Build a SaaS as a Solo Developer
Solo SaaS is the dream: recurring revenue, location independence, and full creative control. In 2026, with AI coding tools and managed infrastructure, one person can build what used to require a team of five.
The Solo SaaS Tech Stack
Keep it simple. Every technology choice should minimize maintenance:
Frontend: Next.js or Vite + React. Server-side rendering for SEO, React for interactivity.
Backend: Supabase (Postgres, auth, storage, edge functions). One platform replaces five services.
Payments: Stripe. No alternatives worth considering for indie SaaS.
Hosting: Vercel for frontend, Supabase handles backend. Total cost under 20 per month to start.
Email: Resend or Loops for transactional and marketing email.
This stack scales to 10K monthly revenue without architectural changes.
Architecture for One
As a solo dev, your architecture must prioritize maintainability:
- Monorepo: One repository, one deployment pipeline, one place to search
- Edge functions over microservices: Supabase Edge Functions give you serverless without the complexity
- Feature flags: Ship features behind flags so you can test without risk
- Automated testing on critical paths: Payment flows and auth. Skip unit tests for UI.
Pricing Strategy
SaaS pricing is simpler than you think:
- Free tier: Limited but useful. Enough to prove value.
- Pro tier: 15-29 per month for individuals. This is your bread and butter.
- Team tier: 49-99 per month. Higher ARPU, different needs.
Start with two tiers (free and pro). Add team pricing when you have 50+ paying users asking for it.
The First 100 Customers
- Build in public: Share your journey on Twitter and Indie Hackers
- Launch on Product Hunt: One shot at a big traffic spike. Prepare thoroughly.
- SEO content: Write 10-20 articles targeting long-tail keywords your users search
- Community engagement: Answer questions in relevant subreddits and forums. Do not spam.
- Lifetime deals: Offer early adopters a lifetime deal for testimonials and feedback
Common Solo SaaS Mistakes
- Building for 6 months without launching (ship in 4-6 weeks)
- Adding features nobody asked for (talk to users first)
- Underpricing (charge more than you think you should)
- Ignoring churn (a 10% monthly churn kills any SaaS)
- Doing everything manually (automate onboarding, billing, and support from day one)
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Related: see how micro-SaaS ideas earn recurring revenue.