Launch HN: Unlayer (YC W22) – Add email and document builders to your app • Hacker News Board

Re: Launch HN: Unlayer (YC W22) – Add email and document builders to your app

#11

Post by hokage-at-leaf » Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 5:59 PM UTC

adeelraza wrote: post #10

cyberax wrote: post #9

I was interested for a few seconds, until I saw that it's a SaaS. Sorry, but that's a no-go at this point.

Fair :) We do have open-source pieces (Unlayer Elements, React Email Editor, AI Skills), but the hosted builder itself is commercial.

Just went through open-source pieces. Looking good.

Re: Launch HN: Unlayer (YC W22) – Add email and document builders to your app

#12

Post by leftnode » Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 6:17 PM UTC

orliesaurus wrote: post #2

Congrats on your late Launch HN. Everyone's going to ask this question but, in a world of AI/LLMs, why wouldn't I just build it myself in 10 min

Not the OP, nor do I have any relationship to them, but I've had to build or maintain plenty of these in my time and sure, an LLM can knock out a basic one easily, but there are so many edge cases that need to be accounted for that it gets complex quickly.

Congrats on the launch - this looks like a genuinely useful tool. I look forward to checking it out.

Re: Launch HN: Unlayer (YC W22) – Add email and document builders to your app

#13

Post by edc88 » Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 6:25 PM UTC

Congrats on the launch! Elements seems really useful and practical, what's the response been from builders so far?

Re: Launch HN: Unlayer (YC W22) – Add email and document builders to your app

#14

Post by 0xnyn » Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 6:25 PM UTC

Was ready to try this until I saw the launch video. It's pure AI slop.

If that's the first impression you're giving, you're underselling what looks like a legitimately useful product :(

Re: Launch HN: Unlayer (YC W22) – Add email and document builders to your app

#15

Post by adeelraza » Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 6:28 PM UTC

0xnyn wrote: post #14

Was ready to try this until I saw the launch video. It's pure AI slop. If that's the first impression you're giving, you're underselling what looks like a legitimately useful product :(

Fair critique on the video :') We’re working on a studio-recorded version, but didn’t want to delay the launch, so we hacked this together as the script/placeholder for now. But this is our launch video, completely, 100% recorded in blood and flesh of a human: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HsDtNkdMpM

Re: Launch HN: Unlayer (YC W22) – Add email and document builders to your app

#16

Post by adeelraza » Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 6:29 PM UTC

edc88 wrote: post #13

Congrats on the launch! Elements seems really useful and practical, what's the response been from builders so far?

We’re seeing really good momentum with our open source projects. React email editor and elements.

Re: Launch HN: Unlayer (YC W22) – Add email and document builders to your app

#17

Post by 0xnyn » Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 6:34 PM UTC

adeelraza wrote: post #15

0xnyn wrote: post #14

Was ready to try this until I saw the launch video. It's pure AI slop. If that's the first impression you're giving, you're underselling what looks like a legitimately useful product :(

Fair critique on the video :') We’re working on a studio-recorded version, but didn’t want to delay the launch, so we hacked this together as the script/placeholder for now. But this is our launch video, completely, 100% recorded in blood and flesh of a human: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HsDtNkdMpM

haha, fair enough 03:42 does the product justice :)

Re: Launch HN: Unlayer (YC W22) – Add email and document builders to your app

#18

Post by mandymoorefan » Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 6:49 PM UTC

Marketing site feedback - Use of the primary color in the checkbox is confusing at a glance. I see a red like color and think "Oh they don't support s3"

https://unlayer.com/pricing

Re: Launch HN: Unlayer (YC W22) – Add email and document builders to your app

#19

Post by mchusma » Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 6:55 PM UTC

adeelraza wrote: post #15

0xnyn wrote: post #14

Was ready to try this until I saw the launch video. It's pure AI slop. If that's the first impression you're giving, you're underselling what looks like a legitimately useful product :(

Fair critique on the video :') We’re working on a studio-recorded version, but didn’t want to delay the launch, so we hacked this together as the script/placeholder for now. But this is our launch video, completely, 100% recorded in blood and flesh of a human: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HsDtNkdMpM

My 2 cents, all these high level videos kind of suck, even the professional ones, when they don’t show the product. Even videos I produce for this purpose! I don’t think this is that bad. I’ve seen worse.

Re: Launch HN: Unlayer (YC W22) – Add email and document builders to your app

#20

Post by cyberax » Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 7:06 PM UTC

adeelraza wrote: post #10

cyberax wrote: post #9

I was interested for a few seconds, until I saw that it's a SaaS. Sorry, but that's a no-go at this point.

Fair :) We do have open-source pieces (Unlayer Elements, React Email Editor, AI Skills), but the hosted builder itself is commercial.

Just provide a downloadable version. Your server side should be just a glorified templating engine and a DB from consumers' point of view.

Charge for the local version, of course.