My Tech Stack 2026 (Back-end)
The backend of my stack and how the pieces fit together.
This is part 2 of my tech stack series (see part 1 for the front-end, how the site looks and renders). This post is about where the data actually lives, how users are authenticated, and where I handle my API routes.
Next.js (API Routes)
Dont need to re-explain the framework, just extend it. API code route snippet
MongoDB
Where does the data actually live
Mongoose (Schemas)
Built on top of MongoDB, similar relationship as DaisyUI & Tailwind. Add schema code snippet like the TypeScript interface.
Auth.js
Logging people into their dashboard
Brevo (Emails)
Magic links, support email & Resend comparison
I initially tried Resend based on recommendations, and while it integrates better with Auth.js, I switched to Brevo for its more generous free plan. At the time of writing, Brevo's free tier allows 300 emails/day (more than enough for me) with unlimited contacts, compared to Resend's 3,000/month capped at 100/day. On paid plans, Brevo starts at $9/month versus Resend's Pro tier at $20/month. So I thought if I make the switch now I would save myself time and money in the future.
