Astro vs Next.js: Which Should You Choose in 2026?

Astro and Next.js are both excellent frameworks, but they have different philosophies. This guide helps you choose the right one for your project.

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Quick Comparison

Feature

Astro

Next.js

Philosophy

Content-first

Full-stack React

Default JS

Zero JS shipped

React included

Best for

Content sites

Web apps

Learning curve

Moderate

Steeper

Component library

Any (React, Vue, Svelte)

React only

SSR

Optional

Built-in

Performance

Exceptional

Excellent

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Astro: The Content-First Framework

Astro was built with a radical idea: ship zero JavaScript by default.

How Astro Works

Astro renders everything to static HTML at build time. JavaScript is only added when you explicitly need interactivity.

---
// Server-only code (runs at build time)
const posts = await getBlogPosts();



  
    
My Blog

    {posts.map(post => (
      
    ))}
  

The above ships as pure HTML. No JavaScript downloads to the browser.

Islands Architecture

When you need interactivity, Astro uses "islands"—isolated interactive components in a sea of static HTML:

---
import StaticHeader from './Header.astro';
import InteractiveSearch from './Search.jsx';






  

Only the search component loads JavaScript. Everything else is static.

Astro Strengths

• ✅ Zero JS by default - Fastest possible page loads

• ✅ Use any framework - React, Vue, Svelte, Solid, or none

• ✅ Content collections - First-class Markdown/MDX support

• ✅ Fantastic performance - 100 Lighthouse scores common

• ✅ Simple mental model - If you know HTML, you can use Astro

Astro Weaknesses

❌ Limited app features - Not built for complex web apps

❌ Island hydration - Interactions between islands is tricky

❌ Smaller ecosystem - Fewer tutorials and examples

❌ Less suited for SPAs - Page transitions are server-based

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Next.js: The Full-Stack React Framework

Next.js is the React framework for production. It does everything—static sites, server rendering, API routes, full-stack apps.

How Next.js Works

Next.js is React-based, with multiple rendering strategies:

Static Generation (SSG):

// Generates at build time
export default function Page({ posts }) {
  return (
    

      {posts.map(post => )}
    

  );
}

export async function getStaticProps() {
  const posts = await getPosts();
  return { props: { posts } };
}

Server-Side Rendering (SSR):

// Generates on each request
export async function getServerSideProps() {
  const data = await fetchRealTimeData();
  return { props: { data } };
}

App Router (modern approach):

// app/blog/page.tsx - Server Component
export default async function Blog() {
  const posts = await getPosts(); // Runs on server
  return (
    

      {posts.map(post => )}
    

  );
}

Next.js Strengths

• ✅ Full-stack capable - Frontend, backend, everything

• ✅ React ecosystem - Massive library compatibility

• ✅ Vercel hosting - Perfect integration (same company)

• ✅ Incremental adoption - Static → Server → Dynamic

• ✅ Huge community - Tons of resources

Next.js Weaknesses

❌ React required - Must learn React first

❌ Ships JavaScript - Even static pages include React runtime

❌ Complexity - Many features = many decisions

❌ Bundle size - Larger than necessary for simple sites

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Performance Comparison

Build Output Size

For a typical blog with 50 posts:

Metric

Astro

Next.js

Average page JS

0KB

~80KB

First Load JS

~5KB (only when needed)

~85KB

Total build size

Smaller

Larger

Lighthouse Scores

Score

Astro

Next.js

Performance

95-100

85-95

Accessibility

95-100

95-100

Best Practices

95-100

90-100

SEO

95-100

95-100

Astro typically scores higher on Performance due to less JavaScript.

Time to Interactive (TTI)

Site Type

Astro

Next.js

Simple blog

~0.5s

~1.5s

Marketing site

~0.8s

~1.8s

Documentation

~0.6s

~1.4s

---

Developer Experience

Learning Curve

Astro:

• HTML + some JavaScript

• Component syntax is simple

• No state management concepts

• Quick to productive

Next.js:

• React fundamentals first

• JSX, hooks, state

• Various rendering modes

• Longer to productive

File Structure

Astro:

src/
├── pages/
│   ├── index.astro
│   └── blog/
│       └── [slug].astro
├── components/
│   └── Header.astro
└── content/
    └── blog/
        └── my-post.md

Next.js (App Router):

app/
├── page.tsx
├── layout.tsx
├── blog/
│   └── [slug]/
│       └── page.tsx
├── components/
│   └── Header.tsx
└── content/
    └── blog/
        └── my-post.mdx

Content Handling

Astro Content Collections:

---
import { getCollection } from 'astro:content';
const posts = await getCollection('blog');

First-class, type-safe content handling built in.

Next.js:

• Use libraries like contentlayer, @next/mdx, or custom solutions

• More setup required

• More flexibility in approach

---

Use Case Comparison

When to Choose Astro

• ✅ Content-focused sites

• Blogs

• Documentation

• Marketing sites

• Portfolios

• ✅ Performance is critical

• Need 100 Lighthouse scores

• Users on slow connections

• SEO-competitive niches

• ✅ Mixed framework teams

• Some use React, some Vue, some Svelte

• Migrating from another framework

• ✅ Simpler requirements

• Static or mostly static

• Minimal client-side interactivity

When to Choose Next.js

• ✅ Web applications

• Dashboards

• SaaS products

• E-commerce

• User-authenticated areas

• ✅ React ecosystem

• Team knows React

• Need React libraries

• Using React Native too

• ✅ Dynamic content

• Real-time features

• User-generated content

• Personalization

• ✅ Full-stack needs

• API routes

• Server actions

• Database connections

---

Hybrid Approaches

Astro with React Islands

Use React only where needed:

---
import ReactComponent from './Interactive.jsx';



  
Static content here

  
This is all static HTML.

  
  
  

Next.js Static Export

For fully static sites:

// next.config.js
module.exports = {
  output: 'export',
};

Creates static HTML like Astro (but still includes React runtime).

---

Migration from WordPress

Both work well for WordPress migration:

Astro Migration

---
// src/pages/blog/[slug].astro
import { getCollection } from 'astro:content';

export async function getStaticPaths() {
  const posts = await getCollection('blog');
  return posts.map(post => ({
    params: { slug: post.slug },
    props: { post },
  }));
}

const { post } = Astro.props;
const { Content } = await post.render();



  
{post.data.title}

  

Next.js Migration

// app/blog/[slug]/page.tsx
import { getPostBySlug, getAllPosts } from '@/lib/posts';

export async function generateStaticParams() {
  const posts = getAllPosts();
  return posts.map(post => ({ slug: post.slug }));
}

export default async function Post({ params }: { params: { slug: string } }) {
  const post = await getPostBySlug(params.slug);
  return (
    

      
{post.title}

      

    

  );
}

---

Decision Framework

Answer these questions:

1. Is this primarily a content site?

Yes → Lean Astro

No, it's an app → Lean Next.js

2. How much interactivity?

Minimal (forms, maybe search) → Astro

Significant (real-time, complex UI) → Next.js

3. Does your team know React?

Yes, extensively → Next.js makes sense

No, or mixed → Astro is easier to learn

4. Performance requirements?

Maximum (every KB matters) → Astro

Very good is fine → Either works

5. Need backend features?

No or minimal → Astro

Yes, API routes, auth, etc. → Next.js

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My Recommendations

For WordPress Migration (Content Sites)

Astro is often the better choice:

• WordPress sites are usually content-focused

• Zero JS = fastest possible experience

• MDX support is excellent

• Simpler learning curve

For Web Applications

Next.js is the clear winner:

• Full-stack capabilities

• React ecosystem

• Better suited for interactivity

• More enterprise features

The Sweet Spot

Your Site

Recommendation

Blog/magazine

Astro

Documentation

Astro

Marketing site

Astro or Next.js

E-commerce

Next.js

SaaS product

Next.js

Portfolio

Astro

Web app

Next.js

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FAQ

Q: Can I switch later?

Yes, but it's work. Both use components, so some code transfers. Content (Markdown/MDX) transfers easily.

Q: Which has better job prospects?

Next.js, because it's React-based. But Astro skills are increasingly valued.

Q: Can I use both?

Some teams use Astro for marketing/blog and Next.js for the app. Separate repos work well.

Q: Which is easier to deploy?

Both deploy easily to Vercel, Netlify, Cloudflare. No significant difference. Compare hosting platforms →

Q: How do I migrate my WordPress site?

Export your content, convert to MDX, then build with either framework. See our migration guide →

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Conclusion

Choose

For

Astro

Content sites, maximum performance, simpler requirements

Next.js

Web apps, React ecosystem, full-stack needs

Both are excellent. The wrong choice is still a good choice. But matching your use case saves time and delivers better results.

Related guides:

• WordPress to Next.js Complete Migration Guide

• Gatsby vs Next.js for WordPress Migration

• JAMstack Explained for WordPress Users

Try our WordPress export tool (works with both) →