Gatsby vs React Static
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 static site generator for React that outputs fast HTML pages, now in maintenance-only mode.
The short answer
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 React Static if you need…
- Developers who already know React and want a static site
- Teams migrating from Create React App who want a build setup without ejecting
- Projects that want pre-rendered HTML for SEO plus client-side navigation
- Maintainers of existing react-static v7 sites who need to keep them running
Side-by-side
| Gatsby | React Static | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Framework | Framework |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 55.9k | 10.3k |
| 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 years 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.
React Static
React Static is a tool that turns React components and your data into plain HTML pages that load quickly. Each page then becomes a full React app in the browser, so navigation between pages can feel instant. The README says it is now in maintenance-only mode with no new major versions planned, and recommends Remix or Next.js as alternatives.
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
React Static
- Developers who already know React and want a static site
- Teams migrating from Create React App who want a build setup without ejecting
- Projects that want pre-rendered HTML for SEO plus client-side navigation
- Maintainers of existing react-static v7 sites who need to keep them running
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
React Static
- Builds on React and its ecosystem, so existing React libraries can be used
- Exports static HTML pages that can be hosted on a simple file server
- Includes a CLI for creating and running projects
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
React Static
- New projects: the README says no new major versions will be released, and it points to Remix or Next.js instead
- People without React experience, since the tool assumes React knowledge
- Non-developers who need a site without writing code
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
React Static
- In maintenance-only mode: no new major versions are planned, per the README
- The README itself describes the project's future as limited, so long-term support is uncertain
- Documentation is partly truncated in the provided README, so some details are unverified
Getting started
Gatsby
Initialize a new project
npm init gatsbyStart the site in develop mode
cd my-gatsby-site/ && npm run developReact Static
Install the CLI with npm
npm i -g react-staticOr install the CLI with yarn
yarn global add react-staticFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Gatsby and React Static?
Gatsby: A React-based framework for building fast websites and apps, with static or server rendering. React Static: A static site generator for React that outputs fast HTML pages, now in maintenance-only mode. Gatsby suits developers building content-heavy sites such as blogs or documentation, while React Static suits developers who already know react and want a static site.
Are Gatsby and React Static free?
Gatsby: Free and open source. React Static: Free and open source.
Is Gatsby or React Static more popular?
Gatsby has more GitHub stars (55.9k) than React Static (10.3k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Gatsby and React Static?
Other options people compare them with include Next.js, Nextra, Wasp, refine, 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.