The Ultimate MVP Features Checklist for 2026
Every founder asks the same question: "What should I actually build first?" Here is the framework we use to cut scope without cutting value.
The biggest MVP killer isn't bad code. It's feature creep. You start with a simple idea, and somehow end up with a 47-feature roadmap that will take 6 months to build.
This checklist is designed to help you brutally prioritize. If a feature doesn't pass these filters, it doesn't make it into your first release.
The "Must Have" Foundation
These are non-negotiable for any SaaS MVP launching in 2026. Skip these and you're not launching a product, you're launching a demo.
User Authentication
Email/password + OAuth (Google at minimum). Magic links are nice-to-have but not required.
The ONE Core Action
What is the single thing your user came to do? Build that perfectly. Nothing else matters until this works flawlessly.
Payment Integration
Stripe is the default. If you can't charge money, you don't have a business. Launch with at least one paid tier.
Basic Dashboard
Users need somewhere to land after login. Keep it minimal but not embarrassing.
Mobile-Responsive Design
Over 60% of first visits come from mobile. If it breaks on phones, you're losing the majority of your traffic.
The "Should Have" Layer
These improve the experience significantly but aren't launch blockers. Add them in Week 2 or Sprint 2.
Email Notifications
Transactional emails for key events (welcome, payment, etc). Not marketing emails yet.
Settings Page
Profile updates, password changes, billing management. Basic but expected.
Analytics Tracking
Google Analytics or Plausible at minimum. You need to know what's working.
Basic Error Handling
User-friendly error messages. Nobody should ever see a raw 500 error.
The "Cut It" Zone
These features feel important but will slow you down. Resist the urge. Build them when you have paying customers asking for them.
Team/Multi-User Features
Unless your product is literally useless without collaboration, save it for later.
Admin Dashboard
You can manage early users manually. Build admin tools when you have 100+ users.
Multiple Integrations
Pick ONE integration that matters most. Zapier/API can come later.
Native Mobile Apps
A responsive web app covers 90% of mobile use cases. Apps are a post-PMF problem.
Onboarding Tours
If your product needs a tour to explain it, simplify the product first.
The One Question Filter
For every feature on your list, ask: "Will this directly help my first 10 users get value?"
If the answer is anything other than an immediate "yes," move it to the backlog. Your first 10 users don't care about your vision. They care about solving their problem today.