Starting a SaaS (Software as a Service) project is super exciting. You’ve got a fantastic idea, and you can’t wait to dive into building it. But there’s a catch—before you even get to the fun part, you have to deal with setting up all the basic stuff: login systems, payment integration, databases, and so on. It can feel overwhelming.
Sometimes, it’s tempting to skip the boring parts and jump right into building the core features, only to be hit with the realization that you still need to handle these essentials later.
What if you didn’t have to deal with this headache at all? That’s where SaaS boilerplates come in. These are pre-built templates that take care of the fundamental building blocks of your app, allowing you to launch faster and focus on what makes your SaaS unique. Instead of spending weeks or even months on the basics, you can get them done in just a few days.
In this post, we’ll explore 5 SaaS boilerplates that will help you launch your startup in record time.
What Is a SaaS Boilerplate?
A SaaS boilerplate is essentially a pre-built codebase that includes all the standard features most SaaS apps need. Think user authentication, payment gateways, admin dashboards, email notifications, and more. It’s a toolkit that allows you to avoid reinventing the wheel and start with a solid foundation.
Using a SaaS boilerplate means that instead of coding everything from scratch, you can leverage ready-made solutions for common functionalities, which saves you a huge amount of time and effort. The best part? You can usually customize these boilerplates to fit your specific needs.
Let’s dive into the top five boilerplates that can help you launch your SaaS faster.
1. Gravity: A Comprehensive Solution
Gravity is a powerhouse in the SaaS boilerplate world. It’s one of the most comprehensive solutions out there, and it’s been around long enough to prove itself. Whether you need authentication, payment integrations, or user management features, Gravity’s got you covered.
Key Features:
- Authentication: Supports email/password login, social logins, and two-factor authentication (2FA).
- User Management: Manage user roles, permissions, and profiles.
- Payment Integration: Pre-built Stripe integration so you can start making money right away.
- Tech Stack: Built with Next.js, React, Tailwind CSS, and Prisma (for database management).
- Admin Dashboard: An intuitive interface to monitor user activity and content.
Pros:
- It’s highly robust and covers a wide range of features.
- Comes with pre-built components that are easy to tweak for your brand.
- Admin dashboard provides insights into your app’s performance.
Cons:
- Overkill for simpler SaaS projects or MVPs (Minimum Viable Products).
- Some features may be difficult to remove if you don’t need them.
When to Use It: If you’re looking for a battle-tested solution that covers everything you need for a full-featured SaaS product, Gravity is the way to go. However, if you’re building something small, it might be more than you need.
2. Shipped: Focused on Speed
Shipped is a Next.js boilerplate designed to get your SaaS up and running in days, not months. It’s much more streamlined than Gravity and focuses heavily on cutting out the fluff so you can launch fast.
Key Features:
- Landing Page & Blog: Get your marketing site set up right away.
- Payment Integration: Uses LemonSqueezy for quick payment setup.
- User Authentication: Choose between NextAuth or Supabase.
- Flexibility: Pick between several UI libraries for design.
Pros:
- Fast and easy setup.
- You have options for user authentication and email services.
- Great for early-stage startups focused on speed.
Cons:
- Fairly opinionated setup with limited room for deep customization.
- Newer product, so it’s not as battle-tested as older boilerplates.
When to Use It: Perfect if you need to get your SaaS up and running quickly and aren’t too worried about heavy customization.
3. SaaS UI: A Powerful Component Library
SaaS UI is more of a UI component library than a full-blown boilerplate, but it’s so good that it deserves a spot on this list. Built on Next.js and Chakra UI, it offers a collection of pre-built components to create stunning and intuitive user interfaces.
Key Features:
- UI Components: Everything from buttons and forms to data tables and charts.
- Starter Kits: Pre-configured with essential features like authentication and billing.
- Flexibility: Easily customizable to fit your branding and style.
Pros:
- Huge variety of components to speed up frontend development.
- Starter kits save time on basic SaaS features.
- Highly customizable, offering a lot of flexibility.
Cons:
- May be more than you need for simple projects.
- Requires knowledge of Chakra UI and React, which could add complexity.
When to Use It: If you want a highly customizable UI for your SaaS with all the flexibility you could ask for, SaaS UI is an excellent choice. It’s particularly good if your project is focused on delivering a polished user experience.
4. Ship Fast: Built for Speed and Simplicity
ShipFast is another boilerplate built for Next.js and focused on getting your startup launched quickly. This product has gained a lot of popularity, in part because its creator is very active on YouTube and shares insights into the revenue generated by this exact product. In fact, I also shared a detailed review on ShipFast as well.
Key Features:
- Authentication: Supports multiple login options, including social logins and magic links.
- Payment Integration: Works with Stripe and other popular services.
- Tech Stack: Integrates with MongoDB, Supabase, NextAuth, and Mailgun.
Pros:
- Offers multiple options for handling payments and authentication.
- Well-suited for quick launches with minimal fuss.
- The creator provides a lot of transparency around its performance.
Cons:
- Limited styling options (restricted to Tailwind CSS).
- Some criticism for overpromising results, though the product itself is solid.
When to Use It: If you want to launch a SaaS product fast and like using Tailwind CSS, Ship Fast is a fantastic option. It’s quick to set up and has everything you need to hit the ground running.
5. NextBase: Comprehensive and Well-Rounded
NextBase is a Next.js boilerplate with a focus on providing a full-featured solution for SaaS apps. It’s built on top of Superbase and Stripe, and it’s designed to handle most of the heavy lifting right out of the box.
Key Features:
- User Authentication: Supports standard login methods.
- Payment Processing: Pre-built integration with Stripe.
- Admin Panel: Includes features for user and content management.
- Pre-built Pages: Comes with pages for landing, pricing, and user profiles.
Pros:
- Full-featured solution that covers almost all your SaaS needs.
- Easy to customize with pre-built pages.
- Built-in admin panel for managing users and content.
Cons:
- Like Gravity, it may be too feature-rich for simpler projects.
- Could add complexity if you only need a lightweight setup.
When to Use It: Ideal if you’re looking for an all-in-one solution that covers both the frontend and backend. NextBase is a great option for larger SaaS projects that require a lot of features right from the start.
Final Thoughts
When building a SaaS, your time is valuable, and boilerplates can help you avoid spending too much of it on repetitive tasks. Choosing the right boilerplate depends on the scale and needs of your project.
- Gravity is best if you need a comprehensive, feature-rich solution.
- Shipped is great for launching quickly with a streamlined setup.
- SaaS UI is perfect for those who need flexible and customizable UI components.
- Ship Fast is ideal if you want speed and simplicity, especially if you’re a fan of Tailwind CSS.
- NextBase offers a well-rounded, feature-rich foundation for your SaaS.
No matter which boilerplate you choose, the goal is the same: to launch faster and focus on building what makes your SaaS unique. These tools handle the heavy lifting so you can concentrate on making your product a success.