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Guide · Open source

How to use open-saas: install, create an app and customize it

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

Open SaaS is a free, MIT-licensed starter template for building a subscription-based web app. It is built on the Wasp full-stack framework, using React, Node.js and Prisma, and includes login, payments, email, background jobs and a landing page. This guide shows you how to install the prerequisites, create a new project from the template and understand what you get before you start customizing it.

Open SaaSwasp-lang/open-saas · ★ 16.2k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Check prerequisites. Make sure Node.js and npm are installed on macOS, Linux, or Windows with WSL.
  2. 2Install the Wasp CLI. Run npm i -g @wasp.sh/wasp-cli to install the Wasp command-line tool globally.
  3. 3Create the app. Run wasp new -t saas to create a clean copy of the Open SaaS template in a new directory.
  4. 4Choose your services. Select the payment, email and analytics providers you want to use from the options listed in the template.
  5. 5Customize the app. Build your product on top of the template, using the Open SaaS docs for integration guides.
  6. 6Deploy. Deploy with the Wasp CLI to Railway or Fly.io, or use the one-click Railway template.

What Open SaaS includes

Open SaaS is a template, not a finished product. It comes with common SaaS pieces already in place so you can start from a working base instead of wiring them up yourself.

The template covers user login with email and social sign-in, payments through Stripe, Polar.sh or Lemon Squeezy, email sending, background jobs, a landing page and an admin dashboard. The README also lists S3 file upload, Shadcn UI components and Playwright end-to-end tests.

  • Authentication: email (verified) and social sign-in, with Google, GitHub, Slack and Microsoft listed in the project description
  • Payments: Stripe, Polar.sh or Lemon Squeezy
  • Email: SendGrid, Mailgun or SMTP
  • Background jobs and cron jobs defined in the Wasp config file
  • AWS S3 for file uploads
  • AI-ready rules, skills and plugins for Claude Code, Cursor and similar tools

What you need before you start

You need Node.js and the Wasp CLI, which is installed with npm. The README says Wasp runs on macOS, Linux, or Windows with WSL.

The template assumes you already know React, Node.js and a command line. If those are new to you, expect a steep learning curve.

  • Node.js
  • npm, used to install the Wasp CLI
  • macOS, Linux, or Windows with WSL

Install the Wasp CLI and create your app

First, install the latest Wasp CLI globally with npm. Then create a new SaaS app from the template. The command creates a clean copy of the Open SaaS template in a new directory.

After that you can start building right away. The Open SaaS docs at docs.opensaas.sh cover installation details, pulling template updates and service integration guides.

npm i -g @wasp.sh/wasp-cli wasp new -t saas

Explore the project and pick your services

Once the project exists, the next job is choosing the services you plan to use. The template supports several options for each category, so you only need to configure the ones your product uses.

For payments, pick one of Stripe, Polar.sh or Lemon Squeezy. For email, pick SendGrid, Mailgun or SMTP. Analytics can be Plausible or Google Analytics, and the template includes an OpenAI API example with function calling.

  • Payments: Stripe, Polar.sh or Lemon Squeezy
  • Email: SendGrid, Mailgun or SMTP
  • Analytics: Plausible or Google Analytics
  • File storage: AWS S3

Deploy with one command or the Railway template

Wasp supports one-command deployment of the database, server and client to Railway or Fly.io via the CLI. You can also deploy manually to any other host.

If you prefer a live starting point, the Open SaaS Railway template deploys all three parts in one click. You can then eject the code into your own GitHub repo, clone it and develop locally. The README notes that every push to main redeploys automatically.

  • Deploy via the Wasp CLI to Railway or Fly.io
  • Deploy manually to any other hosting service
  • Use the Railway one-click template for a live start

Use code quality tools and get help

The repository includes Prettier for formatting and ESLint for linting. Both run automatically in CI/CD pipelines. For help, open an issue on the GitHub repository or ask in the Wasp Discord, in the questions forum channel.

Note that the README says some features may be missing. Contributions are welcome, and CONTRIBUTING.md describes how to take part.

npm run prettier:check npm run prettier:format npm run lint npm run lint:fix

What people use it for

  • Launching a subscription web product with login, payments and email already wired up
  • Building a solo SaaS project without setting up auth and billing from scratch
  • Starting a team project that uses an AI coding assistant with project rules included
  • Prototyping a React and Prisma app on the Wasp framework

Frequently asked questions

Is Open SaaS free to use?

Yes. The README describes the template as fully open-source and completely free to use and distribute, and the project is licensed under MIT.

What do I need to install before using Open SaaS?

You need Node.js and the Wasp CLI, which you install with npm using npm i -g @wasp.sh/wasp-cli. The README says it works on macOS, Linux, or Windows with WSL.

How do I create a new project from the template?

Run wasp new -t saas in your terminal. This creates a clean copy of the Open SaaS template in a new directory that you can start building in.

Is Open SaaS good for beginners?

Not really. The project assumes familiarity with React, Node.js and a command line, so complete beginners will likely find it hard to start.

Can I use a different backend or database than Prisma?

The template is built around Wasp, Prisma and React, so it is not a fit if you need a different backend stack. Pick another starter if that is a requirement.

How does Open SaaS compare to Supastarter or Makerkit?

The source only lists Supastarter, Makerkit, Wasp and ShipFast-style boilerplates as comparable projects. It does not say how they differ, so compare their feature lists and stacks yourself before choosing.

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Our verdict

Open SaaS suits developers comfortable with React and TypeScript who want auth, payments, email and AI project rules already set up for a subscription product. Skip it if you are new to web development, need a different backend stack, or want a finished product rather than a starting point.

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