for schools, so we love to sing…
Let’s start with the obvious disclaimer: we’re a company that provides rental finance for schools, so we love to sing the praises of renting. That said, we recognise there are scenarios where schools might want to opt to buy their equipment outright, so we wanted to write this piece to help your school make this decision.
What kind of EdTech does your school need?
The answer of whether it’s better to buy or rent partly depends on the specific equipment your school needs. There’s a stronger argument in favour of buying – or leasing-to-own – long-lasting hardware or infrastructure that’s going to be in place for a decade or more. Items such as laptops or iPads with a shorter useful lifespan and a higher risk of obsolescence tend to make better financial sense as a rental.
Let’s explore in more detail …
Buying versus renting EdTech for schools
Buying your EdTech gives your school long-term ownership of those assets, but for a significant upfront investment and no ongoing support other than the manufacturer’s warranty. Renting offers much greater flexibility, with smaller, predictable payments spread across several years. Reputable providers of rental finance will include a support and warranty package as standard so you don’t need to budget for unexpected repairs or maintenance.
These are the main factors you need to consider when deciding whether to rent or buy your school’s EdTech:
Budget
For most schools, budget is the starting point when deciding whether to buy or rent. Buying requires a significant upfront investment, which can be difficult to justify when funding is already stretched across staffing, facilities and other projects. Renting, by contrast, allows schools to spread the cost over several years with predictable, manageable payments. This can free up cash flow for other priorities. The decision often comes down to whether the school can afford to tie up capital now, or whether flexibility in budgeting is more valuable.
Obsolescence
As we highlighted in our recent blog about the 2,000 iPads recalled from schools in Scotland, schools that buy EdTech often find themselves stuck with unsupported equipment that poses a security risk. A laptop or tablet bought just a few years ago could well be incompatible with today’s apps and operating systems. Renting reduces the risk of obsolescence by giving schools the option to upgrade their kit at the end of the contract, ensuring students and teachers always have access to up-to-date tools without having to make another large capital investment.
Maintenance and repairs
It’s easy to underestimate the hidden costs of keeping devices running. Bought equipment comes with responsibility for warranties, repairs, and replacements. These costs add up quickly, especially for high-use devices like student laptops or tablets. Schools may struggle to keep everything working smoothly without hiring a dedicated IT manager (a significant investment in its own right). When renting, the responsibility for maintaining and eventually disposing of the equipment rests with the supplier not the school.
Device consistency
Consistency across devices is crucial for both teachers and students. If some classes are using old laptops while others have brand-new ones, it can create frustration, slow down lessons, and complicate IT support. Buying equipment in batches can help maintain consistency, but budgets don’t always stretch far enough to cover every student or classroom at once. Renting can solve this by allowing schools to roll out a full set of devices in one go, ensuring everyone has access to the same tools.
A quick comparison
Use this table to see the key differences between buying and renting EdTech for your school.
| Buying | Renting | |
| Significant upfront cost | ✔ | X |
| Ownership of equipment | ✔ | X |
| Repair and maintenance costs | ✔ | X |
| Responsibility to dispose of old kit | ✔ | X |
| Upgrades to latest models | X | ✔ |
| Built-in support | X | ✔ |
| Device consistency | X | ✔ |
Should my school buy or rent? A checklist
Still not sure if you should buy or rent your school’s EdTech? Use this quick checklist to ask yourself some of the key questions.
- How long do we realistically need this tech?
- Is the upfront budget available?
- Does our team have the capacity to handle maintenance/repairs?
- Will we need to upgrade soon?
- How many units do we need?
- How will we dispose of the kit when it’s no longer needed?
- Do we value ownership or flexibility more?
The last question is really what your decision comes down to. If the principle of ownership is the most important factor, then buying, or leasing-to-own is the right choice for your school. On the other hand, if flexibility and the availability of your capital budget for other projects appeal more, we’d love to help you explore renting.
Renting your EdTech: how we help
We have been a specialist provider of lease finance to the education sector for nearly 40 years. We offer both finance leases (where you take ownership of the equipment at the end of the lease) and operating leases, where you return and potentially upgrade the equipment at the end of the lease.
Working with our sister company Classroom as a Service (ClaaS), we help schools access laptops, iPads and other EdTech without the burden of upfront costs. Our innovative subscription model is designed specifically for UK schools, giving you predictable payments and the flexibility to upgrade when you need to.
Much like a mobile phone contract, you pay a manageable monthly or termly fee, and at the end of the agreement you can refresh your devices for the latest models. That way, your staff and students always have up-to-date technology without large capital outlays.
As the UK’s longest-established school equipment leasing provider, and part of the trusted Everything ICT framework, we understand the financial pressures schools face. Our fully IFRS-compliant operating leases deliver proven value. The best thing? If you’re a UK state school or college, you’re automatically pre-approved for our finance. We’re a direct funder, not a broker, so there are no ‘middle man’ fees to pay.
There are two easy ways to begin:
- Already have a quote? We’ll work with your supplier to turn it into an affordable subscription.
- Need help sourcing equipment? We’ll work with you to build the right IT and finance package for your school.
Take a look at our case studies to see how other schools have benefited, and check out our Feefo page full of 5-star reviews. For a no-obligation chat about whether leasing is right for your school, get in touch with our friendly team today.
Tags
Similar Articles
