Every comparison you'll find on this is written by a PCO hire company selling one of these three options — naturally, they recommend theirs. This one isn't selling anything. Enter your own numbers and see the real total cost over the time you actually plan to drive.
Every existing article comparing these three options is published by a company that hires out or sells one of them — the comparison always, unsurprisingly, favours their own product. The real answer depends entirely on how long you actually plan to keep driving: hire wins for short, uncertain stints; buying outright usually wins over a long enough horizon, once you account for what you'll get back reselling it. This calculator has no option to sell you, so put in your own numbers and let the totals speak.
A planning comparison, not financial advice — always check the exact terms of any hire or finance agreement before signing.