Best Next.js SaaS Boilerplates in 2026: The Definitive Guide
We tested and compared every major Next.js SaaS boilerplate. Here's our honest ranking with pricing, features, and recommendations for different use cases.
Best Next.js SaaS Boilerplates in 2026: The Definitive Guide
Building a SaaS from scratch is a grind. Authentication, payments, user management, email—you end up spending weeks on infrastructure before writing a single line of product code.
That's why Next.js SaaS boilerplates exist. They give you a production-ready foundation so you can focus on what makes your product unique.
But with dozens of options available, how do you choose? We've tested the most popular Next.js SaaS templates and put together this guide to help you pick the right one.
Why Next.js for SaaS?#
Most modern SaaS boilerplates have converged on Next.js (App Router), TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, and Prisma. The differences are in execution, features, and philosophy.
Our Top Picks at a Glance#
| Rank | Boilerplate | Price | Best For | Our Take |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ShipFast | $199 | Solo makers, MVPs | Best balance of features and simplicity |
| 2 | Supastarter | $299 | International, teams | Most flexible option |
| 3 | MakerKit | $299 | B2B SaaS | Best for complex apps |
| 4 | Shipped | ~$149 | Marketing-heavy | Good marketing tools |
| 5 | NextSaaS | $89 | Budget builds | Affordable entry point |
If you're reading this and still aren't sure, start with ShipFast. At $199 with lifetime updates, it's the safest choice for most developers.
1. ShipFast — Best for Solo Makers#
Price: $199 (one-time, lifetime updates)
ShipFast has earned its reputation as the default choice for indie hackers. Created by a solo developer who built multiple successful products, it reflects real-world SaaS needs without unnecessary complexity.
Why We Like It#
ShipFast is opinionated in the best way. Instead of offering five authentication methods, it picks one solid approach. This means:
- You can understand the entire codebase quickly
- Less configuration, faster shipping
- Clear patterns to follow
The documentation is practical, focusing on "how to add X" rather than abstract architecture discussions.
Simplicity — Understand the entire codebase in an afternoon
Active community — Largest indie hacker community
Practical docs — Task-focused documentation
Fast iteration — Less decision fatigue when starting out
No multi-tenancy — Teams feature not built-in
Limited i18n — Not ideal for international markets from day one
Opinionated stack — Great if you agree with choices, frustrating if not
Best for: Solo developers, MVPs, standard SaaS patterns
2. Supastarter — Best for Flexibility#
Price: $299 (one-time)
Supastarter takes the opposite approach from ShipFast. Where ShipFast is opinionated, Supastarter is comprehensive. You get more options, more integrations, and more flexibility.
Why We Like It#
The internationalization support is exceptional. If you're building for a global audience, Supastarter handles multiple languages out of the box, locale-aware routing, and RTL support considerations.
The payment provider flexibility also stands out. Need to support customers in regions where Stripe isn't available? Supastarter has you covered.
i18n support — Exceptional internationalization out of the box
Payment flexibility — Multiple providers for global reach
Organizations — Team and workspace support built-in
Options — Flexibility for evolving requirements
Steeper learning curve — More options means more code to understand
Decision overhead — You'll still choose between integrations
Bigger codebase — Features you might not use are still there
Best for: International products, team-based apps, developers who want options
3. MakerKit — Best for B2B SaaS#
Price: $299 (one-time)
MakerKit is purpose-built for B2B SaaS. While other boilerplates can work for B2B, MakerKit is architected for it from the ground up.
Why We Like It#
If you're building software for businesses, MakerKit handles the hard stuff:
- Team management: Invitations, role changes, member removal
- Permission systems: Fine-grained access control
- Admin tooling: User management, analytics, support tools
- Testing: Patterns for reliable B2B software
B2B-focused — Multi-tenancy and permissions are core, not add-ons
Testing infrastructure — Patterns for reliable software included
Professional UI — Shadcn + Tailwind produces polished look
Admin tooling — User management and analytics built-in
Overkill for consumer apps — Much of MakerKit is unnecessary for simple products
More complex codebase — Understanding permissions takes time
Steeper learning curve — B2B features add complexity
Best for: B2B SaaS, team-based products, apps with complex permissions
4. Shipped — Best for Marketing-Heavy Products#
Price: ~$149-199 (verify current pricing)
Shipped differentiates itself with strong marketing tooling. Beyond the standard SaaS features, it includes components specifically designed for conversion.
The affiliate tracking is notable. If affiliate marketing is part of your growth strategy, having it built-in from day one saves significant development time.
Best for: Marketing-driven products, affiliate-focused businesses
5. NextSaaS — Best Budget Option#
Price: $89-109
NextSaaS proves you don't need to spend $300 for a solid starting point. At under $100, it offers surprising feature coverage.
Less established than competitors, smaller community, verify maintenance and update cadence before purchasing.
Best for: Budget-conscious developers, content-heavy apps
Feature Comparison Matrix#
| Feature | ShipFast | Supastarter | MakerKit | Shipped | NextSaaS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $199 | $299 | $299 | ~$149 | $89 |
| Auth | OAuth + Magic | Multi-provider | Full + Teams | Standard | Standard |
| Stripe | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lemon Squeezy | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | — |
| i18n | Limited | ✓ | Available | — | — |
| Multi-tenancy | — | Organizations | Full | — | — |
| Admin Panel | Basic | ✓ | Full | ✓ | ✓ |
| Testing | — | — | ✓ | — | — |
| Affiliate Tools | — | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| UI Stack | Tailwind | Tailwind+Radix | Shadcn | Tailwind | Tailwind |
How to Choose: Decision Framework#
What type of product are you building?#
- Consumer SaaS (individual users) → ShipFast or NextSaaS
- B2B SaaS (business customers) → MakerKit
- Global product (international users) → Supastarter
- Marketing-driven (affiliates, content) → Shipped
What's your budget?#
- Under $100 → NextSaaS
- $150-200 → ShipFast or Shipped
- $300 → Supastarter or MakerKit (choose based on features)
What's your experience level?#
- First SaaS → ShipFast (most approachable)
- Experienced, want options → Supastarter
- Know exactly what you need → Match features to requirements
Do you need these specific features?#
- Internationalization → Supastarter
- Multi-tenancy/teams → MakerKit or Supastarter
- Affiliate tracking → Shipped or NextSaaS
- Testing infrastructure → MakerKit
What About Building From Scratch?#
It's a fair question. With Next.js, setting up auth (NextAuth), payments (Stripe SDK), and a database (Prisma) isn't that hard. Should you just do it yourself?
For most developers, boilerplates save 40-80 hours of setup time. At $200-300, that's an exceptional ROI even if your time is worth $10/hour.
Frequently Asked Questions#
Are these boilerplates kept up to date?#
All five options we've covered are actively maintained. However, maintenance cadence varies:
- ShipFast, Supastarter, and MakerKit have the most active development
- Check GitHub activity and changelog before purchasing
Can I use these with databases other than PostgreSQL?#
Most are built for PostgreSQL via Prisma. Switching databases is possible but requires work. If you need MySQL or MongoDB, verify compatibility first.
What about Vercel-specific features?#
All of these work great on Vercel, but none are locked to it. You can deploy to Railway, Render, or any platform that supports Node.js.
Do these include AI features?#
AI integration isn't standard in most boilerplates yet. You'll add OpenAI, Anthropic, or other AI APIs yourself. Some boilerplates have guides for this.
Which has the best documentation?#
ShipFast's documentation is practical and task-focused. MakerKit's is comprehensive but denser. Supastarter falls in between. All three are adequate—none are exceptional.
Our Recommendation#
If you're reading this and still aren't sure, start with ShipFast.
At $199 with lifetime updates, it's the safest choice. The codebase is clean, the patterns are standard, and the community is active. If you outgrow it, you've still saved weeks of initial development time.
Choose Supastarter or MakerKit only if you have specific requirements (i18n, B2B) that justify the extra complexity.
Take the Quiz#
Want personalized recommendations? Take our 2-minute quiz and we'll match you with the best boilerplate for your specific project—across Next.js, Rails, Laravel, and Django.
Prices and features verified as of February 2026. Some links on this page may be affiliate links—we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This doesn't influence our rankings; we include boilerplates regardless of affiliate relationships.
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