The Best Tech Stack for Your MVP (And Why We Chose Ours)Elliott King, Head of Development @ VerticodeMay 6, 2025, 13 min read
If you're building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), one of the first critical technical decisions you'll face is choosing the right tech stack. But what exactly is a tech stack, and why does it matter so much? This comprehensive guide will provide non-technical founders with everything they need to understand and make informed choices about their MVP's technological foundation.
What is a tech stack?
This is an essential starting point because your tech stack represents a pivotal early decision for your startup. A tech stack is the combination of programming languages, frameworks, libraries, and tools that form the foundation of your software product. You'll build upon these foundations as your product evolves, but while adding new elements is relatively straightforward, replacing these core components later can be extraordinarily costly and time-consuming.
Imagine building an MVP like building your dream car.
First, you start with the frame. That's your programming language. It's the solid base everything else sits on. Changing it later would be like tearing the whole car apart and starting over.
Next up is the engine, your database and backend tech. It's what makes your car (or software) run. Swapping it out is a big job, just like replacing a car's engine.
Then comes the car's body shape and design. This is like your application framework. It affects how things fit together and how fast and smoothly everything runs. Changing this requires significant effort, but it can make a substantial difference in performance.
Last but not least, there's the paint and interior - your user interface (UI) and styling. This is what people see first, and it's the easiest to change. You can refresh the look without touching the inner workings.
So, just like with cars, some parts of your tech stack are difficult to change, and others are easier to modify. The key is knowing which is which from the start.
An MVP's tech stack will consist of the following:
- A frontend - The interface users interact with
- A backend - The system that handles logic, data processing and connects everything together
- A database - Where all your application's data is stored and managed
- Hosting & infrastructure - The environment where your MVP runs, ensuring it stays online and accessible
- Services & APIs - Third-party services integrated into your MVP to enable specific functionality, like payment processing or AI integrations
Something to keep in mind:
Choosing a tech stack is a balancing act between speed, scalability, and cost. The right choice depends on your product's needs, but when building an MVP, there are best practices that can set you up for success. This article will explore popular options, key considerations, and why we've chosen our specific stack at Verticode.
1. What Founders Should Look for in an MVP Tech Stack
Before diving into specific technologies, consider these key factors:
- •Speed to launch – How quickly can you develop and iterate on your product?
- •Flexibility & scalability – Can the technology support your future growth?
- •Affordability – Does it fit within your budget constraints?
- •Developer availability – Is it easy to find talent for this stack?
- •Community & ecosystem – Are there ample resources and support available?
Balancing these factors will help you select a tech stack that enables quick development while positioning your MVP for future success.
Something to keep in mind:
When choosing your tech stack, it's tempting to select a niche tool that's perfect for a specific need, like long-term scalability. However, this comes with a significant hidden cost: hiring challenges. Highly specialized frameworks or languages dramatically shrink your available talent pool, leading to extended hiring cycles, increased salary demands due to scarcity, and potentially slower development timelines if your team struggles to find suitable talent.
For MVPs, simplification is usually the smarter approach. Most high-performance, niche features can be replicated to approximately 95% effectiveness using mainstream tools that are far more accessible—ultimately saving you time, money, and considerable operational stress.
Consider the balance between long-term requirements and short-term practicality. Is immediate scalability to millions of users truly necessary now? Or is it more valuable to move quickly, iterate rapidly, and onboard developers who can seamlessly contribute? A tech stack that's too specialized might result in a theoretically brilliant but practically frustrating system that's exceptionally difficult to staff.
A good rule of thumb:
If your MVP needs to prove market demand quickly, prioritize widely used technologies with strong developer communities. You can always optimize for scale later.
This same principle applies to third-party services—only integrate tools that deliver genuine value to early users. For instance, if you're launching with a free tier, there's no immediate need for complex subscription payment systems or features like 'Sign in with Google.' Focus on launching something functional with minimal development effort.
That said, occasionally it's worth investing in a slightly more expensive solution if it prevents significant complications later. Stripe, for example, may have higher upfront costs than alternatives, but its straightforward implementation and scalability features make it considerably easier to manage as your product grows.
2. Key Components of an MVP Tech Stack
When building an MVP, your technology stack must be practical, scalable, and developer-friendly. Below, we break down the essential components, including their advantages and important considerations.
Definitions:
Languages
The foundation of your stack. Different programming languages have different strengths, but for an MVP, consistency across the stack makes development easier (think JavaScript or Python). Developers usually specialize in one or a few languages depending on their experience. While a senior developer might be able to pick up a new one fairly quickly, it's rarely practical to ask a junior developer to work on a project built in a language they don't know.
Frameworks
Pre-built structures that help developers build faster and more efficiently (React is a good example). Developers familiar with the underlying language should be able to adapt to a new framework fairly easily, though mastering all its features and quirks can take time.
Unified Language
Using the same programming language across the stack can simplify development and reduce complexity (for example, using JavaScript for the frontend, backend, and even the database). It also makes hiring easier — while senior developers often know multiple languages, juniors tend to specialize in just one.
Microservices
An architectural style where an app is made up of many smaller components, each responsible for a single function. Big tech companies like Netflix use microservices and assign teams to optimize each one with its own set of tools. For an MVP, though, this level of complexity isn't necessary; keeping things simple will help you move faster.
Frontend (User Interface)
The frontend is what users interact with. Here are some common options:
| Component | Positives | Considerations | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| React.js | Most popular, widely supported, flexible. The modern standard for complex applications. Consistently amongst the most used frontend frameworks on the Stack Overflow developer survey | Other frameworks might be better on a single metric (e.g. speed, scalability), but React is a great all-rounder. | Facebook, Airbnb |
| Next.js | Great for websites with simple functionality and SEO. Uses React, so React developers can easily work with it. | Not the best for complex applications. Can lead to vendor lock-in with its ecosystem. Higher infrastructure costs. Recent security leak. | Medium, Binance |
| PHP | One of the most widely used languages for web development. Huge developer pool, well-supported, and powers major platforms like WordPress. | Considered outdated for modern frontend work. Many developers prefer working with newer tools like React, so hiring might be harder if PHP is your main frontend tech | Slack, Accenture |
| No-code tools | Works best for those with a technical background who will pick up the platform quickly | Time drain for non-technical founders who can spend months learning the platform. It can become limiting as the product scales. Might not be developer-friendly for long-term growth. | Paralect, Jettly |
Backend (Server & Logic)
The backend processes requests, handles data, and ensures the application runs smoothly.
| Component | Positives | Considerations | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Node.js (with Express.js) | Fast, scalable, widely supported. JavaScript-based, so it works well with frontend stacks like React. | Less suited for hardware integrations like IoT (Internet of Things). | Netflix, Uber |
| Django / Flask (Python) | Rapid development framework. Comes with a pre-built admin interface for managing data. | Performance can become a bottleneck as your product scales, especially if not optimised properly. Using Python often means the frontend and backend are written in different languages, which can add complexity when hiring or collaborating across teams. | Instagram, Pinterest |
| Ruby on Rails | Comes with built-in testing frameworks. | Very outdated. Performance limitations at scale. Many fewer Ruby developers compared to JavaScript. Good to know: Perfect if you're building a startup in 2011 ; | Shopify, Airbnb |
Database (Data Storage)
Your database stores and manages the application's data.
| Component | Positives | Considerations | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| MongoDB | Highly flexible, scalable, works well with JavaScript-based stacks. Best-in-class security when hosted through MongoDB Atlas. | Less structured than SQL databases, may require more planning for complex queries. | Uber, Lyft |
| Relational Databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL) | Reliable, great for modelling complex relationships. | Can be slower for high-speed read/write applications compared to document databases like MongoDB or Firebase. Requires developers to know SQL | Amazon, Shopify |
| Supabase | Serverless and easy to get started. Built-in enterprise security. | Locks you into an ecosystem that has a steep cost curve, leading to higher costs when your application scales. Supabase also has a much smaller developer pool since it's a much newer technology and gives less control to developers. | Radrat, BuildLab |
Hosting & Infrastructure
Where and how your MVP is deployed and managed.
| Component | Positives | Considerations | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud Hosting (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure) | Scalable, reliable, broad ecosystem of cloud services. | Can become expensive, complexity can increase with scaling. | Snapchat, Revolut |
| Server Rental | Fixed costs, better value | More complexity and maintenance. Requires a specific skillset | Talkwalker, Twipla |
| Vercel | Optimised for frontend deployment, integrates seamlessly with Next.js. | Not ideal for backend-heavy applications. | Yousign, Paralect |
| Verticode | Fully Managed | Less flexible than cloud solutions for rapid scaling. | Verticode clients |
Are you curious to discover which tech stack your favorite companies use? Check out Stackshare — an invaluable resource for both developers and founders alike!
Choosing the Right Tech Stack for MVPs
For most MVPs, prioritizing widely supported technologies with robust developer communities represents the safest approach. Your ideal stack should effectively balance development speed, scalability potential, and talent availability, while focusing on versatile foundational tools rather than specialized solutions or costly integrations.
The React.js + Node.js + MongoDB combination has become particularly popular due to its exceptional flexibility, strong performance characteristics, and the relative ease of finding experienced developers familiar with these technologies.
If your product has specialized requirements (such as real-time data processing or intensive computational needs), you might consider alternative technologies — but always remain mindful of the associated trade-offs. More specialized tools typically introduce additional complexity and can significantly narrow your hiring pool. Remember, your primary objective at the MVP stage is to build quickly, validate your core concept, and establish a foundation that supports efficient scaling.
3. Why We Use Our Specific Tech Stack at Verticode
At Verticode, we've carefully selected a tech stack that optimally balances development speed, flexibility, and scalability potential. Our preferred technology combination is commonly known as the MERN stack:
- •Frontend: React.js, Tailwind CSS
- •Backend: Node.js, Express.js
- •Database: MongoDB
- •Hosting & Infrastructure: AWS, Verticode dedicated servers
- •Services (as required): Stripe, OpenAI, Twilio etc.
Good to know:
We implement TypeScript (JavaScript with additional advanced features) rather than standard JavaScript. While JavaScript allows for faster initial prototyping, TypeScript significantly reduces potential errors and enhances code maintainability as projects grow in complexity.
Why These Choices?
- 1Consistency: Using JavaScript across both frontend and backend environments significantly streamlines development workflows and reduces overall system complexity.
- 2Scalability: Node.js and MongoDB provide exceptional capabilities for efficiently handling growing user loads and increasing data volumes.
- 3Community Support: Our widely adopted stack ensures access to comprehensive resources, a larger pool of qualified developers for hiring, and even AI-assisted solutions for common development challenges. With niche technologies, available solutions are often limited, making troubleshooting significantly more challenging.
- 4Performance: Our technology stack and MVP hosting infrastructure enable our founders to comfortably scale to tens of thousands of users before requiring any infrastructure upgrades.
By leveraging this carefully selected stack, we ensure that our clients' MVPs are built on a solid foundation that fully supports rapid iteration, future growth potential, and seamless developer onboarding as teams expand.
4. Common Mistakes Founders Make When Choosing a Tech Stack
1. Overcomplicating the Stack
Many founders fall into the trap of selecting overly complex tech stacks designed for enterprise-scale operations. Remember, your MVP doesn't need the same sophisticated architecture as Netflix or Airbnb. Starting with a simple, flexible foundation allows you to evolve in the direction that best serves your product. Only integrate third-party services when they deliver substantial benefits – Stripe being an excellent example, offering secure payment processing with minimal setup overhead and long-term adaptability.
2. Optimizing for Scale Too Early
While scaling potential is important, the sobering reality is that many startups never reach the point where advanced scaling becomes necessary. Your primary focus should be on validating market demand first. Most standard development tools can support your growth much further than you might anticipate, giving you ample time to adapt your infrastructure as genuine scaling needs emerge.
3. Relying Too Heavily on No-Code Tools
No-code platforms like Bubble can dramatically accelerate initial development but often impose significant constraints on custom functionality. For products with serious growth ambitions, transitioning from no-code to a custom-built solution typically involves rebuilding from scratch – a costly and time-consuming process.
John Smith, a non-technical founder with a promising startup concept, decides to minimize costs by learning Bubble, a no-code platform, to build his MVP. This approach consumes an entire year – six months mastering the platform followed by six months developing the actual product.
During this extended development period, the market evolves significantly. New competitors enter the space, and John's initial momentum advantage dissipates.
Despite these setbacks, he successfully launches his MVP and collects valuable early user feedback. Leveraging his newly acquired Bubble expertise, he iterates through versions 2–4. However, as user adoption grows, he encounters a critical limitation: a crucial integration his customers demand simply isn't feasible within Bubble's constraints.
John now faces a difficult decision: hire a CTO to completely rebuild his product with a conventional tech stack. This transition requires months of development and significantly higher investment than if he had built with scalability in mind from the beginning. Meanwhile, his competitors – who launched earlier with more flexible architectures – continue gaining market share.
This scenario highlights a fundamental risk of over-reliance on no-code solutions. While they offer advantages in specific contexts, they frequently involve trade-offs that constrain long-term growth potential. For founders who already possess no-code expertise, this path might make sense, but for most entrepreneurs, time remains their most precious resource. Always consider the opportunity cost of delayed market entry and potential platform migration when making your tech stack decisions.
4. Choosing Obscure or Niche Technologies
Some cutting-edge tools may sound impressive but lack robust developer support or comprehensive community resources. For example, while Supabase offers a promising alternative to Google's Firebase, its ecosystem isn't quite as mature yet.
When adopting technologies with smaller communities or limited adoption, you'll likely encounter unexpected roadblocks. Resolving these issues becomes significantly more time-consuming since solutions aren't widely documented or easily accessible. By contrast, established technologies benefit from larger communities, thorough documentation, and readily available solutions to common challenges.
Though experimenting with newer tools can be tempting, carefully weigh the risks—particularly when your priority is launching your MVP quickly and with minimal friction.
5. Getting Locked into Ecosystems
It's all too easy to be drawn toward all-in-one platforms that promise convenience, especially for non-technical founders. However, over-reliance on a single provider (whether Firebase, Bubble, or various no-code tools) can severely restrict your flexibility later. You might struggle to migrate, integrate with external tools, or scale effectively without substantial rework.
Whenever possible, opt for modular tools and services that can be replaced or extended as your product evolves. This approach helps you maintain control of your technology stack and preserves your options as your startup scales.
Final Recommendations & Next Steps for Founders
Selecting the right tech stack is a pivotal decision for your MVP, with the optimal choice depending on your product goals, budget constraints, and long-term vision. Here's what founders should prioritize moving forward:
- Assess Your MVP Needs – Determine what matters most: development speed, scalability potential, or talent availability. If rapid scaling is on your roadmap, choose technologies that won't become bottlenecks later.
- Consider Developer Availability – A widely adopted tech stack makes it significantly easier to attract, hire, and onboard talented developers as you grow.
- Embrace Simplicity – Avoid unnecessary complexity unless absolutely essential. A streamlined stack accelerates your launch timeline and facilitates efficient iteration.
- Plan Strategically – Remember that your MVP is just the beginning. Select a stack that offers flexibility to scale and adapt based on user feedback and evolving market demands.
- Align With Your Business Model – SaaS startups often benefit from highly scalable backends like Node.js, while social platforms may require robust database performance from PostgreSQL.
- Prepare for Growth – If your MVP gains traction, you'll need a clear strategy for infrastructure upgrades, database optimizations, and backend improvements to handle increasing demand.
By carefully considering these factors, you'll position yourself to build a robust, scalable MVP that effectively serves both your immediate needs and long-term objectives.
Building an MVP and need expert guidance on selecting the ideal tech stack? Talk to us at Verticode
FAQ: MVP Tech Stack
A tech stack is the set of programming languages, frameworks, and tools used to build software applications. It forms the foundation of your product and affects everything from development speed to scalability.
Consider five key factors: speed to launch, scalability potential, overall cost, developer availability in the market, and community support. Prioritize technologies that balance these needs while matching your product's specific requirements.
No-code can be suitable for technical individuals who can quickly master the platform. However, it often becomes limiting when you need custom functionality or plan to scale. For non-technical founders, the learning curve can significantly delay your launch timeline.
Node.js with Express.js is ideal for most MVPs. It's fast, lightweight, and works seamlessly with JavaScript across the stack, allowing for efficient development without unnecessary complexity. This combination helps get MVPs to market quickly while maintaining flexibility for future growth.
Both database types can scale effectively, but they serve different needs. NoSQL databases like MongoDB offer more flexibility and are often better for MVPs with evolving data structures. SQL databases like PostgreSQL excel when you have complex relationships between data (such as social networks or inventory systems).