Next.js vs. Create React App: Which One Should You Choose ?

When starting a new React project, one of the critical decisions you need to make is selecting the right tool to set up and manage your application. Two popular choices are Next.js and Create React App (CRA). Both tools offer distinct advantages and cater to different project requirements. This guide will help you understand the differences between Next.js and Create React App, and assist you in choosing the best one for your project.

What is Create React App?

Create React App (CRA) is a boilerplate tool for quickly setting up a new React project with a standard configuration. Developed and maintained by Facebook, CRA aims to simplify the initial setup process and provide a development environment that includes:

• Zero configuration

• A standard project structure

• Hot reloading during development

• Built-in support for modern JavaScript features and CSS

• A single-page application (SPA) focus

What is Next.js?

Next.js is a React framework developed by Vercel that provides additional features and optimizations out-of-the-box. It is designed to enhance the developer experience and improve application performance. Key features of Next.js include:

• Server-side rendering (SSR)

• Static site generation (SSG)

• API routes

• File-based routing

• Incremental static regeneration (ISR)

• Built-in CSS and Sass support

• Optimized image handling

• Enhanced SEO capabilities

Key Differences

Project Setup

• Create React App: Offers a quick and easy setup with a standard project structure. It is ideal for developers who want to start coding immediately without worrying about configuration.

    npx create-react-app my-app
    cd my-app
    npm start
  

  Next.js: Also offers an easy setup but includes additional boilerplate for server-side rendering and static site generation.

    npx create-next-app my-app
    cd my-app
    npm run dev
  

Rendering Methods

• Create React App: Supports client-side rendering (CSR) only. All the rendering happens on the client side, making it suitable for SPAs.

• Next.js: Supports multiple rendering methods:

  • Client-side rendering (CSR)

  • Server-side rendering (SSR)

  • Static site generation (SSG)

  • Incremental static regeneration (ISR)

Routing

• Create React App: Uses React Router or any other third-party routing library. You need to manually configure routes in your application.

• Next.js: Comes with a built-in file-based routing system. Simply create files and directories in the pages directory, and Next.js automatically handles the routing.

Performance and SEO

• Create React App: Since it only supports CSR, performance and SEO might be less optimal compared to server-side rendering. All content is rendered on the client side, which can impact the initial load time and SEO.

• Next.js: Offers SSR and SSG, which can significantly improve performance and SEO. By pre-rendering pages on the server or at build time, you ensure faster initial load times and better search engine indexing.

API Routes

• Create React App: Does not include built-in support for API routes. You need to set up a separate backend server or use services like Firebase or AWS.

• Next.js: Provides built-in API routes, allowing you to create serverless functions within the pages/api directory. This feature simplifies the development process and reduces the need for a separate backend.

Customization and Configuration

• Create React App: Provides a zero-configuration setup, but customization is limited unless you eject the configuration, which can complicate the development process.

• Next.js: Offers more flexibility and customization options without the need to eject. You can easily configure Babel, Webpack, and other settings.

When to Choose Create React App

• Simple SPA: If you are building a straightforward single-page application without complex requirements, CRA is an excellent choice.

• Quick Prototyping: Ideal for quick prototyping and proof-of-concept projects where you need to get up and running fast.

• Learning React: Perfect for beginners learning React, as it provides a standard project structure and development environment.

When to Choose Next.js

• Performance and SEO: If your application requires excellent performance and SEO, Next.js's SSR and SSG capabilities are invaluable.

• Content-Rich Sites: Ideal for content-heavy websites like blogs, e-commerce sites, and marketing pages where pre-rendering and fast initial load times are crucial.

• Full-Stack Development: If you need to handle both frontend and backend logic within the same project, Next.js's API routes simplify the development process.

• Complex Applications: Suitable for complex applications that benefit from advanced features like file-based routing, serverless functions, and incremental static regeneration.

Explore more about Create React App in the official documentation and Next.js in the official Next.js documentation.

Happy coding!