Dirstarter vs ShipThatApp

When choosing between Dirstarter 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 Dirstarter?

Dirstarter is a full-featured boilerplate built with Next.js (with TypeScript) designed for launching directory-style websites. It gives you a ready-made foundation: authentication and user management, admin panel, listing submission and management, payment integration via Stripe, and monetization options (premium listings, featured spots, ads, affiliate-links, etc.). Beyond that, Dirstarter includes SEO-friendly page structure, support for multiple languages (i18n), and built-in tools for content creation (including AI-powered content generation to help bootstrap listings and categories). On the technical side, Dirstarter leans on a modern, maintainable stack: Next.js, a modern ORM (e.g. Prisma), CSS via Tailwind CSS, and UI components from shadcn/ui / Radix UI which means you’ll get a responsive, customizable UI and a code structure that’s relatively straightforward to work with and extend. The value proposition of Dirstarter is that instead of spending weeks building the backbone of a directory site: user flows, payments, listings DB, admin UI, monetization logic, i18n, SEO - you get a working system out-of-the-box and can focus immediately on content, branding, and growth. For someone building a directory or listing-type website (local businesses, tools marketplace, niche listing directory, etc.), this can significantly reduce time to launch. However, adopting Dirstarter also means accepting its architecture and conventions. It’s opinionated: you're committing to the tech choices (Next.js + Prisma + Tailwind + the integrations Dirstarter bundles). If your project requires a drastically different backend setup, custom data models or unusual flows, you may spend extra effort altering or stripping parts you don’t need. Moreover, because it offers a lot of built-in features (payments, content generation, monetization, i18n, admin, etc.), you may end up with more “surface area” than needed which can complicate maintenance if you only need a simple directory.

Developed by Piotr Kulpinski, Dirstarter 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 Dirstarter and ShipThatApp.

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

Dirstarter is ideal if you're looking for a more affordable option with built-in authentication.

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.