Next.js vs Traditional React: What's Best for Your Site

Choosing the right framework matters for custom website development. Next.js and traditional React (e.g., Create React App) both power modern websites—but they differ in performance, SEO, and how fast you can ship. Here’s a practical comparison for your next web development project.

What Is Next.js vs. React?

React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces. Next.js is a React framework that adds server-side rendering (SSR), static site generation (SSG), file-based routing, and built-in optimizations. So: React is the UI layer; Next.js is a full web framework on top of React, ideal for landing pages, business websites, and SaaS websites.

SEO and Discoverability

Traditional React single-page apps (SPAs) render in the browser, so search engines sometimes see less content until JavaScript runs. Next.js supports server-side rendering and static generation, so HTML is ready at request time—better for search engine optimization and Google SEO. If you care about SEO and organic traffic, Next.js is usually the better choice for professional web development.

Performance and User Experience

Next.js offers automatic code splitting, image optimization, and faster page load through SSR/SSG. That helps Core Web Vitals and website performance. A React app built with CRA can be fast too, but you often need extra tooling for website speed and performance optimization. For fast website development that’s also fast for users, Next.js is hard to beat.

When to Use Next.js

Use Next.js when you need: strong SEO, landing pages, marketing sites, e-commerce front ends, or SaaS websites. It’s the go-to for many web development agencies and custom website development projects where findability and page speed matter.

When Traditional React Still Fits

Pure React (or CRA/Vite) can still make sense for internal tools, dashboards, or apps where SEO isn’t critical. For public-facing business websites and content-heavy sites, Next.js is typically the better fit.

Bottom Line

For most website development projects that need SEO, fast load times, and a great user experience, Next.js wins over traditional React setups. It’s why we use Next.js for custom web development at Robin Studios—so your site is fast, findable, and built to last.