Better Fullstack vs Wasp
Wasp describes itself as "a Rails-like framework for React, Node.js, and Prisma". You describe routes, pages, queries, and auth in a main.wasp.ts spec file, write the rest in React and Node.js, and the Wasp compiler generates the full app source. Projects start with `wasp new`.
Better Fullstack is a generator rather than a framework. It writes a project that uses the libraries you selected directly, from 995 options across 8 ecosystems, with no spec file or compiler in between.
Facts about Wasp checked against its public repository and documentation on 2026-10-06.
| At a glance | Better Fullstack | Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Model | One-time generator, plain library code | Framework: spec file plus compiler |
| Stack | Selectable frontend, backend, API layer, and ORM | React, Node.js, Prisma |
| Database | 6 databases, 32 ORMs | SQLite (default, development) or PostgreSQL |
| Auth | 30 providers (Better-Auth, Clerk, Auth.js, …) | Built in: email, username and password, Google, GitHub, Keycloak, Slack, Discord |
| Starter templates | Presets, option catalog, or a visual builder | basic, minimal, saas |
| Language ecosystems | TypeScript, React Native, Rust, Python, Go, Java, Elixir, .NET | JavaScript or TypeScript (React and Node.js) |
| Interfaces | CLI, visual web builder, MCP server for AI agents | Wasp CLI |
Two models: framework versus generator
Wasp keeps a high-level description of the whole app in its spec file and generates the code from it, which removes boilerplate and lets features such as full-stack auth, RPC operations, jobs, and email work together out of the box. The generated code is visible in the .wasp directory, and the app can be deployed anywhere.
Better Fullstack writes the project once and then steps aside. The result is ordinary code for the libraries you picked, and later changes go through its add and update commands or through direct edits.
What Wasp gives you
A React frontend, a Node.js backend, and Prisma, with built-in auth methods, typed client-server operations, jobs, and email sending. `wasp new` offers three starters: basic (the default), minimal, and saas, which comes with auth, the ChatGPT API, Tailwind, and Stripe payments. Wasp runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows through WSL.
What Better Fullstack adds
Choice at every layer. The frontend can be Next.js, SvelteKit, Nuxt, Astro, or another option, the backend can be Hono, Fastify, NestJS, or a service in another language, and the catalog includes 26 API layers, 30 auth providers, and 11 payment providers. Mobile apps with Expo can sit in the same project.
When Wasp is the right choice
Pick Wasp when React, Node.js, and Prisma are the stack you want and you prefer a framework that handles auth, operations, and jobs for you through one spec. Its saas starter is a useful base for subscription products on that stack.
Frequently asked questions
Does Better Fullstack have a spec file like main.wasp.ts?
It records your selections in a bts.jsonc file that the add, status, and update commands read, but your app code does not depend on it. There is no compiler step between your code and the running app.
Which databases does each tool support?
Wasp supports SQLite for development and PostgreSQL. Better Fullstack offers 6 databases, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, and MongoDB, with 32 ORMs.
Can I use a non-JavaScript backend?
Not with Wasp, which targets Node.js. Better Fullstack can generate backends in Rust, Python, Go, Java, Elixir, or .NET, alone or next to a TypeScript frontend.
Try it in the builder
Configure any stack visually and get a ready-to-run command - every combination is compatibility-checked.
bun create better-fullstack@latestSee how Better Fullstack compares to other tools on the full comparison page.