What is App Stack Builder?

App Stack Builder is a free AI-powered tool that helps founders and developers choose the right tech stack for their projects based on budget, app type, team size, and skill level.

What is the best tech stack for SaaS in 2026?

The best tech stack for SaaS in 2026 typically includes Next.js 16 for frontend, Supabase for database and auth, Vercel for hosting, Stripe for payments, and PostHog for analytics. App Stack Builder can generate a personalized recommendation based on your specific budget and requirements.

Is App Stack Builder free to use?

Yes, App Stack Builder is completely free to use. You can generate unlimited tech stack recommendations without any cost.

What types of apps can I build with the recommended stacks?

App Stack Builder supports various app types including SaaS applications, web apps, mobile apps, e-commerce stores, internal tools, and AI/ML products.

How much does a SaaS tech stack cost per month?

A modern SaaS tech stack can cost anywhere from $0-50/month for bootstrapped startups using free tiers, $100-300/month for growth-stage startups, to $500+/month for enterprise-ready infrastructure. App Stack Builder helps you find the best tools within your specific budget.

What is the best tech stack for solo founders?

For solo founders, we recommend Next.js + Vercel (free), Supabase (free tier), Supabase Auth (free), Stripe (pay as you go), and Plausible or PostHog for analytics. This stack can run your entire SaaS for under $50/month.

Can I export my tech stack recommendations?

Yes, you can export your tech stack recommendations as a PDF document or copy them to your clipboard. You can also share a link to your stack with others.

AI Gateways & LLM ProxiesFree tier

Helicone: Pricing, Features & Alternatives

Helicone started as LLM request logging and now ships an open-source AI gateway alongside it, with caching, rate limits and automatic fallbacks across providers. Every request is logged with cost, latency and the full prompt, and can be queried with its HQL query language. The Hobby plan is free for 10,000 requests a month with 7-day retention. Pro is $79/month (unlimited seats, alerts, one-month retention) and Team is $799/month (SOC 2, HIPAA, three-month retention), both usage-based after the first 10K requests. You can also self-host it.

Helicone Pricing Plans (2026)

Plan	Price	Highlights
Hobby	$0	10,000 requests / month · 1 seat · 7-day retention
ProPopular	$79 / month + usage	Unlimited seats · Alerts and reports · HQL queries
Team	$799 / month + usage	5 organizations · SOC 2 and HIPAA · 3-month retention
Enterprise	Custom	SAML SSO · On-prem deployment · Forever retention

Pricing summary: Free · paid from $79/mo. Always confirm current pricing on the official site.

Key Helicone Features

Unlimited seats
Alerts and reports
HQL queries
1-month retention

Pros

+Open source and self-hostable
+Cost and latency logging on every request
+Generous free tier

Cons

−Pro jumps to $799 for compliance features
−Usage charges on top of the plan fee
−Short retention on the free plan

Best Helicone Alternatives

Compare all

LiteLLM

Free · paid plans by quote

Portkey

Free · paid from $49/mo

Cloudflare AI Gateway

Free · paid from $5/mo

Helicone Compared

Helicone vs LiteLLM Helicone vs Portkey Helicone vs Cloudflare AI Gateway

In-depth guideOpenRouter vs LiteLLM (2026): Hosted AI Gateway vs Open-Source LLM ProxyOpenRouter is a hosted service: one key, 500+ models, a 5.5% fee on credits. LiteLLM is MIT-licensed software you run yourself, with virtual keys and budgets per team. How each works, what the gateway costs at three spend levels, and why this site runs on OpenRouter.

Helicone FAQ

What is Helicone used for?⌄

Helicone is a ai gateways & llm proxies tool. Open-source AI gateway and LLM observability: route requests across providers with caching and fallbacks, and log every call.

Is Helicone free?⌄

Yes — Helicone has a free tier you can start with, and paid plans for more usage and features.

How much does Helicone cost?⌄

Helicone offers a free tier, with paid plans starting at $79/month. Some plans are usage-based (pay-as-you-go).

What are the best Helicone alternatives?⌄

Popular Helicone alternatives include LiteLLM, Portkey, Cloudflare AI Gateway. Compare pricing and features on our Helicone alternatives page.