When building modern web applications, developers often compare Next.js and React. While they are closely related, they serve different purposes and offer different capabilities.
This guide summarizes the key differences and helps you decide which one fits your project best.
What is React?
React is a JavaScript library used to build user interfaces, especially for single-page applications (SPAs). It focuses only on the view layer, allowing developers to create reusable UI components and manage state efficiently.
However, React alone does not include built-in routing, server-side rendering, or backend features. Developers typically integrate additional libraries for those functionalities.
React is ideal for:
Interactive web applications
Dashboards and SaaS platforms
Projects where SEO is not a primary concern
What is Next.js?
Next.js is a full-featured framework built on top of React. It extends React by adding powerful built-in capabilities such as:
Server-Side Rendering (SSR)
Static Site Generation (SSG)
Automatic file-based routing
API routes (basic backend functionality)
Image optimization
Performance enhancements
Because of these features, Next.js is more production-ready out of the box and requires less manual setup compared to a plain React application.
When Should You Choose React?
Choose React if:
You're building a highly interactive single-page application.
SEO is not critical.
You prefer full flexibility in choosing your tools and architecture.
You want a lightweight frontend-only project.
When Should You Choose Next.js?
Choose Next.js if:
SEO is important (blogs, marketing websites, e-commerce).
You need better performance and faster initial page loads.
You want server-side rendering or static generation.
You prefer a structured, production-ready setup.
You need simple backend functionality within the same project.
Final Thoughts
React gives you flexibility and control, while Next.js provides structure and built-in optimizations.
If you're building a content-heavy website or need strong SEO, Next.js is usually the better choice. If you're developing a complex interactive application with minimal SEO requirements, React may be enough.
This comparison is based on insights discussed in the official blog by Strapi, highlighting how both tools fit into modern web development workflows.