Next.js vs Gatsby: The Verdict Is Clearer Than You Think
Gatsby was the darling of React SSG in 2019. Next.js now pulls 5M+ weekly npm downloads while Gatsby sits at 300K and falling. But Gatsby still has niche strengths. Here is an honest comparison from a team that has built 60+ projects across both frameworks.
Next.js (Hybrid Renderer) vs Gatsby (Static-First) — The Core Difference
Next.js lets you mix SSR, SSG, ISR, and client-side rendering per page. Gatsby was built around static site generation with a GraphQL data layer. Since Netlify acquired Gatsby in 2023, development has slowed dramatically while Next.js ships major features every quarter.
- Next.js supports SSR, SSG, ISR, and streaming — you choose per route. Gatsby is SSG-first with limited SSR support added later
- Gatsby forces a GraphQL data layer for all data sources. Next.js lets you fetch data however you want — REST, GraphQL, direct DB queries
- Next.js builds stay fast at any scale (ISR rebuilds single pages). Gatsby rebuild times balloon with content — 10K pages can take 30+ minutes
- Next.js has native Vercel deployment optimization. Gatsby's Netlify partnership has not translated into better DX since the acquisition
Key Comparison Factors
Six areas where Next.js and Gatsby diverge — with real build times, bundle sizes, and deployment metrics.
Build Performance
A 5,000-page site builds in Gatsby in 15-25 minutes. Next.js with ISR? The initial build takes 3-5 minutes, then individual pages regenerate in milliseconds. At 50K pages, Gatsby builds can exceed an hour. Next.js handles it without breaking a sweat thanks to on-demand ISR.
Rendering Strategies
Next.js gives you five rendering modes: SSG, SSR, ISR, streaming SSR, and client-side. Gatsby offers SSG and DSG (Deferred Static Generation). If you need server-side rendering for personalized content or real-time data, Gatsby simply cannot do it well. Next.js was built for this.
Data Layer
Gatsby's GraphQL data layer was groundbreaking in 2018 but adds complexity. Every data source needs a plugin or custom source node. Next.js lets you use fetch(), Prisma, Drizzle, or any API directly in server components. No abstraction layer in the way. Simpler is better here.
Developer Experience
Next.js hot reload is near-instant with Turbopack. Gatsby's develop server slows down as content grows — 5K pages can mean 45-second reloads. Next.js App Router with React Server Components changed how we think about data fetching. Gatsby has no equivalent innovation on its roadmap.
Plugin Ecosystem
Gatsby had 2,800+ plugins at its peak. Many are now unmaintained — we audited 50 popular Gatsby plugins and 30% had not been updated in 12+ months. Next.js relies on npm packages directly, so you get access to the entire React ecosystem without framework-specific wrappers.
SEO & Performance
Both produce excellent Lighthouse scores for static content. But Next.js pulls ahead with dynamic SEO — server-rendered meta tags, ISR for fresh content, and the Metadata API in App Router. Gatsby's static-only approach means stale meta tags for frequently updated content.
When to Choose Each
Two scenarios for each framework — be honest about where each one shines.
SaaS Product with Auth and Dashboards
Your app has login flows, user-specific data, real-time updates, and API routes. Next.js handles this natively with server-side rendering, middleware for auth, and API routes. We built a SaaS dashboard for a fintech client — 200ms server render times with personalized data. Gatsby cannot match this.
E-commerce with 10K+ Products
Product pages need SEO, prices update daily, and inventory changes in real-time. Next.js ISR regenerates individual product pages on demand without rebuilding the entire catalog. Shopify, BigCommerce, and Saleor all recommend Next.js. Gatsby's full-site rebuilds are a dealbreaker at this scale.
Developer Documentation Site
Content rarely changes, pages are markdown-based, and you want zero server costs. Gatsby's plugin ecosystem for markdown processing (gatsby-transformer-remark, MDX support) and image optimization was built for exactly this. Though honestly, Next.js with Contentlayer does this equally well now.
Simple Marketing Site (Under 50 Pages)
A brochure site with a blog, landing pages, and a contact form. Gatsby's starter templates and CMS integrations (Contentful, DatoCMS) make initial setup fast. The GraphQL layer actually helps here because it unifies content sources cleanly. But only if the site stays small and static.
How to Make the Right Call
Five steps to decide between Next.js and Gatsby based on your actual project needs, not Twitter hype.
Map Your Rendering Requirements
List every page type in your app. Mark each as static, server-rendered, or client-rendered. If more than 20% of your pages need server-side rendering, Gatsby is immediately ruled out. If 100% are static and under 1,000 pages, either works.
Estimate Your Content Scale
How many pages will you have in 12 months? Under 500? Both handle it. Over 5,000? Gatsby's build times become a real operational cost — every content update triggers a full rebuild. Next.js ISR eliminates this problem entirely with per-page regeneration.
Check Your Data Sources
If all your data comes from one headless CMS, Gatsby's source plugins work fine. If you pull from 3+ APIs, a database, and user-generated content, Gatsby's GraphQL layer becomes friction. Next.js's fetch-anything approach saves hours of boilerplate in multi-source projects.
Evaluate Long-Term Viability
Check npm download trends, GitHub commit activity, and release frequency. Next.js ships major releases quarterly with Vercel's full-time team. Gatsby's release cadence has slowed since the Netlify acquisition. Framework longevity matters for 3-5 year projects.
Consider Your Deployment Target
Next.js deploys best on Vercel but works on AWS, Docker, and any Node.js host. Gatsby deploys anywhere static files are served — Netlify, S3, CloudFront. If you need edge functions, middleware, or server-side logic, Next.js gives you more deployment flexibility.
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Cost & Resource Comparison
Real cost differences across project sizes — including hidden expenses like build infrastructure and developer time.
Small Marketing Site
Under 50 pages, mostly static content, 1-2 developers. Both frameworks work, but costs differ in setup and hosting.
Custom pricing based on your requirements
- Next.js: $15K-$35K development cost
- Gatsby: $12K-$30K development cost
- Next.js hosting: $0-20/mo (Vercel free tier)
- Gatsby hosting: $0-19/mo (Netlify free tier)
- Gatsby has faster initial setup with starters
- Next.js has lower long-term maintenance cost
- Both: similar developer hourly rates ($50-90/hr)
Content-Heavy Platform
500-10K pages, multiple content sources, 3-5 developers. This is where the frameworks diverge sharply in operational costs.
Custom pricing based on your requirements
- Next.js: $80K-$200K development cost
- Gatsby: $100K-$250K development cost
- Gatsby builds: 15-45 min (compute cost adds up)
- Next.js ISR: sub-second page regeneration
- Gatsby needs build caching optimization ($2-5K)
- Next.js preview deployments are near-instant
- Gatsby plugin maintenance: 5-10 hrs/month extra
Enterprise Web Application
Full-stack with auth, dashboards, and dynamic content. 5+ developers, multi-year roadmap. Next.js is the only realistic option here.
Custom pricing based on your requirements
- Next.js: $250K-$800K annual development cost
- Gatsby: not recommended for this scale
- Next.js API routes eliminate separate backend cost
- Server Components reduce client bundle by 30-50%
- Middleware handles auth at the edge ($0 extra)
- ISR + streaming SSR = optimal performance at scale
- Full-stack TypeScript reduces context-switching
Next.js vs Gatsby Questions Answered
Quick answers to the questions we hear most often.
Not dead, but declining. Gatsby's npm downloads dropped from 1M+ weekly in 2021 to around 300K in 2024. After Netlify acquired Gatsby Inc., the core team was laid off and development slowed. New features have been minimal. It still works for existing projects, but we do not recommend starting new projects with Gatsby unless you have a very specific, small-scale static site use case.
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