| Feature | SvelteShip | ShipFast |
|---|---|---|
| Framework | Svelte 5 + SvelteKit | Next.js (React) |
| Authentication | Auth.js (Google, Magic Link) | NextAuth.js (Google, Magic Link) |
| Payments | Stripe (checkout + portal) | Stripe + LemonSqueezy |
| Database | PostgreSQL + Drizzle ORM | MongoDB / Supabase |
| Transactional Email | Resend | Mailgun / Resend |
| Landing Page | Yes | Yes |
| Dashboard | Yes | Yes |
| Admin Panel | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Blog | No | Yes |
| Docker / Self-host Ready | Yes | No |
| Community Size | Growing | 5000+ users |
| Pricing | $49 – $149 one-time | $199 one-time |
| License | Unlimited projects | Unlimited projects |
The Core Difference: Svelte 5 vs Next.js
ShipFast is built on Next.js and React. SvelteShip is built on Svelte 5 and SvelteKit. If you are a Svelte developer, using a Next.js boilerplate means context-switching to a different framework, a different component model, and a different build system — just to ship your SaaS. SvelteShip keeps you in the ecosystem you already know. If you are a React developer and perfectly happy with Next.js, ShipFast is a proven choice. The framework decision should come first; then pick the boilerplate that matches.
Pricing: $149 vs $199
SvelteShip Complete costs $149 one-time with unlimited projects and lifetime updates. ShipFast costs $199 one-time (or $249 with the AI module). Both are one-time purchases — no subscription, no per-seat pricing. SvelteShip is $50 cheaper for the full kit. There is also a $199 bundle that includes SvelteShip Complete and SvelteUI Pro (45+ Svelte 5 components) together — which works out to both products at the price of ShipFast alone.
Features and Completeness
Both boilerplates cover the SaaS essentials: auth with multiple providers, Stripe billing, transactional email, a dashboard, admin panel, and a landing page template. ShipFast has an edge with its built-in blog, SEO tooling, waitlist functionality, and LemonSqueezy as an alternative payment processor. SvelteShip has an edge with PostgreSQL and Drizzle ORM (type-safe SQL queries, proper schema migrations) and a Docker-ready multi-stage Dockerfile for self-hosting. For most SaaS products, both get you to launch.
Database Philosophy
ShipFast defaults to MongoDB — a document database that works well for flexible schemas and rapid iteration. Supabase (PostgreSQL) is available as an option. SvelteShip uses PostgreSQL with Drizzle ORM: relational data, type-safe queries, proper migrations. If you are building a product where your data has clear relationships — users, subscriptions, records — PostgreSQL is the more appropriate choice. If you want schema flexibility and the simplicity of NoSQL, ShipFast accommodates that.
Community and Track Record
ShipFast wins this comparison clearly. With 5000+ users, an active Discord, and its creator Marc Lou publicly shipping profitable products with it, ShipFast has the strongest social proof in the SaaS boilerplate market. SvelteShip is newer and has a smaller community. If having a large peer group and extensive community tutorials matters to you, ShipFast has the advantage. SvelteShip compensates with comprehensive documentation and direct support.
When to Choose ShipFast
Choose ShipFast if you are comfortable with React and Next.js, want the most battle-tested and proven boilerplate, need a built-in SEO blog or waitlist feature, or value the largest community and Discord support. ShipFast has earned its position as the default recommendation for most developers.
When to Choose SvelteShip
Choose SvelteShip if you are a Svelte developer who wants to stay in your ecosystem, prefer PostgreSQL and type-safe SQL over MongoDB, need Docker/self-hosting support, or want to save $50 on a full-featured kit. The SvelteShip + SvelteUI Pro bundle at $199 also gives you 45+ Svelte 5 components on top of the SaaS foundation — making it a strong value proposition for Svelte developers building production products.