Framework
Astro vs Next.js
The short version: Astro for content, Next.js for applications. The long version is below.
The short answer
Astro and Next.js solve overlapping problems from opposite defaults. Astro renders to HTML and adds JavaScript where you ask. Next.js renders React and removes JavaScript where you let it. For a content-heavy marketing site that difference decides most of the outcome.
Head to head
| Aspect | Astro | Next.js |
|---|---|---|
| Best-fit surface | Content sites, docs, marketing estates | Applications and product-adjacent marketing |
| Default JS payload | Near zero; opt in per component | React runtime by default; opt out per route |
| Rendering model | Static-first with islands | Server components with client boundaries |
| UI layer | Any framework, or none | React |
| Hosting | Any static host; adapters for server routes | Node runtime, or a platform that provides one |
| Lock-in | Low; output is largely plain HTML | Moderate; tied to React and its conventions |
Where it earns the shortlist
Choose Astro when
- Choose Astro when the site is content-first and mostly static
- Choose Astro when Core Web Vitals or AI-crawler legibility are explicit goals
Choose Next.js when
- Choose Next.js when the site shares a codebase with a React product
- Choose Next.js when pages are personalised per authenticated user
Placeholder technology page. The assessment is written to exercise the template and should be reviewed before launch.
Pricing
Both are open source. The cost difference is hosting: static delivery is cheaper than per-request rendering.
Our take
The question is almost never which framework is better. It is whether your site is a document collection or an application. Answer that and the framework picks itself.
Frequently asked questions
Is Astro faster than Next.js?
For content-heavy static pages, usually yes, because Astro ships no JavaScript unless a component asks for it. For an application with pervasive client-side state the comparison stops being meaningful. They are solving different problems.
Can you migrate from Next.js to Astro?
Yes, and React components often move across unchanged since Astro can render them. The work is in the routing and data-fetching layer, not usually in the components.
At a glance
- Category
- Framework comparison
- Short answer
- Astro for content, Next.js for applications
- House view
- Decide whether it is a document or an application first
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