Ready to build a dedicated web app?
Well, that’s the reason, you have landed right here, planning to turn your dreams into reality with responsive web app development!
Confused about React vs. Next.js for web development?
Let’s face it!
As a seasoned developer, I understand that the market is flooded with abundant frameworks and libraries! But during my research and experience, I found businesses and developers working with “React” and “Next.js” to build their apps!
But why so? Why not others?
Well, the stats don’t lie!
- React has 5.9% of the global market share of the JavaScript library so it is still an absolute favorite.
- Netflix, Airbnb, and Instagram are popular applications built using React, which is very common in enterprises.
- More than 40% of software developers claimed that they utilized React for web and mobile projects.
And speaking of Next.js, it is also quite popular and has been used as an ideal framework to build landing pages, eCommerce apps, and marketing websites!
Thus, it’s no secret React and Next.js is one of the popular web app development frameworks for building web apps.
Now, the question is- What’s the difference between React and Next.js? Is Next.js better than React?
Let’s get started!
What is React?
Developed by Facebook, React was released in 2013 and since then, it has become one of the popular libraries for building web apps. React is one of the popular front-end libraries that enable developers to create responsive, scalable, and front-end interfaces for web application development. Furthermore, its component-based architecture, declarative syntax, and virtual DOM make it a popular choice for developers to build web apps of all sizes.
Note: React depends on JavaScript for rendering. If your target users are usually disabled using screen readers then you may need to look out for alternate options.
In a nutshell, React is an efficient and performance-packed library that I would suggest everyone use for web app development!
What are the Features of React for Web App Development?
Let’s take a look at the incredible features of React for web app development.
Feature #1: Efficient Component-Based Architecture
One of the major features of React is that its UIs are divided into reusable components which then use their state, logic, and UI to build and maintain complex user interfaces.
{Also Read: Best React Native UI Component Libraries in 2025}
Feature #2: Virtual DOM
The popular framework efficiently leverages a virtual DOM to update the UI. Unlike other frameworks, React creates a visual representation of the DOM and then compares it with the actual DOM to significantly improve performance.
Feature #3: Utilization of JavaScript XML
React allows developers to write HTML-like code directly with JavaScript. With the JSX (JavaScript XML), it makes it easier to write and visualize UI components.
Feature #4: Wide Community & Ecosystem
Another major feature of React is that it has a large community where a pool of developers interacts with each other to clarify their doubts and gain knowledge. Furthermore, it comes with a wide range of tools, libraries, and frameworks to extend the functionality of your web app.
Feature #5: Hooks for Readability
Last but not least, React introduced Hooks which enables developers to reuse logic between components and write more readable code. Furthermore, it doesn’t let professionals write class components.
When Should You Use React for Web App Development?
Here’s a list of the use cases of React to consider for web app development projects.
- Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)
- Single Page Applications (SPAs)
- Social networking platforms
- Content Management Systems (CMS)
- eCommerce websites
- Employee portals
- Task management apps
In the debate of Next.js vs React, we have discussed “React” and its features! Now, it’s time to set our sights on “Next.js”!
What is Next.js?
Our next contender, “Next.js” is an open-source React framework for building responsive, scalable, and feature-rich web apps for modern businesses. Furthermore, it comes with built-in features like static site generation (SSG), server-side rendering (SSR), API routes, CSS, Sass support, routing, and automatic code splitting.
If you want to build an SEO-centric app with improved performance then Next.js would be an ideal choice.
What are the Features of Next.js for App Development?
Here’s a list of the features of Next.js for web app development.
Feature #1: Server-Side Rendering
One of the biggest features of Next.js is that it allows developers to render React components on the server-side which can ultimately improve performance and SEO.
Feature #2: Automatic Code Splitting
Another feature of Next.js is that it automatically divides your code into smaller bundles to significantly reduce the initial load time of your application.
Feature #3: Routing
Next.js renders a dedicated file-based routing system where each React component goes to a route to aid developers in hassle-free management of routing configurations.
Feature #4: CSS & Sass Support
This is where Next.js takes the lead in the battle of React vs Next.js! It provides dedicated built-in support which makes it easy to integrate with famous styling solutions.
Feature #5: Dedicated API Routes
Last but not least, Next.js allows you to create dedicated API routes as serverless functions which can easily be used to perform server-side operations.
What is the Difference Between React vs. Next.js for App Development?
When speaking of the difference between React and Next.js for app development, it’s essential to understand their differences based on key parameters. While both are widely used for building modern web applications, they serve different purposes. Let’s break them down.
Parameter #1. Architecture & Rendering
React is a library for building UI components, primarily using Client-Side Rendering (CSR). In the case of React, the page is rendered in the browser, which can sometimes lead to slower initial load times but offers a dynamic, interactive experience.
Next.js, on the other hand, is a full-stack framework built on top of React. It supports Server-Side Rendering (SSR), Static Site Generation (SSG), and Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR). Furthermore, these rendering techniques improve page load speed and SEO by preloading content on the server rather than relying solely on the client.
Parameter #2. Performance & Speed
Since React relies on CSR, it may suffer from slower first-time loads because the browser has to fetch JavaScript, execute it, and then display the page. Thus, it may negatively impact performance, especially for content-heavy applications.
Next.js significantly enhances performance through SSR and SSG, which generate HTML content before it reaches the user’s browser. Remember that features like automatic image optimization, prefetching, and static generation make Next.js applications faster and more efficient.
Parameter #3. API Handling & Backend Capabilities
React is purely front-end-focused. To handle APIs, developers usually rely on external tools like Axios or Fetch to make requests to a backend service.
Next.js offers built-in API routes, which allow developers to create backend endpoints within the same project. Furthermore, it is an ideal choice for full-stack applications without needing a separate backend setup.
Is Next.js Better than React?
There is no definite answer to the question- “Is Next.js better than React”? Instead, it really depends on what you’re building. React and Next.js serve different purposes, even though Next.js is built on top of React.
When Next.js is Better Than React?
If you need SEO-friendly pages, faster performance, or server-side rendering (SSR), then think of none other than Next.js!
For example, if you’re building a blog, e-commerce site, or marketing website, Next.js will help your pages load faster and rank better on Google. Furthermore, it pre-renders pages before they reach the browser, unlike React, which relies on client-side rendering (CSR).
Let’s say you’re building an online store. With React alone, your product pages might take longer to show up because they need to fetch data in the browser. On the other hand, with Next.js, those pages can be pre-generated, so they load almost instantly.
Let’s take a reverse-case scenario!
When React is Better Than Next.js?
If you’re building a single-page application (SPA) or a project that doesn’t need SEO, plain React might be the better choice. React gives you more flexibility, and you don’t have to deal with the extra setup that comes with Next.js.
Let’s say you are preparing a dashboard or an internal tool, React is usually enough because these don’t rely on search engine rankings. Furthermore, when you have tools like React Router, you can still create a smooth experience without Next.js.
In my opinion, the scorecard looks like this;
If you need better performance, SEO, and SSR, go with Next.js. On the other hand, if you’re building an interactive app with minimal SEO needs, React is a solid choice.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it! That’s a wrap to the React vs Next.js battle for building web apps! It is no secret that both React & Next.js are ideal frameworks to build responsive, feature-rich, and scalable web apps for modern businesses! However, choosing the one between the two depends on your project requirements.
When it comes to building content-loaded apps with an SEO-driven strategy then Next.js is an ideal choice. On the contrary, if you want to build interactive apps with complete flexibility and control then React takes the lead.
Need professional assistance to build apps? Don’t worry, EitBiz has got your back! EitBiz is a trusted mobile and web app development company that has built 750+ app projects across 40+ industries worldwide.
So, what are you waiting for? Simply visit EitBiz or drop us an email at info@eitbiz.com and talk to our app developers today!
