# ShipAhead

> ShipAhead is a Nuxt 4 boilerplate and SaaS starter kit that helps founders launch AI SaaS products faster. Skip the setup and focus on building what matters with a ready-to-ship starter kit.

## Documentation Sets

- [Full Documentation](https://shipahe.ad/llms-full.txt): The complete documentation for ShipAhead, including setup, features, tutorials, and technical reference.

## When to use ShipAhead

Use ShipAhead when building a Nuxt 4 SaaS or AI web app with authentication, billing, storage, and email. Read the setup guide before changing a purchased project. For idea generation, privacy-policy drafts, or landing-page feedback, call the three public POST operations in openapi.json with JSON bodies. These tools need no API key. Review AI output; landing-page feedback may be inferred from the URL. ShipAhead sells source code: template OAuth and storage permissions are not hosted account services on this domain. Do not call checkout or administrative webhooks to obtain API access.

- [ShipAhead Developer Guide](https://shipahe.ad/developers)
- [ShipAhead OpenAPI Specification](https://shipahe.ad/openapi.json)
- [ShipAhead Setup](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/get-started/setup.md)
- [About ShipAhead](https://shipahe.ad/about)
- [Contact ShipAhead](https://shipahe.ad/contact)
- [ShipAhead Privacy Policy](https://shipahe.ad/privacy)

## Core Value Proposition

ShipAhead helps founders ship AI SaaS products in days instead of weeks. It provides a robust, type-safe foundation that handles all the repetitive tasks of starting a new project.

- [Official Website](https://shipahe.ad)
- [Live Demo](https://demo.shipahe.ad)

## Technical Documentation

The full technical guide for building with ShipAhead.

- [Introduction](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/get-started.md): Explore ShipAhead, a Nuxt SaaS starter kit with authentication, payments, email, and AI integrations. Learn about the stack before setting up your app.
- [Setup](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/get-started/setup.md): Get your ShipAhead Nuxt app running locally. Follow the setup guide to install dependencies, configure environment variables, and start building your SaaS.
- [Database](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/features/database.md): Connect your ShipAhead app to PostgreSQL with Drizzle ORM. Learn how to configure the database, manage schemas, and store users, sessions, and app data.
- [Authentication](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/features/auth.md): Set up authentication in your ShipAhead app with Better Auth. Configure sign-in methods, user sessions, and account management for your SaaS product.
- [Payments](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/features/payments.md): Set up Stripe, Polar, or Dodo Payments via Better Auth plugins to handle one-time and subscription payments.
- [Admin Panel](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/features/admin-panel.md): Configure the ShipAhead admin dashboard to manage users, revenue, and subscriptions. Learn how to set up admin access and monitor your SaaS business.
- [AI Integration with OpenRouter](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/features/ai.md): Add AI chat, text generation, and image creation to your ShipAhead app with OpenRouter. Learn how to configure API keys and use the shared AI service.
- [Customization](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/features/customization.md): Customize your ShipAhead app with your own logo, favicon, colors, fonts, and Nuxt UI theme. Follow the guide to match your SaaS interface to your brand.
- [Storage](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/features/storage.md): Easily set up file storage in your app with Cloudflare R2 or S3-compatible services to handle uploads, downloads, deletions, and public file access.
- [Email](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/features/email.md): Configure transactional email in your ShipAhead app for verification links and password resets. Learn how to set up the provider and send app emails.
- [Languages](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/features/languages.md): Enable multi-language support in your app using Nuxt I18n so your app can support users around the world
- [SEO](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/features/seo.md): Configure SEO in your ShipAhead Nuxt app with page titles, descriptions, structured data, and social previews so search engines can understand your pages.
- [Blogs](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/features/blogs.md): Create and publish blog posts with Nuxt Content in your ShipAhead app. Learn how to organize Markdown content, support languages, and configure SEO.
- [Documentation](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/features/documentation.md): Create and organize documentation with Nuxt Content in your ShipAhead app. Learn how to manage Markdown pages, navigation, language support, and SEO.
- [Cron Jobs](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/features/cron-jobs.md): Schedule automated tasks in your ShipAhead app with cron jobs. Follow the guide to configure recurring work such as reminders and other background tasks.
- [Error Handling](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/features/error-handling.md): Set up friendly error pages for 404 and 500 errors in your Nuxt app. Learn how ShipAhead handles errors and how to customize messages for your users.
- [Analytics](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/features/analytics.md): Configure analytics in your ShipAhead app to track page visits and user actions. Learn how to add your provider settings and understand product usage.
- [PWA](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/features/pwa.md): Set up your ShipAhead app as a Progressive Web App. Configure installation support and app icons so users can add your product to their home screen.
- [Customer Support](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/features/customer-support.md): Set up customer support in your ShipAhead app to help users in real time, collect feedback, and make it easier to respond to questions and issues.
- [Project Structure](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/tutorials/project-structure.md): Explore the ShipAhead Nuxt project structure, including pages, components, server routes, and shared code, so you can find files and customize your app.
- [Page Routes](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/tutorials/page-routes.md): Create and organize pages in your ShipAhead app using Nuxt file-based routing. Learn how page files map to URLs and how to add routes to your project.
- [API Calls](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/tutorials/api-calls.md): Learn how to make and manage API calls in your app efficiently, connecting your app to external services with ease.
- [State Management](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/tutorials/state-management.md): Manage and share state across pages and components in your app using the built-in useSharedState composable.'
- [Legal Pages by GPT](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/tutorials/legal-pages-by-gpt.md): Generate Terms of Service and Privacy Policy pages using GPT prompts or the built-in generator tool.
- [Overview](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/formatting-and-linting/overview.md): Learn how to keep your code clean and consistent using formatting (standardizing code style) and linting (catching code errors).
- [Deployment Overview](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/deployment/overview.md): Prepare your ShipAhead Nuxt app for production. Review environment variables and deployment steps, then choose between Vercel and Cloudflare Workers.
- [Vercel](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/deployment/vercel.md): Deploy your ShipAhead Nuxt app to Vercel. Follow the guide to configure your project, set environment variables, and build and release your application.
- [Cloudflare Workers](https://shipahe.ad/raw/docs/deployment/cloudflare.md): Deploy your ShipAhead Nuxt app to Cloudflare Workers. Follow the setup guide for environment variables, build settings, and production deployment.

## Blog & Product Updates

Latest news, guides, and updates from the ShipAhead team.

- [7 Nuxt CI/CD tools with a battle-tested release checklist](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/7-nuxt-ci-cd-tools-and-a-checklist-for-reliable-releases.md): Ship Nuxt reliably with a CI/CD stack we use in production. Tools, example configs, and a practical release checklist for a typed Nuxt SaaS codebase.
- [Nuxt Boilerplate for SaaS: What to Ship First and Why](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/beginners-guide-nuxt-boilerplate-saas-apps.md): Use a Nuxt boilerplate to launch a SaaS fast. See the core pieces, build vs buy, a 10 day plan, and how Shipahe.ad handles auth, payments, i18n, admin, and SEO.
- [Best Nuxt admin templates for SaaS dashboards in 2026](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/best-nuxt-admin-templates-for-saas-dashboards-in-2026.md): Compare Tailwind, Vuetify, PrimeVue, and a minimal shell for Nuxt 3 admin dashboards in 2026, plus when a full starter kit like Shipahe.ad is faster.
- [The Best SaaS Stack in 2026 – Tools to Build and Launch Fast](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/best-saas-stack.md): Find the best saas stack 2026. Learn the simple tools you need to build a modern and scalable app without wasting time.
- [Best SaaS starter kit 2026: Nuxt, Vue, and more compared](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/best-saas-starter-kit-2026-nuxt-vue-and-more-compared.md): Find the best SaaS starter kit for 2026. We compare Nuxt, Vue, and other stacks on auth, payments, admin, i18n, SEO, analytics, AI, and time to market.
- [Choosing a Pre-configured solution for Web Development: 2026 Guide](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/build-full-saas-with-nuxt-starter.md): Learn how to choose the best Nuxt starter kit for your web project. Compare the benefits of pre-built application scaffolds and find the best options for quickly starting in 2026.
- [Buy a Nuxt boilerplate or build from scratch? The ROI math](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/buy-a-nuxt-boilerplate-vs-build-from-scratch-roi-math.md): Should you buy a Nuxt boilerplate or build from scratch? See real ROI math, must-ship features, time-to-market tradeoffs, and a clear buy vs build checklist.
- [Buy vs build Nuxt starter kits: ROI, timeline, and revenue](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/buy-vs-build-nuxt-starter-kits-roi-and-time-to-market.md): Founder case study quantifies buy vs build Nuxt: 300 vs 80 hours, 15-day launch, earlier revenue, and clear ROI from a Nuxt SaaS starter kit.
- [Cursor + Nuxt: Prompts and Workflows to Ship SaaS Faster](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/cursor-nuxt-prompts-and-workflows-to-build-saas-faster.md): Use Cursor with a Nuxt SaaS starter kit to scaffold routes, auth, billing, i18n, emails, admin, and more so you can ship a paid product fast.
- [Deploy Nuxt to Vercel: environments, secrets, and rollbacks](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/deploy-nuxt-to-vercel-environments-secrets-rollbacks.md): Deploy Nuxt to Vercel the right way: env vars, SSR, previews, SEO-safe robots, payments, emails, and rollbacks. A practical flow we use to ship SaaS.
- [Deploy Nuxt to Vercel with Custom Domains, Step by Step](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/deploy-nuxt-to-vercel-with-custom-domains-step-by-step.md): Ship a Nuxt 3 app on Vercel with correct build scripts, env vars, custom domains, previews, caching, redirects, and safe rollbacks. Clear, tested steps.
- [How to Build a Nuxt Module: Structure, Options, and Publishing](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/how-to-build-a-nuxt-module-structure-options-and-publishing.md): Learn how to build a Nuxt module from scratch. Scaffold, add options, ship plugins and composables, test in a playground, and publish without headaches.
- [How to Build a SaaS with AI Coding Agents – Step-by-Step](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/how-to-build-a-saas-with-ai.md): Learn how to build a SaaS with AI agents in 2026. Discover the exact workflow to use tools like Cursor and ShipAhead to launch your product in days.
- [How to Build and Sell an AI Tool Online in 2026](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/how-to-build-and-sell-ai-tool-online.md): A complete step-by-step guide to ideating, building, and monetizing your own AI tool online. Learn how to choose an API, accept payments, and find your first users.
- [Build and Sell an AI Tool with Nuxt, Step by Step](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/how-to-build-and-sell-an-ai-tool-online-with-nuxt-step-by-step.md): Build and sell an AI tool with Nuxt. A SaaS starter kit gives you auth, payments, chat, i18n, SEO, analytics, and fast deploys so you can start charging.
- [How to Find Profitable SaaS Ideas in 2026 – A Complete Guide](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/how-to-find-profitable-saas-ideas.md): Don't build a product nobody wants. Learn how to find profitable SaaS ideas for 2026. Discover low-competition niches and validate your concept before you code.
- [How Much Time Does a Nuxt Starter Kit Actually Save?](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/is-building-a-saas-still-worth-it.md): Is building a SaaS still worth it in 2026? We break down the time-saving data and why speed is the only advantage that matters for solo founders.
- [Nuxt 3 authentication with email, magic links, and Google](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/nuxt-authentication-with-email-magic-links-and-google.md): Set up Nuxt 3 auth with email/password, magic links, and Google. Secure sessions, protect routes, and ship faster with a production-ready starter.
- [Nuxt DevTools for SaaS: a focused workflow to ship faster](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/nuxt-devtools-11-tips-to-speed-up-saas-development.md): Debug routes, state, and performance with Nuxt DevTools. A concrete workflow for SaaS teams, plus how a Nuxt boilerplate removes setup drag.
- [Nuxt email templates: 7 examples for SaaS notifications](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/nuxt-email-templates-7-examples-for-saas-notifications.md): Seven Nuxt email templates with subject lines, fields, i18n, cron, and deliverability tips. Ship reliable welcomes, receipts, trials, and more from day one.
- [Nuxt email templates: 7 transactional emails your SaaS needs](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/nuxt-email-templates-7-transactional-emails-your-saas-needs.md): Build trust and reduce churn with Nuxt email templates. Seven must-have transactional emails for SaaS, plus i18n, cron digests, receipts, and testing tips.
- [Nuxt Folder Structure: A Practical Step-by-Step Guide](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/nuxt-folder-structure-step-by-step-guide.md): A practical Nuxt folder structure guide with setup steps, examples, and pitfalls to avoid so your SaaS stays organized, predictable, and ready to ship.
- [Nuxt Middleware: A Practical Guide for SaaS and AI Apps](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/nuxt-middleware-practical-guide-saas-ai-apps.md): Use Nuxt 3 middleware to guard auth, subscriptions, locales, admin, and analytics. Concrete patterns, code, and pitfalls for SaaS and AI apps.
- [Nuxt Modules That Ship: Install, Configure, and Launch](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/nuxt-modules-install-configure-build-faster.md): Practical Nuxt modules guide: pick a lean stack, wire it in nuxt.config, add auth, payments, i18n, admin, and avoid gotchas that slow SaaS launches.
- [Nuxt multi-tenant SaaS architecture patterns that scale](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/nuxt-multi-tenant-saas-architecture-patterns-that-scale.md): A practical guide to nuxt multi-tenant SaaS design. Learn viable routing, shared-DB isolation, billing, and testing patterns that scale without surprises.
- [Nuxt Plugin Playbook: Ship Faster with 15 Real Patterns](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/nuxt-plugin-playbook-15-practical-uses-to-ship-faster.md): A practical Nuxt plugin playbook for SaaS: auth, payments, i18n, SEO, analytics, AI, marketplace hooks, plus when a Nuxt starter kit is the faster path.
- [Nuxt RBAC guide: roles, protected pages, and admin controls](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/nuxt-rbac-guide-roles-protected-pages-admin-controls.md): Practical Nuxt RBAC: model roles and permissions, guard routes and APIs, add admin guardrails and audits, and handle billing, auth, and export edge cases.
- [Nuxt SaaS case study: from idea to $1,120 MRR in 30 days](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/nuxt-saas-case-study-first-1k-mrr-in-30-days.md): Two engineers hit $1,120 MRR in 30 days using a Nuxt SaaS starter kit with auth, payments, i18n, admin, SEO, and AI features, then iterated pricing to grow.
- [Nuxt SaaS case study: launching an MVP in 10 days](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/nuxt-saas-case-study-launching-an-mvp-in-just-10-days.md): How we shipped a paid AI MVP in 10 days with a Nuxt starter kit. Real metrics on traffic, signups, conversions, revenue, and the exact features we used.
- [Nuxt SEO Best Practices – How to Get Your SaaS Ranked in 2026](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/nuxt-seo-best-practices-saas.md): Stop building for ghosts. Learn the essential Nuxt SEO best practices to grow your SaaS traffic. A simple guide to metadata, sitemaps, and core web vitals.
- [Nuxt Stripe payments for one-time and subscription billing](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/nuxt-stripe-payments-for-one-time-and-subscription-billing.md): Set up Stripe payments in Nuxt: one-time checkout, subscriptions, trials, webhooks, testing, and launch steps with concrete examples you can ship today.
- [Nuxt test-utils: setup, examples, and testing patterns](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/nuxt-test-utils-setup-examples-best-practices.md): Set up nuxt test-utils with Vitest, write component, server, and browser tests for Nuxt 3, and avoid flaky suites with clear, concrete patterns.
- [nuxt/test-utils: Practical testing for Nuxt 3 SaaS apps](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/nuxt-test-utils-step-by-step-guide-testing-nuxt-3.md): Set up nuxt/test-utils with Vitest to test pages, APIs, auth, i18n, and payments in Nuxt 3. Real examples, CI tips, and pitfalls to ship with confidence.
- [Nuxt vs Vue: How to Choose, Set Up, and Ship Fast Today](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/nuxt-vs-vue-how-to-choose-set-up-and-ship-fast-today.md): Nuxt vs Vue with concrete steps, quickstarts, SSR gotchas to avoid, and how a Nuxt SaaS starter kit helps you launch paid features and rank faster.
- [Nuxt Vue Guide: Step-by-Step to Build and Ship a SaaS App](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/nuxt-vue-guide-step-by-step-to-build-and-ship-a-saas-app.md): A practical Nuxt Vue guide with steps for auth, payments, i18n, SEO, and deployment, plus pitfalls to avoid so you can ship fast with a solid foundation.
- [Open source Nuxt starter alternatives and when to buy](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/open-source-nuxt-starter-alternatives-and-when-to-buy.md): Build, fork, or buy a Nuxt starter? See concrete trade-offs, real costs, and a simple decision map to ship a SaaS or AI app fast without weeks of glue work.
- [PaaS vs SaaS: Pick the Right Mix and Ship Your Nuxt App Fast](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/paas-vs-saas-choose-ship-nuxt-app-fast.md): Clear PaaS vs SaaS guidance for Nuxt builders, with a concrete stack, setup checklist, and pitfalls so you ship fast with auth, payments, i18n, and SEO.
- [SaaS Post-Launch Checklist – 7 Steps to a Secure Startup](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/saas-post-launch-hardening-checklist.md): Just went live? Follow this SaaS launch checklist to harden your security and ensure your app is ready for scale. Simple steps for a professional foundation.
- [Scale SaaS with Nuxt: analytics, i18n, admin, emails, SEO](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/scale-saas-with-nuxt-analytics-i18n-admin-emails.md): Scale your Nuxt SaaS with analytics, i18n, admin, transactional emails, cron jobs, and SEO defaults so you grow users faster and cut operational toil.
- [Ship fast with Nuxt: 5 steps to launch a SaaS in one week](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/ship-fast-with-nuxt-7-steps-to-launch-a-saas-in-one-week.md): Launch a paid Nuxt app in a week with a SaaS starter kit. 5 focused steps cover auth, payments, i18n, SEO, emails, analytics, cron jobs, and deployment.
- [Stripe SaaS: A Step-by-Step Guide for Nuxt Builders](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/stripe-saas-step-by-step-guide-nuxt-builders.md): Build a Stripe SaaS with a Nuxt starter kit: auth, checkout, subscriptions, webhooks, and billing UX. Step-by-step guide to ship fast with confidence.
- [Stripe subscriptions in Nuxt: pricing, checkout, and webhooks](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/stripe-subscriptions-in-nuxt-pricing-checkout-and-webhooks.md): Set up Stripe subscriptions in Nuxt 3 the right way: pricing, Checkout, webhooks, trials, taxes, emails, portal, and admin so you can launch fast.
- [Best Nuxt Starter Kits for SaaS Projects (2026)](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/top-saas-starter-kits.md): Looking for the best Nuxt starter kit? I've reviewed the top Nuxt boilerplates to help you find a stack that doesn't get in your way.
- [How to Upgrade Nuxt 3 to 4 in Under 10 Minutes – A Clear Guide](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/upgrade-nuxt-3-to-nuxt-4-step-by-step.md): Don't let your project fall behind. Learn how to upgrade Nuxt 3 to 4 with this step-by-step migration guide. Optimize your project structure and boost performance today.
- [Vibe Coding Your SaaS – The Modern Way to Build in 2026](https://shipahe.ad/raw/blog/vibe-coding-a-saas-with-a-boilerplate.md): Want to build in the flow state? Learn how vibe coding a SaaS with a boilerplate can help you launch faster. Discover the future of intuitive software development.

## Key Features Overview

A summary of features included in the boilerplate.

- [Authentication & Authorization](https://shipahe.ad): Ready-to-use auth patterns with session management.
- [Payment Integrations](https://shipahe.ad): Subscriptions and one-time payments via Stripe, Polar, or Dodo.
- [AI Services](https://shipahe.ad): Seamless integration with LLMs via OpenRouter.
- [UI Components](https://shipahe.ad): Premium UI components built with Nuxt UI and Tailwind CSS v4.

## Community & Support

Read ShipAhead documentation and support resources.

- [Documentation Index](https://shipahe.ad/docs)

## Notes

- Built with Nuxt 4 and utilizes the new app/ directory structure.
- Uses Nuxt UI v4 (based on Tailwind CSS v4) for styling.
- Drizzle ORM is used for database management with PostgreSQL support.
- Integrates multiple payment providers: Stripe, Polar, and Dodo Payments.
- Includes built-in SEO, analytics support, and internationalization (i18n).
- AI features are powered by OpenRouter via a centralized ai service.
- Deployment-ready for Cloudflare Workers (Nitro preset: cloudflare_module).