AppKickOff vs ShipThatApp

When choosing between AppKickOff and ShipThatApp, it's essential to understand the key differences that make each boilerplate unique. Both are excellent choices for building SaaS applications, but they cater to different needs and development approaches.

What is AppKickOff?

AppKickOff is a starter generator for Android apps, built to deliver a “full-app foundation” quickly, rather than forcing you to wire up every piece by hand. It gives you a Kotlin-based Android codebase pre-packaged with what many apps need: local database support, UI scaffolding, optionally authentication, in-app purchases or payment support, push notifications, dark-mode UI, navigation, and common UI components. The idea is simple instead of spending days or weeks setting up basic infrastructure (login/sign-up, database, UI screens and navigation, settings, notifications, styles, etc.), you get a ready-to-go skeleton with many of those pieces wired up and working. That can significantly reduce the initial overhead and let you start building “your app’s logic” sooner. That said, using AppKickOff means embracing its architecture and design decisions. It assumes certain tools (Kotlin, Firebase or whichever backend you choose, the provided database/notification/payment setup), which can speed up development — but may also limit flexibility if your project diverges from what the template anticipates.

Developed by Paulo Lima, AppKickOff has become a popular choice among developers looking for a reliable starting point for their SaaS projects.

What is ShipThatApp?

ShipThatApp is a boilerplate / starter template built with SwiftUI for iOS (and optionally cross‑platform Swift‑based apps), designed to give a ready‑made foundation so developers don’t have to start from zero. Its aim is to accelerate the app‑building process by bundling common features and infrastructure out of the box. From the start, ShipThatApp supplies a structured SwiftUI project with onboarded flows: onboarding screens, authentication (sign‑up, login, magic‑link or email/password), payment and in‑app purchase integration for subscriptions or purchases, and built‑in monetization logic. It also includes telemetry/analytics support (user behavior tracking, performance metrics), and UI scaffolding including animations and optional AI‑integration support. That enables quicker setup for both UI and backend logic, leaving you to focus on your app’s unique features and content rather than rewriting boilerplate every time.

Created by Mateusz Siatrak, ShipThatApp offers a robust foundation for building scalable SaaS applications.

When building a SaaS application, choosing the right payment integration is crucial for monetization success. Let's compare the payment options available in AppKickOff and ShipThatApp.

Neither boilerplate includes pre-built payment integrations. You'll need to implement your preferred payment solution manually. Consider using Stripe, Lemon Squeezy, or Paddle for your SaaS monetization.

Both AppKickOff and ShipThatApp are excellent choices for building SaaS applications. Your decision should be based on your specific requirements, budget, and technical preferences.

AppKickOff is ideal if you're looking for a more affordable option with specific capabilities.

ShipThatApp stands out for its comprehensive feature set and is perfect for developers who need specific features.

Ultimately, both boilerplates will help you launch your SaaS product faster and more efficiently. Review the detailed comparison above, consider your project requirements, and choose the one that aligns best with your goals.