Nextacular vs ProtonStack

When choosing between Nextacular and ProtonStack, 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 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.

Developed by Arjay Osma, Nextacular has become a popular choice among developers looking for a reliable starting point for their SaaS projects.

What is ProtonStack?

ProtonStack is a full‑stack boilerplate built with Next.js + React + TypeScript + Tailwind CSS, designed to give developers a ready‑made foundation for SaaS and web applications. Out of the box, ProtonStack includes a production‑ready authentication and user‑management system via Clerk.dev, database integration through Prisma (with support for various databases, including Postgres, MySQL, or scalable services like PlanetScale or Supabase), subscription and payment workflows via Stripe, multitenancy (organizations/teams support), plus a UI kit built with component libraries like Shadcn UI / Radix UI. ProtonStack also provides strong developer tooling: linting/formatting (ESLint, Prettier), commit‑hooks (with Husky), schema validation (via Zod), unit and end‑to‑end testing setup (with Jest, React Testing Library, and Cypress), plus built-in support for a blog or documentation using MDX useful for marketing or public‑facing content.

Created by Ozan Yildirim, ProtonStack 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 Nextacular and ProtonStack.

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

Nextacular is ideal if you're looking for a feature-rich solution with built-in authentication.

ProtonStack stands out for its competitive pricing 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.