# Next.js vs React: What's the difference and which should you use?

DevFeed: [Next.js vs React: What's the difference and which should you use?](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/next-js-vs-react-what-s-the-difference-and-which-should-you-use-20053.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://www.honeybadger.io/blog/next-js-vs-react/>)

Author: Muhammed Ali

Published: 2026-05-28T07:00:00Z

Content type: comparison

Language: en

Sources: [Honeybadger](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/honeybadger.md>)

Topics: [Next.js](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/next-js.md>), [React](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/react.md>), [Web Development](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/web-development.md>), [Front end](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/frontend.md>), [Back end](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/backend.md>), [Server-side rendering](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/server-side-rendering.md>), [Routing (disambiguation)](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/routing.md>), [API](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/api.md>), [JavaScript](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/javascript.md>)

Tags: [api](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/api.md>), [article](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/article.md>), [comparison](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/comparison.md>), [framework](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/framework.md>), [javascript](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/javascript.md>), [javascript-articles](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/javascript-articles.md>), [next-js](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/next-js.md>), [react](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/react.md>), [routing](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/routing.md>), [server-side-rendering](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/server-side-rendering.md>)

## AI overview

This comparison explains that React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces, while Next.js is a framework built on React that adds routing, data fetching, server-side rendering, image optimization, and API capabilities. It also discusses their technical behavior, file structures, rendering modes, and practical use.

## Source excerpt

Next.js and React are often compared, but they solve different problems. React focuses on building user interfaces, while Next.js adds structure, rendering strategies, and back-end capabilities. Read this article to see how we break down their differences.