Feature Flags for Startups: Meet the ConfigCat Startup Program
Shipping fast is part of startup life. Breaking production doesn't have to be.
Early-stage SaaS teams face a unique challenge: they need to ship new features quickly, experiment often, and release continuously without risking production stability. Speed drives growth, but uncontrolled releases can lead to outages, technical debt, and lost user trust. That's why feature flags have become a core part of modern startup release management.
The ConfigCat Startup Program was created to help startups build with the right foundations from the beginning. It gives early-stage teams access to a production-ready feature flag service with startup-friendly pricing, so they can release safely while everything is still under construction.
Why Do Startups Need Feature Flags Early
Feature flags (also called feature toggles) allow teams to control when and how new functionality becomes visible to users without redeploying code. For startups practicing CI/CD and rapid iteration, this separation of deploy and release is critical.
Shipping fast is essential for startups - but moving quickly without control can cost momentum, trust, or even a weekend fixing production. That's where feature flags come in.
Feature flags let you:
- Separate deploys from releases
- Test in production safely without exposing features to everyone
- Roll out new functionality gradually
- Instantly disable or adjust features when something goes wrong
The Hidden Cost of Homegrown Feature Flags
Many early-stage teams start with homegrown toggles: environment variables, config files, or simple flags in code. It works… for a little while.
But as your product grows, these shortcuts create tech debt:
- No rollback or gradual rollout options
- Harder to test safely in multiple environments
- Limited visibility and collaboration for your team
- Complex refactors when scaling
ConfigCat provides a production-ready feature flag management platform, giving you the flexibility of a homegrown system without the hidden maintenance costs, scaling issues, or operational risk.
⚡ Pro tip: Already using another feature flag platform like LaunchDarkly or Statsig? ConfigCat offers migration guides so you can switch smoothly without disrupting production.
Why We Created the ConfigCat Startup Program
At ConfigCat, we've seen startups struggle with two extremes:
- Building internal systems that don't scale
- Avoid professional tooling due to budget limitations common in early-stage startups
The Startup Program was designed to remove that trade-off. It provides early-stage teams with access to the same feature flag platform used in production by growing companies but with pricing and limits aligned to startup realities.
The goal isn't to add complexity. It's to give startups control over releases without complex setup.
What You Get in the Startup Program
The Startup Program gives early-stage teams the full ConfigCat feature flag platform, plus startup-friendly benefits:
- 50% off Pro or Smart annual plans in Year 1
- 25% off Pro or Smart annual plans in Year 2
- Early access to upcoming new features
This isn't a stripped-down edition. Teams get full feature flag capabilities, including:
- advanced targeting rules,
- percentage-based rollouts,
- multiple environments (development, staging, production),
- remote configuration management,
- generous monthly config.json downloads and network traffic limits.
You can start simple and scale when you're ready without refactoring your release infrastructure later.
How the Startup Program Compares to Our Forever Free Plan
ConfigCat's Forever Free plan is great for prototypes or early experiments. The Startup Program is for teams building real products with real users. If you're building a hobby project or early prototype, the Forever Free plan may be enough.
| Category | Forever Free Plan | Startup Program |
|---|---|---|
| Best suited for | Prototypes, side projects, early validation | Early-stage startups building and scaling a live product |
| Monthly config.json downloads | Up to 5M/month | 25M–250M (based on plan tier) |
| Network traffic | Up to 5GB/month | Higher traffic limits designed for growing products |
| Feature flags & environments | Core feature flag functionality | Full feature flag platform with higher limits & scalability |
| Targeting & rollout capabilities | Available within Free limits | Advanced targeting and percentage rollouts at scale |
| Monthly Active Users (MAUs) | Unlimited | Unlimited (fixed pricing, no MAU-based surprises) |
| Pricing | Free | 50% off Year 1, 25% off Year 2 |
For a full breakdown of plan limits and details, see our pricing page.
Who the Startup Program Is Built For
The program is designed for early-stage startups actively building and shipping software.
Eligibility criteria:
- Company founded less than 5 years ago
- Raised less than $5M USD in total funding
- Live website or product
- No paid ConfigCat subscription in the last 12 months
Not sure if you qualify? Apply anyway. We review applications individually, and the process typically takes up to one week.
A Two-Way Partnership
The ConfigCat Startup Program is designed as a long-term partnership with early-stage teams.
Startups receive meaningful discounts and early access to new features. In return, participants share feedback and experiences as they grow with us.
Full details about participation and commitments are available on the Startup Program page, where you can review everything before applying.
How to Join ConfigCat's Startup Program
If your startup qualifies, you can apply directly through the Startup Program page.
Once approved, you can activate your discounted plan and begin using production-ready feature flags from day one.
👉 Visit the Startup Program page to review the full details and submit your application.
Start with the Right Foundations
Every startup builds while everything is still under construction. Features evolve. Assumptions change. Roadmaps shift. That’s the nature of building a startup.
What shouldn’t shift is your foundation.
The ConfigCat Startup Program helps early-stage teams build safely from day one, without enterprise pricing or unnecessary complexity.
If you are still validating ideas or building a prototype, you can start with our Forever Free plan. Sign up here, no credit card needed. When you are ready to scale, the Startup Program gives you room to grow.
To learn more and apply, visit the Startup Program page. You can also follow ConfigCat on X, GitHub, LinkedIn, and Facebook to stay up to date with what we're building next.