Every founder faces this question:
"What tech stack should I use?"
And then they fall into the rabbit hole. They read comparisons. They watch debates. They ask for advice. And after weeks of research, they're still not sure.
Here's the truth: for an MVP, almost any reasonable stack will work. The most important thing is to pick one and move forward.
The Decision Framework
Before I tell you what to pick, let me tell you how to decide:
Question 1: What Does Your Team Know?
If you have a technical co-founder who knows React, use React. If they know Python, use Python.
The best framework is the one your team already knows.
Learning a new framework slows you down. And speed matters more than perfection.
Question 2: What Are You Building?
Different products have different needs:
- Web app with SEO: Next.js, Remix, or Nuxt
- Single-page app: React, Vue, Svelte
- API-heavy backend: Node.js, Go, Python
- Data-intensive: Python, Go, Rust
- Real-time: Node.js, Elixir
Question 3: What Tools Do You Need?
Make a list of services you'll need:
- Authentication
- Database
- Payments
- Storage
- Analytics
Then check which stacks integrate well with those services.
The Recommended MVP Stack
Here's what I'd recommend for most MVPs in 2025:
Frontend: Next.js + React
Why:
- Industry standard
- Massive ecosystem
- Great developer experience
- Built-in SEO (SSR/SSG)
- Easy deployment to Vercel
Alternatives:
- Remix: If you want a more traditional web app feel
- Vue/Nuxt: If you prefer Vue's simplicity
- SvelteKit: If you want something lighter
Backend: Node.js + Express (or Next.js API Routes)
Why:
- Same language as frontend (JavaScript/TypeScript)
- Huge ecosystem (npm)
- Easy to find developers
- Good for most MVP needs
Alternatives:
- Python + FastAPI: Great for AI products or data-heavy apps
- Go: If performance is critical
- Ruby on Rails: If you want "batteries included" productivity
Database: PostgreSQL
Why:
- Reliable and proven
- Handles most use cases
- Great with Supabase, Neon, Railway
- Type-safe with Prisma ORM
Alternatives:
- MongoDB: If you have truly unstructured data
- Supabase: If you want built-in auth and realtime
- Firebase: If you want a backend-as-a-service
Authentication: Clerk or Supabase Auth
Why:
- Much easier than building auth yourself
- Secure and compliant
- Handles forgot password, email verification, etc.
Alternatives:
- Auth0: Enterprise-grade, more complex
- Firebase Auth: If already using Firebase
- Custom: Only if you have unique requirements
Payments: Stripe
Why:
- Industry standard
- Great developer experience
- Handles subscriptions, one-time payments, etc.
Alternatives:
- Paddle: Good for international (handles tax)
- Razorpay: If primarily Indian market
Hosting: Vercel or Railway
Why:
- Easy deployment from Git
- Automatic SSL
- Good free tiers for MVPs
- Scales automatically
Alternatives:
- Netlify: Similar to Vercel, slightly different DX
- Render: Good for backend-heavy apps
- Fly.io: If you need more control
The Quick Decision Matrix
| Your Situation | Recommended Stack |
|---|---|
| Solo founder, non-technical | Bubble or Flutterflow (no code) |
| Technical solo founder | Next.js + Supabase (full-stack) |
| Small team, familiar with React | Next.js + Node.js + PostgreSQL |
| AI/ML product | Python (FastAPI/Django) + React |
| Real-time features needed | Node.js + Socket.io or Supabase Realtime |
| Content-focused (blog, etc.) | Next.js with built-in CMS or WordPress |
What NOT to Choose
Don't Choose: Bleeding Edge Technology
That new framework everyone is talking about? Wait until it's proven. MVP is not the time to be an early adopter.
Don't Choose: Something You Don't Know
Learning curve adds time. If you don't know Rust, don't build your MVP in Rust.
Don't Choose: Multiple New Things
If you're learning a new framework, don't also learn a new database and new hosting platform. Pick one new thing max.
Don't Choose: Custom Infrastructure
Let someone else manage your servers. Use managed services. Your time is too valuable for sysadmin work.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake #1: Analysis Paralysis
Spending weeks researching instead of building. Pick something and move on.
Mistake #2: Future Proofing
Choosing complex architecture for a future you'll never reach. Keep it simple.
Mistake #3: Following Trends
Using something because it's popular, not because it fits your needs.
Mistake #4: Premature Optimization
Worrying about scale before you have users. You can always change later.
The "Good Enough" Standard
Here's a liberating truth: for an MVP, "good enough" is better than "perfect."
Good enough:
- Works reliably
- Can be maintained by your team
- Has enough community/support
- Integrates with your other tools
You don't need the best. You need something that works.
If You're Still Not Sure
If you've read all this and still don't know what to pick, here's my default recommendation for most people:
Next.js + Supabase
This combination:
- Handles frontend and backend
- Includes authentication
- Includes database
- Easy to deploy
- Scales as needed
- Has great documentation and community
You can build most MVPs with just these two tools.
The Bottom Line
The tech stack is not your differentiator. Your product is.
- Pick something reasonable
- Pick something your team can use
- Pick something with good ecosystem
- Then focus on building the right product
The founder who ships in 2 months with a "suboptimal" stack beats the founder who ships in 6 months with the "perfect" stack.
Pick. Build. Learn. Repeat.
Need Help Deciding?
At Startupbricks, we help founders choose tech stacks all the time—matching the right tools to the right problem. Whether you need:
- Help choosing your stack
- A second opinion on your choices
- Help getting started
- A partner to build with
Let's talk. We help founders make decisions—without the paralysis.