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Cem Aşkaroğlu
Cem Aşkaroğlu

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I built a "Zero-Cost" AI SaaS Engine on WordPress (BYOK + PWA Architecture)

#wordpress #saas #ai #showdev

Building an "AI Wrapper" is easy. Building one that doesn't bankrupt you with API costs is hard.

Most AI SaaS tools follow the same dangerous logic:

  1. User pays you $20/mo.
  2. User goes viral or spams requests.
  3. Your OpenAI bill hits $50.
  4. You lose money.

The Architecture Shift: BYOK (Bring Your Own Key)

I realized that the "Middleman" model is broken for Micro-SaaS. So, I spent the last few months building a WordPress-based engine that flips the script.

Instead of me proxying the requests, I built a secure BYOK (Bring Your Own Key) architecture.

  • The user inputs their own OpenAI/Gemini/Claude key.
  • The request goes directly from their server to the LLM provider.
  • I charge for the "Interface & Tooling", not the intelligence.

This results in 100% Profit Margins for the SaaS owner, and wholesale token prices for the power user. Win-win.

The Stack

I chose WordPress not because it's trendy, but because it powers 43% of the web.

  • Core: PHP 8.3 (for speed).
  • Frontend: React-based UI components injected via Shortcodes.
  • Mobile: TWA (Trusted Web Activity) implementation to wrap the SaaS into a native Android App (.AAB) ready for Google Play.

From Web to Native (PWA)

The biggest challenge was making it feel like a "Real App" and not just a website.
I implemented a Service Worker that caches the tool logic, allowing offline access. Then, using TWA, I bridged the gap between the WP database and the Android file system.

Now, the engine generates installable mobile apps directly from the WP Admin panel.

Why Open Source / Selling the Code?

I believe the "Tools for Makers" market is bigger than the "End User" market right now.
I packaged this entire engine as a plugin. It allows any non-coder to type a prompt (e.g., "Make me a SEO Headline Generator") and the engine builds the tool instantly.

If you are interested in the architecture or want to spin up your own AI SaaS without coding:

📄 Product Tour & Features:
https://blyxxa.online/blyxxalabs/tanitim/

🚀 Live App Demo:
https://blyxxa.online/blyxxalabs

I'd love to answer any technical questions about the TWA implementation or the BYOK security logic in the comments!

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