Starter FreeUpdated April 27, 2026

Upgrade to Starter Pro

Learn when Starter Free reaches its limits, what Starter Pro adds, and how to move from product-shaped validation to a real SaaS foundation.

Starter FreeStarter Pro

OverviewLink to section

Starter Free helps you validate the product surface.

Starter Pro helps you launch the business layer.

Upgrade when the blocker is no longer the UI, but the production wiring behind it:

  • real authentication
  • protected routes
  • Stripe Checkout
  • billing portal
  • webhook-driven billing state
  • backend-ready product structure

Simple rule

Starter Free validates the product. Starter Pro wires the business.

One-time payment · Instant access after purchase

The upgrade momentLink to section

Starter Free is the right choice when your question is:

What should the product feel like?

Starter Pro becomes the faster path when your question becomes:

How do I launch this without spending weeks wiring auth, billing, and protected flows?

That is the moment where staying on mocked foundations starts costing more than upgrading.

What changes with ProLink to section

Real auth

Credentials, OAuth, verification, reset flows, sessions, and safer account foundations.

Real billing

Stripe Checkout, customer portal, invoices, subscriptions, and webhook synchronization.

Protected foundation

Protected routes, session-aware UI, billing-aware access, and production-ready structure.

Free vs ProLink to section

CapabilityStarter FreeStarter Pro
Product-shaped UI surfacesIncludedIncluded
Auth screens and UX statesIncludedIncluded + wired
Email and password authMockedReal
Google and GitHub OAuthNot includedReal
Email verificationNot includedReal
Password reset and changeMockedReal
Stripe CheckoutUI onlyReal
Billing portalUI onlyReal
Webhook syncNot includedReal
Invoices and subscriptionsMockedReal
Protected app foundationsPartialProduction-ready
Data layerMockedReal-ready
Best use caseValidate UXLaunch faster

Free to validate. Pro to launch.

Starter Free helps you shape the product. Starter Pro removes the wiring that delays revenue.

When to upgradeLink to section

Upgrade when you need:

  • real users
  • real sessions
  • real payments
  • protected routes
  • plan-aware product behavior
  • backend-backed data
  • production confidence

Stay on Starter Free when you are still:

  • shaping the product
  • validating UX
  • changing the domain model
  • preparing a demo
  • exploring positioning

What you keepLink to section

Upgrade is incremental, not destructive.

You keep:

  • routes
  • pages
  • components
  • layouts
  • design system
  • product surface

You replace:

  • mock auth → real auth
  • mock billing → real Stripe
  • mock access → protected routes
  • mock data → backend-ready data flows

No wasted work

You are not throwing away Starter Free. You are replacing mocked wiring with production wiring.

Upgrade flowLink to section

Add authenticationLink to section

Replace mocked auth UX with real sessions, credentials, OAuth, verification, and reset flows.

Protect product routesLink to section

Add session-aware routing for dashboard, projects, admin, billing, and settings.

Connect billingLink to section

Wire Stripe Checkout, billing portal, invoices, subscriptions, and webhook sync.

Replace mock dataLink to section

Move from mocked records to backend-backed product flows.

Why not build it yourself?Link to section

You can.

The real question is whether you want to spend days or weeks rebuilding the same launch blockers before you can charge users.

Starter Pro is not about “more code”.

It is about removing the work that usually delays launch:

  • auth complexity
  • Stripe complexity
  • webhook reliability
  • route protection
  • billing-state synchronization
  • production setup uncertainty

Time-to-revenue decision

If auth and billing are blocking launch, Starter Pro is not a UI upgrade. It is a business acceleration layer.

Decision guideLink to section

Stay on Free if

  • you are still shaping the product
  • you need a credible demo
  • you are validating UX and navigation
  • backend work would slow learning
  • payments are not required yet

Move to Pro if

  • you are ready to launch
  • auth is becoming a blocker
  • Stripe must charge customers
  • routes need protection
  • billing state must control access

Common concernsLink to section

Ready to move faster?Link to section

If you are still exploring, stay on Starter Free.

If the business layer is slowing you down, move to Starter Pro.

One-time payment · Instant access after purchase

Next stepsLink to section

Free to validate. Pro to monetize.

Starter Free proves the product surface. Starter Pro helps you charge customers with production-shaped auth, billing, backend, and delivery. → Upgrade to Starter Pro