MakerKit vs NextUpKit: Honest Comparison for SaaS Builders in 2026

If you're shopping for a Next.js SaaS starter kit, you've probably come across MakerKit. It's one of the more feature-rich options on the market — but it also comes with a premium price tag.

Let's break down how MakerKit compares to NextUpKit so you can make the right choice for your project.

MakerKit at a Glance

MakerKit is a paid SaaS boilerplate available in Next.js and Remix versions. It's known for its comprehensive feature set, especially around multi-tenancy and team features.

MakerKit pricing:

Starter: ~$299 (basic features)
Pro: ~$599 (multi-tenancy, advanced features)

These are one-time purchases with access to updates.

NextUpKit at a Glance

NextUpKit is a free, open-source Next.js SaaS starter kit. It covers all the essentials — auth, payments, database, email, UI — at zero cost.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Feature	MakerKit ($299-$599)	NextUpKit (Free)
Authentication	Yes (Supabase Auth)	Yes (NextAuth)
Payments	Yes (Stripe, LemonSqueezy)	Yes (LemonSqueezy)
Database	Supabase (PostgreSQL)	MongoDB + Prisma ORM
Email	Yes	Yes (Resend)
UI Components	Yes (Tailwind)	Yes (shadcn/ui + Tailwind)
Dark/Light Mode	Yes	Yes
Blog	Yes	Yes
Analytics	Basic	Google Analytics + Microsoft Clarity
Multi-Tenancy	Yes (Pro plan)	No
Member Roles	Yes (Pro plan)	No
Internationalization	Yes	No
E2E Testing	Yes	No
Live Chat	No	Yes (Crisp)
Open Source	No	Yes
Price	$299-$599	Free

Where MakerKit Wins

MakerKit has genuine advantages in specific areas:

Multi-tenancy — If you're building a B2B SaaS where organizations have teams with different roles, MakerKit's Pro plan has this built in
Internationalization — Built-in i18n support for multi-language apps
E2E testing — Comes with testing infrastructure
Database choice — Uses Supabase/PostgreSQL, which some developers prefer over MongoDB

If you're building a complex B2B product with team workspaces, MakerKit's Pro plan covers features that would take significant time to build yourself.

Where NextUpKit Wins

NextUpKit is the stronger choice in several scenarios:

Price — The most obvious difference. Free vs $299-$599 is significant, especially when you're validating an idea.
Open source — Full code transparency, community contributions, and no licensing restrictions
Modern UI — shadcn/ui components are widely regarded as the best React component library right now
Analytics — Microsoft Clarity gives you session recordings and heatmaps for free, not just pageview tracking
Live support — Built-in Crisp chat integration for talking to your users
Simplicity — NextUpKit is opinionated and streamlined. Less configuration, faster to understand

Choosing Based on Your Project

Choose MakerKit if:

You're building a B2B SaaS with team/organization features
You need multi-tenancy from day one
You need internationalization
Budget isn't a constraint
You prefer Supabase over MongoDB

Choose NextUpKit if:

You're building a B2C or solo-user SaaS
You're validating an idea and want zero upfront cost
You want an open-source codebase you fully own
You prefer the shadcn/ui component ecosystem
You're a student, indie maker, or bootstrapper
You want to move fast with a simpler setup

The Real Question

Here's what it comes down to: do you need multi-tenancy and team features right now?

If yes, MakerKit's Pro plan at $599 could save you weeks of development. Those features are genuinely complex to build.

If no — and most early-stage SaaS products don't — then NextUpKit gives you everything you need at no cost. You can always add team features later as your product grows and validates.

Getting Started

git clone https://github.com/nextupkit/nextupkit.git
cd nextupkit
npm install
npm run dev

That's it. No purchase flow, no license activation, no waiting for access. Just clone and build.

For a broader comparison of all the major starter kits, check out our alternatives page.

Try NextUpKit for free →