What is Achromatic?
Achromatic is a set of production-ready Next.js codebases with authentication, Stripe billing, organizations, admin tools, email and common SaaS pages already implemented. You get the full source and adapt it to your product.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about the starter kits, the license and getting access to the private repositories.
7 questions
General
What is the difference between a starter kit and boilerplate?
People often use the terms interchangeably. We call Achromatic a starter kit because it includes complete, connected product flows rather than isolated snippets or configuration.
What do I get when I purchase a license?
You get lifetime access to the full source code for every current Achromatic starter kit, including the Prisma and Drizzle versions, plus future updates to those kits. They include authentication, Stripe billing, organizations, admin tools, email templates, dashboards and reusable UI.
How often are the starter kits updated?
We ship bug fixes, dependency updates and new features through the private GitHub repositories. Your license includes lifetime access to those updates.
Does Achromatic work well with AI coding tools?
The current kits include AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md and Cursor rules with project-specific architecture, commands and conventions. They give coding assistants useful context, but you remain responsible for reviewing every change.
Is Achromatic suitable for newer developers?
Achromatic is best for developers comfortable with React, TypeScript and basic Next.js. The documentation and examples reduce setup work, but this is a production codebase rather than a no-code tool.
How many licenses have been sold?
850+ Achromatic licenses have been sold since the first release in September 2024.
5 questions
Use cases
Can I use Achromatic for an internal project?
Yes. The authentication, organizations, roles, admin tools and dashboard foundations work well for internal tools and portals. Remove or ignore the billing features if you do not need them.
How long does setup take?
If your PostgreSQL database, Stripe account and environment variables are ready, you can run the starter kit in minutes. Production setup depends on the services and customizations your product needs.
How are the current starter kits structured?
The current Prisma and Drizzle kits each use a straightforward single-repository Next.js architecture, so you only carry the ORM you choose.
Does it include user impersonation?
Yes. Platform admins can impersonate users, manage roles, ban accounts and manually synchronize billing data.
What is included for logging and error monitoring?
Sentry captures errors while Pino provides structured application logs. Both are wired into the current starter kits.
10 questions
Technical
What versions of Next.js and React do you use?
The current starter kits use Next.js 16 and React 19.
Is the codebase written in TypeScript?
Yes. The codebase is written in TypeScript and configured with strict type checking.
Do the starter kits use the App Router?
Yes. The current kits use the Next.js App Router.
How is the API structured?
The current kits use tRPC 11 with React Query for end-to-end typed queries, mutations and client-side caching. Streaming AI responses use a route handler.
How is client data cached?
React Query caches client data with organization-scoped query keys. The codebase keeps invalidation close to the mutations that change data.
Where can I deploy it?
The kits target standard Node.js deployments and include guides for Vercel, Docker, Railway, Render, Fly.io and Netlify.
Which databases can I use?
Both current kits use PostgreSQL. Choose Prisma or Drizzle, then connect any compatible provider such as Neon, Supabase or a self-hosted database.
Why can't I see the admin panel?
Set the first user's role to admin in the database, then sign in again. The documentation shows the exact field for each kit.
Which package manager should I use?
The repositories ship with npm lockfiles. Bun and pnpm can also install the dependencies, but use one package manager consistently and commit only its lockfile.
Can I replace parts of the stack?
Because you receive the full source, you can replace integrations and architecture as needed. Those changes are custom development rather than one-click options, so review the docs and demo before buying.
11 questions
License & pricing
How much does Achromatic cost?
Achromatic costs $180 once. That includes every current starter kit, lifetime source access and updates for one individual, team or organization.
Is there a recurring Achromatic fee?
No. Achromatic is a one-time purchase with no recurring license fee.
Can my whole team use one license?
One license covers a single individual, team or organization with no per-developer charge. Access cannot be shared with people outside that licensed entity.
How many products can I use it for?
You can use Achromatic for unlimited end products, including personal, commercial and client projects, as long as they comply with the license.
Can I use the starter kits for client work?
Yes. You can use Achromatic for unlimited client projects, but you cannot give repository access to anyone outside your licensed team or organization.
Is it licensed for commercial use?
Yes. The license covers personal and commercial end products, including SaaS products and client work.
Can I use it for an open-source project?
You may use Achromatic in a public end product if it does not redistribute the starter kit or its components as a reusable product. Substantial modification is required.
Does my license expire?
No. The license is ongoing and includes lifetime access to the purchased source code and updates, provided the license terms are followed.
Can I resell or redistribute Achromatic?
You cannot redistribute Achromatic, modified or unmodified, as a starter kit, template, component library or competing product. You can use it to build end products that customers use or buy.
Are there any other costs?
There is no recurring Achromatic fee. You remain responsible for third-party services such as hosting, database, email, storage, monitoring and payment processing.
Can I get a refund?
Because Achromatic includes downloadable source code and private repository access, sales are final once access is delivered. This does not affect rights that cannot be waived under applicable law.
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