Building a SaaS application requires choosing a tech stack that delivers three critical outcomes: rapid development speed, rock-solid performance, and effortless scalability.
In this article, i will try to provide a quick comparison between three stacks i have used for my projects: the TALL stack (Tailwind, Alpine.js, Laravel, Livewire), Laravel with Inertia.js, and Next.js.
Each offers distinct advantages for SaaS development. This analysis breaks down their performance characteristics, scalability potential, and real-world suitability for production SaaS applications.
Understanding the Three Contenders
TALL Stack (Tailwind + Alpine.js + Laravel + Livewire)
The TALL stack combines Tailwind CSS, Alpine.js, Laravel, and Livewire into a cohesive full-stack framework. The defining characteristic: developers build reactive interfaces using PHP and minimal JavaScript. Livewire handles server-side rendering with automatic DOM updates, while Alpine.js adds lightweight client-side interactivity.
Architecture approach: Server-driven with reactive components Primary language: PHP (Laravel backend, Livewire components) JavaScript usage: Minimal (Alpine.js for UI interactions)
Laravel + Inertia.js
Inertia 2.0 introduces asynchronous request handling, deferred props, prefetching capabilities, and polling features. This stack bridges Laravel's backend with modern JavaScript frameworks (React, Vue, or Svelte) without requiring a separate API layer.
Architecture approach: Hybrid SPA without traditional APIs Primary language: PHP backend, JavaScript/TypeScript frontend JavaScript usage: Full frontend framework (React, Vue, or Svelte)
Next.js
Next.js is an open-source framework built on React that enables server-side rendering, static site generation, incremental static regeneration, and API routes. It's designed as a complete full-stack solution with JavaScript/TypeScript throughout.
Architecture approach: Full JavaScript stack with multiple rendering strategies Primary language: JavaScript/TypeScript (full stack) JavaScript usage: Complete (frontend and backend)
Performance Comparison
Initial Load Performance
Next.js: Leads in initial page load optimization. Features like Automatic Static Optimization and Partial Prerendering enable hybrid applications that integrate server-side rendered pages with statically generated content. Built-in image optimization and automatic code splitting reduce bundle sizes significantly.
Laravel + Inertia: Inertia provides a performance boost because the backend only sends the actual data as JSON props needed to render components, not the HTML for those components. After the initial load, JavaScript files are cached by browsers and CDNs, minimizing repeated downloads.
TALL Stack: Server-side rendering provides fast initial loads, but subsequent interactions require server round trips. Performance considerations with the TALL stack include that applications relying heavily on Livewire may not perform as well as entirely client-side rendered applications in high-impact scenarios.
Runtime Performance
Stack | Client-Side Interactivity | Server Load | Network Requests |
|---|---|---|---|
TALL | Moderate (server-driven) | Higher | More frequent |
Laravel + Inertia | High (SPA-like) | Moderate | Optimized |
Next.js | High (client or hybrid) | Lower | Minimal (cached) |
Verdict: Next.js and Laravel + Inertia deliver superior runtime performance for interactive applications. TALL stack works well for applications where UI complexity is moderate and server proximity is good.
Scalability Analysis
Horizontal Scaling
Next.js: Excels in scalability scenarios. Implementing load balancing to distribute traffic across multiple servers or instances prevents any single server from becoming a bottleneck. Static generation and edge caching via CDNs reduce origin server load dramatically.
Laravel + Inertia: Scales effectively using Laravel's proven infrastructure patterns. Applications built with Laravel and Inertia are easy to maintain and scale, with reusable frontend components improving scalability and consistency across large projects. Deploy across multiple Laravel servers with session management through Redis or database drivers.
TALL Stack: The TALL Stack scales and is performant, with lots of options for scaling depending on the specifications and needs of your application. However, Livewire's server-dependent architecture requires more backend resources per user compared to client-rendered alternatives.
Database and State Management
All three stacks support PostgreSQL, MySQL, and modern database solutions. Key differences emerge in state management:
TALL: State lives on the server, simplified management but increased server load
Laravel + Inertia: Hybrid approach with Laravel handling sessions, frontend managing component state
Next.js: Client-heavy state management with React Query, Zustand, or Redux; server state via API routes
Infrastructure Costs at Scale
Cost efficiency ranking (10,000+ concurrent users):
Next.js - Lowest (CDN caching, static generation, serverless options)
Laravel + Inertia - Moderate (optimized server requests, frontend caching)
TALL Stack - Higher (more server resources per interaction)
Development Speed
Time to MVP
TALL Stack: Fastest for PHP developers. The TALL stack provides a modern and efficient solution for both developers and clients, with faster development times and reduced costs. Laravel's conventions combined with Livewire's reactive components enable rapid feature development without frontend build complexity.
Laravel + Inertia: Moderate speed. Requires setting up both backend and frontend architecture but eliminates API layer complexity. Inertia eliminates the need to implement token management or re-create Laravel's robust authentication layer on the front end.
Next.js: Variable depending on team composition. Fast for JavaScript-focused teams, but requires building both frontend and backend logic. Authentication, database management, and server infrastructure need explicit configuration.
Learning Curve
Aspect | TALL | Laravel + Inertia | Next.js |
|---|---|---|---|
Backend developers | Easy | Moderate | Challenging |
Frontend developers | Moderate | Easy | Easy |
Full-stack developers | Easy | Easy | Easy |
Real-World SaaS Use Cases
Best for TALL Stack
Admin dashboards and backoffice tools
Internal business applications
CRM and project management tools
Applications with moderate UI complexity
Why: For admin panels, dashboards, or smaller apps, TALL can be a great way to build modern UIs with minimal overhead. Rapid development with PHP-centric teams, reduced JavaScript complexity.
Best for Laravel + Inertia
B2B SaaS platforms
Customer-facing applications with complex forms
Multi-tenant applications
SaaS products requiring rich interactivity
Why: Inertia with Laravel streamlines the development process by facilitating a single-page application feel without fully transitioning to a full-fledged SPA architecture. Balances development speed with modern UX expectations.
Best for Next.js
Global SaaS platforms
Content-heavy applications
API-first products
Mobile app + web platform combos
Why: Next.js is great for building SaaS applications thanks to its scalability and flexibility. Superior SEO capabilities, multi-region deployment options, and framework-agnostic architecture enable maximum flexibility.
Technical Comparison Table
Feature | TALL Stack | Laravel + Inertia | Next.js |
|---|---|---|---|
Primary Language | PHP | PHP + JS/TS | JavaScript/TypeScript |
Rendering Strategy | Server-side | Hybrid (SSR + SPA) | SSR/SSG/ISR/CSR |
SEO Performance | Excellent | Very Good | Excellent |
Initial Load Speed | Fast | Very Fast | Very Fast |
Runtime Performance | Good | Excellent | Excellent |
Dev Tooling | Good | Excellent | Excellent |
TypeScript Support | Limited | Full | Native |
API Layer Needed | No | No | Optional |
Real-time Features | Built-in (Livewire) | Moderate effort | Requires setup |
Testing Ecosystem | PHPUnit, Pest | Jest, Vitest, PHPUnit | Jest, Vitest, Playwright |
Deployment Complexity | Low | Moderate | Moderate-High |
Which Stack Wins for Your SaaS?
Choose TALL Stack if:
Your team excels at PHP/Laravel
You're building internal tools or admin panels
Development speed trumps absolute performance
You prefer minimal JavaScript complexity
Budget constraints favor lower frontend infrastructure costs
Choose Laravel + Inertia if:
You need SPA-like UX with Laravel's backend power
Your team includes both PHP and JavaScript developers
You want modern frontend without API complexity
You're building feature-rich B2B SaaS
Your team includes people familiar with front-end frameworks like React, Vue, or Angular
Choose Next.js if:
You require maximum performance and scalability
SEO is mission-critical for your SaaS
You're building a global, multi-region platform
Your team is JavaScript-first
You plan to build mobile apps alongside web
Infrastructure optimization matters (CDN, edge computing)
Hybrid Approach: The Best of Both Worlds?
Some teams combine these stacks strategically:
Marketing site: Next.js (SEO, performance)
Application backend: Laravel (business logic, database)
Application frontend: Inertia + React (rich interactivity)
Admin panel: TALL Stack (rapid internal tool development)
This architecture leverages each stack's strengths while maintaining development efficiency.
Performance Optimization Tips
TALL Stack Optimization
Implement Redis caching for Livewire components
Use lazy loading for heavy components
Optimize server response times with Laravel Octane
Deploy on servers with low latency to user base
Laravel + Inertia Optimization
Use prefetching to load pages before they're needed, with hover prefetching making pages load instantly when clicked
Implement code splitting for large applications
Leverage Laravel's query optimization (eager loading)
Use deferred props for non-critical data
Next.js Optimization
Use the built-in next/image component which lazy loads images by default and serves responsive formats like WebP and AVIF
Implement ISR for dynamic content that doesn't change frequently
Deploy to edge networks (Vercel, Cloudflare)
Use React Server Components for zero JavaScript pages
Final Verdict: Performance + Scalability + Speed
For maximum scalability and performance: Next.js wins with superior caching strategies, edge deployment, and client-side optimization capabilities.
For fastest development with excellent scalability: Laravel + Inertia offers the best balance, combining Laravel's mature ecosystem with modern frontend interactivity.
For rapid MVP and internal tools: TALL Stack delivers unmatched development speed for PHP teams, with adequate performance for most SaaS applications.
The "best" stack depends entirely on your team's expertise, application requirements, and growth trajectory. All three can power successful SaaS platforms—the key is matching stack capabilities to your specific needs.