Gatsby vs Wasp
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 framework that builds React, Node.js and Prisma web apps from a short declarative spec.
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 Wasp if you need…
- Developers who want to build a full-stack React and Node.js app quickly
- Small teams or solo builders who prefer convention over configuration
- Developers who already know React and Prisma and want less wiring code
- Teams experimenting with AI coding agents who want a more structured project layout
Side-by-side
| Gatsby | Wasp | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Framework | Framework |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 55.9k | 18.8k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| 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.
Wasp
Wasp is a full-stack framework for building JavaScript and TypeScript web apps with React, Node.js and Prisma. You describe the main parts of your app in a short spec file, such as pages, routes, queries and auth, and Wasp generates the front-end, back-end and deployment code. The README says the goal is less boilerplate, with features like login, background jobs, email sending and end-to-end type safety built in.
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
Wasp
- Developers who want to build a full-stack React and Node.js app quickly
- Small teams or solo builders who prefer convention over configuration
- Developers who already know React and Prisma and want less wiring code
- Teams experimenting with AI coding agents who want a more structured project layout
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
Wasp
- Declarative spec file covers many common full-stack features in very little code
- Generated code is kept in the .wasp/ directory, so you can read what it produces
- MIT licensed and actively maintained, with a large community of stars and a Discord
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
Wasp
- Projects that need a different stack, since the README says it currently focuses on React with TanStack Query, Node.js with Express.js, and Prisma
- Teams that need a framework marked production-stable, since the README describes the project as in beta
- People who want full manual control over every layer of their app architecture
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
Wasp
- The README says the project is in beta, so breaking changes are expected
- Tied to a specific stack (React, Node.js, Prisma), so other tools are not supported
- Learning the Wasp spec format is an extra layer on top of the libraries it wraps
Getting started
Gatsby
Initialize a new project
npm init gatsbyStart the site in develop mode
cd my-gatsby-site/ && npm run developWasp
Install the Wasp CLI globally (OSX/Linux/WSL)
npm i -g @wasp/cli@latestFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Gatsby and Wasp?
Gatsby: A React-based framework for building fast websites and apps, with static or server rendering. Wasp: A framework that builds React, Node.js and Prisma web apps from a short declarative spec. Gatsby suits developers building content-heavy sites such as blogs or documentation, while Wasp suits developers who want to build a full-stack react and node.js app quickly.
Are Gatsby and Wasp free?
Gatsby: Free and open source. Wasp: Free and open source.
Is Gatsby or Wasp more popular?
Gatsby has more GitHub stars (55.9k) than Wasp (18.8k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Gatsby and Wasp?
Other options people compare them with include Next.js, Nextra, 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.