Microservices vs monolith for SaaS
Start with a monolith. Move to microservices only when you need to. Here is how to know when.
Architectural Pragmatism
Start with a modular monolith. Move to microservices only when your team and traffic demand it. We show you the signals to watch for in your growing SaaS.
The Modular Monolith
A modular monolith separates code into distinct domains (billing, users, notifications) within a single deployment. This provides clear boundaries without operational complexity. Most startups should start here.
When to Consider Microservices
Break into services when: teams are blocked waiting for deployments, different components have drastically different scaling needs, or you need independent technology choices per domain.
Signs You Are Ready
If your monolith takes over 30 minutes to deploy, if different features require different tech stacks, or if teams are stepping on each other code, consider the migration.
The Migration Path
Do not rewrite. Instead, extract one service at a time using the strangler fig pattern. Start with the least critical domain (like notifications) to learn the process.
Common Mistakes
Avoid premature microservices. Each service adds complexity in deployment, monitoring, and debugging. A well-architected monolith can handle 10 million users.
Sapterc Editorial Team
Expert insights on SaaS architecture and engineering.