Stack guide · updated 2026-10-19
Best stack to launch a SaaS
Checked Oct 2026A practical default for getting a paid SaaS live: one builder, one backend, standard payments, and free tiers everywhere until you have customers.
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The stack at a glance
| Layer | Pick | Starting price | Our status | Try |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| App builder / IDE | Lovable | Free plan (5 daily credits); Pro from $25/mo (100 credits) or $250/yr (source, checked 2026-10-19) | Community-verified | Visit ↗ |
| Backend / database | Supabase | Free; Pro from $25/mo (source, checked 2026-10-19) | Community-verified | Visit ↗ |
| Auth | Supabase | Free; Pro from $25/mo (source, checked 2026-10-19) | Community-verified | Visit ↗ |
| Payments | Stripe | No monthly fee; 2.9% + 30¢ per domestic card transaction (source, checked 2026-10-19) | Not yet reviewed | Visit ↗ |
| Resend | Free (3,000 emails/mo, 100/day); Pro $20/mo for 50,000 (source, checked 2026-10-19) | Not yet reviewed | Visit ↗ | |
| Analytics | PostHog | Free every month (1M analytics events, 5K recordings); then pay-as-you-go (source, checked 2026-10-19) | Not yet reviewed | Visit ↗ |
| Hosting | Vercel | Hobby free; Pro $20/mo (source, checked 2026-10-19) | Community-verified | Visit ↗ |
Each pick, and why
Lovable
Why: Prompt-to-app builder that builders rate easiest for polished web apps; use Cursor instead if you already code.
+ Builders rate it easiest for polished, design-led web apps
− Can't import an existing repo; credit-based billing
Supabase
Why: Postgres, auth and storage on one free tier; relational data fits accounts, plans and usage.
+ Postgres database plus auth, storage and a free tier
− See community sources (Supabase vs Clerk) for auth trade-offs
Status: Community-verified · Alternatives: Firebase
Supabase
Why: Use the auth that comes with Supabase so there is one fewer service.
+ Postgres database plus auth, storage and a free tier
− See community sources (Supabase vs Clerk) for auth trade-offs
Status: Community-verified · Alternatives: Clerk
Stripe
Why: No monthly fee and the default subscription-billing API.
+ No monthly fee; the default payments API
− You handle sales tax/VAT yourself unless you add Stripe Tax
Status: Not yet reviewed · Alternatives: Lemon Squeezy
Resend
Why: Free 3,000 transactional emails/month for sign-ups and receipts.
+ Free 3,000 emails/mo; React Email support
− Free plan capped at 100 emails/day; monthly billing only
Status: Not yet reviewed
PostHog
Why: Free monthly tier covers product analytics and session replay early on.
+ Generous monthly free tier across analytics, replay and flags; billing limits per product
− Usage-based pricing can be harder to predict at scale
Status: Not yet reviewed
Vercel
Why: Free Hobby tier for the frontend; Pro is $20/mo when you need it.
+ Free Hobby tier; first-class for frontend and Next.js
− Pro is $20/mo per the pricing page; long-running backends fit elsewhere
FAQ
What is the best stack to launch a SaaS?
A solid default is Lovable or Cursor to build, Supabase for database and auth, Stripe for payments, Resend for email, PostHog for analytics and Vercel for hosting. Every one has a free plan or free tier per its official pricing page.
Stripe or Lemon Squeezy for a SaaS?
Stripe has no monthly fee and charges 2.9% + 30¢ per domestic card transaction. Lemon Squeezy charges 5% + 50¢ but acts as merchant of record and handles sales tax and VAT for you.
Do I need Clerk if I use Supabase?
No. Supabase includes auth. Builders choose Clerk mainly for its prebuilt sign-in UI on Next.js; community sources also mention lock-in trade-offs.
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How we label tools: "Tried it" means we tested it; "Community-verified" means builder feedback we cite backs it; "Not yet reviewed" means neither yet. Strengths and weaknesses come from cited community sources or official pages, not our own tests.