Stacknaut vs ShipFast
ShipFast is the most popular SaaS boilerplate in the indie hacker space. It's built on Next.js and has a large community. Stacknaut takes a different approach — Vue 3, Fastify, full infrastructure, and a codebase designed for AI coding agents.
Here's an honest comparison to help you decide.
The Stack
| Stacknaut | ShipFast | |
|---|---|---|
| Frontend | Vue 3 (Composition API) | Next.js (React) |
| Backend | Fastify (Node.js) | Next.js API routes |
| Database | PostgreSQL + Drizzle ORM | MongoDB (Mongoose) or Supabase |
| Auth | Magic link + Google Sign-In | NextAuth (multiple providers) |
| Payments | Stripe (webhooks, subscriptions) | Stripe + Lemon Squeezy |
| Styling | Tailwind CSS + shadcn-vue | Tailwind CSS + DaisyUI |
| Language | TypeScript throughout | JavaScript / TypeScript |
ShipFast uses Next.js API routes as the backend, which means your backend logic lives inside your frontend framework. Stacknaut separates frontend and backend into distinct services with a dedicated Fastify API — easier to reason about, test independently, and scale when needed.
Infrastructure & Deployment
This is where the biggest difference lies.
| Stacknaut | ShipFast | |
|---|---|---|
| Server provisioning | Terraform for Hetzner (included) | Not included |
| Deployment | Kamal 2 (zero-downtime, one command) | Not included (use Vercel) |
| Hosting | Your own server (~$14/month on Hetzner) | Vercel, Railway, or DIY |
| Caddy/reverse proxy | Included and configured | Not included |
| Docker | Production Dockerfiles included | Not included |
ShipFast assumes you'll deploy to Vercel or figure out hosting yourself. Stacknaut includes everything: Terraform config to provision a Hetzner server, Kamal 2 for zero-downtime deploys, Dockerfiles, and a Caddyfile for reverse proxy and SSL. One command to go from zero to production.
If you want to own your infrastructure and keep costs low, Stacknaut gives you the whole stack. If you're happy with Vercel's pricing and limitations, ShipFast gets you there faster.
AI Coding Agent Support
| Stacknaut | ShipFast | |
|---|---|---|
| AGENTS.md | Comprehensive project-wide config | Not included |
| Agent-optimized structure | Yes — designed for AI agents | Markets as "built for AI" |
| Custom commands & skills | Included | Not included |
Both products acknowledge the importance of AI coding agents. ShipFast markets itself as "built for AI," but doesn't ship with an AGENTS.md or project-wide agent configuration file.
Stacknaut was built while shipping production SaaS products with AI coding agents (Claude Code, Cursor, Copilot). The AGENTS.md file gives your AI agent full context about the codebase — conventions, architecture, common patterns — so it writes consistent, correct code from day one. You also get custom commands and skills configuration out of the box.
What's Included
| Feature | Stacknaut | ShipFast |
|---|---|---|
| Auth (magic link + Google) | Yes | Yes |
| Stripe billing & webhooks | Yes | Yes |
| Transactional emails | Yes | Yes |
| Landing page | Yes | Yes |
| SEO setup | Yes | Yes |
| Blog system | No | Yes (markdown) |
| Admin dashboard | No | No |
| Server provisioning | Yes (Terraform) | No |
| Deployment pipeline | Yes (Kamal 2) | No |
| Infrastructure as code | Yes | No |
| AI agent config | Yes | No |
| Public API service | Yes (separate service) | No |
| Pre-rendering for SEO | Yes | SSR (Next.js) |
Database Choice
ShipFast defaults to MongoDB, which is a document database. Stacknaut uses PostgreSQL with Drizzle ORM — a relational database with strong typing, migrations, and the ability to do complex queries without jumping through hoops.
For most SaaS applications, PostgreSQL is the better choice. Your data is relational (users have subscriptions, subscriptions have invoices), and PostgreSQL handles that naturally. MongoDB can work, but you'll fight it as your schema evolves.
Architecture
ShipFast is a monolithic Next.js app — frontend and backend in one. This is simple to start with, but as your app grows, you'll want separation.
Stacknaut ships as a monorepo with distinct services:
- Frontend — Vue 3 SPA with pre-rendering for SEO pages
- Backend — Fastify API (handles auth, billing, business logic)
- API — Public API service (separate from internal backend)
- Shared — Shared types and utilities across all services
This separation means you can deploy services independently, test them in isolation, and reason about each piece without understanding the whole system.
Pricing
| Stacknaut | ShipFast | |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $199 (Individual) | $199 (Starter) |
| Full | $199 (same — everything included) | $249 (All-in) |
| Consulting | $799 (Kickstart — 2h 1-on-1) | Not available |
| Done For You | $1,499 (full setup) | Not available |
| Model | One-time purchase | One-time purchase |
| Updates | 12 months included | Lifetime |
Both are one-time purchases at a similar price point. ShipFast's All-in plan adds extra templates and components. Stacknaut's $199 includes everything — there's no feature-gated tier.
Who Should Choose What
Choose Stacknaut if you:
- Want full infrastructure included (server, deployment, Docker)
- Want to own your server and keep hosting costs around $14/month
- Use AI coding agents and want a codebase optimized for them
- Value a separated backend over API routes — easier to test and scale
- Want PostgreSQL with a proper ORM over a document database
- Value production-tested code from real shipping SaaS products
- Are comfortable with Vue 3 and Fastify, or happy to let your AI agent handle the framework details (it's writing most of the code anyway)
Choose ShipFast if you:
- Plan to deploy on Vercel and don't want to manage infrastructure
- Want a large community of builders
- Need a built-in blog system
- Have a strong personal preference for React/Next.js
- Prioritize the largest ecosystem of tutorials and support
The Bottom Line
ShipFast is a solid Next.js boilerplate that gets you a working SaaS app fast. Stacknaut goes further — it's a full-stack kit with infrastructure, deployment, and AI agent configuration included. You're not just getting code, you're getting the entire production pipeline.
The real question is: do you want to own your infrastructure, or are you happy on managed platforms? If you want the control and cost savings of your own server with a codebase that AI agents can work with effectively, Stacknaut is the better fit.