Gravity vs Nextacular

When choosing between Gravity and Nextacular, 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 Gravity?

Gravity is a full‑stack boilerplate for JavaScript/TypeScript projects combining a Node.js backend with a React (or React Native) frontend designed to give developers a head‑start when building SaaS applications. It aims to deliver a working foundation so that you don’t need to assemble all the plumbing (auth, billing, database, UI, API) from scratch. The boilerplate includes support for multiple databases (like Postgres, MySQL, MongoDB, MariaDB and possibly others) which gives flexibility depending on your data/storage preferences. There is also a full “stack” support: server (Node.js + Express/API backend), web client (React + Tailwind or similar), and optionally native mobile clients (via React Native), which helps if you want a unified codebase for web + mobile. Beyond the core stack, Gravity claims to bundle SaaS‑ready features: authentication (email/password, magic links, social logins, 2FA, account security), subscription & billing support (with free plans, trials, seat‑based or usage billing), and a library of UI components & views (dashboard, admin tools, layout components, responsive UI, dark mode, etc.). Gravity also offers a “website/landing page template” (built with a static‑site generator + modern site tooling) useful for marketing, landing pages, pricing pages, etc. — thereby giving you both the “app core” and “public‑facing site” foundation.

Developed by Kyle Gawley, Gravity has become a popular choice among developers looking for a reliable starting point for their SaaS projects.

What is Nextacular?

Nextacular is a free, open‑source SaaS boilerplate built on Next.js (with React), using Prisma for database/ORM and styled with Tailwind CSS. It comes pre‑wired with core SaaS features: user authentication (magic‑link, OAuth/social logins via NextAuth.js), database integration (Prisma + a relational DB, e.g. PostgreSQL), multi‑tenant and workspace/team support, billing and subscription management via Stripe, customizable landing page and frontend scaffold, basic SEO setup, and email/communication support (for transactional emails, etc.). It also offers deployment‑friendly setup (with a one‑click deploy option for Vercel) and a modular, modern stack which can save significant time compared to building all infrastructure yourself. Nextacular is a good fit when you want to build a SaaS product that expects multiple organizations/teams, subscription billing, user authentication, and you prefer a clean, battle‑tested tech stack (Next.js + Prisma + Tailwind + Stripe). It’s especially attractive if you want to go from idea to a working prototype or MVP quickly without wiring all backend and billing/payment logic manually.

Created by Arjay Osma, Nextacular 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 Gravity and Nextacular.

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

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

Nextacular stands out for its comprehensive feature set and is perfect for developers who need authentication.

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.