Frontend
React vs Next.js
When to use vanilla React and when Next.js is the better choice for your project.
| Dimension | React (Vite/CRA) | Next.js |
|---|---|---|
| SEO | Poor (client-side rendering) | Excellent (SSR/SSG) |
| Performance | Good with optimization | Great out of the box |
| Learning Curve | Lower | Slightly higher |
| Deployment | Any static host | Vercel, AWS, self-hosted |
| API Routes | Separate backend needed | Built-in API routes |
| Routing | Manual (React Router) | File-based (automatic) |
When to Use Each
When to Use React (Vite/CRA)
- Internal dashboards and admin tools
- Single-page applications without SEO needs
- Embedding React in an existing non-React app
- Team already has a separate backend
When to Use Next.js
- Public-facing websites and landing pages
- E-commerce and content-heavy sites
- Applications requiring fast initial page load
- Full-stack applications with API needs
Our Verdict
Use Next.js for most web applications. Use React SPA only for internal tools or apps that don't need SEO.