Recommendations · App-building stack · Verified July 19, 2026
Recommended tech stack.
A TypeScript stack for building B2B SaaS apps with AI, using managed services for hosting, identity, data, and background work.
For tools to run the company, see Recommended business tools.
- Next.js
- Vercel
- shadcn/ui
- Clerk
- Neon + Drizzle
- Inngest
- Autumn
- PostHog
- Claude & OpenAI via the AI SDK
Alternative data layer · Choose Convex when you want database queries, server functions, and realtime updates in one backend.
01 · Layer
App framework & hosting
Next.js
React framework with routing, server components, and API routes.
Use it to build the application UI and server endpoints in one project.
Vercel
Application hosting with deployment previews, an edge network, and observability.
Use it for managed Next.js deployment and previews for each pull request.
shadcn/ui
UI components you copy into your project and own.
Use the components as a starting point, then adapt them to your product.
02 · Layer
Auth & identity
ClerkPick
Authentication with sign-in components, organizations, roles, and B2B SSO.
Start here for account and organization management in a B2B app.
Auth0
Identity platform with enterprise authentication integrations.
Consider it when a customer’s identity-provider requirements determine the integration.
03 · Layer
Data layer
NeonPick
Managed Postgres with scale-to-zero and database branching.
Use it when you want Postgres with separate databases for development previews.
Drizzle
TypeScript ORM for writing typed SQL queries.
Pair it with Neon to keep database access in the TypeScript project.
Convex
Backend combining a database, server functions, and realtime synchronization.
An alternative to Neon and Drizzle when the application needs a reactive data layer.
Upstash
Managed Redis and QStash messaging with usage-based billing.
Use it for caching, rate limiting, and lightweight queues.
04 · Layer
Background jobs & durable workflows
InngestPick
Background workflows with scheduling, retries, and flow control.
Use it for jobs that need durable execution across multiple steps.
Workflow DevKit
Vercel’s SDK for durable TypeScript functions.
An alternative to Inngest for teams building workflows in a Vercel application.
05 · Layer
Billing & monetization
Autumn
Billing layer over Stripe for seats, usage, credits, and plan access.
Use it to manage SaaS pricing while keeping Stripe as the payment processor.
06 · Layer
AI layer
Claude (Anthropic)
Claude models, Claude Code, and the Agent SDK.
Evaluate it for coding, document analysis, and tasks that call tools.
OpenAI
GPT models and APIs for text, images, audio, and embeddings.
Evaluate the models and tools against the tasks your application needs.
xAI
Grok models with tools for searching current information on X.
Compare its results and cost with other providers on your application’s tasks.
Eve
Vercel’s agent framework, with capabilities organized in files and directories.
Prototype a representative agent to check its fit with your application.
Strategy note
Route requests through the AI SDK or a gateway. Evaluate models on your own tasks and keep provider changes in that layer.
07 · Layer
Product analytics
PostHog
Product analytics, session replay, feature flags, experiments, and LLM analytics.
Use the same analytics platform for product behavior and AI usage.
All picks verified July 19, 2026.