React vs Next.js
type: Article
description: React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces with component-based architecture, while Next.js is a full-stack framework built on React that adds server-side rendering, static generation, and built-in routing. Next.js provides more out-of-the-box features for production applications, whereas React offers greater flexibility for custom implementations.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-06-09T19:17:45.450Z
date created: 2026-06-09T19:17:45.450Z
date modified: 2026-06-09T19:17:45.500Z
content reference time: 2026-06-09T19:17:45.500Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: React
about: Next.js
abstract: React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces with component-based architecture, while Next.js is a full-stack framework built on React that adds server-side rendering, static generation, and built-in routing. Next.js provides more out-of-the-box features for production applications, whereas React offers greater flexibility for custom implementations.
text: Framework Type. Rendering Capabilities. Routing System. Learning Curve. Setup Time. SEO Performance. Bundle Size (Hello World)
conclusion text: Choose React if you're building interactive dashboards, single-page applications (SPAs), or need maximum flexibility and simplicity for frontend-only projects. Choose Next.js if you're building production-grade web applications that require SEO optimization, server-side rendering, API routes, or static site generation capabilities.
additional property: npm Weekly Downloads
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: ~20M | Next.js: 3.2 million
  value reference: Next.js
additional property: Initial Bundle Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 40KB | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Render Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 2.5ms (React 19) | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Learning Curve
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 3-4 months | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Developer Satisfaction
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 85% | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Market Adoption
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 38% | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Active Job Postings
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: ~45,000 | Next.js: N/A
additional property: NPM Package Ecosystem
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 1M+ third-party libraries | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Meta Framework Maturity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: Next.js 15, Remix mature | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Documentation Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: Comprehensive but scattered | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Reactivity System
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: Hook-based with closure complexity | Next.js: N/A
additional property: State Management Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 150-300 lines | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Enterprise Readiness
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: Gold standard, Fortune 500 adoption | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Time to First Contentful Paint
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 3,500-4,200 ms (CSR) | Next.js: 800-1,200 ms (SSR/SSG)
  value reference: Next.js
additional property: SEO-Friendliness Score
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 35 (requires workarounds) | Next.js: 92 (native support)
  value reference: Next.js
additional property: Built-in Routing
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: No (requires React Router) | Next.js: Yes (file-based)
additional property: API Routes Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: No (requires separate backend) | Next.js: Yes (built-in)
additional property: GitHub Stars
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: ~230K | Next.js: 123,000
additional property: Setup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 5-10 minutes (CRA) | Next.js: 2-3 minutes (create-next-app)
  value reference: Next.js
additional property: Minimum Bundle Size (Hello World)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 42 KB | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Learning Curve to Proficiency
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 80-120 hours | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Fortune 500 Production Adoptions
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 300+ | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Job Postings (2026 Global Market)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 85,000+ | Next.js: N/A
additional property: NPM Ecosystem Packages
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 2M+ | Next.js: N/A
additional property: State Management (Out-of-Box)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: None (requires Redux, Zustand) | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Dependency Array Tracking
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: Manual via useEffect dependency arrays | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Job Postings (2025)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 125,000+ positions | Next.js: 285,000
  value reference: Next.js
additional property: DOM Update Speed
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 1x baseline (virtual DOM diffing) | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Minified Bundle Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 42 KB | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Available npm Packages
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 500,000+ | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Active Job Listings
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 300,000+ | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Community Tutorials & Resources
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: Largest frontend community with millions of tutorials | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Virtual DOM Architecture
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: Yes—batch re-renders via virtual tree diffing | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Current Stable Version
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: React 19 (2026) with server components and new hooks | Next.js: N/A
additional property: JSX Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: Yes—standard JSX with hooks paradigm | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Job Market Share (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 45% of job postings | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Minimum Bundle Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 42 KB | Next.js: ~65 KB
  value reference: React
additional property: Learning Difficulty Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 6/10 - moderate complexity | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Enterprise Readiness Score
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 7/10 - needs proper patterns | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Development Speed (relative)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: Baseline speed | Next.js: N/A
additional property: TypeScript Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 8/10 - excellent support | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Ecosystem Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 145k+ related packages | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Community Forum Activity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 125k+ posts yearly | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Long-term Maintenance Risk
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 3/10 - backed by Meta, stable | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Bundle Size (Hello World)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 42.3 KB | Next.js: 180
  value reference: React
additional property: Type
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: UI library (not a full framework) | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Maintained by
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: Meta (open-source) | Next.js: N/A
additional property: First Release
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: 2013 | Next.js: N/A
additional property: Current Version
  type: PropertyValue
  value: React: React 19 (2026) | Next.js: N/A
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/react
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/react
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/next-js
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/next-js
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/react-vs-nextjs
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/react-vs-nextjs
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/react-vs-svelte
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/nextjs-vs-remix
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/react-vs-solidjs
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/angular-vs-nextjs
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/nextjs-vs-astro
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/nextjs-vs-nuxt
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/nextjs-vs-sveltekit
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/nextjs-vs-gatsby
teaches: How to choose between React and Next.js
genre: Software

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: React vs Next.js — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

React
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Meta-backed JavaScript library for building component-based UIs with JSX syntax and unidirectional data flow.
subject of: React vs Next.js

Next.js
type: SoftwareApplication
alternate name: Next Js
language: en-US
description: React-based JavaScript framework enabling full-stack development with server-side rendering and edge deployment
subject of: React vs Next.js

React vs Next.js — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for React vs Next.js. Contains 158 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: npm Weekly Downloads
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Popularity
variable measured: Initial Bundle Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Render Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Learning Curve
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Developer Experience
variable measured: Developer Satisfaction
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Developer Experience
variable measured: Market Adoption
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market
variable measured: Active Job Postings
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market
variable measured: NPM Package Ecosystem
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Meta Framework Maturity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Documentation Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Developer Experience
variable measured: Reactivity System
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Architecture
variable measured: State Management Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Developer Experience
variable measured: Enterprise Readiness
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Enterprise
variable measured: Time to First Contentful Paint
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: SEO-Friendliness Score
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Built-in Routing
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: API Routes Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: GitHub Stars
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community
variable measured: Setup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usability
variable measured: Minimum Bundle Size (Hello World)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Learning Curve to Proficiency
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Educational
variable measured: Fortune 500 Production Adoptions
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Enterprise Adoption
variable measured: Job Postings (2026 Global Market)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Career Market
variable measured: NPM Ecosystem Packages
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem Maturity
variable measured: State Management (Out-of-Box)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Dependency Array Tracking
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Developer Experience
variable measured: Job Postings (2025)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Job Market
variable measured: DOM Update Speed
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Minified Bundle Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Available npm Packages
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Active Job Listings
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Job Market
variable measured: Community Tutorials & Resources
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Learning
variable measured: Virtual DOM Architecture
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Architecture
variable measured: Current Stable Version
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Release
variable measured: JSX Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Developer Experience
variable measured: Job Market Share (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Career & Market
variable measured: Minimum Bundle Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Learning Difficulty Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Developer Experience
variable measured: Enterprise Readiness Score
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Enterprise Features
variable measured: Development Speed (relative)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Productivity
variable measured: TypeScript Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Language Features
variable measured: Ecosystem Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Community Forum Activity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community Support
variable measured: Long-term Maintenance Risk
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Sustainability
variable measured: Bundle Size (Hello World)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Type
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Architecture
variable measured: Maintained by
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Architecture
variable measured: First Release
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: History
variable measured: Current Version
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Release Cycle
variable measured: Language default
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Language & types
variable measured: TypeScript Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Developer Experience
variable measured: Learning Curve
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Developer Experience
variable measured: Bundle size (base)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: State management
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Routing
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Form handling
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Data fetching
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: SSR / SSG meta-framework
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Mobile app framework
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: CLI / build tooling
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Tooling
variable measured: Testing (default)
variable measured: Licensing
variable measured: npm weekly downloads
variable measured: State of JS satisfaction (2025)
variable measured: Core Library Bundle Size
variable measured: Job Market Demand (US 2025)
variable measured: Developer Satisfaction Rating
variable measured: Time to First Production App
variable measured: Built-in Feature Completeness
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/react-vs-nextjs

React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for React vs Next.js.
has defined term: Popularity
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Developer Experience
has defined term: Market
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: Architecture
has defined term: Enterprise
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Community
has defined term: Usability
has defined term: Educational
has defined term: Enterprise Adoption
has defined term: Career Market
has defined term: Ecosystem Maturity
has defined term: Job Market
has defined term: Learning
has defined term: Release
has defined term: Career & Market
has defined term: Enterprise Features
has defined term: Productivity
has defined term: Language Features
has defined term: Community Support
has defined term: Sustainability
has defined term: History
has defined term: Release Cycle
has defined term: Language & types
has defined term: Tooling
has defined term: Licensing
has defined term: Adoption
has defined term: Career Prospects
has defined term: Learning & Onboarding
has defined term: Framework Capabilities
has defined term: Language Requirements
has defined term: Ecosystem Size
has defined term: Community & Adoption
has defined term: Career & Market Demand
has defined term: Maturity
has defined term: Ease of Use
has defined term: Enterprise Use
has defined term: Learning Resources
has defined term: Deployment
has defined term: Market Position
has defined term: Adoption & Market
has defined term: Technical
has defined term: Flexibility
has defined term: Full-Stack Features
has defined term: Modern Features
has defined term: Installation
has defined term: Backend
has defined term: Career & Employment
has defined term: Career & Jobs
has defined term: Development Experience
has defined term: Extensibility
has defined term: Industry Usage
has defined term: Development Speed
has defined term: Development
has defined term: Complexity
has defined term: User Experience
has defined term: Cost
has defined term: Onboarding
has defined term: Market Demand

Popularity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: popularity
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Developer Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: developer-experience
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Architecture
type: DefinedTerm
term code: architecture
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Enterprise
type: DefinedTerm
term code: enterprise
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: features
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Community
type: DefinedTerm
term code: community
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Usability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: usability
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Educational
type: DefinedTerm
term code: educational
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Enterprise Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: enterprise-adoption
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Career Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: career-market
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem Maturity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem-maturity
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Job Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: job-market
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Learning
type: DefinedTerm
term code: learning
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Release
type: DefinedTerm
term code: release
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Career & Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: career-&-market
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Enterprise Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: enterprise-features
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Productivity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: productivity
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Language Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: language-features
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Community Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: community-support
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Sustainability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: sustainability
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

History
type: DefinedTerm
term code: history
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Release Cycle
type: DefinedTerm
term code: release-cycle
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Language & types
type: DefinedTerm
term code: language-&-types
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Tooling
type: DefinedTerm
term code: tooling
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Licensing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: licensing
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: adoption
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Career Prospects
type: DefinedTerm
term code: career-prospects
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Learning & Onboarding
type: DefinedTerm
term code: learning-&-onboarding
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Framework Capabilities
type: DefinedTerm
term code: framework-capabilities
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Language Requirements
type: DefinedTerm
term code: language-requirements
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem Size
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem-size
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Community & Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: community-&-adoption
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Career & Market Demand
type: DefinedTerm
term code: career-&-market-demand
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Maturity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: maturity
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ease of Use
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ease-of-use
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Enterprise Use
type: DefinedTerm
term code: enterprise-use
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Learning Resources
type: DefinedTerm
term code: learning-resources
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Deployment
type: DefinedTerm
term code: deployment
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Position
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-position
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Adoption & Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: adoption-&-market
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Technical
type: DefinedTerm
term code: technical
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Flexibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: flexibility
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Full-Stack Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: full-stack-features
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Modern Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: modern-features
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Installation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: installation
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Backend
type: DefinedTerm
term code: backend
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Career & Employment
type: DefinedTerm
term code: career-&-employment
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Career & Jobs
type: DefinedTerm
term code: career-&-jobs
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Development Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: development-experience
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Extensibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: extensibility
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Industry Usage
type: DefinedTerm
term code: industry-usage
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Development Speed
type: DefinedTerm
term code: development-speed
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Development
type: DefinedTerm
term code: development
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Complexity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: complexity
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

User Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: user-experience
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Cost
type: DefinedTerm
term code: cost
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Onboarding
type: DefinedTerm
term code: onboarding
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Demand
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-demand
in defined term set: React vs Next.js — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-06-09T19:17:45.500Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: react-vs-nextjs
main entity: Can I use React without Next.js?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Yes, absolutely. React is a standalone library that works perfectly for building standalone applications. You only use Next.js if you need its specific features like SSR, static generation, file-based routing, or API routes. Many production applications use React alone with external libraries for routing and state management.
    language: en-US
main entity: Is Next.js just React with extra features?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Essentially yes. Next.js is built on top of React and adds a framework layer with server-side capabilities, routing, image optimization, and deployment tools. You still write React components in Next.js, but you get production-ready features out of the box. Think of it as 'opinionated React for full-stack development.'
    language: en-US
main entity: Which should I learn first?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Learn React first. React is the foundation—understanding components, state, and JSX is essential before learning Next.js. Next.js builds on React knowledge, so mastering React makes learning Next.js much easier (typically 2-4 weeks vs. 4-8 weeks for React).
    language: en-US
main entity: Can I migrate from React to Next.js?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Yes, migration is straightforward because Next.js is built on React. Your existing React components will work in Next.js. The main additions are adopting file-based routing and utilizing server-side features. Most projects take 2-6 weeks to fully migrate depending on complexity and library dependencies.
    language: en-US
main entity: What's the performance difference in real applications?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Next.js with SSR/SSG typically delivers 60-70% faster initial page loads compared to React CSR applications. For a typical e-commerce site, React CSR averages 4-5 seconds to interactive, while Next.js SSG averages 0.8-1.2 seconds. The difference is most noticeable on slower networks and mobile devices.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between React and Next.js
type: HowTo
description: React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces with component-based architecture, while Next.js is a full-stack framework built on React that adds server-side rendering, static generation, and built-in routing. Next.js provides more out-of-the-box features for production applications, whereas React offers greater flexibility for custom implementations.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Framework Type
step: Consider: Rendering Capabilities
step: Consider: Routing System
step: Consider: Learning Curve
step: Consider: Setup Time
step: Consider: SEO Performance
step: Consider: Bundle Size (Hello World)
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose React if you're building interactive dashboards, single-page applications (SPAs), or need maximum flexibility and simplicity for frontend-only projects. Choose Next.js if you're building production-grade web applications that require SEO optimization, server-side rendering, API routes, or static site generation capabilities.

Consider: Framework Type
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Framework Type: React has JavaScript UI Library, while Next.js has Full-Stack React Framework.

Consider: Rendering Capabilities
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Rendering Capabilities: React has Client-Side Rendering (CSR) primarily, while Next.js has CSR, Server-Side Rendering (SSR), Static Site Generation (SSG).

Consider: Routing System
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Routing System: React has Requires external library (React Router), while Next.js has Built-in file-based routing system.

Consider: Learning Curve
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Learning Curve: React has Moderate (core concepts only), while Next.js has Steep (requires React + Next.js-specific patterns).

Consider: Setup Time
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Setup Time: React has 5-10 minutes with Create React App, while Next.js has 2-3 minutes with create-next-app.

Consider: SEO Performance
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: SEO Performance: React has Poor (client-rendered content not indexed easily), while Next.js has Excellent (server-rendered pages are SEO-friendly).

Consider: Bundle Size (Hello World)
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Bundle Size (Hello World): React has ~42 KB gzipped, while Next.js has ~65 KB gzipped.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: React vs Next.js
review body: React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces with component-based architecture, while Next.js is a full-stack framework built on React that adds server-side rendering, static generation, and built-in routing. Next.js provides more out-of-the-box features for production applications, whereas React offers greater flexibility for custom implementations.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: React vs Next.js

Language default
type: PropertyValue
value: React: JavaScript / JSX | Next.js: N/A

TypeScript Support
type: PropertyValue
value: React: Excellent (optional) | Next.js: First-class, auto-generated types

Learning Curve
type: PropertyValue
value: React: Medium | Next.js: N/A

Bundle size (base)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: ~130 KB | Next.js: N/A

State management
type: PropertyValue
value: React: Zustand / Redux / Context | Next.js: N/A

Routing
type: PropertyValue
value: React: React Router | Next.js: N/A

Form handling
type: PropertyValue
value: React: React Hook Form / Formik | Next.js: N/A

Data fetching
type: PropertyValue
value: React: TanStack Query / SWR | Next.js: N/A

SSR / SSG meta-framework
type: PropertyValue
value: React: Next.js (dominant) | Next.js: N/A

Mobile app framework
type: PropertyValue
value: React: React Native | Next.js: N/A

CLI / build tooling
type: PropertyValue
value: React: Vite / CRA (deprecated) | Next.js: N/A

Testing (default)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: React Testing Library + Vitest | Next.js: N/A

Licensing
type: PropertyValue
value: React: MIT | Next.js: N/A

npm weekly downloads
type: PropertyValue
value: React: ~25M | Next.js: N/A

State of JS satisfaction (2025)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: 71% | Next.js: N/A

Core Library Bundle Size
type: PropertyValue
value: React: 42 KB | Next.js: N/A

Job Market Demand (US 2025)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: 8,234 postings | Next.js: N/A

Developer Satisfaction Rating
type: PropertyValue
value: React: 92% | Next.js: N/A

Time to First Production App
type: PropertyValue
value: React: 2-3 weeks | Next.js: N/A

Built-in Feature Completeness
type: PropertyValue
value: React: Routing, HTTP (via add-ons), state (via add-ons), testing (via add-ons) | Next.js: N/A

TypeScript Requirement
type: PropertyValue
value: React: Optional—can write pure JavaScript | Next.js: N/A

Popular Ecosystem Packages
type: PropertyValue
value: React: 4,200+ packages | Next.js: N/A

Weekly NPM Downloads
type: PropertyValue
value: React: 9.2 million | Next.js: 1.2M weekly
value reference: React

Time to Interactive (TTI)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: 2.8s average | Next.js: N/A

Hello World Bundle Size
type: PropertyValue
value: React: 42 KB | Next.js: N/A

Global Job Postings (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: ~18,500 | Next.js: N/A

Compatible npm Packages
type: PropertyValue
value: React: 2.1 million | Next.js: N/A

Production Applications (Documented)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: 2.5+ million | Next.js: N/A

Learning Curve Duration
type: PropertyValue
value: React: 40-60 hours | Next.js: 2-3 months (with React experience)
value reference: Next.js

Framework Age
type: PropertyValue
value: React: 11 years (2013-2026) | Next.js: N/A

Developer Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value: React: 42.8% | Next.js: N/A

Learning Curve (Hours to Proficiency)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: 60-80 hours | Next.js: N/A

Production Bundle Size (Hello World)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: 42.8 KB (minified+gzipped) | Next.js: N/A

NPM Ecosystem Package Count
type: PropertyValue
value: React: 2.8M+ packages | Next.js: N/A

US Job Market Openings (2025)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: 18,400+ active listings | Next.js: N/A

Fortune 500 Enterprise Adoption
type: PropertyValue
value: React: 89% of top 500 | Next.js: N/A

Official Documentation Satisfaction
type: PropertyValue
value: React: 82% developer satisfaction | Next.js: N/A

TypeScript Support Level
type: PropertyValue
value: React: Excellent (first-class support, community-driven type definitions) | Next.js: N/A

Development Server Cold Start
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 3-5 seconds

HMR Response Time
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 1000-2000ms

Default Bundle Size (Hello World)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: ~180KB

SSR Support
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: Built-in and optimized

API Routes/Backend
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: Native API routes included

Hosting Requirements
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: Node.js server or serverless

Configuration Complexity
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: Moderate (routing, SSR setup)

Enterprise Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 67%

Year-Over-Year Growth Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: Stable leader

Production Adoption (2024 Survey)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 68%

Current Major Version
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: v14/15

Rendering Methods Supported
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 5 (SSR, CSR, SSG, ISR, PPR)

Vendor Lock-in Risk
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: High (Vercel-dependent)

Learning Curve Complexity
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: Moderate-High (RSC paradigm)

Static Site Generation Support
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: Yes (SSG + ISR + PPR)

Build Startup Speed
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 400% faster

Bundle Size (Average SPA)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: ~180 KB (optimized)

Learning Curve (1-10 Scale)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 4/10 (moderate, flexible)

Built-in API Routes
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: Yes, native support

React Server Components Support
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: Yes, full support

Developer Preference Rate (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 62% prefer Next.js

Enterprise Adoption Rank
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: Growing, strong in mid-market

Default JavaScript Payload (Blog Homepage)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: ~110 KB

Build Time (100 pages)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 8-15 seconds

node_modules Size
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: ~450 MB

Framework Flexibility
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: React only

Native API Routes
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: Yes, built-in

Server-Side Rendering (SSR)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: Native (React Server Components)

Time to First Interactive (Typical Blog)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: ~2,100 ms

Job Market Demand
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 12,400

Learning Curve (Time to Competency)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 80-120

Default Bundle Size (HelloWorld)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 45

App Router/Framework Stability
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 104 weeks (v13.0+)

Compatible NPM Ecosystem Packages
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 500K+ React packages

Time-to-First-Byte (average)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 245

Initial Learning Curve
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 40-60

Job Market Openings (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 12,400+

Production Website Adoption
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 542,000+

TypeScript First-Class Support
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: Yes—native with excellent tooling

Build Time (Medium Project ~50 pages)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 45 seconds

Typical Project Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 5 minutes

GitHub Stars (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 128,000+

Supported Rendering Modes
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 4 (SSR, SSG, ISR, CSR)

Plugin Ecosystem Size
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 800+ official integrations

Hosting Infrastructure Requirement
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: Node.js server required

Market Adoption (% of surveyed developers)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 42% of React framework users

Time to Production (MVP)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 3-6 weeks

First Contentful Paint (FCP)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 1600ms average

Active Developer Community
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 320,000 developers

Built-in ORM Included
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: No (third-party required)

Serverless Cold Start Time
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 200-500ms (optimized)

Package Dependencies (avg project)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 40-80 npm packages

SEO-Optimized Rendering
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: SSR, SSG, ISR (hybrid)

Initial Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 3-5 minutes (create-next-app)

Cold Start Latency (Serverless)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 100-300ms (Node.js cold starts)

Built-in Database ORM
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: Requires Prisma/Drizzle/TypeORM

Average Page Build Time (SSG)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 0.2-0.5s per page (static generation)

Monthly NPM/Composer Downloads
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 18M (npm registry)

Type Safety Support
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: Native TypeScript support (first-class)

Hosting Cost (Entry-Level Annual)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: $0-60/month (Vercel Hobby or traditional hosting)

Ecosystem Package Count
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 3200K (npm registry)

Average Page Load Time (no optimization)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 200-400 ms (with SSG)

Latest Stable Release Year
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 2025 (v15)

SEO-Ready Features
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: Excellent (SSR, SSG, ISR)

Learning Curve (for beginner developers)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 30-50 hours (React required)

Frontend Component Library Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: Native (React components)

Initial Project Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 15-25 minutes (with dependencies)

Job Market Openings (Annual 2024)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 127,000

Authentication Solution
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: NextAuth.js or Auth0 (external)

Edge Deployment Support
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: Native; Vercel/Cloudflare optimized

Average Response Time (10K requests)
type: PropertyValue
value: React: N/A | Next.js: 45-80ms

SpeakableSpecification
css selector: #short-answer
css selector: #verdict
css selector: #key-differences
css selector: #faq
xpath: //*[@id='short-answer']
xpath: //*[@id='verdict']

React — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Next.js — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare React vs Next.js
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/react-vs-nextjs
object: React
object: Next.js

Testing (default)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Tooling

Licensing
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Licensing

npm weekly downloads
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption

State of JS satisfaction (2025)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption

Core Library Bundle Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Job Market Demand (US 2025)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Career Prospects

Developer Satisfaction Rating
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer Experience

Time to First Production App
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Learning & Onboarding

Built-in Feature Completeness
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Framework Capabilities

TypeScript Requirement
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Language Requirements

Popular Ecosystem Packages
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem Size

Weekly NPM Downloads
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Community & Adoption

Time to Interactive (TTI)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Hello World Bundle Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Global Job Postings (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Career & Market Demand

Compatible npm Packages
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Production Applications (Documented)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Maturity

Learning Curve Duration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Usability

Framework Age
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Maturity

Developer Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption

Learning Curve (Hours to Proficiency)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Production Bundle Size (Hello World)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

NPM Ecosystem Package Count
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

US Job Market Openings (2025)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Career Prospects

Fortune 500 Enterprise Adoption
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Enterprise Use

Official Documentation Satisfaction
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Learning Resources

TypeScript Support Level
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer Experience

Development Server Cold Start
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

HMR Response Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Default Bundle Size (Hello World)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

SSR Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

API Routes/Backend
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Hosting Requirements
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Deployment

Configuration Complexity
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Usability

Enterprise Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Position

Year-Over-Year Growth Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption & Market

Production Adoption (2024 Survey)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption & Market

Current Major Version
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Technical

Rendering Methods Supported
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Technical

Vendor Lock-in Risk
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Flexibility

Learning Curve Complexity
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Usability

Static Site Generation Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Technical

Build Startup Speed
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Bundle Size (Average SPA)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Learning Curve (1-10 Scale)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Usability

Built-in API Routes
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Full-Stack Features

React Server Components Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Modern Features

Developer Preference Rate (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Community

Enterprise Adoption Rank
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Enterprise

Default JavaScript Payload (Blog Homepage)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Build Time (100 pages)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer Experience

node_modules Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Installation

Framework Flexibility
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Architecture

Native API Routes
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Backend

Server-Side Rendering (SSR)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Time to First Interactive (Typical Blog)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Job Market Demand
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Career & Employment

Learning Curve (Time to Competency)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer Experience

Default Bundle Size (HelloWorld)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

App Router/Framework Stability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Maturity

Compatible NPM Ecosystem Packages
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Time-to-First-Byte (average)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Initial Learning Curve
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Usability

Job Market Openings (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Career & Jobs

Production Website Adoption
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Community & Adoption

TypeScript First-Class Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Development Experience

Build Time (Medium Project ~50 pages)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Typical Project Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer Experience

GitHub Stars (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Community

Supported Rendering Modes
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Plugin Ecosystem Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Extensibility

Hosting Infrastructure Requirement
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Deployment

Market Adoption (% of surveyed developers)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Industry Usage

Time to Production (MVP)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Development Speed

First Contentful Paint (FCP)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Active Developer Community
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Development

Built-in ORM Included
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Serverless Cold Start Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Package Dependencies (avg project)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Complexity

SEO-Optimized Rendering
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Initial Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

Cold Start Latency (Serverless)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Built-in Database ORM
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Average Page Build Time (SSG)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Monthly NPM/Composer Downloads
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption

Type Safety Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer Experience

Hosting Cost (Entry-Level Annual)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Cost

Ecosystem Package Count
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Average Page Load Time (no optimization)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Latest Stable Release Year
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Development

SEO-Ready Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Learning Curve (for beginner developers)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Onboarding

Frontend Component Library Integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Initial Project Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Development Speed

Job Market Openings (Annual 2024)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Demand

Authentication Solution
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Edge Deployment Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Deployment

Average Response Time (10K requests)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance