How to Build a SaaS
Review

Learn to build a full-featured SaaS product from scratch with 25.5 hours of hands-on video instruction

Medium
  • Last updated 07/06/2025
by Kyle Gawley

What you'll learn ? Overview

We discovered "How to Build a SaaS" by Kyle Gawley while researching comprehensive SaaS development courses, and what caught our attention was the sheer volume of practical content, 172 lessons spanning over 25 hours. This isn't just another theoretical course about SaaS business models. Instead, Kyle walks you through building a complete Instagram-style photo-sharing application using React and Node.js.

Kyle brings serious credibility to the table as the co-founder of Get Invited, an online ticketing platform that hit $5 million in sales. He's also the creator of Gravity, a SaaS boilerplate that's helped over 375 founders launch their products (we verified this through his official channels). What sets this course apart is its comprehensive coverage of both technical and business aspects.

The course structure follows a logical progression through 17 modules, starting with SaaS architecture fundamentals and moving through data modeling, REST API development, authentication systems, and billing integration. You'll build real features like user management, subscription handling, email notifications, and deployment strategies. Kyle even includes modules on security best practices and performance optimization, topics often glossed over in similar courses.

One interesting aspect we noticed is how Kyle positions this as a practical, code-along experience. You're not just watching theory, you're actively building a production-ready application. The course includes full source code access (unless you opt for the cheaper version), and Kyle maintains an active Discord community where he personally responds to questions. For developers serious about launching their own SaaS, this hands-on approach combined with Kyle's proven track record makes this a substantial learning opportunity.

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Is this course for you?

👉

Prior experience needed

Intermediate (Some Foundational Knowledge Recommended)

👉

Learning style

Self-Paced (Work On Your Own Schedule)

👉

Goal

Learn A New Skill

Best suited for:

Developers with basic JavaScript knowledge looking to transition into SaaS development, technical founders wanting to build their own products, full-stack developers seeking to understand SaaS-specific patterns and architecture

Instructor

Kyle Gawley

Founder of Gravity, software developer. Legitimacy Score: 9/10
Kyle Gawley is a seasoned entrepreneur and software developer who transitioned from venture-backed startups to independent entrepreneurship. He co-founded Get Invited, an event registration platform that achieved $5 million in sales. Currently, Kyle is the creator of Gravity, a SaaS boilerplate that helps developers build web applications efficiently. His expertise spans software development, entrepreneurship, and digital nomadism.
Kyle's entrepreneurial journey began with co-founding Get Invited in 2013, which he grew to a multi-million dollar company. After experiencing burnout, he pivoted to solo entrepreneurship in 2019, launching Gravity. He has since developed multiple versions of the Gravity boilerplate, created educational content on SaaS development, and embraced the digital nomad lifestyle while running his business.
• Grew Get Invited to $5 million in sales
• Secured the world's largest startup conference, LAUNCH Festival in San Francisco, as a customer for Get Invited
• Selected to attend Stanford University's eBootcamp accelerator in California in 2012
• Won a DANI Award for Best Mobile Application in 2014
• Runner-up in Invest NI's Propel Company of the Year
• Graduated from Propel and Springboard business accelerators at the Northern Ireland Science Park
• Built Gravity to $25,000 MRR as a solo founder
• Featured on the Indie Hackers Podcast, Episode 217, July 2021
• Speaker at various events across Northern Ireland, the UK, and USA
• Guest on 'A conversation With Kyle Gawley - Tech Entrepreneur' YouTube video, February 2021
• Appeared on the Listen Up IH podcast, Episode 26, September 2021
• Featured in a YouTube interview 'Bootstrapping a SaaS boilerplate to $25k MRR with Kyle Gawley', October 2024
Kyle is highly active on Twitter, sharing insights on indie hacking, SaaS development, and digital nomadism. He regularly posts updates about Gravity, entrepreneurship tips, and his experiences as a solo founder. Kyle also maintains a blog where he discusses his entrepreneurial journey and provides valuable advice to aspiring SaaS founders.

Course Details

  • ⏱ Duration28
  • 📶 DifficultyMedium
  • ⌛ Access Lifetime
  • ⏰ Time investmentModerate (5–10 Hours/Week)

🧠 Prerequisites

Some programming knowledge required, particularly JavaScript familiarity, though specific prerequisites aren't clearly stated on the sales page


💻 Requirements

Computer capable of running Node.js and React development environment, stable internet connection


💸 Hidden Costs

Domain registration, hosting services, third-party API services for payments and emails, development tools and IDE


🙋‍♂️ Support Options

Active Discord community with direct instructor participation, though response time guarantees aren't specified

Course content

  • Module 1: SaaS Architecture Overview and Project Setup
  • Module 2: Data Modeling and Database Design
  • Module 3: Building REST APIs with Node.js
  • Module 4: Authentication and Authorization Systems
  • Module 5: User Management and Profiles
  • Module 6: File Upload and Image Processing
  • Module 7: Building the React Frontend
  • Module 8: State Management and API Integration
  • Module 9: Subscription and Billing Integration
  • Module 10: Email Notifications and Transactional Emails
  • Module 11: Admin Dashboard Development
  • Module 12: Security Best Practices
  • Module 13: Performance Optimization
  • Module 14: Testing Strategies
  • Module 15: Deployment and DevOps
  • Module 16: Monitoring and Analytics
  • Module 17: Scaling and Maintenance Strategies

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Feedbacks

Overall sentiment

The feedback we found is predominantly positive, with students appreciating the depth of technical content and Kyle's responsiveness in the Discord community. However, independent reviews remain scarce, with most testimonials coming from the course's official channels.

Praised points

  • Comprehensive technical coverage spanning architecture decisions, API security, and production deployment
  • Practical hands-on approach building a real SaaS product from scratch
  • Active instructor support through Discord community and direct responses

Criticisms

  • High price point starting at $595, which may be prohibitive for many learners
  • Limited independent reviews making it difficult to verify claims
  • Technical prerequisites not clearly stated upfront

Testimonials

"The depth of architectural decisions covered was impressive, and the value gained outweighed the cost for me."

"As someone with basic programming knowledge, I appreciated the structured approach and Kyle's responsiveness in Discord."

"The course provided new perspectives on user management and API security that I hadn't considered before."

"Kyle's experience really shows in how he explains complex concepts in digestible ways."

"The hands-on approach of building a real application made everything click for me."

Social insights

On Indie Hackers, Kyle's course announcements received positive engagement from the community. Users expressed interest in the comprehensive nature of the content, though some questioned the pricing relative to other SaaS education options. The lack of broader discussion on platforms like Reddit suggests limited market penetration compared to more established courses.

Marketing Analysis

Claim Verification

Kyle's claim of co-founding Get Invited and achieving $5 million in sales is verifiable through multiple sources. The promise of teaching students to build a "production-ready" SaaS aligns with the comprehensive curriculum covering deployment and scaling.

Price History

The course launched in June 2022 with current pricing tiers from $595 to $1,895. We couldn't find evidence of significant price changes since launch.

Upsell Practices

Clear tiered pricing with logical add-ons, the base course at $795 includes everything needed, while higher tiers add boilerplate code for faster implementation. No aggressive upselling reported.

Student Success

While Kyle's Gravity boilerplate has helped 375+ founders (according to official claims), specific success stories from course students aren't prominently featured. This lack of documented student outcomes is notable for a course at this price point.

Platform & Delivery

Learning Platform

Course hosted on Gravity's learning platform (learn.usegravity.app), which appears to be a standard video course delivery system

Content Accessibility

Lifetime access to all video content, downloadable project files available depending on tier purchased

Mobile Compatibility

Platform appears mobile-responsive, though optimal learning experience likely requires desktop for coding along

Technical Requirements

Modern computer capable of running Node.js, React development environment, minimum 8GB RAM recommended for smooth development

Red flags check

😬

Complaints

We couldn't find any significant complaints about content quality or instructor conduct. The main concern revolves around the lack of transparent refund policy information on the sales pages.

😬

Refund policy issues

No clear refund policy is stated on the course pages we reviewed, which is concerning for a high-ticket digital product. Potential buyers should clarify this directly with support before purchasing.

😬

Marketing practices

The marketing is relatively straightforward, focusing on Kyle's credentials and course content. Claims about building a "production-ready" SaaS are supported by the comprehensive curriculum, though individual results will vary based on implementation.

😬

Community feedback

The Indie Hackers community shows genuine interest in Kyle's work, with no red flags or warnings about the course or instructor. However, the limited broader discussion suggests either a small customer base or restricted marketing reach.

Is this course legit?

Value For Money

At $795 for the base course, this sits in the high-ticket category where we expect significant support, proven outcomes, and comprehensive content. The course delivers on content depth with 25+ hours of video and 172 lessons, plus Discord community access. However, for this price point, the lack of documented student success stories and unclear refund policy are concerning. Comparable full-stack bootcamps often cost more but include job placement assistance or money-back guarantees.

Conclusion

After thorough research, we found "How to Build a SaaS" by Kyle Gawley to be a legitimate, content-rich course that delivers substantial technical education. Kyle's credentials are solid, he's built a $5 million SaaS business and created tools used by 375+ founders. The curriculum impressively covers both technical implementation and business considerations across 172 detailed lessons.

What sets this course apart is its practical approach, you're not just learning theory but building a real Instagram-style application using modern tech stack (React, Node.js). The inclusion of often-overlooked topics like security, performance optimization, and scaling strategies shows thoughtful curriculum design.

However, at $795+, this is a significant investment where we'd typically expect more transparent success metrics and a clear refund policy. The limited independent reviews make it challenging to verify the course's impact on student careers. While the Discord community provides ongoing support, we can't assess its long-term viability or response quality.

For developers serious about SaaS development who can afford the investment, this course offers comprehensive technical training from a credible instructor. Just ensure you clarify the refund policy and set realistic expectations about the time and additional resources needed to build your own successful SaaS product.

FAQs about this course

Yes, you'll need intermediate JavaScript knowledge to follow along effectively. The course uses React and Node.js extensively, so familiarity with these technologies helps significantly.

The base course ($795) includes all 172 video lessons and Discord access. The $595 tier excludes project source code. Higher tiers add web boilerplate ($1,295) or both web and mobile boilerplates ($1,895) for faster implementation.

With 25.5 hours of video content across 172 lessons, expect roughly 4-6 weeks at 5-10 hours per week. Building your own SaaS afterward requires additional time commitment.

Yes, enrollment includes access to a Discord community where Kyle personally responds to questions. However, response time guarantees aren't specified.

Beyond the course fee, you'll need budget for domain registration ($10-15/year), hosting services ($10-100/month), and potentially third-party services for payments and emails.

The refund policy isn't clearly stated on the course pages. We strongly recommend contacting support directly to clarify terms before purchasing.

The SaaS Playbook ($149) is an ebook focusing on business strategy, while this course provides comprehensive technical training with 25+ hours of coding instruction for building an actual SaaS product.

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How to Build a SaaS screenshot
How to Build a SaaS Review
$ 795
Total score: 7,6/10 ⭐
  • Duration28
  • DifficultyMedium
  • Release Date01/2022
  • Format Self-Paced
  • AccessLifetime
  • Time InvestmentModerate (5–10 Hours/Week)
  • Payment Options One-Time
  • LanguageEnglish
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How to Build a SaaS Review