Discover how to seamlessly integrate Stripe payments into your Next.js app using Update, the developer-first platform that simplifies auth and billing. This guide walks you through the process step-by-step, providing code examples and best practices for adding secure, user-friendly payment flows to your Next.js application.

Introduction

When building a modern web application, accepting payments is often a crucial requirement. Stripe is a popular and reliable payment gateway that allows developers to easily process transactions. However, integrating Stripe into a Next.js app can be challenging, especially when it comes to handling server-side rendering (SSR) and managing user authentication alongside billing.

Enter Update - a powerful platform that wraps authentication and billing providers like Supabase and Stripe, enabling you to integrate auth, subscriptions, paywalls, and user entitlements in minutes. With Update, you can focus on building your core product while leaving the complexities of payment integration to a trusted solution.

Why Choose Update for Stripe Integration in Next.js?

Update offers several key benefits for developers looking to integrate Stripe payments into their Next.js applications:

• Rapid Integration: Update allows you to set up subscriptions and payment flows in minutes, not days. With pre-built user authentication and billing flows, you can get up and running quickly.
• Seamless Auth and Billing: Update handles both authentication and billing out-of-the-box. You don't need to worry about managing separate systems or complex integrations.
• Next.js Compatibility: Update is built with modern stacks like Next.js in mind. It provides full server-side rendering (SSR) support, ensuring a smooth experience for your users.
• Feature Entitlements: Update includes an entitlement system that allows you to easily lock or unlock features and content based on user subscriptions. This enables you to create tiered pricing plans and manage access control effortlessly.

Getting Started with Update and Stripe in Next.js

To get started with Update in your Next.js app, follow these steps:

1. Installation and Initialization

First, install the Update package using npm or pnpm:

npm install @update/update-js
# or
pnpm add @update/update-js

Next, initialize the Update client with your Supabase or other provider credentials:

import { Update } from '@update/update-js';
 
const update = new Update({
  // Your Update configuration
});

2. Next.js Setup

To properly set up Update in a Next.js SSR environment, create a `utils` directory with separate files for client and server usage:

// utils/update-client.js
import { Update } from '@update/update-js';
 
let update;
export function getUpdateClient() {
  if (!update) {
    update = new Update({
      // Client-side configuration
    });
  }
  return update;
}
 
// utils/update-server.js
import { Update } from '@update/update-js';
 
export function getUpdateServer() {
  return new Update({
    // Server-side configuration
  });
}

3. Creating a Checkout Session

To initiate a Stripe checkout session, use the Update billing API:

import { getUpdateClient } from '../utils/update-client';
 
const update = getUpdateClient();
 
const session = await update.billing.createCheckoutSession({
  mode: 'subscription',
  lineItems: [
    {
      price: 'price_your_price_id',
      quantity: 1,
    },
  ],
});
 
window.location.href = session.url;

This code creates a new checkout session with a subscription plan and redirects the user to the Stripe checkout page.

4. Verifying Authentication and Subscriptions

To verify user authentication and check subscription status, use the Update auth and billing APIs:

import { getUpdateServer } from '../utils/update-server';
 
const update = getUpdateServer();
 
const session = await update.auth.getSession();
if (!session) {
  // Handle unauthenticated user
}
 
const subscription = await update.billing.getSubscription(session.user.id);
if (!subscription || subscription.status !== 'active') {
  // Handle inactive or missing subscription
}
 
// User is authenticated and has an active subscription

This code retrieves the user session and subscription details, allowing you to conditionally render content or features based on the user's authentication and subscription status.

Conclusion

Integrating Stripe payments into your Next.js application doesn't have to be a daunting task. With Update, you can streamline the process and get your payment flows up and running in no time. By leveraging Update's pre-built authentication and billing features, you can focus on delivering value to your users while ensuring a secure and seamless payment experience.

To get started with Update and transform your Next.js app's payment capabilities, sign up for an account at update.com. Experience the power of simplified auth and billing integration today!