Developing a SaaS platform can be a daunting task. It is not hyperbole to assert that the tools used to develop your idea can determine if it will succeed. Several SaaS development tools, libraries, frameworks, and even more SaaS solutions are available to assist you. So, where do you even begin?
If you were to begin developing a SaaS application today, the following are the tools you should take into consideration.
Server-Side SaaS Tools
Ruby On Rails
Ruby on Rails is a well-known server-side framework for web development. Coupled with a thriving community, resources, and ability to manage diverse web app difficulties make it an excellent option for SaaS project development.
Python
It is a widely-used programming language that places a premium on readability. It ships with a slew of frameworks, including Django.
Node.js
Node.js is a web application framework that is appropriate for server-side development. To utilize Node.js, you must be comfortable with JavaScript.
PHP
PHP is the most frequently used programming language for modern applications. This is because it features a solid and active developer community and a significant number of libraries and frameworks that make the development process easier and faster to complete than other languages.
Client-Side SaaS Tools
JavaScript
JavaScript is generally used for client-side development. It is the best client-side language available, and it satisfies all of the requirements.
Angular.js
Angular.js is a framework for building applications. It helps developers at a SaaS development business to quickly and efficiently create complex and data-intensive applications using JavaScript.
Hosting Tools
Gatsby
Gatsby is not only a framework for creating React-based websites; it is also a hosting service for Gatsby-based websites. You can begin utilizing it immediately free of cost.
Vercel
Vercel is highly recommended for frontend and API deployment. It is a serverless platform that integrates with practically any language runtime, including Node.js, Python, Rust, Golang, and others. Additionally, it provides superior support for Nextjs and other JAM stack frameworks. It includes a free content delivery network (CDN) that ensures minimal latency and high performance all over the world.
Bear in mind that the free plan's function execution timeout is ten seconds. This is ideal for code that runs quickly, such as supplying server-rendered frontends but is ineffective for lengthy programs.
Heroku
Heroku is a well-established and resilient cloud platform. You may host a variety of different languages, from C++ and Rust to Node.js. However, its marketplace sets it apart, which features third-party and official add-ons for services such as Mailgun for email, LogDNA for monitoring, and Redis Cloud for Redis hosting.
Digital Ocean’s App Platform
Digital Ocean launched its app platform in late 2020. It supports static site hosting and dynamic applications such as Node.js, Docker, and PHP. You can execute long-running functions and servers on this platform because it is not serverless. The free plan is limited to hosting static websites. To host Node.js code, you must at the very least upgrade to the $5 plan.
Cloudflare Workers
Cloudflare is well-known as a content delivery network. However, it only recently released a serverless platform for deploying functions written in JS, Rust, C, and C++. It advertises that it is 10 times cheaper than its competitors. There is a substantial free tier that allows for 100,000 daily requests.
Stackpath
Stackpath is a platform for edge computing that enables you to deploy virtual machines and serverless functions in the point of interaction to your visitors. Plans begin at $10 per month.
Database Management Tools
MongoDB
MongoDB is a document-oriented database that is optimized for speed and scalability. It is an excellent solution, as scale is critical for SaaS.
Clockify
Clockify can be used to track projects. You'll be able to monitor how much time you've spent on a given project with Clockify. Additionally, you can bring in your staff to monitor their performance. It offers apps for all major platforms and browser extensions for the majority of popular browsers. It's free, although a premium plan is available for certain additional features.
MySQL
MySQL is the most widely used free and open-source database management system on the market. It is commonly used as a database administration tool for online applications. MySQL is used by the majority of SaaS development services.
Dgraph’s Slash GraphQL Service
Dgraph provides a simple to use, fully maintained database that can be accessed through a GraphQL API. You define the data schema, and Dgraph provides a CRUD API. If you require additional control, the database that powers the Slash service is a graph database, which is ideal for constructing highly relational platforms such as social platforms. Plans begin at $9.99 per month. Since it is open-source, it can also be self-hosted.
Typesense
Typesense enables you to add search functionality to your platform. While your database's full-text search power may not be able to handle errors; Typesense is, and it advertises itself as being highly fast. Typesense can be self-hosted or managed.
Fauna
Fauna includes a fully managed database that is accessible via a GraphQL API. GraphQL or FQL queries can be used to access the database. Because it is not open source, you can anticipate being tied to the seller, which may be a turnoff. Additionally, it lacks capabilities for full-text search. However, it does offer a gracious free tier.
Analytics Tools
Hotjar
Hotjar enables you to monitor user interactions with your website. It enables you to understand how users interact with your website. Additionally, it has helpful features such as heatmaps, feedback, and survey capabilities.
LogRocket
LogRocket is a frontend service for reporting errors. It allows you to view records of precisely what people did to cause an error. It supports React, Angular, EmberJs, VueJs, and PlainJs integrations. LogRocket is available as a self-hosted solution or as a hosted solution.
Mixpanel
Mixpanel simplifies event tracking and is completely free to use in the beginning. It lets you know if your new feature is being used, if your new interface encourages sharing, and which features entice users to renew and upgrade their accounts. Mixpanel can assist you in determining the answer to these queries.
Microanalytics
Microanalytics is a traffic analytics solution that places a premium on privacy. It complies with GDPR requirements by not tracking visitors via IP addresses or cookies. It is intended to serve as a substitute for Google Analytics.
Plausible
Plausible is a privacy-focused alternative to Google Analytics that is simple and easy to use. Additionally, it is open source, which enables you to self-host the platform.
Marketing Tools
WordPress
WordPress is not a marketing application but rather a content management system. Even still, you may use it as the foundation for your customer-facing website to gain control over the messaging, functionality, and content of the site. It enables you to operate independently of developers and save money on development charges.
The variety of marketing-related plugins for SEO, social networking, and content marketing makes WordPress a popular platform. It goes without saying that if you choose WordPress as your CMS, you will require a dependable WordPress-specific hosting service.
SandWich
Sandwich is a Los Angeles-based production company that specializes in highly professional and occasionally funny advertisements. They've collaborated with some of the world's largest firms, including Slack, Etsy, Starbucks, and Webflow.
ClipDrop
This is one of the most outstanding machine learning applications available right now. ClipDrop eliminates the need to take out the backgrounds of tangible objects using a photo editing application such as Photoshop. Monthly fees are $4.
Ahrefs
Ahrefs is an SEO tool that is both powerful and simple to use. It is superior at link development and tracking, while SEMRush excels at keyword research. It's quite expensive, starting at $99/mo, but it's well worth the money.
PhantomBuster
PhantomBuster is a cloud-based scrapping platform. It enables you to perform a variety of automation APIs - from scrapping Facebook group members to automatically sending LinkedIn messages.
The clever part about PhantomBuster is that everything takes place on their servers, which ensures the security of your account while conducting these "grey-hat" marketing tricks. You must, however, exercise caution! The cloud has an IP address, which in this case is in the United States. If you live outside the United States and utilize your social network accounts while scrapping using PhantomBuster, your account may be suspended momentarily. That is why you may wish to use a proxy in conjunction with your PhantomBuster account.
Email Tools
MailChimp
Mailchimp is one of the most comprehensive email marketing systems available. It includes tools for building an email list, analyzing the performance of campaigns, designing email templates with a drag-and-drop editor, and performing A/B testing.
Postmark
Postmark is a company that provides email delivery services. It has an API that lets you send emails to users when they need to reset their password, make an order, or get a welcome email. It includes a dashboard for tracking bounced emails, responsive email templates, and guarantees email delivery within minutes. Plans begin at $10.
Drip
Drip is a cost-effective marketing automation software. You can use Drip to send marketing emails to attract new customers as well as to set up campaigns for user onboarding and feature uptake.
Mandrill
Mandrill, a Mailchimp derivative or add-on, is excellent for creating transactional emails. If email plays a significant role in your marketing strategy, you should use Drip. However, you should use Mandrill if you are sending one-off emails.
SendBird
Assume you require your users to interact with one another. Rather than starting from scratch, you might save time by utilizing SendBird. It supports Android, iOS, JavaScript, .Net, and Unity. Additionally, it has a pre-built chat UI.
SaaS eCommerce Tools
Shopify
While starting an internet company from scratch may seem daunting, Shopify makes it simple and exciting by providing tools for every aspect of an online store. Shopify provides you with professionally designed templates, customizable choices to boost your brand, automatic carrier shipping prices, payment gateway options, inventory management, and access to extensive analytic reports. Additionally, Shopify supports numerous payment methods and local currencies.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce is all about making things simple, and its focus on open SaaS and headless commerce shows. With BigCommerce, you'll get a page builder visual editor that simplifies the process of creating website pages, checkout customization, digital wallet capabilities, an API-driven commerce experience, and B2B payment possibilities, among other things. Additionally, BigCommerce enables you to sell anywhere your customers shop, whether it's on eBay, Facebook, or Main Street.
Conclusion
Hey! Congrats on making it to the end of this list. Now you may be somewhat overwhelmed at the number of tools you now need to consider. But don’t worry, we’ve saved the best for last.
PolyUno is an all-in-one SaaS tool that caters to almost all of your needs - UX/UI design, mobile app development, branding design, and, sustainability & ESG reporting. Due to its dedicated project management team and integrated approach, PolyUno has become one of the leading web and app development companies across the globe.
