HeartCo vs create-t3-app
create-t3-app scaffolds a blank T3 base — free and excellent. HeartCo is a complete SaaS built on that same stack: 160+ models, business modules, audited security and FR compliance.
| Criterion | create-t3-app | HeartCo Starter |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (open source) | from €199 |
| Base stack | Next + tRPC + Prisma + NextAuth | Same, in production |
| DB models | 0 (blank slate) | 160+ |
| tRPC routers | 1 example | 70+ routers |
| RBAC + multi-tenant | Native Prisma $extends | |
| Payments (Stripe) | ||
| Business modules | CRM, Invoicing, HR, Accounting | |
| Security audit | 65 vulnerabilities fixed | |
| Tests included | Vitest + Playwright (4,000+ tests) | |
| Deployment wizard | 5 steps, 30 min |
What create-t3-app does well
- 100% free and open source
- Modern, well-known stack (the “T3 stack”)
- Ideal for learning the fundamentals
- You pick each building block (Prisma or Drizzle, etc.)
- Huge community around Theo / T3
Why choose HeartCo
- Everything create-t3-app scaffolds, already built and extended
- 160+ Prisma models vs a blank slate
- Business modules delivered (CRM, Invoicing, HR, Accounting)
- Audited security, RBAC and multi-tenant already wired
- FR compliance (Factur-X, GDPR) and a deployment wizard
HeartCo is for you if
- You know and love the T3 stack, but you don't want to start from a blank page.
- You want 160+ models and business modules already built on that base.
- You want security, RBAC and multi-tenant already wired, not to write.
- You target FR compliance: Factur-X, GDPR, euro invoicing.
create-t3-app is for you if
- You want to learn the fundamentals of the T3 stack, for free.
- You want to choose and assemble each block yourself (Prisma or Drizzle, etc.).
- Your project stays simple and you have time to code everything by hand.
Pricing in detail
create-t3-app
Free
Open source. Blank T3 scaffold (Next, tRPC, Prisma, NextAuth, Tailwind). All the business logic is yours to code.
HeartCo Starter
€199 to €499
The same T3 foundation, but with 160+ models, business modules, audited security and FR compliance already built.
Competitor price verified in June 2026. Prices change — confirm on the official site before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
Is HeartCo based on create-t3-app?
HeartCo runs on the same T3 stack (Next.js, tRPC, Prisma, NextAuth, Tailwind), but it's not a mere scaffold: it's a complete SaaS built on top, with 160+ Prisma models and ready-to-use business modules.
Why pay when create-t3-app is free?
create-t3-app gives you a well-structured blank page. HeartCo gives you the finished product: complete auth, Stripe payments, RBAC, multi-tenant, business modules, audited security. You pay for the weeks of development you don't have to do.
Can I migrate a create-t3-app project to HeartCo?
Yes, the base is compatible since it's the same stack. You port your logic into HeartCo's tRPC routers and reuse your Prisma schema.
Does create-t3-app handle French compliance?
No, it's a neutral, international scaffold. HeartCo adds Factur-X invoicing (EN 16931 + iopole), GDPR and French legal pages on top.
Verdict
create-t3-app if you want the blank T3 base and to build everything yourself, for free. HeartCo if you want a T3 SaaS that's already complete and ready to ship.