10 SaaS Ideas for 2026: Solving Problems People Actually Have
Finding the right project to build is often harder than the building itself. In 2026, the market is moving away from "nice-to-have" tools toward "pain-killers" that solve specific, deep-seated problems.
Here are 10 SaaS ideas that tackle real-world friction points.
1. AI-Powered Compliance Monitor for Small Businesses
Regulation is moving faster than ever. A tool that scans a business's local laws and automatically flags compliance risks in their marketing or operations could save thousands in legal fees.
2. Micro-Saas for Specialized E-commerce Logistics
The "broad" Shopify apps are saturated. Build something hyper-specific: e.g., an automated return management system specifically for fragile ceramics or high-value vintage electronics.
3. Remote Team "Culture" measurement
With remote work being the norm, middle management is struggling to measure team sentiment without intrusive tracking. A platform that gamifies feedback and measures "team health" via a Slack/Discord integration is more valuable than ever.
4. Privacy-First Personal Knowledge Base
As AI models consume everything we put online, people are looking for ways to store their notes and ideas locally or in encrypted, private clouds that AI cannot scrape without permission.
5. Automated "Green" Audit for Websites
Businesses are increasingly required to report their carbon footprint. A tool that audits the energy efficiency of their tech stack and suggests optimizations would be a hit in the enterprise space.
6. Local Services Marketplace for "Micro-Niches"
Think Airbnb or Fiverr, but for extremely local micro-needs: e.g., "shared kitchen space for bakers in specific zip codes."
7. AI-Driven Habit Tracker for Developers
A tool that integrates with GitHub and VS Code to measure not just "lines of code," but deep work sessions, focus blocks, and burnout risks based on commit patterns.
8. Financial Orchestration for Content Creators
Creators have 10+ income streams. A dashboard that pulls from Patreon, YouTube, TikTok, and brand deals to provide a unified P&L (Profit and Loss) statement is a high-growth niche.
9. Automated Testing for "Low-Code" Apps
As more businesses use Zapier, Bubble, and Framer, the need for automated integration testing in these ecosystems is exploding.
10. Digital Legacy Manager
A secure way to manage one's digital presence (social media, crypto keys, private files) after they pass away, ensuring loved ones get access without compromising security today.
What should you build? Don't pick the one that sounds "coolest." Pick the one where you understand the user's pain the most. The goal of WhatToBuild is to help you find that intersection of skill and demand.
Browse our Problem Feed to find even more raw ideas submitted by real people!