Alright, so you’re probably trying to pick between Next.js and Remix, two popular frameworks for building web apps with React. Both have a ton of features, great performance, and strong developer communities, but they each take a pretty different approach to doing things. Let’s break down what makes them unique, where they shine, and what you should consider before diving into one or the other.
The Philosophies
Next.js Philosophy
Think of Next.js as the “do-it-all” tool. It’s backed by Vercel, and it’s built to handle anything from simple static sites to complex server-rendered apps. Next is flexible—you can use it to pre-render pages at build time, load content on the server for every request, or even load data client-side if that’s what you need. It’s all about giving you options and letting you find the right tool for the job, whether that’s SEO, performance, or scaling a big app.
Remix Philosophy
Remix feels like a breath of fresh air if you’re looking for simplicity. It leans hard on using native web standards—HTML forms, HTTP methods, caching—to give you a more “traditional” but super-efficient approach to building apps. Remix is all about minimal JavaScript on the client side and fast, smooth page loads. It really shines if you care about performance and keeping things light and streamlined.
Data Fetching and Loading
Fetching with Next.js
Next lets you load data in a few different ways. You’ve got getStaticProps for static generation, getServerSideProps for server-rendered pages, and useEffect or fetch on the client side if you need it. With Next 13, you also get React Server Components, which can really help with complex data flows by letting you split things between client and server. Basically, you have a bunch of options, which is great, but sometimes it can feel a little scattered since there are so many ways to fetch data.
Fetching with Remix
Remix is much more opinionated here, and that’s a good thing if you like a consistent approach. It has loaders for fetching data on the server and actions for handling mutations (like forms) in a way that feels natural. Remix kind of pushes you to use native HTML forms and HTTP actions, which means it just works with less JavaScript. It even handles caching and error boundaries for you on a per-route basis, so you’re not juggling a ton of manual setup.
Performance and SEO
Next.js Performance
Performance is a strong suit for Next.js. It comes with image optimization, automatic code splitting, and other features to help your pages load fast. Plus, with static site generation and incremental static regeneration, you can get a lot of SEO benefits by pre-rendering content for search engines. It’s a good all-rounder when it comes to speed and SEO, especially since it lets you pick the rendering style that fits your use case.
Remix Performance
Remix is like, “let’s just use what the browser is already optimized for.” It leverages HTML and browser caching to load pages super fast, and the way it handles data means you’re often sending less JavaScript to the client. This lightweight approach can lead to better SEO results out of the box since pages load faster and are often easier for search engines to index. Remix also gives you great control over caching to keep content fresh without sacrificing speed.
Routing Differences
Next.js Routing
The routing in Next is file-based, which is pretty straightforward—every file in the pages directory becomes a route. Nested routes were trickier before, but with the new App Router in Next 13, you get a more flexible, nested approach. So, if you have a complex structure, it’s easier now than ever to manage it without hacking it together.
Remix Routing
Remix was built with nested routes in mind from the start, and it shows. Each route has its own data loading and error boundaries, which makes it really clean and organized, especially for big apps. Plus, you can set up layouts that are shared between routes easily. Remix just feels more natural for nested routing, particularly if you have a lot of pages or want control over data at the route level.
Overall Developer Experience
Next.js Experience
Next is well-documented and has a huge community, so finding answers is rarely a problem. It also plays nicely with TypeScript and popular tools like TanStack Query, Prisma, and Tailwind. Plus, if you host on Vercel, you get some sweet integrations that make deployments and previews super smooth. Overall, it’s solid for devs, though sometimes juggling all the different options for data fetching and routing can feel like a lot to manage.
Remix Experience
Remix has this refreshing, simplified approach that’s easy to get into if you’re used to React. Loaders and actions make data handling a breeze, and its approach to forms and state management just clicks, especially if you’re into using less JavaScript. It’s newer than Next, so the community is still growing, but Remix’s official docs are pretty strong. You might miss some of the tools and tutorials Next has if you’re diving into a more complex build, but Remix is catching up quickly.
Deployment and Hosting
Hosting a Next.js App
Next and Vercel are like peanut butter and jelly. Vercel makes deploying your Next apps straight to prod (just kidding please don’t) incredibly easy, plus you get access to Vercel’s edge functions, automatic scaling, and some cool image optimization features. But Next is also flexible—it works well on other hosts like AWS, Netlify, and DigitalOcean.
Hosting a Remix App
Remix doesn’t lock you into any one platform. It’s easy to deploy on Vercel, Netlify, Fly.io, or wherever, thanks to its lightweight, server-focused architecture. So if you’re looking for options, Remix is platform-agnostic and makes it easy to pick and choose your host based on your needs.
When to Choose Which
Here is how I would make the decision between the two:
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Go for Next.js if you’re building a full-stack app with heavy data needs, multiple APIs, or a complex front-end. Its flexibility in rendering styles and the full ecosystem around it make it great for scalable, production-grade apps. Plus, if you’re already on Vercel (like so many of us lol), it’s hard to beat.
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Go for Remix if you want a framework that just works with less JavaScript and gives you strong performance right out of the gate. Remix’s focus on native HTML and server-side data handling makes it a fantastic choice for content-heavy sites, e-commerce, or anything where SEO and fast page loads are a priority.
Final Thoughts
So, Next.js and Remix are both amazing choices—it just depends on your project’s needs and what feels right for your team. If you want options and flexibility, Next has a lot going for it. But if you’re all about simplicity, fast page loads, and a “native web” approach, Remix is a refreshing alternative.
No matter which you pick, you’re in good hands. Both frameworks offer top-notch performance, developer experience, and community support, so you really can’t go wrong.
Feel free to fight in the comments because I know a lot of developers have strong opinions on both!
