React vs Next.js: Which Boilerplate is Best for SaaS Applications?

Last month, a developer spent $250 on a React boilerplate, then discovered he needed server-side rendering for SEO. He ended up rebuilding with Next.js, losing 3 weeks and $250. This happens constantly because the difference between React and Next.js isn't obvious until you're deep into development.

Here's what most guides won't tell you: plain React is rarely used for modern SaaS boilerplates anymore. When you see "React boilerplate," it usually means Next.js (which is React + framework features). The real question isn't React vs Next.js—it's "Do I need the extra features Next.js provides?"

For 90% of SaaS applications, the answer is yes. But let's break down exactly when you'd choose each, and more importantly, how to evaluate the hundreds of SaaS starter kits available in each ecosystem.

The SEO question alone decides this for most founders. If you're building a SaaS product that needs organic traffic—and most do—you need server-side rendering. Next.js gives you this out of the box.

Your landing pages, blog posts, and marketing content are instantly crawlable by Google. With plain React, everything renders client-side, which means search engines see an empty page until JavaScript executes. You can add SSR to React, but at that point you're basically rebuilding Next.js.

Then there's the backend question. Next.js includes API routes, letting you build backend functionality in the same codebase. This is perfect for authentication callbacks, webhook handlers, and simple CRUD operations. Check out our Next.js boilerplates to see this in action.

With React, you need a separate backend—Express, FastAPI, or similar. More flexibility, sure, but also more complexity. Only choose this path if you already have backend infrastructure or a dedicated backend team.

Deployment tells the same story. Next.js deploys to Vercel in minutes with zero configuration. Automatic code splitting, image optimization, edge functions—all production-ready immediately.

React deploys anywhere (Netlify, AWS, etc.) but requires more configuration. You handle optimization yourself, which is great if you need full control but overkill for most SaaS products trying to ship fast.

The boilerplate ecosystem heavily favors Next.js. About 70-80% of modern SaaS boilerplates use it. This means more options, better documentation, more community support.

When you're stuck at 2 AM trying to integrate Stripe webhooks, you want a large community that's solved your exact problem. Browse our best SaaS boilerplates and you'll see the Next.js dominance firsthand.

Don't browse random boilerplates hoping to find the right one. Most founders waste days comparing options that don't even match their needs. Instead, follow this systematic approach to find the perfect SaaS starter kit for your specific situation.

Authentication is the #1 feature that breaks in starter kits. Here's how to evaluate it properly: set up the starter kit locally and actually test the authentication flow. Try signing up, logging in, resetting your password, and verifying email. If any step fails or feels janky, move on to the next option. Authentication should work flawlessly—it's the foundation of your SaaS.

Good starter kits use battle-tested libraries like NextAuth.js, Clerk, or Auth0. If they built custom authentication, that's a red flag unless they have security credentials to back it up. Check for email verification flow, password reset functionality, social login options, secure session management, and role-based access control. Missing any of these? Keep looking. Check our boilerplates with proven authentication to see what good looks like.

Scalability matters even for MVPs. Your MVP might serve 10 users, but you're building for 10,000. Look at the database schema—are there proper indexes? Is the structure normalized? Check the API architecture for pagination, caching, and rate limiting. Review code organization to see if multiple developers could work simultaneously without stepping on each other. Poor scalability choices early on lead to expensive rewrites later.

Integration claims need verification. Starter kits love claiming "Stripe integration!" but that often means "there's a file with Stripe imported." Actually test it. Can you complete a test purchase? Does it handle webhooks for payment events? Can users manage subscriptions (upgrade, cancel)? What about failed payments? If you can't verify an integration works in 15 minutes, it's probably not production-ready. Find boilerplates with proven integrations instead.

Is a $300 starter kit worth it when there are free options? Let's do the math. Authentication takes 2-3 weeks to build right. Payment integration another 3-4 weeks. User dashboard 3-4 weeks. Admin panel 2-3 weeks. Email system 1-2 weeks. That's 11-16 weeks total—roughly 2.5 to 4 months of full-time development.

If your time is worth $50/hour (very conservative for a developer or founder), that's $22,000-$32,000 in value. A $300 starter kit is a 100x ROI. Even a $500 premium option is a steal when you consider the opportunity cost. You're not paying for code—you're paying for someone else's hard-earned experience making payments work globally, authentication secure, and emails deliverable.

Choose free when you're learning or building portfolio projects. Choose budget ($50-150) when you're bootstrapping and have time to configure things yourself. Choose standard ($150-300) when you're building a real business and want to ship fast—this is the sweet spot. Choose premium ($300-500+) when you need enterprise features like multi-tenancy or SSO from day one. See our budget-friendly options if price is a concern.

You've evaluated features, tested authentication, checked scalability, and reviewed your budget. Time to decide. After all the analysis, your gut feeling matters. If setting up the starter kit felt smooth and the code made sense, that's a good sign. If you fought with dependency errors and the docs were confusing, even if features look good on paper, move on.

For most SaaS products, use a Next.js boilerplate in the $150-300 range with authentication, Stripe payments, and user dashboard included. Browse best SaaS boilerplates to see top options. For MVPs on tight budgets, start with a free Next.js option and budget time to configure integrations yourself—see MVP boilerplates. For B2B SaaS, invest in premium ($300+) with multi-tenancy, team features, and SSO. For AI applications, look for Next.js starters with AI SDK integration—check AI boilerplates.

Before you buy, verify you tested it locally and it worked. Read reviews from real users. Confirm the last update is recent (3-6 months max). Check the refund policy. Verify the license allows commercial use. Document support channels exist. If you check all boxes, buy it and start building. Analysis paralysis costs more than a wrong choice. You can always customize or migrate later if needed.