ExtensionFast vs Shipfast: Which Should You Choose in 2025?

You want to launch your product fast without months of development. You've heard about boilerplates that save time, and two names keep coming up: ShipFast for building web apps and ExtensionFast for Chrome extensions. But which one matches your specific project?

The answer depends on what you're actually building. ShipFast and ExtensionFast solve the same core problem of slow development, but they target completely different product types. One gets you web apps launched quickly, the other gets Chrome extensions shipped fast. Understanding the difference determines which tool saves you the most time and money.

What Each Platform Does

ShipFast is a Next.js boilerplate that gives you all the code to launch a SaaS or web app. You get pre-built authentication, Stripe payments, email functionality, database setup, SEO tools, blog components, and UI elements. It's code you own and customize. Created by Marc Lou, ShipFast has helped over 7,700 indie makers launch startups, with users shipping in an average of 7 days and making their first revenue quickly.

ExtensionFast is a Chrome extension boilerplate that provides production-ready code for building browser extensions. You get React/WXT setup, authentication with Google and Apple OAuth, Stripe payment processing, database integration, UI components, and everything needed to monetize extensions. Created by Michael, ExtensionFast saves you 60+ hours of setup work including the painful Chrome Web Store review process. It's specifically built for extensions, not general web apps.

The key difference: ShipFast gives you web application infrastructure. ExtensionFast gives you Chrome extension infrastructure. They're not alternatives to each other; they serve entirely different product categories.

What You Can Build

ShipFast lets you build any web-based product. SaaS dashboards, subscription services, AI tools, content platforms, marketplaces, or any application that users access through a browser at your domain. Since you get the full Next.js codebase, you can build anything the framework supports. Your product is a standalone website with complete control.

ExtensionFast is exclusively for Chrome extensions. Build productivity tools, page modifiers, web automation, data extraction extensions, or browser-based utilities. Your product lives in the Chrome Web Store and runs as an extension in users' browsers. If your idea requires browser integration or modifying how websites work, you need ExtensionFast. If your idea is a standalone web app, you need ShipFast.

Technical Requirements

ShipFast requires coding skills. You need to know JavaScript/TypeScript, React, and Next.js to work with the boilerplate. While ShipFast eliminates setup headaches like configuring Stripe webhooks, OAuth, and database connections, you still write code for your unique features. It saves developers weeks of boilerplate work but assumes you can code.

ExtensionFast also requires coding knowledge. You'll work with React and the WXT framework to build your extension. The boilerplate handles authentication, payments, and Chrome extension setup, but you implement your extension's specific functionality. Both platforms target developers who can code but want to skip repetitive infrastructure setup.

Time to Launch

ShipFast users ship in an average of 7 days according to the platform. The boilerplate includes everything for a basic SaaS, so you focus on your unique features rather than authentication and payments. Simple products can launch within days, while complex SaaS apps might take 2-4 weeks depending on features.

ExtensionFast saves 60+ hours of setup time including design, Stripe webhook handling, OAuth setup, API routes, and avoiding Chrome Web Store rejections. Simple extensions can launch in a few days. The boilerplate gets you past the technical hurdles fast so you can focus on your extension's core functionality.

Both platforms dramatically accelerate development compared to building from scratch. Your actual timeline depends on feature complexity, but both eliminate the weeks typically spent on infrastructure.

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Pricing Structure

ShipFast uses one-time payment pricing. Plans range from $199 for the Starter to $299 for All-in (currently running a launch deal with $100 off for early customers). You pay once and own the code forever. Use it for unlimited projects with lifetime updates. After purchase, you only pay for hosting, domains, and services like Stripe and database providers.

ExtensionFast offers two tiers. The Starter Kit is $79 (regular $129) with production-ready boilerplate, authentication, payments, UI components, documentation, and lifetime updates. The Premium Kit is $129 (regular $179) adding personal 1:1 support and a 1-hour best practices consultation. Both are one-time payments with lifetime updates.

For developers building multiple products over time, one-time pricing makes both platforms economical. The more you build, the more value you extract from a single purchase.

What's Included

ShipFast includes authentication (email, Google, magic links), Stripe payments with webhook handling, email functionality (transactional and marketing), database setup (MongoDB or Supabase), SEO optimization, blog system, landing page sections, UI components, and comprehensive documentation. Everything runs on Next.js with options for JavaScript or TypeScript and app or pages router.

ExtensionFast includes React/WXT boilerplate, social and email authentication, Stripe payment processing for subscriptions and one-time purchases, database and backend integration, ready-to-use UI components, Chrome Web Store submission guides, store asset templates, and documentation. The Premium tier adds personal support and consultation.

Both platforms include the unglamorous but essential pieces that take forever to build yourself. Authentication, payments, and database setup alone save weeks of development time.

Ideal Use Cases

Choose ShipFast if you're building a SaaS product, AI tool, content platform, dashboard application, marketplace, or any web app that users access at your domain. It's perfect for technical founders who can code but want to skip infrastructure setup. Developers building multiple startups get massive value from reusing the boilerplate across projects.

Choose ExtensionFast if you're building a Chrome extension specifically. Whether it's a productivity tool, page modifier, automation extension, or browser utility, ExtensionFast handles the extension-specific infrastructure. It's ideal for developers who understand Chrome extensions take unique setup work that general boilerplates don't address.

Community and Support

ShipFast has over 7,700 users and an active Discord community. Marc Lou actively updates the platform (last update 2 months ago at time of writing) and uses ShipFast for his own projects, ensuring continuous improvement. Users report making revenue quickly, with testimonials showing exits and significant earnings.

ExtensionFast offers documentation support with all plans and personal 1:1 support plus consultation with the Premium Kit. The platform focuses on helping you avoid Chrome Web Store rejections and ship successfully. Built by someone with 2 years of extension development experience, it addresses real pain points extension builders face.

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When You Might Use Both

Some products benefit from both platforms. You might build a SaaS web app with ShipFast and later create a companion Chrome extension with ExtensionFast that integrates with your main product. Many successful SaaS companies offer extensions that make their core product more accessible while browsing.

Alternatively, start with ExtensionFast to validate demand through an extension, then build a full web application with ShipFast once you've proven the market. The extension becomes your entry point while the web app serves power users who need more features.

Making Your Decision

Choose ShipFast if you're building a web application or SaaS product, have Next.js and React skills, want complete customization control, and prefer a one-time payment for unlimited projects. It's the right choice when your product naturally exists as a standalone website.

Choose ExtensionFast if you're building a Chrome extension specifically, understand React and extension development, want to avoid Chrome Web Store headaches, and need to ship extensions fast. It's the right choice when your product concept requires browser integration or modifying web pages.

Both platforms excel at their specific purposes. ShipFast dominates web app boilerplates while ExtensionFast specializes in extension development. Your product type makes the choice obvious. If you're building both a web app and an extension, you might eventually use both platforms for different parts of your product ecosystem.