Finding the right Next.js template is more difficult than it seems in 2026. Hundreds of templates are available, yet many lists just provide you a list without mentioning what matters.
This guide will provide insight into choosing the right templates based on what they include and when certain templates should be used.
What Are the Best Free Next.js Templates?
There are four categories of free Next.js templates: SaaS starters, portfolio templates, landing pages, and full company website themes.
We will review some honest picks below across all major categories.
Best Free SaaS Starters
Vercel's Next.js SaaS Starter
Developed by the creators of Next.js, this SaaS starter covers the App Router, Postgres DB using Drizzle ORM, payment processing with Stripe, and a basic auth flow. It's very basic and minimalist. You won't get a full solution. However, it will be perfect for developers who need to validate certain patterns or build their MVP with as little assumptions as possible.
Stack: Next.js, Tailwind CSS, Drizzle ORM, PostgreSQL, Stripe
GitHub: Available on Vercel's template gallery
Best for: Developers validating patterns or building MVPs without many assumptions
ixartz SaaS Boilerplate (Bulletproof Next.js style)
One of the most starred open source Next.js SaaS templates on GitHub. This starter template covers auth with Clerk, multi-tenancy, roles and permission management, i18n, landing page, databases, logs, and testing using Vitest and Playwright. In terms of functionality, you won't find many free SaaS templates that are this comprehensive.
Stack: Next.js, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, Shadcn UI, Clerk, Drizzle ORM, Stripe
GitHub: github.com/ixartz/SaaS-Boilerplate
Best for: Solo founders and small teams seeking a comprehensive starter template
BoxyHQ SaaS Starter Kit
Designed to help you bootstrap enterprise grade SaaS applications. Unlike other free kits, BoxyHQ is optimized for SSO and SAML SSO implementations, directory sync and audit logs – things other SaaS kits don't cover.
Stack: Next.js, Tailwind CSS, Prisma, PostgreSQL
GitHub: github.com/boxyhq/saas-starter-kit
Best for: Enterprise SaaS with security requirements
Best Free Shadcn UI Templates
Shadcn.io Template Gallery
Official website hosting hundreds of free, open source Shadcn templates (over 330). These templates span dozens of categories: from dashboard UIs to SaaS starters, landing pages to portfolio templates. All use the Shadcn UI component library. Biggest collection of Shadcn based free Next.js templates.
Where to find them: shadcn.io/template
ShadcnStore Free Tier
Offering a free admin dashboard template, a free landing page template for SaaS and apps. Both use React 18, Next.js, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS v4, and Shadcn UI component library.
Where to find them: shadcnstore.com/templates
HTMLrev Free Shadcn Templates
Curated list of free Next.js Shadcn UI templates covering SaaS boilerplates, portfolio templates, HR applications, waitlist pages, and more.
Where to find them: htmlrev.com/free-shadcn-templates.html
Best Free Portfolio Templates
Shadcn Portfolio by HTMLrev
Several free Shadcn UI portfolio templates with elegant typography, smooth scroll functionality, and minimalism.
Space Dark Developer Portfolio (Motion + Tailwind)
A developer portfolio template designed with Framer Motion and Tailwind for a motion rich experience.
Narrow Column Minimal Portfolio
Minimal portfolio template by Shadcn built with Next.js in a narrow column format (perfect for content-heavy portfolios).
Where to find them: htmlrev.com/free-nextjs-templates.html
What Should a Next.js Starter Template Include?
First of all, a frontend theme is not a starter template. What distinguishes a good Next.js template from a theme is that templates handle common parts of every Next.js project while allowing you to focus on your product-specific business logic.
Below we'll review what makes a good template.
Authentication
At minimum you'd need auth with email/password login, social OAuth providers (Google, GitHub, etc.), and a password reset mechanism. Additional features such as magic links and multi-factor authentication (MFA) will be a huge bonus. Without authentication included in a template, expect to implement this yourself.
Database and ORM
Writing raw SQL in Next.js application is generally considered to be a bad practice for maintenance reasons. Any decent Next.js starter template would have Prisma or Drizzle ORMs pre-configured.
Subscription and Billing Handling
The default choice is Stripe since it has the broadest integration support among payment processors. While subscription handling is relatively simple, webhook listener (for events like subscription renewal, cancellation, or failed payments) is crucial. Sadly, many templates omit this feature altogether or implement it poorly.
A Component Library
The industry is moving in favor of Shadcn UI as the dominant component library. It allows easy component reuse without requiring any external dependencies. A template based on Shadcn is easier to modify than a template based on a more opinionated component library.
TypeScript Throughout
This is important for production projects and templates in particular. You will be doing yourself a big favor if your template is written in TS and offers 100% code coverage.
ESLint and Prettier Configuration
It's quite basic but not necessarily included in every free template. Missing formatting configuration means your team members' coding styles will differ significantly.
A Landing Page
If your template is for SaaS app development, a landing page is an essential part of every app. Hero, features list, pricing table, and call to action.
Testing Configuration
Unit testing with Vitest and e2e testing with Playwright should be present. Lack of testing means lack of testing framework.
Are There Free Next.js Templates With Shadcn UI?
Yes, there is a multitude of templates using the Shadcn component library. Shadcn is becoming increasingly popular in 2026 and it is reflected in free templates ecosystem.
Official Shadcn UI Template Gallery is a great resource to find free Shadcn UI templates. More than 330 free templates categorized by purpose (dashboards, landing pages, SaaS starters, portfolios, etc.)
HTMLrev has a dedicated Shadcn free templates section as well. Great for browsing Shadcn UI templates by use case with live demos.
GitHub is another reliable way to browse Shadcn UI templates. Try searching "nextjs shadcn template" or "nextjs saas shadcn". Make sure you filter by most stars or recent commits.
Important detail about Shadcn: unlike Reactstrap, Chakra UI, or Material-UI, Shadcn UI doesn't provide a reusable library. Rather, you download component files and add them into your Next.js application as your own components. Therefore, any Shadcn based free template gives you freedom to change every component as you wish without fighting with library APIs.
Which Next.js Template Is Best for a SaaS?
When it comes to choosing a starter template, SaaS products need special consideration. Here is a detailed look at what kind of features a SaaS starter should have.
Things you can expect from a free SaaS template:
Useful when you are bootstrapping an MVP or prototype.
Good for developers exploring SaaS infrastructure.
Where free templates often fall short:
Full implementation of webhooks handling
Multi-tenancy implementation with isolation between tenants
Management dashboard for users and subscriptions
Ongoing maintenance
Regular documentation updates
The most prominent examples of good free Next.js SaaS starters in 2026 are:
Vercel's Next.js SaaS Starter
Baseline template developed by the creators of Next.js. Minimalist implementation of Next.js, App Router, authentication, PostgreSQL, Drizzle ORM, and Stripe. Perfect for developers who want to explore the underlying technologies without removing too much.
ixartz SaaS Boilerplate
Most feature-complete free SaaS template on GitHub. Auth with Clerk, multi-tenancy with team support, RBAC, i18n, landing page, testing tools, and Shadcn UI components. Actively maintained and highly rated on GitHub.
BoxyHQ SaaS Starter Kit
Free and open source alternative that provides SAML support, directory syncing, and audit logs. Excellent if your product targets companies rather than consumers.
The reality about free SaaS templates is simple: they are useful for learning purposes or prototyping products. What they usually lack is consistent maintenance. A template that looked excellent 18 months ago may now depend on outdated packages. Always check the GitHub commit history before committing to any free starter.
When to move beyond free
If your product starts gaining traction and the missing pieces in your free template begin slowing you down, it may be time to upgrade. Kostra is a commercial SaaS boilerplate built for teams that need production-ready authentication, billing, and multi-tenancy without piecing everything together manually.
Which Next.js Template Is Best for B2B SaaS?
Unlike general SaaS products, B2B applications require features that many consumer-oriented templates ignore.
What B2B SaaS needs:
Multi-tenancy - Each customer (organisation) has isolated data. This is not optional in B2B. Retrofitting it after launch is expensive and risky.
Role-based access control (RBAC) - At minimum: owner, admin, and member roles. Enterprise clients often require custom roles.
Team management - Users need to invite colleagues, manage seats, and switch between organizations.
SSO support - Enterprise buyers often require SAML or OAuth-based single sign-on.
Audit logs - Enterprise clients want to know who did what and when.
Per-seat or per-organisation billing - More complex than simple subscription tiers.
Recommended templates for B2B SaaS:
Kostra is well-suited for B2B SaaS. Its multi-tenant architecture is built in from the start, not added as an afterthought. The clean separation of concerns makes it easier to add enterprise features without restructuring everything.
MakerKit doubles down on Supabase-based multi-tenancy with serious RBAC support. It's a good fit for teams with complex tenancy rules.
BoxyHQ focuses on enterprise compliance features: SAML SSO, directory sync, audit logs. If your target customer is a large company with a security review process, this is one of the few free options that addresses those requirements.
ixartz SaaS Boilerplate covers multi-tenancy with team support and role/permission management in its free, open-source version. A strong starting point if you want enterprise-adjacent features without a paid kit.
The key question for B2B SaaS: does this template treat organizations as first-class objects in the data model? If every data record isn't scoped to a tenant from the beginning, you'll face major refactoring later.
What Is the Best Next.js Portfolio Template?
Portfolio templates serve a different purpose than SaaS starters. Their goal is to present your work clearly and create a strong first impression.
The best portfolio templates in 2026 typically focus on:
Fast load times
Clean typography
Minimal dependencies
Distinct but readable design
Recommended options:
Shadcn UI Portfolio Templates (HTMLrev)
Several polished free templates with excellent typography and smooth scrolling.
Space Dark Developer Portfolio
Built using Framer Motion and Tailwind. Great for developers who want more visual energy.
Narrow Column Minimal Portfolio
Focused and minimal. Especially effective for writing-heavy or case-study portfolios.
What to look for in a portfolio template:
Fast initial load (check Core Web Vitals after setup)
Markdown or MDX support for project write-ups
Easy customization of colors and typography
Dark/light mode toggle
Contact section that actually works
Where Can I Find Next.js Company Website Templates for Free?
A company website template differs from a SaaS dashboard or portfolio. You need pages for: homepage, about, services or product features, pricing, blog, and contact.
Best places to find free Next.js company website templates:
Vercel Template Gallery - vercel.com/templates. Filter by "marketing" or "landing page." All templates are deployable directly from the gallery. Good mix of free and paid.
shadcn.io/template - Many company-focused templates in the free tier. Filter by "landing page" or "marketing website."
htmlrev.com - Free Next.js templates including startup websites, agency themes, and SaaS landing pages. All have live previews. Some use Shadcn UI, others use Tailwind alone.
GitHub search - Search "nextjs company website template" or "nextjs landing page free." Sort by stars and check last commit date before investing time in a template.
What makes a good company website template:
Responsive on mobile without custom CSS fixes
SEO-ready meta tags and structure
A blog or CMS integration option
Clear call-to-action sections on each page
Dark and light mode support
How to Create Your Own Next.js Starter Template
If you repeatedly build the same stack setup across projects, creating your own starter template can save a lot of time. The best way to approach it is by identifying the pieces you reuse most often and turning them into a consistent foundation you can improve over time.
Step 1: Start with create-next-app
bash
npx create-next-app@latest my-starter --typescript --tailwind --eslint --app
This sets up the App Router, TypeScript, Tailwind, and ESLint in one command.
Step 2: Install your core dependencies
For most projects, this means:
bash
npm install @prisma/client prisma
npm install next-auth
npm install stripe
npx shadcn@latest init
Step 3: Set up your folder structure
A clean structure matters more than any individual file. A common pattern:
/app → Next.js App Router pages and layouts
/components → Shared UI components
/lib → Utilities, helpers, and third-party clients
/server → Server-only logic (DB queries, auth helpers)
/types → Shared TypeScript types
/public → Static assets
Step 4: Configure your base files
Set up:
.env.example with all required environment variables documented
prettier.config.js with your formatting rules
.eslintrc.json with your linting config
tsconfig.json with strict mode enabled
Step 5: Add your auth setup
NextAuth, now called Auth.js v5, is one of the most popular authentication solutions for free Next.js projects. Configure your auth providers, choose your session strategy, and add middleware to secure protected routes across the app.
Step 6: Add your database schema
Build your initial Prisma schema with the standard User, Account, and Session models. After that, run your first migration and confirm the database connection works correctly.
Step 7: Document everything
Create a README that explains:
What the template includes
Required environment variables and where to get them
How to run it locally
How to deploy it
Step 8: Push everything to GitHub and create a release
Version your starter template from the beginning. Months later, having release tags and commit history makes updates and maintenance much easier to manage.
When building your own template makes sense:
Your team reuses the same stack on every project
Existing templates include features you'll always remove
You have specific patterns your team has agreed on
When using an existing starter is the better option:
You're building your first SaaS and don't know what you need yet
Time to launch matters more than perfect architecture
The maintenance burden of a custom starter isn't worth it
Are there free Next.js templates built with Shadcn UI?
Absolutely. Shadcn UI has become the standard component system for many modern Next.js templates. The official shadcn.io/template directory contains hundreds of free templates, while htmlrev.com also maintains a dedicated Shadcn collection. Searching GitHub for “nextjs shadcn template” reveals many actively maintained projects.
One major advantage of Shadcn UI is ownership. Since the components live directly inside your project, you can fully customize them without depending on a rigid external design system.
Can I use a plain HTML template with Next.js?
Not directly. Next.js relies on React components and JSX instead of static HTML pages. To use a traditional HTML template, you’ll need to break the layout into reusable React components and place them inside the app directory.
Services like v0.dev can also help convert existing HTML designs into Shadcn-compatible React components.
How do I download and set up a free Next.js template?
Most free templates are hosted on GitHub. You can either clone the repository normally or use degit if you want a fresh copy without the original Git history:
bash
npx degit user/repo my-project
cd my-project
npm install
Many Vercel templates also support one-click deployment, which automatically clones and deploys the project directly to your Vercel account.
Where can I find a free Next.js company website template?
Good sources include Vercel’s template gallery, htmlrev.com, and shadcn.io/template. Look under categories like “marketing,” “startup,” or “landing page.” Most company templates include essentials such as a homepage, feature sections, pricing tables, and contact forms.
What templates does Vercel offer for Next.js projects?
Vercel’s official gallery at vercel.com/templates includes SaaS starters, blogs, e-commerce projects, marketing sites, and more. Since Vercel curates the collection, the overall quality is typically strong. Some templates are completely free, while others are maintained by third-party developers and may require payment.
What should I look for in a free Next.js portfolio template?
The strongest portfolio templates in 2026 usually combine Tailwind CSS with tools like Shadcn UI or Framer Motion. HTMLrev offers one of the biggest collections with live previews.
Before choosing a template, check for:
MDX support for project articles or case studies
Fast page performance
Simple content management without editing large amounts of code
a I find free Next.js templates on GitHub?
GitHub remains one of the best places to discover high-quality free starters. Useful search terms include:
nextjs saas boilerplate
nextjs starter kit
nextjs template shadcn
next.js portfolio template
Sort repositories by “Most stars” to identify trusted projects, but also review the latest commit activity. A repository with thousands of stars but no updates in over a year may create maintenance problems later.
As of 2026, the ixartz SaaS Boilerplate and BoxyHQ SaaS Starter Kit remain among the most popular free Next.js SaaS starters on GitHub.
Conclusion
Free Next.js templates are excellent starting points for portfolios, landing pages, and company websites. In many cases, they’re more than enough.
For serious SaaS products, especially B2B platforms, free templates often hit limitations quickly. Features like multi-tenancy, Stripe billing workflows, permissions systems, and enterprise authentication are difficult to implement well, and many free starters either avoid them entirely or provide incomplete solutions.
The better question isn’t simply “What’s free?” but rather “What will save the most time and effort long term?” A well-built SaaS starter can easily pay for itself by preventing weeks of debugging, architectural rewrites, or infrastructure mistakes.
If you’re planning to grow the product seriously, choose a template you fully understand internally rather than one that only looks impressive on first launch.
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