Indie Kit is a free and open-source Next.js 16 starter kit — the Lite version of Indie Kit Pro — that ships with AI context rules so coding assistants like Cursor, Windsurf, and Copilot can navigate and extend the codebase without hallucinating.
What is Indie Kit?
Indie Kit is an AI-native SaaS starter kit built on Next.js 16 App Router and TypeScript 5. It takes a database URL, auth secret, and payment keys as configuration inputs and produces a fully functional web application with a landing page, authentication, a user-facing app layout, and legal pages. The kit is maintained by CJ (cjsingg) and distributed under the MIT license for the open-source Starter version.
Key Features
- Next.js 16 App Router — The project uses the latest App Router conventions with TypeScript 5, keeping the codebase aligned with current Next.js features.
- Tailwind CSS v4 + Shadcn UI — Styling comes from Tailwind CSS v4 and Shadcn UI, and built-in dark mode is included.
- Better Auth — Authentication handles social login and magic links, with a secret generated via
npx auth secret. - Drizzle ORM with Bring Your Own Database — PostgreSQL schema management works with Supabase, Neon, or any Postgres provider; sync the schema with
pnpm run db:push. - Stripe subscription webhooks — Basic Stripe support is wired in for subscription monetization.
- UploadThing file storage — File uploads are handled through UploadThing integration.
- Pre-built pages — Includes a landing page with Hero, Features, Pricing, and FAQ sections; Sign In and Sign Up auth pages; an app layout with header and user profile; and Privacy and Terms legal pages.
- AI Context Rules — The repository includes
.cursor/rules,.claude/skills, a prompt library, and self-correction setup so AI coding tools follow existing patterns likewithAuthRequired.
Who is it for?
Indie hackers and solo founders who want to launch a SaaS MVP in minutes by scaffolding a production-grade Next.js application. Developers who rely on AI coding assistants benefit from the structured context rules that reduce code-generation errors. It also suits small teams that want a MIT-licensed foundation they can extend without starting from scratch.
What can you do with Indie Kit?
- Indie hackers: scaffold a new SaaS project by running
npx indiekit@latestand connecting their own database, Stripe keys, and social auth providers. - AI-assisted developers: use one-shot prompts like
/bootstrapand the included skills to generate features, DB schemas, and tests with Cursor, Windsurf, or Copilot. - Founders validating ideas: publish a landing page, sign-up flow, and Stripe subscription form using the pre-built pages, then iterate based on feedback.
How does Indie Kit work?
The recommended path is the interactive CLI: run npx indiekit@latest, answer setup questions, and dependencies are installed automatically. For manual setup, clone the repository, copy .env.example, fill in the database URL, Better Auth secret, and Stripe keys, update src/lib/config.ts, run pnpm run db:push, then pnpm dev to start at localhost:3000.
Indie Kit Pro vs Starter
The free Starter includes Next.js 16, Better Auth, Postgres and Drizzle, basic Stripe subscriptions, and basic AI navigation rules. The paid Indie Kit Pro adds Dodo Payments, Stripe Payments, Lemon Squeezy, PayPal, multi-tenancy with teams and organizations, role-based access control, user impersonation, a super admin dashboard, a credit system, waitlist system, blog and docs in MDX, email sequences with Inngest, and a documentation site.
Pricing
Indie Kit Starter is free and open-source under the MIT license. Indie Kit Pro is a paid upgrade; the page does not list a specific price, but it is available at indiekit.pro.
Alternatives
- create-t3-app — a well-known open-source Next.js starter with a focus on type-safe full-stack development, though it does not emphasize AI context rules.
FAQ
Is Indie Kit free?
Yes, the Starter version is free and open-source under the MIT license. The Pro version is a paid product with additional SaaS features like multi-tenancy, an admin dashboard, and multiple payment providers.
What does Indie Kit include?
The Starter includes Next.js 16 App Router, Tailwind CSS v4, Shadcn UI, Better Auth, Drizzle ORM, Stripe subscription webhooks, UploadThing, pre-built landing/auth/app/legal pages, and AI context rules for Cursor, Windsurf, Copilot, and Antigravity.
How do I start a project with Indie Kit?
Run npx indiekit@latest (or pnpm dlx indiekit@latest / yarn dlx indiekit@latest) to scaffold interactively. You can also clone the GitHub repo manually, copy .env.example, set your database URL, Better Auth secret, and Stripe keys, then run pnpm run db:push and pnpm dev.
What databases does Indie Kit support?
Indie Kit uses Drizzle ORM with a bring-your-own-database approach. It works with any PostgreSQL provider, including Supabase and Neon.
Does the free version support payments?
The Starter includes basic Stripe subscription webhooks. Full payment processing via Stripe Payments, PayPal, Lemon Squeezy, and Dodo Payments is only available in Indie Kit Pro.
