Why Your Tech Stack Choice Actually Matters
The tech stack you choose determines which boilerplates you can use, who you can hire, and how easily you can scale. Pick wrong and you'll spend months rebuilding. Pick right and you'll ship faster than competitors still debating framework philosophy.
Here's what most guides won't tell you: the "best" tech stack doesn't exist. Next.js dominates the SaaS boilerplate space, but that doesn't mean it's right for your specific situation. A solo founder with Vue experience ships faster with Vue than learning Next.js. A team with strong backend developers might prefer Laravel or Django with a simple frontend.
This guide cuts through the framework wars and gives you a practical decision framework. We'll look at real trade-offs—boilerplate availability, hiring pools, learning curves, and deployment complexity. By the end, you'll know exactly which stack fits your situation.
The Case for Next.js: Why It Dominates SaaS
About 75% of modern SaaS boilerplates use Next.js. This isn't hype—it's because Next.js solves the exact problems SaaS founders face. You need SEO for your marketing pages. You need API routes for backend logic. You need fast deployment. Next.js handles all of this without extra configuration.
SEO Without the Headache
Most SaaS products need organic traffic. Your landing page, pricing page, and blog need to rank in Google. With plain React, everything renders client-side, which means search engines see an empty page until JavaScript executes. You can add server-side rendering to React, but at that point you're rebuilding Next.js.
Next.js gives you server-side rendering and static generation out of the box. Your marketing pages load instantly and rank well. Your app pages can still be client-side for interactivity. You get the best of both worlds without configuration hell.
API Routes = No Separate Backend
Next.js includes API routes, letting you build backend functionality in the same codebase. This is perfect for authentication callbacks, webhook handlers, and simple CRUD operations. You don't need to set up Express, manage CORS, or deploy a separate backend service.
For complex backend logic, you might still want a separate service. But for most SaaS MVPs, Next.js API routes handle everything you need. This simplifies deployment, reduces infrastructure costs, and keeps your codebase unified.
Deployment That Just Works
Deploy a Next.js app to Vercel and it just works. Zero configuration. Automatic HTTPS. Global CDN. Preview deployments for every pull request. This isn't just convenient—it saves days of DevOps work.
You can deploy Next.js anywhere (AWS, DigitalOcean, etc.), but Vercel makes it trivial. When you're trying to ship an MVP, spending days on deployment configuration is wasted time. Next.js + Vercel gets you live in minutes.
Massive Boilerplate Ecosystem
The biggest advantage? Choice. Browse our Next.js boilerplates and you'll find hundreds of options. Authentication, payments, admin panels, multi-tenancy—whatever you need, someone's built it. Compare that to other frameworks where you might find a dozen options.
More options means better quality through competition. Boilerplate creators know Next.js is where the market is, so they invest more in documentation, support, and features. You benefit from this ecosystem effect.
When Plain React Makes Sense
React without Next.js works in specific scenarios. If you already have a separate backend team building a robust API, adding Next.js just complicates things. If you're building a client-side-only tool that doesn't need SEO, React's simplicity wins.
You Have a Dedicated Backend
If your team includes backend developers building a proper API in Node.js, Python, or Go, using React for the frontend makes sense. You get clean separation between frontend and backend. Your backend team can focus on scalability and business logic while your frontend team builds the UI.
This architecture works well for larger teams or when you need a mobile app alongside your web app. The same backend API serves both. React for web, React Native for mobile, shared business logic on the backend.
Building Internal Tools
Internal dashboards, admin panels, and tools for your team don't need SEO. They don't need server-side rendering. They just need to work fast and be easy to update. Plain React excels here—simpler setup, faster development, no framework overhead.
For these use cases, Create React App or Vite gets you started in minutes. No need to learn Next.js conventions or deal with server-side rendering complexity. Just build components and ship.
The Boilerplate Limitation
The main downside? Fewer boilerplate options. Most modern SaaS boilerplates assume Next.js. You'll find some React boilerplates, but the selection is smaller and often less maintained. If you're choosing React, be prepared to build more yourself.
Vue for SaaS: The Underdog Choice
Vue doesn't get enough credit in the SaaS world. It has a gentler learning curve than React, excellent documentation, and Nuxt.js provides the same benefits as Next.js. The ecosystem is smaller, but for teams that know Vue, it's often the fastest path to shipping.
Simpler Mental Model
Vue's template syntax feels more like HTML than React's JSX. State management is more intuitive. The learning curve is gentler, which matters when you're a solo founder or small team trying to ship fast. You spend less time fighting the framework and more time building features.
This simplicity doesn't mean less power. Vue handles complex applications just fine. But for straightforward SaaS products, Vue's simplicity is a feature, not a limitation.
Nuxt.js: Vue's Next.js
Nuxt.js brings server-side rendering, API routes, and optimized deployment to Vue. It's essentially Next.js for Vue developers. If you know Vue and need SSR for SEO, Nuxt is your answer.
The Nuxt ecosystem is smaller than Next.js, but it's growing. You'll find quality boilerplates, just fewer of them. For Vue developers, this trade-off is worth it—you ship faster in a framework you know than learning a new one.
The Hiring Question
Vue developers are less common than React developers, but they're often more affordable and loyal. Vue attracts developers who value simplicity and good documentation. If you're bootstrapping and plan to hire, consider whether you can find Vue developers in your market.
Backend Frameworks: Laravel, Django, and Node.js
If your team's strength is backend development, choosing a backend-first framework makes sense. Laravel, Django, and Express.js all have mature SaaS boilerplate ecosystems.
Laravel: PHP's SaaS Powerhouse
Laravel excels at SaaS. It handles authentication, database migrations, job queues, and email sending beautifully. The ecosystem includes packages for subscriptions (Cashier), admin panels (Nova), and multi-tenancy.
The trade-off is frontend complexity. You'll either use Laravel's Blade templates (simpler but less interactive) or build a separate React/Vue frontend (more work but better UX). For backend-focused teams, Laravel's productivity wins outweigh frontend complexity.
Django: Python for SaaS
Django brings Python's clarity to SaaS development. Its admin panel is legendary—you get a production-ready admin interface with minimal code. Authentication, database ORM, and form handling are all excellent.
Like Laravel, Django requires frontend decisions. Django templates work for simple UIs. For modern, interactive frontends, you'll build a separate React/Vue app. Python developers love Django for SaaS because it handles the hard backend problems elegantly.
Node.js/Express: JavaScript Everywhere
Express.js with Node.js gives you JavaScript on both frontend and backend. This simplifies hiring—one language for everything. The ecosystem is massive, with packages for every need.
The downside? Express is minimal by design. You'll need to add authentication, database management, and structure yourself. This flexibility is powerful but requires more decisions. For teams wanting full control, Express works great. For teams wanting conventions, Next.js or Laravel is simpler.
Your Decision Framework
Stop overthinking. Use this framework to choose your tech stack in the next 10 minutes.
Tech Stack Decision Table
| Your Situation | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Solo founder, need to ship fast | Next.js | Largest boilerplate selection, fastest to market |
| Team knows Vue well | Nuxt.js | Ship faster in familiar framework |
| Strong backend team (PHP) | Laravel + Vue/React | Leverage backend strength, simple frontend |
| Strong backend team (Python) | Django + React | Django admin + modern frontend |
| Building mobile app too | React + Backend API | Share code with React Native |
| Internal tool, no SEO needed | React or Vue | Simpler setup, no SSR complexity |
| Completely unsure | Next.js | Safe default, most resources available |
The 48-Hour Rule
Give yourself 48 hours to decide, then commit. Spending weeks researching frameworks wastes more time than choosing the "wrong" one. Most modern frameworks can build any SaaS you imagine. The difference is productivity, not capability.
If you're still unsure after reading this, choose Next.js. It's the safe default. The ecosystem is largest, hiring is easiest, and you can find help when stuck. Browse our best SaaS boilerplates to see what's available in each stack.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best tech stack for a SaaS boilerplate?
Next.js dominates the SaaS boilerplate space for good reason—it handles SEO, API routes, and deployment out of the box. About 75% of modern SaaS boilerplates use Next.js. React works if you have a separate backend team. Vue is great for smaller teams who value simplicity. The 'best' stack is the one your team can ship with fastest.
Should I choose React or Next.js for my SaaS?
Choose Next.js for most SaaS applications. It's React plus the features you'd build anyway—server-side rendering for SEO, API routes for backend logic, and optimized deployment. Choose plain React only if you already have a separate backend infrastructure or you're building a client-side-only tool that doesn't need SEO.
Is Vue.js good for SaaS applications?
Vue works well for SaaS, especially with smaller teams. It has a gentler learning curve than React and excellent documentation. Nuxt.js (Vue's equivalent to Next.js) provides similar benefits. The main downside is a smaller boilerplate ecosystem—you'll find fewer pre-built SaaS starters compared to Next.js. If your team knows Vue, stick with it.
Can I change my tech stack later?
Technically yes, but it's expensive. Migrating from React to Next.js takes weeks. Switching from Vue to React means rewriting everything. Choose carefully upfront. If you're uncertain between React and Next.js, choose Next.js—it's a superset of React, so you're not locked in. Switching frameworks entirely should be a last resort.
What about backend frameworks like Laravel or Django?
Laravel and Django are excellent for SaaS if your team knows PHP or Python. They handle authentication, database management, and API creation well. The trade-off is frontend complexity—you'll need to build a separate React/Vue frontend or use their templating engines. For full-stack JavaScript teams, Next.js is simpler. For backend-focused teams, Laravel or Django with a lightweight frontend works great.
Does tech stack choice affect hiring later?
Absolutely. Next.js/React developers are abundant and command market-rate salaries. Vue developers are fewer but often more affordable. Laravel and Django developers are plentiful in their respective communities. Choose a popular stack if you plan to hire. Choose what your founding team knows best if you're bootstrapping solo or with a small team.