If you're planning a new web project in 2025, you've likely encountered the Next.js vs React debate. While React has been the go-to library for building user interfaces since 2013, Next.js has emerged as the framework that extends React's capabilities with powerful features out of the box.
In this guide, we'll break down the key differences, use cases, and help you decide which one is right for your project.
Understanding the Basics
What is React?
React is a JavaScript library developed by Facebook (now Meta) for building user interfaces. It focuses on one thing and does it exceptionally well: creating reusable UI components. React gives you the freedom to choose your own tools for routing, state management, and other functionality.
What is Next.js?
Next.js is a full-featured React framework developed by Vercel. It builds on top of React and provides additional features like server-side rendering, static site generation, API routes, and file-based routing out of the box. Think of it as "React with batteries included."
Key Differences
1. Rendering Strategies
React (Create React App): By default, React apps are client-side rendered (CSR). The browser downloads JavaScript, then renders the page. This can impact initial load time and SEO.
Next.js: Offers multiple rendering options:
- Server-Side Rendering (SSR) — Pages rendered on each request
- Static Site Generation (SSG) — Pages pre-rendered at build time
- Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR) — Static pages that update in the background
- Client-Side Rendering (CSR) — Traditional React rendering when needed
2. SEO Capabilities
For SEO-critical projects, Next.js has a clear advantage. Server-side rendering means search engines can crawl your content immediately, without waiting for JavaScript to execute. This is crucial for content-heavy websites, e-commerce stores, and marketing sites.
"For European businesses targeting organic search traffic, SSR is often non-negotiable. Next.js makes this straightforward."
3. Routing
React: Requires a third-party library like React Router. You configure routes manually in your code.
Next.js: Uses file-based routing. Create a file in the pages or app
directory, and it automatically becomes a route. This convention-over-configuration approach speeds up
development.
4. Performance Optimization
Next.js includes built-in optimizations that you'd need to implement manually in a standard React app:
- Automatic code splitting
- Image optimization with next/image
- Font optimization
- Script optimization
- Prefetching for faster navigation
5. API Development
React: You need a separate backend server for API endpoints.
Next.js: Includes API routes feature. Create files in the pages/api directory, and
they become serverless functions. This is perfect for simple backends without managing a separate server.
When to Choose React
React (without Next.js) might be the better choice when:
- Building a Single Page Application (SPA) where SEO isn't critical
- Creating a dashboard or admin panel
- You need maximum flexibility in your tech stack
- Integrating with an existing backend
- Building a mobile app with React Native (shared logic)
- Your team has specific preferences for routing, state management, etc.
When to Choose Next.js
Next.js is typically the better choice when:
- SEO is important for your project
- Building a marketing website, blog, or e-commerce store
- You want faster initial page loads
- You need both static and dynamic pages
- You want a full-stack solution with API routes
- Targeting European markets where page speed affects rankings
- You want to deploy easily on Vercel or similar platforms
Real-World Considerations
Development Speed
Next.js typically leads to faster development for most web projects. The built-in features mean less time spent on configuration and tooling decisions. However, this comes with some opinions about how things should be done.
Learning Curve
If you know React, learning Next.js is straightforward — it's React plus some additional concepts. For React beginners, starting with plain React helps understand the fundamentals before adding Next.js's abstractions.
Hosting & Deployment
Next.js apps can be deployed on Vercel (the creators of Next.js) with zero configuration, or on other platforms like AWS, Netlify, or traditional servers. React SPAs are simpler to deploy but don't offer the same server-side capabilities.
Our Recommendation
For most new web projects in 2025, we recommend starting with Next.js. Here's why:
- The App Router (introduced in Next.js 13) provides an excellent developer experience
- Server Components reduce JavaScript sent to the client
- Built-in optimizations save development time
- SEO benefits are significant for European markets
- The ecosystem and community support are strong
However, if you're building an internal tool, dashboard, or highly interactive SPA where SEO doesn't matter, a simpler React setup might be more appropriate.
Conclusion
The "Next.js vs React" question is somewhat misleading — Next.js is built on React. The real question is whether you need the additional features Next.js provides.
For most production websites targeting European audiences, Next.js offers compelling advantages in performance, SEO, and developer experience that make it the default choice in 2025.
Need help deciding on the right tech stack for your project? Get in touch — we're happy to discuss your specific requirements.