saasbrella + Cursor: Build SaaS Faster Together

saasbrella and Cursor aren’t competitors — they’re complementary tools that work better together than apart.

Here’s the key difference:

• saasbrella = Your SaaS foundation (deployed app, infrastructure, integrations)
• Cursor = Your AI coding assistant (builds features on top of saasbrella)

This guide explains what each tool does, what they don’t do, and how to use them together to build your SaaS faster and better.

Cursor vs saasbrella (Head-to-Head)

Here’s how the two tools compare:

What saasbrella Is (And Isn’t)

saasbrella is:

• A SaaS foundation platform — deployed app with infrastructure, integrations, and core features
• Production-ready — everything works from day one (OAuth, payments, email, 2FA, file upload, AI chat)
• Well-architected — clean TypeScript codebase with Wasp framework, clear patterns, and separation of concerns
• Fully documented — detailed documentation for AI agents to understand the codebase structure
• Infrastructure included — hosting, database, email, SSL, deployment all managed

saasbrella isn’t:

• An AI coding assistant — it doesn’t write code for you
• A development tool — it’s a platform you build on top of
• A blank slate — you start with a working app, not from scratch

What Cursor Is (And Isn’t)

Cursor is:

• An AI-powered code editor — helps you write code faster with AI assistance
• Context-aware — understands your codebase and can make intelligent suggestions
• Great for building features — excellent at implementing new functionality on existing codebases
• Flexible — works with any codebase, any framework, any project

Cursor isn’t:

• A SaaS platform — it doesn’t provide infrastructure, hosting, or integrations
• A template or starter — you need to provide the codebase to work with
• Production-ready by default — you’re responsible for architecture, security, and infrastructure

How They Work Together: The Perfect Workflow

Here’s how to use saasbrella and Cursor together to build your SaaS:

Step 1: Start with saasbrella

You get a fully working, deployed SaaS application with:

• OAuth authentication (Google, GitHub, etc.) — working with our API keys
• Email verification — automatically configured
• 2FA support — email codes and authenticator apps ready
• File upload & storage — functional from day one
• AI chat features — working with our API keys
• Stripe + Lemon Squeezy payments — production-ready
• Admin dashboard, RBAC, organizations, teams — all working
• Complete infrastructure — hosting, database, email, deployment

You can launch immediately — no setup, no configuration, no infrastructure work.

Step 2: Brainstorm Your Unique Features

Use ChatGPT or Claude to brainstorm what makes your SaaS unique:

• What problems does your app solve?
• What features differentiate you from competitors?
• What’s your unique value proposition?
• What workflows do users need?

Don’t start coding yet. First, understand what you’re building and why.

Step 3: Create PRDs and Story Docs

For each major feature, have your AI agent (ChatGPT, Claude, or Cursor) create:

• Product Requirements Documents (PRDs) — what the feature should do
• User stories — how users will interact with it
• Detailed checklists — step-by-step implementation guide

You review and approve each document before building. This ensures:

• The AI understands exactly what you want
• Nothing gets forgotten or misunderstood
• You stay in control of the vision

Step 4: Build with Cursor

Use Cursor with your approved PRD/story docs. Cursor will:

• Understand the codebase — saasbrella includes detailed documentation about project structure, UI patterns, components, database schemas, and where to add new business logic
• Follow your checklists — implement features step by step, exactly as you specified
• Respect existing patterns — use saasbrella’s established patterns and components
• Avoid breaking things — understand how existing functionality works, so new features don’t impact it

Why this works: Cursor has full context of your saasbrella codebase through our documentation. It knows:

• How authentication works
• Where to add new database models
• How to use existing UI components
• Where business logic should go
• How to integrate with existing features

Why This Approach Works Better

The Problem with Starting from Scratch

If you use Cursor to build a SaaS from scratch:

• You spend weeks building infrastructure (auth, payments, database, hosting)
• You make architectural decisions that might not scale
• You build generic solutions instead of focusing on your unique features
• You debug integration code instead of building your product

The saasbrella + Cursor Advantage

When you start with saasbrella and use Cursor to build features:

• Infrastructure is done — focus on your unique business logic
• Architecture is proven — build on a solid, scalable foundation
• Documentation is included — Cursor understands your codebase structure
• Patterns are established — new features follow existing conventions
• Nothing breaks — Cursor knows how existing features work

Result: You build what makes your SaaS unique, faster, and with fewer mistakes.

saasbrella’s AI-Ready Documentation

One of saasbrella’s key features is detailed documentation designed for AI agents like Cursor:

• Project structure — where everything lives and why
• UI patterns — how to use existing components and design system
• Database schemas — how data is structured and related
• Business logic patterns — where and how to add new features
• Integration points — how to connect with existing features
• Code conventions — how to write code that fits the codebase

When Cursor reads your saasbrella codebase, it understands:

• How authentication works, so it doesn’t break it
• Where to add new database models without affecting existing ones
• How to use existing UI components instead of creating new ones
• Where business logic should go to maintain separation of concerns
• How to integrate with payments, email, and other existing features

This is the difference: Cursor doesn’t guess. It knows exactly how your saasbrella app is structured.

Pricing: How They Work Together

saasbrella pricing:

• Essential: $19/month (for individuals)
• Pro: $39/month (for teams)
• Everything included: hosting, database, email, SSL, deployment, and all infrastructure

Cursor pricing:

• Free tier with limitations
• Pro: $20/month (for AI coding features)
• What it provides: AI coding assistant, code completion, chat

The combination:

• saasbrella handles all infrastructure costs
• Cursor handles AI coding assistance
• You get both for less than most AI builders charge for coding credits alone

Compare to AI builders:

• AI builders: Pay for coding credits ($20-40/month) + pay for infrastructure separately
• saasbrella + Cursor: Pay for infrastructure ($19-39/month) + pay for coding assistant ($20/month)
• Total: Similar cost, but you get a production-ready platform + better AI coding tools

FAQ: saasbrella + Cursor

1. Do I need both saasbrella and Cursor?

Short answer: Yes, they complement each other perfectly.

• saasbrella gives you the foundation (deployed app, infrastructure, integrations)
• Cursor helps you build features on top of that foundation

You could use Cursor alone, but you’d spend weeks building what saasbrella provides instantly.

2. Can I use Cursor with saasbrella?

Absolutely. saasbrella is designed to work with AI coding assistants like Cursor. We include:

• Detailed documentation for AI agents
• Well-structured codebase that AI can understand
• Clear patterns and conventions
• Examples of how to add new features

Cursor works better with saasbrella than with a blank project because it has full context of your codebase.

3. What’s the workflow for building features?

1. Start with saasbrella — get your deployed app
2. Brainstorm with AI — use ChatGPT/Claude to define your unique features
3. Create PRDs/story docs — have AI create detailed specs with checklists
4. Review and approve — make sure the specs match your vision
5. Build with Cursor — use your approved docs to implement features step by step

4. How does Cursor understand my saasbrella codebase?

saasbrella includes detailed documentation specifically designed for AI agents:

• Project structure and architecture
• UI component patterns and usage
• Database schema and relationships
• Where to add new business logic
• How to integrate with existing features
• Code conventions and best practices

Cursor reads this documentation and understands your codebase structure, so it can build features that fit seamlessly.

5. What if I want to use Claude Code instead of Cursor?

That works too! saasbrella works with any AI coding assistant:

• Cursor — AI-powered code editor
• Claude Code — AI coding assistant in GitHub Codespaces (we pre-install it)
• Codex — OpenAI’s coding assistant
• Any other AI coding tool

The key is starting with saasbrella’s foundation, then using your preferred AI assistant to build features.

Which Should You Choose?

Use saasbrella + Cursor if:

• You’re building a SaaS business (not just a prototype)
• You want production-ready infrastructure from day one
• You want to focus on unique features, not infrastructure
• You want AI coding assistance that understands your codebase
• You value well-architected code over AI-generated code from scratch

Use Cursor alone if:

• You’re building something that’s not a SaaS
• You want to build everything from scratch
• You don’t need production infrastructure
• You’re comfortable setting up hosting, database, and integrations yourself

The best approach: Start with saasbrella to get your foundation, then use Cursor to build your unique features. You’ll move faster, build better, and avoid the pitfalls of starting from scratch.