SaaS Backend Stack
Database, auth, hosting, payments, and infrastructure — the backend essentials for building production SaaS applications.
Stripe
2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
Best for: Subscription billing and payment processing for SaaS
Non-negotiable for SaaS billing. Stripe's subscription management, global payment support, and developer tools make it the only serious choice for most builders.
Supabase
$0 - $25/month (scales up)
Best for: The default all-in-one backend for vibe-coded SaaS applications
Nothing else gives you Postgres, auth, realtime, and edge functions with such a smooth developer experience and generous free tier. The default backend choice for vibe-coded SaaS.
Vercel
$0 - $20/month
Best for: Deploying Next.js SaaS applications with zero-config CI/CD
The gold standard for deploying frontend-heavy SaaS applications.
Clerk
$0 - $25/month
Best for: Drop-in authentication with beautiful UI for SaaS applications
The best standalone auth for SaaS builders who want polished, production-ready auth without building any UI. Especially strong for B2B SaaS with multi-tenancy needs.
PostHog
$0 - usage-based
Best for: All-in-one analytics and experimentation for SaaS
The best all-in-one analytics for SaaS builders who want insights without stitching together five different tools. Start free and grow.
Neon
$0 - $19/month
Best for: Serverless Postgres with branching for database-only needs
Excellent serverless Postgres if you want a standalone database without the full Supabase platform. Best for builders who want granular control over their backend architecture.
Resend
$0 - $20/month
Best for: Developer-friendly transactional email for modern SaaS applications
The modern choice for SaaS transactional email. If you are building with React or Next.js, Resend's developer experience is unmatched and the React Email integration is a game-changer.
Railway
$5 - $20/month
Best for: Deploying custom backend APIs and persistent services for SaaS applications
The best option for deploying custom backend APIs alongside your frontend. If your SaaS needs a dedicated backend server, Railway is the simplest path to production.
Firebase
$0 - variable
Best for: SaaS projects requiring deep Google ecosystem integration
Still solid in the Google ecosystem, but Supabase is the better default for most SaaS builders thanks to its Postgres foundation and predictable pricing.
Netlify
$0 - $19/month
Best for: Framework-agnostic SaaS deployment with generous free tier
A strong Vercel alternative if you are not locked into Next.js. Framework-agnostic approach and built-in forms make it worth considering for diverse SaaS stacks.