MakerKit vs PropelKit 2026: Which SaaS Boilerplate Should You Use?
MakerKit costs $299/year. PropelKit costs $109 once. Both have multi-tenancy, Next.js 15, and Stripe. Here's the honest comparison of what you actually get.
Tanishq Agarwal
April 15, 2026 · 4 min read
MakerKit has been around since 2021. It's well-documented, mature, and popular with teams building B2B SaaS.
PropelKit launched in 2025 with a different bet: AI-first development, better pricing, and a built-in AI Product Manager.
If you're choosing between them right now, here's the honest breakdown.
Quick Verdict
- Choose MakerKit if you want the most mature ecosystem, extensive docs, and your team is already comfortable paying $299/year for a subscription.
- Choose PropelKit if you want AI tools built in, a lower price (one-time $59), and Next.js 15 from the start.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | MakerKit | PropelKit |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299/year | $59–$109 one-time |
| Next.js version | 15 | 15 |
| Auth | Supabase / Firebase | Supabase |
| Payments | Stripe | Stripe, Razorpay, DodoPayments |
| Multi-tenancy | Yes | Yes |
| AI PM built-in | No | Yes |
| AI credits system | No | Yes |
| Auto-invoicing | No | Yes |
| GST support (India) | No | Yes |
| Background jobs | Inngest | Inngest |
| Resend / Sendgrid | Resend | |
| One-time vs subscription | Subscription | One-time |
| GitHub repo access | Yes | Yes |
Pricing: The Biggest Difference
MakerKit costs $299 per year. That's an ongoing subscription to get updates and stay on a supported version.
PropelKit costs $59 (Starter) or $109 (Pro) as a one-time payment. You own the code forever.
Over 3 years:
- MakerKit: $897
- PropelKit Pro: $109
If you're an indie hacker or small team, this matters. If you're an enterprise with 30 developers, MakerKit's subscription model is fine.
AI Features: No Contest
MakerKit doesn't include AI features. PropelKit does.
PropelKit's AI tools:
- AI Product Manager (
/pk:start): Interview-style setup that builds your product spec and generates customized starter code - AI credits system: Track and meter AI usage per user out of the box
- Lovable integration: Generate UI components with prompts, wired directly into your codebase
In 2026, most new SaaS products use AI somewhere. Starting with a boilerplate that supports it natively saves days of integration work.
Watch Claude your SaaS in a Week. Without the halucinations. Get PropelKit →
Multi-Tenancy
Both boilerplates support multi-tenancy. This is table stakes for B2B SaaS.
MakerKit's multi-tenancy is more battle-tested and documented. They've had 4+ years to polish it.
PropelKit's multi-tenancy works well for most use cases and is simpler to understand. If you're building a complex enterprise product with fine-grained permission systems, MakerKit might edge ahead here.
Payment Providers
MakerKit supports Stripe.
PropelKit supports Stripe, Razorpay (for India), and DodoPayments (Merchant of Record — handles taxes and invoicing automatically). If you're selling internationally and don't want to deal with VAT, GST, and EU tax compliance yourself, DodoPayments is a significant advantage.
Next.js 15
Both are now on Next.js 15. This wasn't always the case — PropelKit launched on 15 while MakerKit was on 14 for much of 2025. Both are current now.
Developer Experience
MakerKit wins on documentation. They've had years to write guides, and their docs are comprehensive.
PropelKit wins on onboarding speed. The AI PM feature means you can go from "clone" to "customized for my specific product" in under an hour.
Community and Support
MakerKit has a larger existing user base and a Discord with real users who can help.
PropelKit is newer with a smaller community, but direct support from the founder is responsive.
What Do Actual Developers Choose?
MakerKit is popular with:
- Teams that want mature, battle-tested code
- Developers who value extensive documentation
- Projects where the subscription cost is negligible
PropelKit is popular with:
- Indie hackers and solo founders
- Developers building AI-powered SaaS
- International founders who need multi-currency payments
- Vibe coders who want AI tools built in
The Bottom Line
MakerKit is a great product. If you've used it before and your team knows it, stick with it.
But if you're starting fresh in 2026, PropelKit gives you more — AI tools, more payment providers, and better pricing — for significantly less money.
The code you save on a boilerplate is time you spend on your actual product. PropelKit lets you keep more of both.
Try PropelKit for yourself. One-time payment, full code ownership, AI PM included. See PropelKit →
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