Last updated: January 2026
What Is ShipFast?
Every indie hacker knows the frustration: you have a product idea, but before you can build the unique parts, you need to set up authentication, payments, email, SEO, and deployment infrastructure. That boilerplate work takes weeks—weeks when competitors might launch first or enthusiasm might fade.
ShipFast eliminates that overhead. Created by Marc Lou (Product Hunt Maker of the Year 2023), it's a Next.js boilerplate that packages everything a SaaS needs to launch: payment processing, user authentication, transactional email, SEO optimization, and production deployment. Clone the repo, follow the docs, and you're live in days instead of weeks.
The value proposition is pure time savings. Pay once for code that would take you weeks to write and debug yourself. Use it on unlimited projects forever.
Key Features Explained
Complete SaaS Boilerplate
ShipFast ships both JavaScript and TypeScript codebases with support for Next.js /app router and classic /pages router. You get a full project structure: proper folder organization, ESLint configuration, Tailwind CSS styling, and naming conventions that AI coding tools love.
This isn't a starter template—it's a production-ready foundation with actual business logic for the features every SaaS needs.
Authentication Ready to Go
User authentication is pre-configured with multiple options: Google OAuth for social login, magic-link email authentication, and session management. No more fighting callback URLs, token refresh logic, or rate limits.
The auth system uses clean abstractions, making provider swaps straightforward if your needs change. Protected routes work out of the box with a single middleware.
Payments on Day One
Stripe and Lemon Squeezy integrations handle both one-time purchases and recurring subscriptions. Webhooks are configured correctly—the part that usually takes developers longest to debug.
Pricing tables are ready to drop into landing pages. Subscription management lets users upgrade, downgrade, or cancel. Route protection based on subscription status works automatically.
Email Infrastructure
Transactional email via Mailgun or Resend comes pre-configured with DNS templates for DKIM, DMARC, and SPF. Welcome emails, password resets, and notification templates are included—customize the copy and you're sending.
For teams needing email deliverability optimization, see Warmy.
SEO and Content
A markdown blog system, OpenGraph tags, and sensible meta defaults keep Google happy without extra plugins or configuration. Sitemap generation and structured data are built in.
Landing page components—hero sections, feature grids, testimonials, CTAs—are ready to customize with your copy and branding.
Community and Accountability
The All-in plan includes Discord access where 5,000+ builders trade feedback, troubleshoot issues, and share launch strategies. A public leaderboard ranks ShipFast projects by verified revenue—exposure and accountability in one place.
AI-Friendly Architecture
ShipFast's consistent file structure gives AI coding tools like Cursor and GitHub Copilot the context they need to generate whole features. The naming conventions and organization patterns match what these tools are trained on.
Real-World Use Cases
Solo Founders
Indie hackers use ShipFast to validate ideas quickly. The community reports 7-day average from purchase to first revenue for motivated builders.
Agencies Building Client Products
Development agencies use ShipFast as their standard starting point for client SaaS projects, reducing discovery-phase development costs.
Hackathon Teams
Competition teams use ShipFast to skip infrastructure setup and focus on unique features during limited hackathon time.
Serial Entrepreneurs
Founders with multiple product ideas use the unlimited project license to test concepts rapidly without rebuilding foundations.
For learning the skills to customize ShipFast effectively, see CodeFast.
Pricing (2026)
See official site for current rates. Lifetime license—pay once, use forever on unlimited projects.
Starter — $199 (normally $299). Full Next.js codebase, core integrations (Stripe, Supabase, Mailgun), lifetime updates.
All-in — $249 (normally $349). Everything in Starter plus Discord access, revenue leaderboards, and $1,200 in partner discounts (hosting, domains, tools).
Bundle — $299. All-in plan plus CodeFast, Marc's 12-hour video course on building and marketing a SaaS from scratch.
No hidden renewals or subscription fees. Hosting can be free on Vercel's hobby tier. MongoDB and Supabase offer generous free plans.
Pros and Cons
What We Like
Launch in days instead of weeks
One-time payment for unlimited projects
Active Discord community with 5,000+ builders
Works seamlessly with AI coding tools
Created by a maker who uses it for his own launches
Revenue leaderboard provides exposure and accountability
What Could Be Better
Requires React/Next.js knowledge to customize effectively
No refunds due to instant repo access
Opinionated stack may not fit every project (no Django, Rails, etc.)
Best value in the Bundle tier with CodeFast
Community support, not enterprise SLA
ShipFast vs. Alternatives
vs. CodeFast: CodeFast is a course that teaches you to build from scratch. ShipFast is pre-built code you customize. Bundle them together for maximum speed—learn the concepts while using production-ready components.
vs. No-Code Tools (Lovable, Bolt): No-code is faster for simple MVPs but limits customization and creates platform dependency. ShipFast gives you full code ownership with unlimited flexibility.
vs. Building from Scratch: You could write this code yourself, but you'd lose 2-4 weeks and likely make mistakes in payment webhooks and auth flows. ShipFast's value is time saved.
vs. Other Boilerplates (SaaS Pegasus, Gravity): ShipFast focuses on the modern Next.js stack with better AI-copilot compatibility. Others may support different frameworks (Django, Rails) if you need those.
vs. Laravel/Rails Starter Kits: Framework-specific options exist but don't match ShipFast's JavaScript ecosystem integration or AI-tool optimization.
Tips for Best Results
Read the docs first: ShipFast documentation is thorough. 30 minutes reading saves hours of confusion.
Get the Bundle: If you're newer to Next.js, CodeFast teaches why the code works so you can customize confidently.
Use the Discord: The community answers questions fast and has seen most common issues.
Deploy early: Get a staging environment live on Vercel immediately. Testing locally misses deployment issues.
Customize incrementally: Start with the default styling, prove your concept works, then polish the design.
FAQ
What do I get after paying?
A private GitHub repository (JavaScript and TypeScript versions), extensive documentation, and video tutorials. All future updates push to the same repo.
Does ShipFast work with AI code editors?
Yes. The consistent file structure gives tools like Copilot and Cursor excellent context for generating whole features accurately.
Can I use a different database or email service?
Absolutely. Integrations are modular. Swap MongoDB for Postgres, Mailgun for SendGrid—adjust environment variables and you're running.
Is it just a website template?
Way more. Protected API routes, complete auth flows, payment webhook handling, SEO optimization, and utility components. It's your project's entire backend and frontend foundation.
How often is ShipFast updated?
Marc uses the boilerplate for his own product launches, so patches and improvements land regularly—roughly every 4-6 weeks.
Is there a refund policy?
No. Licenses are non-refundable because purchase grants immediate access to the entire repository forever. The community reports 7-day average from purchase to first revenue.
Final Verdict
ShipFast is opinionated in the way a good framework should be—it picks sensible defaults that most SaaS founders need. If your goal is validating ideas quickly and you're comfortable with React/Next.js, the time-for-money trade-off is exceptional.
The sweet spot is the builder who wants to iterate, learn, and earn fast. Skip the boilerplate grind and focus on what makes your product unique.
