Decision guide

Astro vs Next.js

Both are excellent. They're built for different jobs. Here's the short version of how we choose, from a studio that ships both. Want the long version with code? Read the full essay.

The decision matrix

Criterion Astro Next.js
Rendering model Static-first, server islands, opt-in SSR SSR / ISR / static, React Server Components
JavaScript by default Zero — ships HTML; hydrate islands as needed A React runtime on every page
Best fit Marketing & content sites, docs, blogs, landing pages App-heavy products, dashboards, lots of server logic
Core Web Vitals Excellent by default (little JS to block) Good, but you manage the JS budget yourself
Interactivity ceiling High — drop in React/Svelte/Vue islands Highest — it's a full app framework
Server routes / APIs Yes (endpoints + adapters) when needed First-class (route handlers, server actions)
React ecosystem Use React where it earns its place Native — the whole ecosystem, all the time
Our default for a marketing site Yes Only when it's really an app

When to choose each

Choose Astro when

  • It's a marketing site, content platform, blog, or docs.
  • Core Web Vitals and SEO decide the outcome.
  • The page is mostly content with islands of interactivity.
  • You want the smallest possible JavaScript footprint.

Choose Next.js when

  • It's genuinely an application — dashboards, portals, tools.
  • There's significant server logic, auth, and dynamic state.
  • You're all-in on the React ecosystem across the product.
  • Server actions / route handlers are core to the design.

Our verdict

We default to Astro for marketing sites and content platforms — the performance is free and the maintenance surface is smaller. We reach for Next.js when the project is really a web application with heavy server logic and authenticated, dynamic state. The mistake we see most often is using a full app framework to ship a brochure site, then paying for that JavaScript forever.

Common questions

  • Is Astro slower to build with than Next.js?

    For a content or marketing site, it's usually faster: less boilerplate, no client-state plumbing, and performance you get for free instead of fighting for. For a data-heavy application, Next.js's app conventions pay off.

  • Can Astro do interactivity?

    Yes. Astro ships zero JavaScript by default and lets you hydrate interactive 'islands' (React, Svelte, Vue, or vanilla) exactly where you need them — so the rest of the page stays fast.

  • What do you default to?

    We default to Astro for marketing sites, content platforms, and anything where Core Web Vitals decide the outcome, and we reach for Next.js (or another app framework) when the project is genuinely an application with significant server logic and dynamic, authenticated state.

Not sure which fits your project?

That's a 20-minute conversation, not a guess. Engagements start at $2,500 for a focused audit or sprint.

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