SaaS Starter Kit vs Ship SaaS

When choosing between SaaS Starter Kit and Ship SaaS, 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 SaaS Starter Kit?

SaaS Starter Kit is a boilerplate/template for building full‑featured SaaS or web apps using Next.js + React + Tailwind CSS + modern tools/stack conventions. The template includes a complete backend + frontend foundation: user authentication (email, social OAuth, magic‑link), subscription payments and billing flows via Stripe or LemonSqueezy, subscription management (update/cancel/subscription portal), and multi‑tenancy support (organizations, team invites, roles & permissions) for apps that require team or org‑based access control. On the frontend side you get a pre‑made UI built with Tailwind + shadcn/ui, mobile/tablet responsiveness, dark‑mode support, and a set of ready‑to‑use pages: landing, pricing, blog, dashboard, admin panel plus built‑in support for email workflows (via Resend + react‑email), blog/content management, and basic marketing/ public‑facing site templates. The codebase is designed to be production‑ready: after setting environment variables you can deploy right away (optimized for deployment on services like Vercel). The project claims clean, modular architecture and full access to code so you own your code and can adapt it as needed. Because the kit is relatively feature‑rich (auth, payments, roles/permissions, multi‑tenant/org support, blog/marketing pages, email workflows, UI scaffolding, etc.), it may feel heavier than minimal templates, which for simple apps, prototypes or highly customized projects might introduce overhead.

Developed by Mo Iqbal, SaaS Starter Kit has become a popular choice among developers looking for a reliable starting point for their SaaS projects.

What is Ship SaaS?

Ship SaaS is a full‑stack boilerplate built with Next.js, Supabase (backend/auth/database), and Tailwind CSS, designed to give developers a ready-made foundation for SaaS or subscription‑driven web applications. With Ship SaaS you obtain working user authentication (registration / login / password reset flows via Supabase), database setup, integrated billing/subscription support via Stripe, and a serverless-ready stack that can be hosted on scalable platforms. It also includes public‑facing page templates, a Striped‑connected backend and basic UI/layout scaffolding. Ship SaaS is best when you’re building a SaaS or subscription‑based web app, you value rapid launch, and you’re comfortable with its tech stack and abstractions. It’s ideal for a solo developer, indie founder or small team wanting to get up and running quickly without reinventing the “plumbing.” It may be less suitable if your project needs a highly customized backend, non‑standard architecture, or minimal dependency footprint - in those cases a lighter template or custom build might serve better.

Created by Nico Botha, Ship SaaS 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 SaaS Starter Kit and Ship SaaS.

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

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

Ship SaaS 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.