Fullstacktics
Next.js vs React Comparison

Choosing between Next.js and React is one of the most common questions we get from clients. The short answer? Next.js is React—but with superpowers for production applications. Let's break down exactly when to use each.

What's the Difference?

React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces. Think of it as the engine.

Next.js is a React framework that adds routing, server-side rendering, API routes, and optimizations. Think of it as the complete car with the engine, wheels, and GPS.

When to Choose React (Create React App or Vite)

Perfect For:

  • Single-page applications (SPAs)
  • Internal dashboards and admin panels
  • Applications that don't need SEO
  • Projects where you want complete control over the build setup
  • Learning React fundamentals

Example Use Cases:

✓ Admin dashboards
✓ Internal tools
✓ Browser extensions
✓ Electron desktop apps
✓ Mobile apps with React Native

Quick Setup:

# With Vite (recommended in 2025)
npm create vite@latest my-app -- --template react-ts

# Traditional CRA (being phased out)
npx create-react-app my-app

When to Choose Next.js

Perfect For:

  • Marketing websites
  • E-commerce platforms
  • Blogs and content sites
  • SaaS applications
  • Any project that needs SEO
  • Applications requiring server-side logic

Example Use Cases:

✓ E-commerce stores
✓ Marketing websites
✓ Multi-tenant SaaS platforms
✓ Content management systems
✓ Web applications with complex routing

Quick Setup:

npx create-next-app@latest my-app

Feature Comparison

| Feature | React | Next.js | |---------|-------|---------| | Routing | Manual setup (React Router) | Built-in file-based routing | | SEO | Requires extra work | Excellent out of the box | | Server-Side Rendering | Needs custom setup | Built-in | | API Routes | Separate backend needed | Built-in API routes | | Image Optimization | Manual | Automatic | | Code Splitting | Manual configuration | Automatic | | Deploy Complexity | Medium | Easy (Vercel) |

Performance Comparison

React (SPA) Loading:

1. User visits site
2. Downloads JavaScript bundle (100-500KB)
3. JavaScript parses and executes
4. App renders
5. Fetches data from API
6. Updates UI
⏱️ Time to Interactive: 2-4 seconds

Next.js (SSR) Loading:

1. User visits site
2. Server sends pre-rendered HTML
3. User sees content immediately
4. JavaScript hydrates in background
5. App becomes interactive
⏱️ Time to Interactive: 0.5-1.5 seconds

Real Code Examples

React Component:

// src/components/ProductList.jsx
import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';

export default function ProductList() {
  const [products, setProducts] = useState([]);
  const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
  
  useEffect(() => {
    fetch('/api/products')
      .then(res => res.json())
      .then(data => {
        setProducts(data);
        setLoading(false);
      });
  }, []);
  
  if (loading) return <div>Loading...</div>;
  
  return (
    <div>
      {products.map(product => (
        <div key={product.id}>
          <h2>{product.name}</h2>
          <p>${product.price}</p>
        </div>
      ))}
    </div>
  );
}

Next.js Component (Server Component):

// app/products/page.tsx
async function getProducts() {
  const res = await fetch('https://api.example.com/products', {
    next: { revalidate: 3600 } // Cache for 1 hour
  });
  return res.json();
}

export default async function ProductList() {
  const products = await getProducts();
  
  return (
    <div>
      {products.map(product => (
        <div key={product.id}>
          <h2>{product.name}</h2>
          <p>${product.price}</p>
        </div>
      ))}
    </div>
  );
}

Key Difference: Next.js component fetches data on the server and sends ready HTML to the browser. React component fetches data in the browser after loading.

SEO Comparison

React SEO Challenges:

<!-- What Google sees initially with React -->
<div id="root"></div>
<script src="/bundle.js"></script>
<!-- Google has to execute JavaScript to see content -->

Next.js SEO Advantage:

<!-- What Google sees immediately with Next.js -->
<div id="root">
  <h1>Welcome to Our Store</h1>
  <div class="products">
    <div class="product">Product 1</div>
    <div class="product">Product 2</div>
  </div>
</div>
<!-- Content is already there, instant indexing -->

Routing Comparison

React Routing:

// App.jsx - Manual setup required
import { BrowserRouter, Routes, Route } from 'react-router-dom';

function App() {
  return (
    <BrowserRouter>
      <Routes>
        <Route path="/" element={<Home />} />
        <Route path="/about" element={<About />} />
        <Route path="/products/:id" element={<Product />} />
      </Routes>
    </BrowserRouter>
  );
}

Next.js Routing:

app/
├── page.tsx          → /
├── about/
│   └── page.tsx      → /about
└── products/
    └── [id]/
        └── page.tsx  → /products/:id

No configuration needed—file structure is your routing!

Cost Considerations

Hosting Costs (Monthly Estimates):

React SPA:

  • Static hosting (Netlify/Vercel): $0-20
  • Separate API backend: $50-200
  • Total: $50-220/month

Next.js:

  • All-in-one hosting (Vercel): $20-100
  • Can include API routes: Included
  • Total: $20-100/month

Migration Path: React to Next.js

Already have a React app? Here's the gradual migration strategy:

# Step 1: Create Next.js app
npx create-next-app@latest new-nextjs-app

# Step 2: Move components gradually
# Copy React components to app/components/

# Step 3: Convert pages one by one
# Start with least complex pages

# Step 4: Handle routing
# Next.js uses file-based routing

# Step 5: Update API calls
# Can move to Next.js API routes gradually

Quick Decision Matrix

Choose React if you:

  • ✓ Building an admin dashboard
  • ✓ Don't need SEO
  • ✓ Want maximum flexibility
  • ✓ Have a separate backend already
  • ✓ Building a mobile app with React Native

Choose Next.js if you:

  • ✓ Need great SEO
  • ✓ Want faster initial page loads
  • ✓ Building a public-facing website
  • ✓ Want built-in optimizations
  • ✓ Need server-side rendering
  • ✓ Want simpler deployment

The 2025 Recommendation

For new projects in 2025, we recommend Next.js for most web applications because:

  1. SEO is non-negotiable for most businesses
  2. Performance matters for user experience and conversions
  3. Developer experience has improved dramatically
  4. Deployment is simpler with platforms like Vercel
  5. App Router (Next.js 13+) makes React Server Components easy

Real-World Example: E-commerce Site

We recently migrated a client's React e-commerce site to Next.js:

Before (React SPA):

  • Google PageSpeed: 45/100
  • Time to Interactive: 3.8s
  • SEO ranking: Page 3-4
  • Conversion rate: 1.2%

After (Next.js):

  • Google PageSpeed: 92/100
  • Time to Interactive: 0.9s
  • SEO ranking: Page 1
  • Conversion rate: 2.8% (133% increase!)

What Changed:

// Before: Client-side fetching
useEffect(() => {
  fetch('/api/products').then(...)
}, [])

// After: Server-side rendering
async function Page() {
  const products = await getProducts() // Runs on server
  return <ProductGrid products={products} />
}

Common Myths Debunked

Myth 1: "Next.js is slower because of server-side rendering"

  • Reality: Initial page load is much faster. Subsequent navigation is just as fast as React.

Myth 2: "I can't use React libraries with Next.js"

  • Reality: Next.js IS React. All React libraries work (just mark client components with 'use client').

Myth 3: "Next.js is only for static sites"

  • Reality: Next.js handles dynamic data, real-time updates, and complex applications perfectly.

Bottom Line

Unless you have a specific reason to use vanilla React (like building an Electron app or you already have a separate backend), Next.js is the better choice in 2025 for web applications.

Still confused about which to choose for your project? We help companies make these architectural decisions every day. Let's chat about your specific needs.

Quick Start Resources

Learning React First?

  • Official React docs: react.dev
  • Our recommendation: Master React fundamentals first

Ready for Next.js?

  • Official Next.js docs: nextjs.org
  • Start with the App Router (Next.js 13+)

Need Both?

  • Build your core business logic in React
  • Use Next.js as the framework layer

Still have questions? Drop us a message and we'll help you choose the right tool for your project. We've built production applications with both and know exactly when to use each.