Choosing Your MVP Tech Stack

The right tech stack accelerates development. The wrong one creates headaches. Here's how to choose wisely.

The Golden Rule

Use boring technology.

New, exciting frameworks create problems. Proven stacks with large communities solve problems.

Recommended Stacks by Use Case

**For Most Web Apps**:

• Frontend: Next.js + TypeScript + Tailwind

• Backend: Node.js or Next.js API routes

• Database: PostgreSQL (via Supabase or Neon)

• Hosting: Vercel

• Auth: Clerk or NextAuth

**For Mobile Apps**:

• Cross-platform: React Native or Flutter

• Backend: Same as web

• Additional: Firebase for push notifications

**For Data-Heavy Apps**:

• Frontend: Next.js or React

• Backend: Python (FastAPI)

• Database: PostgreSQL

• Analytics: ClickHouse or BigQuery

**For AI/ML Products**:

• Frontend: Next.js

• Backend: Python (FastAPI)

• AI: OpenAI API, Anthropic, or open models

• Vector DB: Pinecone or pgvector

Why These Choices?

**Next.js**:

• Full-stack in one framework

• Excellent performance

• Great developer experience

• Huge community

**TypeScript**:

• Catches bugs before production

• Better IDE support

• Easier refactoring

• Industry standard

**PostgreSQL**:

• Reliable and proven

• Handles almost anything

• Excellent ecosystem

• Free and open source

**Tailwind CSS**:

• Faster than writing CSS

• Consistent design

• Works with any framework

• Easy to maintain

What to Avoid

1. **Multiple languages**: One backend language is enough

2. **Microservices**: Monolith first, split later

3. **Kubernetes**: Overkill for MVP

4. **NoSQL for everything**: PostgreSQL handles most needs

5. **Bleeding edge**: Wait for stability

Infrastructure Simplicity

**For MVP**:

• Vercel or Railway for hosting

• Managed database (Supabase, Neon, Railway)

• Single environment (staging = production)

• Simple CI/CD (GitHub Actions)

Cost Expectations

**Typical MVP Infrastructure**:

• Hosting: £0-50/month

• Database: £0-25/month

• Auth: £0-25/month

• Domain: £10/year

• Email: £0-20/month

Total: £0-120/month for most MVPs

When to Change Stack

**Consider changing if**:

• Performance becomes a problem

• Hiring is impossible

• Scaling hits limits

• Security requirements change

**Don't change because**:

• New framework is trendy

• Someone suggests it

• You read a blog post

• It feels too simple

Simple is good. Boring is good. Working is best.

Choose proven technology, focus on building value, and change only when you have real reasons.

Get In Touch

The Best Tech Stack for Your MVP in 2025: A Practical Guide