React
UI library maintained by Meta, huge ecosystem
Category: Frontend framework
Best for: Teams building long-term web apps with many contributors
Overall rating: 4.7/5
Power: 4.8/5 · Ease: 3.6/5
Price: Free
React vs Next.js – Which is better for your next project?
Choosing between React and Next.js? This comparison breaks down their strengths, trade-offs, and ideal use cases so you can decide faster.
Quick verdict
For most teams, Next.js is the safer default. However, React can be a better fit if you lean into its specific strengths.
Next.js
Full-stack React framework with routing, SSR and API routes
Category: React meta-framework
Best for: React teams building production web apps, SaaS dashboards
Overall rating: 4.8/5
Power: 4.9/5 · Ease: 4.0/5
Price: Free
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | React | Next.js |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Frontend framework | React meta-framework |
| Typical use cases | Teams building long-term web apps with many contributors | React teams building production web apps, SaaS dashboards |
| Power / flexibility | 4.8/5 | 4.9/5 |
| Ease of learning | 3.6/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Price | Free | Free |
Pros & cons of React
Pros
- Massive ecosystem
- Backed by Meta
- Rich job market
Cons
- Can be boilerplate-heavy
- Steep learning curve for beginners
Pros & cons of Next.js
Pros
- Server-side rendering
- File-based routing
- Huge ecosystem
Cons
- Strongly tied to React
- Can feel complex for small sites
Which should you choose?
Pick React if you align with its ideal profile: Teams building long-term web apps with many contributors. Choose Next.js if you align more with: React teams building production web apps, SaaS dashboards.