Web app foundation comparison

Next.js vs Vite

Will your app run only in the browser, or also on a server?

Start here

Vite

Start with Vite for a frontend-only app. Choose Next.js when the architecture needs request-time server rendering or server routes.

Read the reasoning and sources →

Next.js

Use a React framework with server rendering, routing and server-side application features.

Choose it for

A React app needing request-time server behavior
A project combining server and browser code

Decision

Choose Next.js when server rendering or server routes are a real requirement. For a frontend that only calls an existing API, start with Vite instead.

Trade-off

Choose Vite when static frontend output and an independent backend are enough.

Cost model

Framework tooling; hosting and backend costs are separate

Current official pricing ↗

First boundary to learn

Server and browser code have different credential and execution boundaries.

Sources checked 4 Oct 2026

Details, connections and lessons →

Vite

Develop and build a frontend, then publish its output to a compatible host.

Choose it for

A frontend calling an existing API
Learning browser UI without a full-stack server framework

Decision

Start with Vite for a frontend-only app. Choose Next.js when the architecture needs request-time server rendering or server routes.

Trade-off

Choose a server framework when your app must run private logic or render pages on each request.

Cost model

Build tooling; hosting and backend costs are separate

Current official pricing ↗

First boundary to learn

The development server is not your production backend.

Sources checked 4 Oct 2026

Details, connections and lessons →

These fill one role in your product

Keep one deliberate choice for this job, then connect it to the other parts of your app.

Build your stack →

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