Next.js vs React SPA: Choosing the Right Framework in 2026

React has won the frontend framework war. But "using React" today usually implies a choice: a raw Single Page Application (SPA) using Vite/Create-React-App, or a robust full-stack meta-framework like Next.js.

In 2026, the answer is increasingly leaning toward **Next.js**. Here is why we use it for almost every client project.

The SEO Problem with SPAs

Standard React SPAs render an empty HTML shell. The content is only populated after the JavaScript bundle downloads and executes in the browser.

The Next.js Advantage: Server-Side Rendering (SSR) & Static Site Generation (SSG)

Next.js pre-renders pages on the server. When a user requests a page, they get a fully formed HTML document instantly.

2. **Perfect SEO:** Bots see exactly what the user sees.

3. **Performance:** Less work for the user's device, which is crucial for mobile users on slow connections.

React Server Components (RSC)

The biggest shift in recent years is **Server Components**. They allow us to render components *exclusively* on the server.

When to Use a Plain SPA?

Is there still a place for Vite/React? Yes.

Conclusion

For any public-facing website, e-commerce store, or marketing platform, Next.js provides the performance and SEO benefits that modern web standards demand. It's not just a framework; it's a production-grade toolkit for the modern web.