Spree Starter is a Ruby on Rails application template pre-configured with Spree Commerce, giving you a ready-to-run ecommerce backend.
What is Spree Starter?
Spree Starter is a Rails application template that comes pre-configured with Spree Commerce, an open-source ecommerce platform. It combines a Rails backend with the full range of Spree features—products, carts, checkout, and order management—so you can start building a store without manually wiring up the ecommerce core. The template is distributed through the create-spree-app CLI via npx and is also available as a hosted sandbox for evaluation. It is released under the MIT license.
Key Features
- Pre-configured Spree Commerce — The template installs Spree Commerce into the Rails app, so you get the complete ecommerce backend structure from the first run.
- Optional Next.js storefront — Using create-spree-app, you can scaffold a Next.js frontend alongside the Rails backend to build a headless commerce setup.
- spree CLI included — The project bundles the spree command-line tool to help with tasks like running migrations and starting the server.
- Hosted sandbox option — Instead of self-hosting, you can explore Spree through a hosted sandbox to understand the platform before committing.
- Documentation references — The README links to the official Spree documentation for environment variables, customization, and deployment.
- MIT Licensed — The template is open-source, allowing free use in both personal and commercial projects.
Who is it for?
- Rails developers who need an ecommerce backend and want to skip the repetitive setup of Spree Commerce, getting straight to customizing their store.
- Ecommerce teams building headless storefronts can use the Rails backend as their commerce API and pair it with the optional Next.js storefront.
- Evaluators and decision makers can use the hosted sandbox to test Spree's features without installing anything locally.
What can you do with Spree Starter?
- Launch a store backend quickly: Scaffold a Rails application with Spree Commerce pre-installed to start managing products and checkouts immediately.
- Build a headless commerce stack: Generate the Next.js storefront from create-spree-app and connect it to the Spree API.
- Evaluate Spree risk-free: Use the hosted sandbox to get hands-on experience before deciding to self-host the template.
FAQ
Is Spree Starter free to use?
Yes, the template is released under the MIT License, so you can freely use and modify it for any project, including commercial ones.
Do I have to use Next.js with this template?
No, Next.js is optional. The main template is a Rails backend. You only add the Next.js storefront if you want a headless architecture with a React-based frontend.
How do I install Spree Starter?
Run npx create-spree-app my-store in your terminal. The CLI will generate the full project scaffold, including the Rails backend and optionally the Next.js storefront.
Can I try Spree without self-hosting?
Yes, Spree provides a hosted sandbox that lets you interact with the platform without any installation or configuration.
