Horizon Boilerplate vs Nextacular

When choosing between Horizon Boilerplate 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 Horizon Boilerplate?

Horizon UI Boilerplate is a full‑stack / UI‑kit + boilerplate template for web applications built on modern front‑end and backend technologies. It is designed to help developers jump‑start a project (dashboard, SaaS app, admin panel, landing pages, etc.) without building all the plumbing and UI from scratch. Under the hood, it uses Next.js (recent version), along with React, and it supports styling with Tailwind CSS. It also integrates with Supabase for database/auth (or backend services) and Stripe for payment/billing handling providing a foundation for SaaS‑style apps with user authentication, subscriptions, payments, and user sessions. It supplies a large library of ready-made frontend building blocks: dashboards, admin layouts, landing pages, authentication screens, UI components (buttons, cards, navbars, form elements, etc.), and example page templates. This offers a starting point with both structural and visual parts already assembled. The boilerplate is offered in multiple variants: including a version built with Chakra UI or integration with shadcn/ui / Shadcn‑styled components or Tailwind, depending on your preference.

Developed by Vlad Mihalache, Horizon Boilerplate 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 Horizon Boilerplate and Nextacular.

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

Horizon Boilerplate 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.