Gatsby vs Next.js
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A React-based framework for building fast websites and apps, with static or server rendering.
Open source · MIT
A React framework for building websites and web apps with server rendering and routing built in.
Our verdict
Gatsby and Next.js are both free, MIT-licensed React frameworks, so the choice comes down to focus. Gatsby is built around pulling content from sources like Markdown files, CMSs, and APIs into fast, mostly prebuilt pages, which suits blogs and documentation. Next.js is a broader React framework covering routing and server rendering as well as static generation, and suits teams that want a complete app foundation with less setup.
Pick Gatsby if you are building a content-heavy site like a blog or docs and want to pull data from Markdown, a headless CMS, or APIs into a React-based site.
Pick Next.js if you already know React and want a full framework with routing and server rendering built in for a website or web app.
| Key difference | Gatsby | Next.js |
|---|---|---|
| Core focus | Content-driven sites pulling data from many sources into fast pages | General React framework for websites and web apps with routing |
| Rendering | Static, deferred static, and server rendering chosen per page | Server rendering and static generation in one framework |
| Data layer | Built around a shared GraphQL data layer and plugins | No GraphQL requirement described in the provided material |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate; README assumes React and GraphQL knowledge | Intermediate; requires React and modern JavaScript tooling |
| Community size | 55.9k GitHub stars, large plugin and starter ecosystem | 143k GitHub stars, large community |
Written with AI from both products' catalogue entries · updated 2026-10-29
Who each one is for
Choose Gatsby if you need…
- Developers building content-heavy sites such as blogs or documentation
- Teams that already work with React and want a shared GraphQL data layer
- Projects that need a mix of static, deferred, and server-rendered pages
- Anyone who wants a site hosted on a CDN without running servers
Choose Next.js if you need…
- Developers already comfortable with React who want a full framework around it
- Teams building sites that need server rendering or static generation
- Projects that want routing and build tooling included rather than assembled by hand
Side-by-side
| Gatsby | Next.js | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Framework | Framework |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 55.9k | 143k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | JavaScript | JavaScript |
| Last code update | 17 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
Gatsby
Gatsby is a free, open-source framework built on React for making websites and web apps. It pulls data from sources such as Markdown files, headless CMSs, or REST and GraphQL APIs, then builds pages that load quickly. The README says it automates tasks like code splitting, image optimization, and lazy-loading.
Next.js
Next.js is a framework built on top of React, the JavaScript library for user interfaces. It adds features such as page routing, server rendering, and static site generation so that a React project can be a complete website or web app. Developers use it to ship React applications with less custom setup.
Best for
Gatsby
- Developers building content-heavy sites such as blogs or documentation
- Teams that already work with React and want a shared GraphQL data layer
- Projects that need a mix of static, deferred, and server-rendered pages
- Anyone who wants a site hosted on a CDN without running servers
Next.js
- Developers already comfortable with React who want a full framework around it
- Teams building sites that need server rendering or static generation
- Projects that want routing and build tooling included rather than assembled by hand
Strengths
Gatsby
- The README lists built-in performance features such as code splitting and image optimization
- It supports static, deferred static, and server-side rendering on a per-page basis
- It has a large plugin and starter ecosystem and an active community
Next.js
- Built on React, so it uses a widely known component model
- Supports both server rendering and static generation in one framework
- Open source under the MIT license with a large community (about 143k stars)
Not ideal for
Gatsby
- Beginners with no React or JavaScript experience, since the README assumes developer skills
- Very simple static pages, where a plain HTML generator may be less work
- Teams that need to avoid learning GraphQL and a plugin-based data pipeline
Next.js
- Complete beginners with no JavaScript or React experience, since the framework assumes those basics
- Simple static pages where a plain HTML file or lighter static generator would be enough
- Teams that want a framework-agnostic setup, because Next.js is tied to React
Trade-offs
Gatsby
- The README does not describe the learning curve in detail, and it assumes React and GraphQL knowledge
- Its feature set and plugin model add complexity compared with simpler site generators
- The README is truncated, so details about the security claims in the description are not verified here
Next.js
- Requires understanding of React and modern JavaScript tooling
- The README excerpt provided is truncated, so detailed feature coverage is limited here
- Framework conventions and version changes mean projects may need upgrades over time
Getting started
Gatsby
Initialize a new project
npm init gatsbyStart the site in develop mode
cd my-gatsby-site/ && npm run developNext.js
Create a new app (command from the project's standard setup)
npx create-next-app@latestFrequently asked questions
Should I use Gatsby or Next.js?
Gatsby and Next.js are both free, MIT-licensed React frameworks, so the choice comes down to focus. Gatsby is built around pulling content from sources like Markdown files, CMSs, and APIs into fast, mostly prebuilt pages, which suits blogs and documentation. Next.js is a broader React framework covering routing and server rendering as well as static generation, and suits teams that want a complete app foundation with less setup. Pick Gatsby if you are building a content-heavy site like a blog or docs and want to pull data from Markdown, a headless CMS, or APIs into a React-based site. Pick Next.js if you already know React and want a full framework with routing and server rendering built in for a website or web app.
What is the difference between Gatsby and Next.js?
Gatsby: A React-based framework for building fast websites and apps, with static or server rendering. Next.js: A React framework for building websites and web apps with server rendering and routing built in. Gatsby suits developers building content-heavy sites such as blogs or documentation, while Next.js suits developers already comfortable with react who want a full framework around it.
Are Gatsby and Next.js free?
Gatsby: Free and open source. Next.js: Free and open source.
Is Gatsby or Next.js more popular?
Next.js has more GitHub stars (143k) than Gatsby (55.9k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Gatsby and Next.js?
Other options people compare them with include Nextra, Wasp, refine, React Static, Payload.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.