| Feature | SvelteShip | ShipFast |
|---|---|---|
| Framework | Svelte 5 + SvelteKit | Next.js (React) |
| Authentication | Auth.js | NextAuth.js |
| Payments | Stripe | Stripe + LemonSqueezy |
| Database | PostgreSQL + Drizzle | MongoDB / Supabase |
| Transactional Email | Resend | Mailgun / Resend |
| Landing Page | Yes | Yes |
| Dashboard | Yes | Yes |
| Admin Panel | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Blog | No | Yes |
| Community Size | Growing | 5000+ users |
| Pricing | $49 – $149 | $199 |
| License | Unlimited projects | Unlimited projects |
The Core Difference: Svelte vs React
This is the fundamental question. ShipFast is built on Next.js and React. SvelteShip is built on SvelteKit and Svelte 5. If you are already invested in the Svelte ecosystem — if you know runes, if you like the compiler-based approach, if you prefer .svelte files over JSX — then using a Next.js boilerplate means learning a different framework just to ship your SaaS. SvelteShip lets you stay in the ecosystem you know and love.
Community and Track Record
ShipFast wins here, and it is not close. With 5000+ users, an active Discord, and Marc Lou publicly shipping products built with it, ShipFast has the most proven track record in the SaaS boilerplate space. SvelteShip is newer and has a smaller community. If social proof and a large support community matter most to you, ShipFast is the safer choice.
Features and Completeness
Both boilerplates cover the essentials: auth, Stripe billing, email, dashboard, and landing page. ShipFast includes a few extras — a built-in blog, SEO tools, waitlist functionality, and LemonSqueezy as an alternative payment processor. SvelteShip focuses on the core: Auth.js with multiple providers, Stripe checkout and customer portal, Resend email, PostgreSQL with Drizzle ORM, admin panel, and Docker deployment. Both get you to a launchable product.
Database Philosophy
SvelteShip uses PostgreSQL with Drizzle ORM — type-safe SQL queries, proper migrations, and a relational database that scales well. ShipFast defaults to MongoDB (with Supabase as an option). If you prefer SQL and relational data modeling, SvelteShip is the better fit. If you like the flexibility of NoSQL or want Supabase real-time features, ShipFast accommodates that.
Pricing
SvelteShip starts at $49 (Starter) and $149 (Complete with Stripe billing, email, and admin panel). ShipFast is $199 for the full package. Both are one-time purchases with unlimited projects. SvelteShip is more affordable, especially if you just need the core SaaS features. There is also a $199 bundle that includes SvelteShip + SvelteUI Pro (45+ Svelte 5 components).
When to Choose ShipFast
Choose ShipFast if you use React/Next.js, want the largest community and most battle-tested boilerplate, need built-in SEO blog and waitlist features, or value having 5000+ developers who have gone before you. ShipFast has earned its reputation as the default SaaS boilerplate.
When to Choose SvelteShip
Choose SvelteShip if you are a Svelte developer and do not want to context-switch to React, if you prefer PostgreSQL and type-safe SQL, if you want a more affordable starting point, or if you believe Svelte 5 is the future of frontend development and want your SaaS built on that foundation.