19 Apr 2025
SaaS Developer Tools

saas boilerplate to help new founders build and ship quickly

Confidence
Engagement
Net use signal
Net buy signal

Idea type: Competitive Terrain

While there's clear interest in your idea, the market is saturated with similar offerings. To succeed, your product needs to stand out by offering something unique that competitors aren't providing. The challenge here isn’t whether there’s demand, but how you can capture attention and keep it.

Should You Build It?

Not before thinking deeply about differentiation.


Your are here

You're entering a highly competitive space with your SaaS boilerplate idea. The good news is, with 27 similar products already out there, it's clear there's a demand for tools that help founders launch quickly. The high average comment count (14) across these products shows significant engagement, meaning people are actively looking for and discussing these solutions. While we don't have specific use or buy signals from the comments of your competitors, the sheer volume of similar products indicates that many founders are searching for these boilerplates and are interested in paying for them, but be ready to differentiate or die. Therefore, your challenge isn't validating the need, but figuring out how to stand out in a crowded market. Don't get discouraged, focus on doing the work to ship something truly unique.

Recommendations

  1. Begin with a deep dive into the existing SaaS boilerplate landscape. Don't just scratch the surface; meticulously analyze what's already available. Identify the strengths and, more importantly, the weaknesses of your competitors. What are users complaining about? Where are the gaps in functionality, usability, or support? The similar product reviews reveal pain points like outdated boilerplates, lack of specific integrations (like Resend or Postgres), and overly opinionated frameworks. Use these insights to inform your strategy.
  2. Based on your competitive analysis, pinpoint 2-3 key differentiators. Don't try to be everything to everyone; focus on areas where you can provide a truly superior solution. For example, many users criticize boilerplates for being too opinionated. Could you offer a more modular architecture that allows developers to easily swap out components? Another common complaint is the lack of specific integrations. Could you specialize in a particular niche, such as AI-powered SaaS, and provide deep integrations with relevant AI services? By focusing on specific differentiators, you'll make it easier to stand out from the crowd.
  3. Consider focusing on a specific niche within the SaaS boilerplate market. Instead of targeting all founders, identify a specific type of founder with unique needs. This could be solo founders, indie hackers, or developers working on specific types of projects. For example, you could create a boilerplate specifically designed for building SaaS products on a particular tech stack or within a particular industry. By focusing on a niche, you can tailor your product and marketing efforts to a specific audience, making it easier to gain traction.
  4. Given the intense competition, your branding and marketing efforts will be critical. Develop a clear and compelling brand message that resonates with your target audience. Highlight your key differentiators and explain how your boilerplate solves their specific problems. Make sure your website is professional, easy to navigate, and showcases the value of your product. Consider creating a demo video that demonstrates the key features and benefits of your boilerplate. Many users suggested a live demo in the comments of ShipFast and a product deck for The SaaS Factory.
  5. Engage with your early users and solicit feedback. Iterate quickly based on their suggestions. The goal is to create a loyal community of users who will advocate for your product. Create a forum or Slack channel where users can ask questions, share feedback, and connect with each other. Respond to user feedback promptly and transparently. By actively engaging with your users, you'll build a stronger product and a more loyal customer base.
  6. Address the criticism found in similar product reviews head-on. For example, users often complain about boilerplates being quickly outdated. Implement a clear versioning and update strategy to ensure your boilerplate remains current and compatible with the latest technologies. Be transparent about your update schedule and provide clear instructions on how users can upgrade to the latest version. Address the lack of configurability by implementing a plugin system.

Questions

  1. Given that many users find SaaS boilerplates too opinionated, how can you design your boilerplate to be flexible and adaptable to different project requirements and coding styles?
  2. Considering the criticisms around outdated boilerplates, what is your plan for maintaining and updating your boilerplate to ensure it remains relevant and useful over the long term?
  3. With the market being saturated, what specific integrations or features can you offer that your competitors don't, and how will you effectively communicate these differentiators to your target audience?

Your are here

You're entering a highly competitive space with your SaaS boilerplate idea. The good news is, with 27 similar products already out there, it's clear there's a demand for tools that help founders launch quickly. The high average comment count (14) across these products shows significant engagement, meaning people are actively looking for and discussing these solutions. While we don't have specific use or buy signals from the comments of your competitors, the sheer volume of similar products indicates that many founders are searching for these boilerplates and are interested in paying for them, but be ready to differentiate or die. Therefore, your challenge isn't validating the need, but figuring out how to stand out in a crowded market. Don't get discouraged, focus on doing the work to ship something truly unique.

Recommendations

  1. Begin with a deep dive into the existing SaaS boilerplate landscape. Don't just scratch the surface; meticulously analyze what's already available. Identify the strengths and, more importantly, the weaknesses of your competitors. What are users complaining about? Where are the gaps in functionality, usability, or support? The similar product reviews reveal pain points like outdated boilerplates, lack of specific integrations (like Resend or Postgres), and overly opinionated frameworks. Use these insights to inform your strategy.
  2. Based on your competitive analysis, pinpoint 2-3 key differentiators. Don't try to be everything to everyone; focus on areas where you can provide a truly superior solution. For example, many users criticize boilerplates for being too opinionated. Could you offer a more modular architecture that allows developers to easily swap out components? Another common complaint is the lack of specific integrations. Could you specialize in a particular niche, such as AI-powered SaaS, and provide deep integrations with relevant AI services? By focusing on specific differentiators, you'll make it easier to stand out from the crowd.
  3. Consider focusing on a specific niche within the SaaS boilerplate market. Instead of targeting all founders, identify a specific type of founder with unique needs. This could be solo founders, indie hackers, or developers working on specific types of projects. For example, you could create a boilerplate specifically designed for building SaaS products on a particular tech stack or within a particular industry. By focusing on a niche, you can tailor your product and marketing efforts to a specific audience, making it easier to gain traction.
  4. Given the intense competition, your branding and marketing efforts will be critical. Develop a clear and compelling brand message that resonates with your target audience. Highlight your key differentiators and explain how your boilerplate solves their specific problems. Make sure your website is professional, easy to navigate, and showcases the value of your product. Consider creating a demo video that demonstrates the key features and benefits of your boilerplate. Many users suggested a live demo in the comments of ShipFast and a product deck for The SaaS Factory.
  5. Engage with your early users and solicit feedback. Iterate quickly based on their suggestions. The goal is to create a loyal community of users who will advocate for your product. Create a forum or Slack channel where users can ask questions, share feedback, and connect with each other. Respond to user feedback promptly and transparently. By actively engaging with your users, you'll build a stronger product and a more loyal customer base.
  6. Address the criticism found in similar product reviews head-on. For example, users often complain about boilerplates being quickly outdated. Implement a clear versioning and update strategy to ensure your boilerplate remains current and compatible with the latest technologies. Be transparent about your update schedule and provide clear instructions on how users can upgrade to the latest version. Address the lack of configurability by implementing a plugin system.

Questions

  1. Given that many users find SaaS boilerplates too opinionated, how can you design your boilerplate to be flexible and adaptable to different project requirements and coding styles?
  2. Considering the criticisms around outdated boilerplates, what is your plan for maintaining and updating your boilerplate to ensure it remains relevant and useful over the long term?
  3. With the market being saturated, what specific integrations or features can you offer that your competitors don't, and how will you effectively communicate these differentiators to your target audience?

  • Confidence: High
    • Number of similar products: 27
  • Engagement: High
    • Average number of comments: 14
  • Net use signal: 21.4%
    • Positive use signal: 25.0%
    • Negative use signal: 3.7%
  • Net buy signal: 0.9%
    • Positive buy signal: 3.0%
    • Negative buy signal: 2.1%

This chart summarizes all the similar products we found for your idea in a single plot.

The x-axis represents the overall feedback each product received. This is calculated from the net use and buy signals that were expressed in the comments. The maximum is +1, which means all comments (across all similar products) were positive, expressed a willingness to use & buy said product. The minimum is -1 and it means the exact opposite.

The y-axis captures the strength of the signal, i.e. how many people commented and how does this rank against other products in this category. The maximum is +1, which means these products were the most liked, upvoted and talked about launches recently. The minimum is 0, meaning zero engagement or feedback was received.

The sizes of the product dots are determined by the relevance to your idea, where 10 is the maximum.

Your idea is the big blueish dot, which should lie somewhere in the polygon defined by these products. It can be off-center because we use custom weighting to summarize these metrics.

Similar products

Relevance

The fastest way to build your SaaS

03 Jan 2024 SaaS

Hey HN,The journey from a SaaS idea to a working prototype can be a long, winding road. My partner Shyam and I, with years of startup experience under our belts, have faced this repeatedly. We struggled with building a foundation for our projects - it's daunting and takes your focus away from what truly matters, your brilliant ideas.To bridge this gap, we've cooked up something that we're thrilled to share with you today - SaaSKits.SaaSKits is a simple, efficient boilerplate to kickstart your SaaS ideas. It's built using Remix, Stripe, Prisma, and Resend, designed to free you from the nitty-gritty of setting up a project, so you can get straight to building your product.No more stress over starting from scratch. No more wasting days on initial codebases. Just your ideas, accelerated with SaaSKits.We look forward to your feedback, and can't wait to see what you build with SaaSKits!To quicker launches and big dreams,Keyur

Users reported several issues including demo problems, blank dashboards, and subscription issues. One user suggested using shadcn. Another user mentioned that they found the SaaS kits too opinionated.

Users criticized the product for having a blank dashboard and subscription issues. Additionally, there were suggestions to use shadcn. Some users found the SaaS kits to be too opinionated.


Avatar
3
2
-100.0%
-50.0%
2
3
Relevance

Just Ship, a free and open source SvelteKit SaaS boilerplate

15 Feb 2024 SaaS Developer Tools

Users discuss the utility of personal boilerplates, exploring new techniques, and the need for tools in documentation and marketing. They question the legitimacy of the site, suggest checking GitHub for the actual project, and mention popular SaaS starter kits and recent entrants in the jam stack space. SvelteKit's popularity and the desire for a UI alternative to React are noted. Criticisms include a lack of screenshots and payment integrations, and technical issues like dependency resolution errors. Positive feedback includes appreciation for the work and eagerness to contribute.

Users criticized the product for quickly outdated boilerplates, questioning the developer's perspective and the site's legitimacy. The lack of a direct project link, payment integrations, and screenshots were noted. It was seen as only a viable alternative to Next.js, making SaaS websites look uniform. Criticisms also included a dependency resolution error, incorrect email service naming, unclear torso functionality, and concerns about the level of abstraction. Building the app was considered only 20% of the work.


Avatar
52
24
4.2%
-8.3%
24
52
16.7%
Relevance

Just Launch It - Launch your startup now, before you miss the boat

A fully-loaded SvelteKit boilerplate to rapidly build and launch your unicorn SaaS, AI or web startup so you can get to market faster. Skip the boring stuff and get straight to building your product, validate your ideas and earn $$$ faster.

The Product Hunt launch received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with users praising the Svelte boilerplate and James Joffe's work. Many users found the product helpful, amazing, and useful for quickly launching SaaS products and generating ideas. Several comments suggested gamification and configurable features. Some users requested a free trial. Congratulations and encouragement were frequently expressed, with enthusiasm for Svelte echoed throughout the comments. Users consider the product a great go-to-market enhancer, must-have for first-time founders, and a remarkable development.

The Product Hunt launch received criticism for lacking configurability, suggesting the current feature set doesn't cater to all users' needs. A significant drawback highlighted was the absence of a free trial, which potential users view as a barrier to adoption.


Avatar
294
89
7.9%
1.1%
89
294
7.9%
1.1%
Relevance

Yet another SaaS boilerplate ShipFlask

05 Jan 2024 SaaS Developer Tools

Users have questions about update expectations, fees, and references. Some are considering using Bullet Train for new projects and seek advice. ShipFlask's features are praised, with eagerness to try it. There is also a mention of the lack of open source SaaS boilerplate.

Users have criticized Bullet Train for its painful upgrade process, unclear fee structure and references, and the lack of an open-source SaaS boilerplate.


Avatar
8
5
20.0%
5
8
20.0%
Relevance

Open SaaS – An open-source alternative to paid boilerplate starters

The Show HN product, likely a SaaS boilerplate, has received mixed feedback. Users find it opinionated, particularly due to its framework choices and the need to learn a bespoke language like WASP. Some appreciate the ease of use if familiar with JS and JSON, while others criticize the limited backend language options and the break from HTTP and HTML simplicity. There's interest in more boilerplate options, especially for Golang, and a preference for vanilla JS by some. Questions about profitability, live startup usage, and specific integrations like PayPal were also raised. The project's marketing and update frequency are points of contention.

Users criticized the product for being too opinionated on frameworks, misleading branding, and lack of support for vanilla JS and multiple backend languages. The bespoke language requirement, poor code aesthetics, and outdated elements were also noted. Concerns about scalability, monetization, and originality were raised, alongside specific technical issues like concurrency handling and lack of webcomponents understanding. The product's marketing and FAQ placement were also questioned.


Avatar
163
57
5.3%
-5.3%
57
163
19.3%
1.8%
Relevance

ShipFast - Ship your startup in days, not weeks

The NextJS boilerplate with all the stuff you need to get your product in front of customers. From idea to production in 5 minutes.

The Product Hunt launch received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many users congratulating Marc on the launch and praising the boilerplate for its ability to save time and simplify development. Several users expressed excitement to try ShipFast and use it for their startups, highlighting its usefulness for shipping fast. There were inquiries about scalability, integration of new features, the tech stack, and requests for specific integrations like Stripe, Resend, and Postgres. Some users suggested adding a live demo to the landing page and analytics to the "All-in" package. There are also many comments with the intention of trying the product.

Users criticize the tool's reliance on coding knowledge, limiting its accessibility for non-web developers like iOS developers. Several users request more integrations, specifically mentioning Resend, Postgres, MySQL, and Paddle. Concerns were raised about the lack of sufficient documentation and the accuracy of the claimed 5-minute idea-to-production timeframe. The introductory video was criticized for being too long and lacking a clear overview. Some users questioned its integration with TailwindUI and expressed reservations regarding the required React framework. Analytics integration was suggested, and the tool's utility beyond being a code wrapper was also questioned.


Avatar
755
98
45.9%
2.0%
98
755
45.9%
2.0%
Relevance

YourNextSaaS - SaaS boilerplate

31 Jul 2024 SaaS Developer Tools Tech

Introducing YourNextSaaS: A SaaS boilerplate to kickstart your next project. With pre-built components, seamless Stripe integration, and administration panel, you can launch faster and scale effortlessly. Perfect for developers aiming for efficiency.

The Product Hunt launch is for a SaaS boilerplate that includes pre-built components and Stripe integration. One comment was deleted.


Avatar
13
2
50.0%
2
13
50.0%
Relevance

Mossoai SaaS Boilerplate - Ship your SAAS MVP in 20 days

We use this boilerplate to build SAAS MVPs in 20 days. It includes all the integrations and features you need to launch your Micro SaaS.

The Product Hunt launch of Mossoai SaaS Boilerplate is receiving congratulations. Commenters highlight its utility for entrepreneurs, emphasizing its ability to facilitate the rapid development and launch of SaaS MVPs.

The primary criticism revolves around the reasoning for the specified 20-day timeline. Users are questioning the justification and motivation behind this particular duration.


Avatar
14
2
2
14
Relevance

The SaaS factory - Boost your SaaS development with ready-to-use starter kits

Level up your SaaS development with The SaaS Factory Boilerplates. Get a solid foundation in React, GraphQL, Apollo, Prisma, Tailwind CSS, and Node.js. In addition to the basic kit, we offer advanced SaaS kits, ready for you to add your branding and ideas

The SaaS Factory's launch on Product Hunt received mixed feedback. Users appreciate the starter kits for avoiding repetitive feature-building and the tool's usefulness for new SaaS creators. However, there are concerns about unclear stack information on the website, missing 'Start building' option, filler content, and inconsistencies like English content with Spanish pricing. Suggestions include using PNG/SVG for the logo and providing a product deck. The product is viewed as a clutter-free kickstarter, with congratulations on the launch being a recurring sentiment.

Users criticized the unclear website stack information and the presence of 'Lorem Ipsum' filler content on the landing page. Issues were raised regarding the logo's white background, which necessitates a PNG/SVG replacement. Inconsistent language, strange design elements, and a broken "start building" link on the website were also noted as significant problems that need addressing for a better user experience.


Avatar
138
15
20.0%
6.7%
15
138
20.0%
6.7%
Relevance

BuilderKit - Build and ship AI tools super fast

Builderkit helps you ship an AI SaaS product super fast with Pre-Built AI tools, Pre-Built Landing Pages and a comprehensive NextJS boilerplate

BuilderKit is being lauded as a powerful and amazing tool that significantly speeds up AI SaaS development, saving developers time and enabling rapid product shipping. Users highlight its ease of use for building MVPs and side projects, especially for those without extensive technical expertise. The pre-built tools, landing pages, and modularity are frequently praised. Many congratulate the team on the Product Hunt launch, commend the UI/UX, and express excitement about the product's potential and the team behind it. There are also some inquiries about pricing, customizability, API integrations, and example projects.

Users criticize the lack of a free trial, unclear plan differences ($49 vs $99), and confusion regarding OpenAI API token requirements. The value proposition is unclear relative to advanced AI features. Users need clarification on scalability and integration with existing tools. Working examples are missing. Some users wished for an earlier launch of BuilderKit. A minor grammatical correction was also suggested.


Avatar
627
72
38.9%
11.1%
72
627
38.9%
11.1%
Relevance

ShipAIFast - Ship your AI SaaS faster with 6 prebuilt apps

We've prebuilt essential AI-ready functionalities and apps, so you can skip the setup phase and focus on what matters: building your dream SaaS.

Several comments accuse the product of being a ripoff of Marc Lou's ShipFast boilerplate. There are accusations of stealing the tagline and name. Other comments were deleted.

Users criticized the product for allegedly being a blatant copy of the ShipFast boilerplate. Concerns were raised about potential plagiarism, specifically involving the tagline and name, which users claim were stolen from Marc Lou. This casts doubt on the product's originality and ethical standing.


Avatar
4
4
-25.0%
-25.0%
4
4
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