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CheapStack blog

Articles about building SaaS products with Next.js, comparing boilerplates, and development on a budget.

How I built CheapStack: a solo developer's story

Building a SaaS boilerplate marketplace outside the US. How Polar.sh solved payments for developers in 130+ countries, and why affordable dev tools matter globally.

Next.js boilerplate pricing in 2026: what you actually pay

A price comparison of every major Next.js boilerplate in 2026. From free (MIT) options to $649 enterprise kits. What you get at each price point.

How to choose a Next.js boilerplate: decision framework for 2026

A step-by-step framework for evaluating Next.js boilerplates. Consider your budget, target market, required features, and payment processor needs.

Polar.sh vs Stripe for developers in 2026: an honest comparison

Comparing Polar.sh and Stripe for SaaS payment processing. Fees, country support, developer experience, and which boilerplates support each.

SQLite vs Postgres for your SaaS: which one should you start with?

SQLite vs PostgreSQL for SaaS applications. When to start with SQLite (free, simple, zero-ops) and when to switch to Postgres (concurrency, scale, features).

Next.js 16: what's new and why it matters for your SaaS

Next.js 16 release highlights: Turbopack improvements, metadata streaming, React 19 support, and performance gains relevant to SaaS boilerplates.

SaaS cost breakdown 2026: what it actually costs to run a SaaS

Real cost breakdown for running a production SaaS in 2026. Hosting, database, email, analytics, and auth costs at 3 scales: 100, 1,000, and 10,000 users.

NextAuth v5 setup guide: authentication for your Next.js SaaS

A practical guide to setting up NextAuth v5 in Next.js 16. Multiple providers, database sessions, and middleware protection with real code examples.

Drizzle ORM: getting started with type-safe database access in Next.js

How to use Drizzle ORM for database access in your Next.js SaaS. Schema setup, migrations, queries, and SQLite vs Postgres configuration.

Drizzle vs Prisma in 2026: which ORM should you use for your Next.js SaaS?

Comparing Drizzle ORM and Prisma for Next.js SaaS development. Bundle size, type safety, performance, and ecosystem differences.