How to Build an AI SaaS App with Media Generation APIs (2026)

How to Build an AI SaaS App with Media Generation APIs

AI media generation is one of the hottest SaaS categories in 2026. Headshot generators, logo makers, video editors, virtual try-on tools, and avatar creators are generating millions in revenue — and they're all powered by the same underlying APIs.

This guide shows you how to build a profitable AI SaaS product from scratch using media generation APIs.

Proven AI SaaS Business Models

The margins are incredible — API costs are typically 2-5% of revenue.

Architecture Overview

┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│               Frontend                   │
│  Next.js / React / Vue                  │
│  Upload UI + Gallery + Payment          │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│               Backend API                │
│  Next.js API Routes / Express / FastAPI │
│  Auth + Job Queue + Webhook Handler     │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│           AI API Provider                │
│  Hypereal AI (50+ models)               │
│  Image, Video, Audio, 3D, Try-On       │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│           Infrastructure                 │
│  Database (Postgres) + Storage (S3)     │
│  Stripe + Auth + CDN                    │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘

Recommended Tech Stack

Step-by-Step: Build an AI Headshot Generator SaaS

Step 1: Set Up the Project

npx create-next-app@latest ai-headshots --typescript --tailwind
cd ai-headshots
npm install hypereal-sdk stripe @auth/nextjs drizzle-orm

Step 2: Create the Upload API Route

// app/api/generate/route.ts
import { NextResponse } from 'next/server';
import Hypereal from 'hypereal-sdk';

const hypereal = new Hypereal({ apiKey: process.env.HYPEREAL_API_KEY! });

export async function POST(req: Request) {
  const { imageUrl, styles } = await req.json();

  // Verify user has credits
  const user = await getAuthenticatedUser(req);
  if (user.credits < styles.length) {
    return NextResponse.json({ error: 'Insufficient credits' }, { status: 402 });
  }

  // Generate headshots for each style
  const results = await Promise.all(
    styles.map(async (style: string) => {
      const result = await hypereal.generateImage({
        model: 'seedream-4',
        prompt: getPromptForStyle(style),
        referenceImage: imageUrl,
        facePreservation: true,
        width: 1024,
        height: 1024,
        numImages: 3,
      });
      return { style, images: result.images.map(i => i.url) };
    })
  );

  // Deduct credits
  await deductCredits(user.id, styles.length);

  return NextResponse.json({ results });
}

Step 3: Set Up Stripe Payments

// app/api/checkout/route.ts
import Stripe from 'stripe';

const stripe = new Stripe(process.env.STRIPE_SECRET_KEY!);

const PLANS = {
  basic: { price: 999, credits: 40, priceId: 'price_basic' },    // $9.99
  pro: { price: 1999, credits: 100, priceId: 'price_pro' },      // $19.99
  business: { price: 4999, credits: 300, priceId: 'price_biz' }, // $49.99
};

export async function POST(req: Request) {
  const { plan } = await req.json();
  const session = await stripe.checkout.sessions.create({
    mode: 'payment',
    line_items: [{ price: PLANS[plan].priceId, quantity: 1 }],
    success_url: `${process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_URL}/dashboard?success=true`,
    cancel_url: `${process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_URL}/pricing`,
  });
  return NextResponse.json({ url: session.url });
}

Step 4: Handle Webhooks

// app/api/webhooks/stripe/route.ts
export async function POST(req: Request) {
  const event = await verifyStripeWebhook(req);

  if (event.type === 'checkout.session.completed') {
    const session = event.data.object;
    await addCreditsToUser(session.customer_email, session.metadata.credits);
  }

  return NextResponse.json({ received: true });
}

Unit Economics for AI SaaS

Growth Strategies

1. Free tier — let users generate 2-3 samples to see quality before paying
2. SEO content — target "AI headshot generator", "professional headshot AI", "LinkedIn photo AI"
3. Social proof — show before/after galleries
4. Referral program — "Give $5, get $5" credit system
5. API offering — sell API access to other businesses (B2B2C)
6. Vertical expansion — start with headshots, add logos, product photos, videos

Why Build on Hypereal AI

• 50+ models: Experiment with different models to find the best quality for your niche
• One API key: Don't manage 5 different AI provider accounts
• Pay-per-use: Your costs scale linearly with revenue — no upfront GPU commitment
• No restrictions: Build any type of AI media product
• Fast: Sub-second image generation for great UX
• Reliable: 99.9% uptime with auto-scaling infrastructure

Conclusion

Building an AI SaaS product has never been more accessible. With media generation APIs handling the hard part (AI inference), you can focus on what matters: building a great product and acquiring customers.

Start building your AI SaaS today. Sign up for Hypereal AI — 35 free credits, no credit card required.