Mohit R


There's a persistent myth in the startup world:

> "You need serious money to start a SaaS."

Reality check: you don't.

You don't need AWS credits.\
You don't need Vercel Pro.\
You don't need a $50k runway.

Today, you can:

-   Build a working product

-   Launch an MVP

-   Reach early adopters

-   Even get your first paying customers

...using tools that cost **almost nothing**.

This post is a **practical, indie-hacker--friendly stack** for solo devs who want to move from idea → MVP → early adoption *without committing to expensive tooling too early*.

If any of these tools start charging you later, that's a good problem to have.

* * * * *

#### Hosting

**Hetzner Cloud**\
Pricing: [hetzner.com/cloud](https://www.hetzner.com/cloud)

Hetzner tends to be much cheaper and simpler than AWS for basic use. Hetzner gives you predictable, low monthly costs and simple pricing without many add-ons.

-   Entry cloud instances (like CX/CAX shared vCPUs) start around €3.49--€7.50/month (~$4--$9) with generous included traffic and hourly billing.

-   These are shared vCPU instances (no dedicated CPU), but for MVP workloads they're usually fine.

-   You only pay for what you use, and you can delete servers anytime.

**Vercel**\
Free plan: [vercel.com/pricing](https://vercel.com/pricing)

Excellent developer experience, especially for Next.js based apps, with seamless deployments, previews, and tight Git integration. Ideal for shipping MVPs quickly and iterating fast. Works well as an initial setup, with the expectation that you may need to move or upgrade as traffic, backend complexity, or cost constraints grow.

* * * * *

#### Database & Authentication

**Supabase - Free Tier ($0)**\
Free plan: [supabase.com/pricing](https://supabase.com/pricing)

Supabase gives you Postgres, authentication, storage, and access control in one place. For most MVPs, this removes weeks of backend work.

If your product can't be validated on Supabase's free tier, the issue probably isn't your database.

**MongoDB Atlas - Free Tier ($0)**\
A managed NoSQL database with a generous shared cluster. Useful if your data model is flexible or document-heavy.\
Free plan: [mongodb.com/atlas/pricing](https://www.mongodb.com/atlas/pricing)

* * * * *

#### Analytics

Know What Users Are Doing

**PostHog - Free Tier ($0)**\
Free plan: [posthog.com/pricing](https://posthog.com/pricing)

Includes:

-   Event tracking

-   Funnels

-   Session recordings

-   Feature flags

This is *product analytics*, not just page views.

**Google Analytics - Free**\
Free plan: [marketingplatform.google.com/about/analytics/](https://marketingplatform.google.com/about/analytics/)

Useful for high-level traffic insights, but limited for product decisions.

* * * * *

#### Transactional Email

**ZeptoMail - ~$5/year**\
Pricing: [/www.zoho.com/zeptomail/pricing.html](https://www.zoho.com/zeptomail/pricing.html)

Perfect for login links, password resets, and notifications.

Yes **five dollars a year** is enough for many MVPs.

**Resend - Free Tier**\
Free plan: [resend.com/pricing](https://resend.com/pricing)

Very developer-friendly and works well with modern React/Next.js stacks.

**Mailgun - Free Trial**

Pricing: [www.mailgun.com/pricing](https://www.mailgun.com/pricing/)

Battle-tested email delivery with strong deliverability. Better suited once volume increases.

* * * * *

#### Error Tracking & Monitoring

**Sentry - Free Tier**\
Free plan: [sentry.io/pricing](https://sentry.io/pricing/)

You don't need perfect observability early. You just need to know when things break.

* * * * *

#### Domain Name

**Cloudflare Registrar - ~$10/year**\
Pricing: [www.cloudflare.com/products/registrar/](https://www.cloudflare.com/products/registrar/)

**GoDaddy**\
Widely used, but renewal prices are often higher. Use cautiously.\
Pricing: [www.godaddy.com/domains](https://www.godaddy.com/domains)

**Hostinger**\
Budget-friendly domain pricing and bundles for beginners.\
Pricing: [www.hostinger.com/domains](https://www.hostinger.com/domains)

One domain is enough. Validation beats branding at this stage.

* * * * *

#### AI Integrations

If your product needs AI integrations Gemini API is great option during MVP phase as it provides a decent Free Tier.

**Google Gemini API - Free Tier (Tier 0)**\
Pricing: [ai.google.dev/pricing](https://ai.google.dev/pricing)

* * * * *

#### Design & UI

**Figma --- Free**\
Free Starter plan: [www.figma.com/pricing](https://www.figma.com/pricing/)

**Canva - Free**\
Free plan: [www.canva.com/pricing](https://www.canva.com/pricing/)

Your UI doesn't need to be perfect it needs to be understandable.

* * * * *

#### Feedback Tools

Early feedback isn't a luxury it's a compass that prevents you from building the wrong thing. Even a few genuine responses can reshape your roadmap and help you prioritize what matters most.

**Tally - Free**\
Lightweight forms for waitlists, feedback, and onboarding questions with no setup friction.\
[tally.so/pricing](https://tally.so/pricing)

**Formspree - Free**\
Turn static forms into working endpoints without backend code. Useful for early landing pages.\
[formspree.io/plans](https://formspree.io/plans)

**Senja - Free Tier**\
Collect, manage, and display testimonials to build early trust without custom work.\
[senja.io/pricing](https://senja.io/pricing)

* * * * *

#### Email Lists

Email is still one of the highest-ROI channels. Even a small, engaged list can drive feedback, early sales, and repeat usage.

**MailerLite - Free Plan**\
Free plan: [www.mailerlite.com/pricing](https://www.mailerlite.com/pricing)

-   Up to 1,000 subscribers

-   Email campaigns + basic automations

-   Landing pages and forms included

Great balance between simplicity and power for early-stage products.

**Mailchimp - Free Plan**\
Free plan: [mailchimp.com/pricing/](https://mailchimp.com/pricing/)

-   Up to 500 contacts (limits apply)

-   Basic email campaigns and signup forms

Useful if you want something familiar, though it gets restrictive quickly.

* * * * *

#### AI Coding Assistants

AI coding assistants help you write code faster, catch errors earlier, and explore patterns you might otherwise miss. For solo developers trying to ship products quickly, they're extremely useful especially when used right. Here are some tools which offer free tiers you can use while building your MVP.

**GitHub Copilot - Free for eligible users / trial**\
Free access is often available for students and verified open-source maintainers, and there's typically a free trial period for new users.

[github.com/features/copilot](https://github.com/features/copilot)

**ChatGPT (Free tier)**\
Using the free plan of ChatGPT (or OpenAI Playground) you can ask for code generation, explanations, and debugging tips---especially helpful when stitching APIs, writing functions, or generating test data.

[chat.openai.com](https://chat.openai.com/)

* * * * *

#### Boilerplates

Boilerplates help indie hackers compress weeks of setup into hours. Instead of wiring auth, billing, layouts, and basic flows from scratch, you start with a working foundation and focus on the actual product.

They're especially useful for:

-   Landing pages with waitlists

-   AI-powered SaaS MVPs

-   Directories and micro tools

-   Validating ideas quickly before over-investing

Below are a few open-source boilerplates suitable for MVP and early adoption stages:

**[OpenSaaS](http://opensaas.sh/)**\
A full-stack open-source SaaS starter with auth, billing, and common patterns baked in.

**[OpenAI Next.js Starter](https://github.com/NextJSTemplates/openai-nextjs-starter)**\
Useful if you're building an AI-first product using Next.js and modern tooling.

**[Next SaaS Stripe Starter](https://github.com/mickasmt/next-saas-stripe-starter)**\
A Next.js starter focused on clean UI, reusable components, and essential SaaS building blocks, ideal for quickly shipping a polished landing page and MVP without starting from scratch.

If you want to explore more options (both open source and paid), a good starting point is [boilerplatelist.com](http://boilerplatelist.com/)

* * * * *

#### Final Thoughts

You don't need a perfect stack to start.

You need:

-   A small painpoint

-   A usable solution

-   A way to reach the first few users

If these free tiers stop being enough, that's not a failure.

That's traction.

And traction is the only reason to upgrade.

Tech Stack for Indiehackers That Costs Almost Nothing

How to Start MicroSaaS for Less Than $10/Month


If you're like me, marketing is not your favorite part of building a product.

Most indiehackers love coding, designing, or solving problems but when it comes to promoting our work, we either procrastinate or default to tweeting into the void.

But what if you could turn your love for building into a marketing strategy?

That's where *Engineering as Marketing* (or Side Project Marketing) comes in. Let's see how free tools and mini-apps can outshine ads, blogs, and cold outreach --- and how Unsplash actually started as a side project built in just 3 hours which not only saved Crew from running out of cash but later grew into a standalone product attracting over 11 million unique visitors every month.

#### **Engineering as Marketing: What the hell is that?**

Think about the last time you used a **free tool** that solved a simple but specific problem.

-   A cron expression generator.

-   A quick SEO analyzer.

-   A business name generator.

Chances are, that tool wasn't the company's main product. It was just their clever way of getting you through the door.

That's exactly what Engineering as Marketing is:

**Building a useful free tool that attracts your ideal users and points them toward your main product.**

Instead of cold emails or ads, you're creating value upfront. The free tool becomes your lead magnet.

**Why does this work so well?**

Side project marketing isn't new but it works brilliantly for indiehackers and small teams because:

-   **It plays to your strengths.** Instead of forcing yourself to tweet every day, you're coding which you already enjoy.

-   **Free products spread faster.** Journalists, bloggers, and communities are much more likely to share a free tool than a paid one. "Check out this cool free thing" is an easier sell.

-   **It gives first, asks later.** Users get value before you ask them to sign up or buy. That builds trust instantly.

-   **It builds credibility.** Even a tiny tool shows you can ship. For new companies, this can be the first proof point that you're legit.

**What formats can it take?**

Engineering as marketing doesn't always mean building a full-fledged app. It can be simple, lightweight, and focused. Here are some formats that work:

-   Calculators & Simulators (e.g., mortgage calculator, ROI estimator)

-   Templates & Frameworks (e.g., Notion trackers, Airtable bases)

-   Knowledge bases or free courses

-   Technical tools for developers (e.g., API wrappers, playgrounds)

-   Quizzes & Assessments (lead scoring disguised as fun tests)

-   Content tools (e.g., free blog post title generator)

-   Trackers & Planners (habit trackers, launch checklists)

-   Interactive builders (logo maker, mockup generator)

-   APIs or Data sets (open APIs with basic functionality)

#### **What makes a good side project?**

Not every free tool turns into a growth engine. Here are the characteristics of a good one:

-   **It genuinely provides value.** A side project should solve a real problem or save people time in a way that feels meaningful. If users don't walk away thinking "that was useful," they won't return or share it.

-   **It's quick and cheap to build.** The best side projects are built in days or weeks, not months. Remember, it's a marketing experiment, not your next main product, so speed matters more than polish.

-   **It's cheap to maintain.** A clever idea that requires constant bug fixes or server costs will drain your energy. Ideally, your tool should run quietly in the background with minimal upkeep.

-   **It attracts qualified leads.** The most important factor. Your side project should bring in people who are likely to care about your main product. A fun meme generator might go viral, but it won't help if you're selling SaaS for startups.

-   **It's niche-focused.** Broad tools often drown in competition. A narrow, specific use case (like a calculator for book readers or a cron job generator) will stand out and reach the exact people you want.

-   **It doesn't need monetization.** The value of a side project is in visibility and lead generation. If you try to monetize it directly, you risk complicating its role as a free and shareable entry point.

-   **It uses your unfair advantage.** Maybe you have access to unique data, strong technical skills, or an insider's view of a niche. Leaning into that edge makes your tool harder to replicate and more useful.

-   **It's easy to explain.** If your tool can't be described in one clear sentence, people won't spread it. Simplicity makes it easier to share on social media, in newsletters, and by word of mouth.

**Examples you've probably seen**

Some classics in the wild:

-   **[Crontab Guru](https://crontab.guru/)**: A dead-simple cron expression generator. It's not a company's main product, but it ranks high on Google and has become the go-to for developers.

-   **[Books Calculator](https://bookscalculator.com/)**: Marc Lou built this simple tool to show that reading just 15 minutes a day adds up to 19 books a year. Once people see that potential, many naturally want a habit tracker leading them to his main product, Habits Garden.

-   **[Founderpal Free Tools](https://founderpal.ai/free-tools)**: A collection of calculators and helpers for startup founders. These tools attract the exact people Founderpal wants as customers: founders, and funnel them into its paid products.

-   **Unsplash**: This one's legendary. Crew, a freelance marketplace, was struggling. So they launched a free photo site as a side project. It blew up, saved their company, and later grew into its own massive brand. Read full story [here](https://www.boldandopen.com/blog/unsplash-open-source-growth-hacking-formula).

-   **[HubSpot Website Grader](https://website.grader.com/)**: This free SEO audit tool graded millions of websites. It didn't just bring leads---it educated businesses about SEO, which naturally led them to HubSpot's software.

-   **[Ahrefs Keyword Generator](https://ahrefs.com/keyword-generator)**: Instead of hiding all their SEO power behind a paywall, Ahrefs gives away a basic version for free. Marketers searching for keyword help find this tool and eventually graduate to the full product.

-   **[Shopify Business Name Generator](https://www.shopify.com/in/tools/business-name-generator)**: Helps new entrepreneurs brainstorm names. Guess what most of those entrepreneurs also need? A storefront platform conveniently offered by Shopify.

Each of these tools is simple, useful, and aligned with their main product's target audience.

#### **How to build your first side project?**

Here's a lightweight playbook you can follow:

1.  **Start with your product or audience.** Think about the exact type of people you want to reach. What problems sit just outside your main product? Solving these adjacent pain points makes your tool feel like a natural bridge to your core offering.

2.  **Pick a small, good idea.** Scope it to something you can build in 3--5 days, not months. A tiny, sharp tool that does one thing well is more likely to spread than a bloated side project you never finish.

3.  **Build a basic version.** Don't over-engineer. Focus on getting the main functionality working even if the design is minimal. The goal is usefulness, not perfection.

4.  **Ship small.** Before blasting it everywhere, share with a few trusted friends or communities. Early feedback helps catch issues and makes the final launch stronger.

5.  **Launch bigger.** Once you've validated it, release it to places like Product Hunt, Hacker News, Reddit, or niche Slack groups. These platforms love free tools and can generate a lot of visibility.

6.  **Review results.** Look at whether the tool is actually driving traffic, signups, or awareness for your main product. Data and feedback will show if it's working or just noise.

7.  **Decide.** If it's driving value, keep improving it. If not, shut it down without guilt. Remember, the purpose was to experiment, not to build another startup.

8.  **Grow.** For winners, iterate with small improvements or spin up complementary tools. A suite of free resources can compound traffic and create a stronger funnel for your product.

#### **Wrapping up**

Marketing doesn't always have to mean Twitter threads, cold DMs, or ad spend. For indiehackers, sometimes the best way to market is to **build something small, free, and useful**.

Side project marketing is more than a growth hack, it's a mindset shift. Instead of interrupting people with ads, you're helping them first.

And who knows? That tiny side project you hacked together in a weekend could be the reason your main product gets discovered.

How indiehackers can turn free side projects into powerful growth engines.

Showing posts from free-tools tag

How to Start MicroSaaS for Less Than $10/Month

Engineering as Marketing: Let Your Code Do the Selling