5
Don't Pay for Shipfast, Makerkit, or Indiekit β Use My Free IndieSaas Starter Instead π₯
r/SaaS
7/7/2025
Content Summary
User Alarkoh introduces IndieSaas, a free open-source SaaS starter built with Next.js as an alternative to paid boilerplates like Shipfast and Makerkit. The project includes landing page customization, authentication, dashboard layout, and modern tools like Shadcn/ui and Drizzle ORM. Users discuss pain points with paid solutions, suggest improvements like one-click deployment and Stripe integration, and debate the value of free vs paid starters. The creator plans to add payments and considers a pro version.
Opinion Analysis
Mainstream opinions praise the free open-source approach as valuable for indie developers. Users appreciate modern tech stack choices but emphasize the need for easier deployment. Controversy exists around paid vs free models - while some criticize Shipfast's maintenance issues, others defend Makerkit's quality. Key debates focus on monetization strategies (pro version viability) and implementation priorities (payment integration vs deployment simplicity). Commenters strongly advocate for better onboarding experiences to reduce user drop-off.
SAAS TOOLS
| SaaS | URL | Category | Features/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shipfast | Not provided | SaaS boilerplate | Paid, criticized for lack of updates |
| Makerkit | Not provided | SaaS boilerplate | Paid, user satisfaction noted |
| Indiekit | Not provided | SaaS boilerplate | Paid alternative |
| IndieSaas | https://github.com/indieceo/indiesaas | Open-source SaaS starter | Next.js, Auth (GitHub/Google/X), Shadcn/ui, Drizzle ORM, UploadThing, Turborepo |
| Clerk | Not provided | Authentication | Suggested as alternative auth solution |
| Supabase | Not provided | Database/Analytics | Suggested for dummy analytics |
| Stripe | Not provided | Payments | Planned integration for IndieSaas |
USER NEEDS
Pain Points:
- High cost of paid SaaS boilerplates
- Frustration with outdated paid tools (Shipfast)
- Complexity in initial setup/deployment for starters
- Difficulty in rebranding UI components
- Security risks from mishandling auth provider keys
Problems to Solve:
- Need free, modern SaaS starter templates
- Desire for easy deployment and setup process
- Requirement for integrated payment solutions
- Need for customizable UI components
- Preventing accidental exposure of auth secrets
Potential Solutions:
- Open-source alternative (IndieSaas)
- One-click Vercel deploy with seed data
- Stripe integration in test mode for demo
- Centralized theme configuration via context provider
- Consolidated .env.example for auth keys
- Dummy analytics implementation
GROWTH FACTORS
Effective Strategies:
- Creating free open-source alternatives to paid products
- Addressing pain points of existing solutions
Marketing & Acquisition:
- Community sharing on Reddit/forums
- Leveraging user feedback for improvements
- Offering free starter to build user base
Monetization & Product:
- Potential pro version with premium features
- Roadmap transparency (payments, SEO, blog)
- Multiple payment provider integrations (Stripe first)
User Engagement:
- Encouraging community contributions (PRs/feedback)
- Implementing user-suggested features (one-click deploy)
- Building around modern tech stack (Next.js, Turborepo)