Beyond the Demo: What Else You Can Build with the Lovable + Supabase + Stripe Methodology

The video Building a SaaS with Lovable, Supabase, and Stripe demonstrates how quickly a fully working product can come together with modern AI tooling. But the most important takeaway isn’t the specific app being built—it’s the methodology behind it.

What the video really shows is a new way of building software:

Describe the product in natural language → let an AI agent scaffold UI and logic → connect a real backend immediately → enforce rules in the database → iterate through conversation instead of boilerplate.

Once you understand that flow, the demo app becomes just one example among many.

The Methodology, Abstracted

Stripped of brand names and specific features, the workflow looks like this:

Start with intent, not architecture
You explain what the product should do, not how every system is wired.
Generate the frontend first
Dashboards, forms, feeds, and settings pages are scaffolded automatically.
Attach a real backend early
Supabase provides authentication, Postgres, storage, APIs, and security from day one.
Add payments as a feature gate
Stripe controls access to premium features, usage limits, or subscriptions.
Let the database enforce correctness
Permissions, constraints, and business rules live in Postgres, not fragile frontend logic.
Iterate by prompting, not refactoring
When something breaks or changes, you describe the issue and let the agent fix it.

This dramatically lowers the cost of experimentation—and expands what a single developer or small team can realistically build.

Step-by-step GUIDE

Video chapters: Intro (0:00) → Frontend (0:25) → Supabase (7:39) → Stripe (21:35) → Outro (55:15)

Notes:
The video builds a Google Photos–style SaaS: upload/view photos free, unlock features with Pro.
You’ll use Supabase for Auth, DB, Storage, and Edge Functions, and Stripe for payments + webhooks.

0) Prereqs (do once)

Accounts

Lovable (or your AI app builder)
Supabase project
Stripe account (test mode)

Local tooling (terminal)

# Node (recommended)
node -v

# Install Supabase CLI
# macOS (brew)
brew install supabase/tap/supabase

# Windows (scoop)
scoop bucket add supabase https://github.com/supabase/scoop-bucket.git
scoop install supabase

# Linux (snap)
sudo snap install supabase --classic

# Optional: Stripe CLI (helps with local webhook testing)
# macOS (brew)
brew install stripe/stripe-cli/stripe

1) Intro (0:00) — Define the app + plan the paywall

What you’re building

Landing page + Pricing page
Auth (signup/login)
App dashboard: upload + gallery
Pro unlocks: (pick 1–3) higher storage, bulk upload, albums, search, share links, etc.

Prompt (Lovable)

Build a Google Photos–style SaaS called PhotoVault.
Pages: / (landing), /pricing, /login, /signup, /app (dashboard), /account.
Features (free): sign up/login, upload images, view your gallery.
Pro features (locked): albums, bulk upload, and higher storage limit.
Add a clean, modern UI with a top nav. Use Supabase for auth + storage + database.

Checkpoint

You can navigate between pages.
UI clearly shows what’s locked behind Pro.

2) Build the frontend (0:25) — UI + feature gating

2.1 Landing + Pricing

Prompt (Lovable)

Create a pricing page with two tiers: Free and Pro.
Add a “Upgrade to Pro” button that will later start a Stripe Checkout Session.
Add a “Current plan” indicator when logged in.

2.2 Auth screens

Prompt (Lovable)

Add login/signup forms (email + password).
Add routing guards: unauthenticated users trying to access /app should be redirected to /login.
Add a simple account page with a “Sign out” button.

2.3 Dashboard skeleton + Pro gates

Prompt (Lovable)

In /app, add:
Upload card (drag & drop + file picker)
Gallery grid
“Albums” section (Pro-only): show a lock badge + CTA to upgrade if not Pro
Storage usage meter (free users capped at e.g. 250MB)

Checkpoint

Dashboard renders even before backend wiring.
Locked sections show the upgrade CTA.

3) Add Supabase as the backend (7:39)

3.1 Create Supabase project + get keys

In Supabase:

Create a new project
Note:
- Project URL
- Anon key
- (Later) Service role key (only for server/edge functions)

Prompt (Lovable)

Integrate Supabase:
Add env vars for SUPABASE_URL and SUPABASE_ANON_KEY.
Implement auth using Supabase auth.
Ensure /app requires an authenticated session.
Add sign out support.

3.2 Storage bucket for photos

In Supabase:

Storage → create bucket: photos
Set bucket visibility: private (recommended)
You’ll use signed URLs or authenticated downloads.

Prompt (Lovable)

Implement photo upload to Supabase Storage bucket photos.
Save metadata to a photos table (owner, path, created_at).
Display the user’s photos in the gallery (most recent first).
Use signed URLs for rendering images if the bucket is private.

3.3 Database tables (suggested schema)

Create tables in Supabase SQL editor:

-- Photos metadata
create table if not exists public.photos (
  id uuid primary key default gen_random_uuid(),
  user_id uuid not null references auth.users(id) on delete cascade,
  storage_path text not null,
  original_name text,
  mime_type text,
  size_bytes bigint,
  created_at timestamptz not null default now()
);

-- User profile + plan
create table if not exists public.profiles (
  user_id uuid primary key references auth.users(id) on delete cascade,
  plan text not null default 'free', -- 'free' | 'pro'
  stripe_customer_id text,
  stripe_subscription_id text,
  updated_at timestamptz not null default now()
);

3.4 RLS policies (critical)

alter table public.photos enable row level security;
alter table public.profiles enable row level security;

-- photos: users can read/write only their own
create policy "photos_select_own" on public.photos
for select using (auth.uid() = user_id);

create policy "photos_insert_own" on public.photos
for insert with check (auth.uid() = user_id);

create policy "photos_delete_own" on public.photos
for delete using (auth.uid() = user_id);

-- profiles: users can read only their own profile
create policy "profiles_select_own" on public.profiles
for select using (auth.uid() = user_id);

3.5 Local Supabase CLI (optional but recommended)

If you’re building locally (best practice for functions + env management):

# In your repo root
supabase init

# Link to your Supabase project (from Supabase settings)
supabase link --project-ref YOUR_PROJECT_REF

# Pull remote schema into local migrations (optional)
supabase db pull

# Push local migrations to remote (if you edited locally)
supabase db push

Checkpoint

Signup/login works against Supabase.
Upload stores file in bucket + row in photos.
Gallery shows only the logged-in user’s photos.

4) Add Stripe for payment processing (21:35)

Goal: when a user clicks “Upgrade”, you create a Checkout Session, then a Stripe webhook updates their plan to pro.

4.1 Stripe products + prices

In Stripe Dashboard (test mode):

Create Product: PhotoVault Pro
Create Recurring Price (monthly), e.g. $9/mo
Copy the Price ID (starts with price_...)

4.2 Add Stripe keys to env

STRIPE_SECRET_KEY (server-only)
STRIPE_WEBHOOK_SECRET (from webhook setup)
STRIPE_PRICE_ID (your Pro price)

If local:

# Example: store secrets for edge functions
supabase secrets set STRIPE_SECRET_KEY="sk_test_..." \
  STRIPE_PRICE_ID="price_..." \
  SITE_URL="https://your-app-domain.com"

4.3 Create an endpoint to start Checkout

You can do this either:

in your app’s server runtime (Next.js route, etc.), or
as a Supabase Edge Function (what the video uses)

Prompt (Lovable)

Add Stripe Checkout:
Add an API route (or Supabase Edge Function) POST /create-checkout-session.
Require an authenticated user.
Create/reuse a Stripe customer (store stripe_customer_id in profiles).
Create a subscription Checkout Session using STRIPE_PRICE_ID.
Return the session URL and redirect the user to it.

4.4 Supabase Edge Function: webhook handler

The video uses an edge function that listens to Stripe webhook events, verifies the signature, then updates the user’s profiles.plan to pro.

Create the function (terminal)

supabase functions new stripe-webhook

Deploy the function (terminal)

supabase functions deploy stripe-webhook

Set webhook secrets (terminal)

supabase secrets set STRIPE_WEBHOOK_SECRET="whsec_..." \
  STRIPE_SECRET_KEY="sk_test_..."

4.5 Configure Stripe webhook events

In Stripe Dashboard → Developers → Webhooks:

Add endpoint: your Supabase Edge Functions URL for stripe-webhook
Select events (minimum viable):
- checkout.session.completed

(You can later add subscription lifecycle events if you want automatic downgrades/cancellations.)

4.6 (Optional) Test locally with Stripe CLI

# Login once
stripe login

# Forward Stripe events to your local endpoint (if running locally)
stripe listen --forward-to http://localhost:3000/api/stripe-webhook

# Or forward to your deployed Supabase function endpoint
stripe listen --forward-to https://YOUR_PROJECT_REF.functions.supabase.co/stripe-webhook

Checkpoint

Clicking “Upgrade to Pro” takes you to Stripe Checkout.
Completing checkout triggers the webhook.
The app reflects plan = pro and unlocks Pro UI.

5) Wire plan checks into the app (post-Stripe)

Prompt (Lovable)

Implement plan-based access:
On login, fetch profiles.plan.
If plan !== 'pro', keep Pro features locked.
If plan === 'pro', unlock albums + bulk upload + higher storage limit.
Show current plan and a “Manage billing” link (optional).

(Optional billing portal)

Add a “Manage Billing” button that creates a Stripe Billing Portal session (server-only) and redirects.

6) Outro (55:15) — Final polish checklist

✅ Loading/error states for auth + upload
✅ Empty state for gallery
✅ File validation (size/type)
✅ Storage usage calculation (sum of size_bytes)
✅ “Delete photo” action (removes Storage object + DB row)
✅ Security review: private bucket + RLS

Quick copy/paste: “All-in-one” Lovable prompt (if you want to run it in one go)

Build a Google Photos–style SaaS called PhotoVault using Supabase + Stripe.
Pages: /, /pricing, /login, /signup, /app, /account.
Supabase: auth, photos bucket (private), photos + profiles tables, RLS policies for per-user access.
Features: upload images, gallery grid. Pro unlocks albums + bulk upload + higher storage limit.
Stripe: subscription Checkout with a Pro price; create checkout session endpoint; webhook (Supabase Edge Function) verifies signature and updates profiles.plan='pro' on checkout.session.completed.
UI: clear upgrade CTA, plan indicator, and locked feature sections for free users.

What Other Apps Can Be Built This Way?

Once you recognize the core building blocks—users, data, permissions, and payments—many app ideas naturally fit this approach.

1. Subscription-Based SaaS Products

This is the most direct extension of the video.

Examples

AI writing or research tools
Analytics or reporting dashboards
Productivity or workflow automation apps
Developer or design utilities

Why it fits

Stripe gates features or usage
Supabase tracks users, plans, and limits
AI handles repetitive dashboard UI easily

2. Content Platforms with Paid Access

Replace “photos” with any type of digital content.

Examples

Premium file or document storage
Private media libraries
Paid knowledge bases
Creator-only content hubs

Why it fits

Storage and auth are built in
Row-level security controls access
Payments unlock tiers or quotas

3. Marketplaces and Platforms

Add roles and transactions, and you get a platform business.

Examples

Freelancer marketplaces
Job boards with paid postings
Niche service directories
B2B lead marketplaces

Why it fits

Clear separation between buyers and sellers
Stripe handles fees or subscriptions
Database rules prevent data leakage

4. Internal Business Tools

Often the highest ROI use case.

Examples

Admin dashboards
CRM or sales tools
Inventory and asset trackers
Compliance or audit systems

Why it fits

CRUD-heavy interfaces are ideal for AI generation
Schemas change frequently
Supabase provides enterprise-grade Postgres without setup overhead

5. Booking and Scheduling Apps

Payments plus availability logic unlock real-world businesses.

Examples

Coaching or consulting platforms
Appointment booking apps
Event or class scheduling tools
Resource or room reservations

Why it fits

Payments unlock bookings
Database constraints prevent conflicts
AI scaffolds calendars and forms well

6. Education and Training Platforms

Swap “features” for “courses” or “lessons.”

Examples

Online course platforms
Cohort-based learning tools
Corporate training portals
Certification dashboards

Why it fits

Role-based access (students vs instructors)
Stripe handles course access or memberships
Supabase tracks progress and completion

7. Vertical SaaS for Niche Industries

This methodology shines in specialized domains.

Examples

Real estate management tools
Recruiting platforms
Legal or compliance software
Healthcare admin dashboards

Why it fits

Mostly structured data and rules
Heavy use of forms and tables
AI removes enormous amounts of boilerplate

8. Creator and Community Monetization Apps

Add payments to social mechanics.

Examples

Paid communities
Membership platforms
Private discussion spaces
Fan or supporter portals

Why it fits

Users + content + subscriptions
Stripe controls access
Database-level permissions ensure privacy

The Bigger Insight

The power of this approach isn’t speed alone—it’s scope expansion.

It enables:

UI to be generated instead of handcrafted
Infrastructure to be real, not mocked
Business rules to live in the database
Iteration to happen through language

The key question shifts from:

“Can I build this?”

to:

“Is this mostly users + data + rules + payments?”

If the answer is yes, this AI-first methodology can likely build it—quickly, credibly, and at production quality.

If you’d like, I can:

Map a specific app idea to this stack
Write a ready-to-use Lovable prompt
Outline the Supabase schema and Stripe flow

Just tell me what you want to build next.

Vibe Coding, SupabaseFrancesca Tabor29 December 2025

Beyond the Demo: What Else You Can Build with the Lovable + Supabase + Stripe Methodology

The Methodology, Abstracted

Step-by-step GUIDE

0) Prereqs (do once)

Accounts

Local tooling (terminal)

1) Intro (0:00) — Define the app + plan the paywall

What you’re building

2) Build the frontend (0:25) — UI + feature gating

2.1 Landing + Pricing

2.2 Auth screens

2.3 Dashboard skeleton + Pro gates

3) Add Supabase as the backend (7:39)

3.1 Create Supabase project + get keys

3.2 Storage bucket for photos

3.3 Database tables (suggested schema)

3.4 RLS policies (critical)

3.5 Local Supabase CLI (optional but recommended)

4) Add Stripe for payment processing (21:35)

4.1 Stripe products + prices

4.2 Add Stripe keys to env

4.3 Create an endpoint to start Checkout

4.4 Supabase Edge Function: webhook handler

Create the function (terminal)

Deploy the function (terminal)

Set webhook secrets (terminal)

4.5 Configure Stripe webhook events

4.6 (Optional) Test locally with Stripe CLI

5) Wire plan checks into the app (post-Stripe)

6) Outro (55:15) — Final polish checklist

Quick copy/paste: “All-in-one” Lovable prompt (if you want to run it in one go)

What Other Apps Can Be Built This Way?

1. Subscription-Based SaaS Products

2. Content Platforms with Paid Access

3. Marketplaces and Platforms

4. Internal Business Tools

5. Booking and Scheduling Apps

6. Education and Training Platforms

7. Vertical SaaS for Niche Industries

8. Creator and Community Monetization Apps

The Bigger Insight

AI Models

INDUSTRY

Real Estate

Legal Services

Education & EdTech

SERVICES & PARTNERS

RESOURCES

Events

E-LEARNING