Next.js is one of the most popular frameworks in the React ecosystem.
It is used by startups, SaaS companies, content platforms, and large enterprises.
But the question remains:
is it overrated?
The answer depends entirely on context.
Why Next.js Became So Popular
Next.js provides structured architecture on top of React:
Server-side rendering
Static site generation
File-based routing
API routes
Image optimization
Built-in SEO capabilities
It removes many early infrastructure decisions.
For many teams, this accelerates development significantly.
Where Next.js Is Strong
1. SEO-Driven Projects
If your business depends on organic search traffic, server rendering is a real advantage.
Search engines receive fully rendered HTML immediately.
2. Content Platforms
Blogs, documentation, marketing pages, SaaS landing pages — Next.js fits hybrid rendering models (SSG + SSR) well.
3. Full-Stack in One Framework
With the App Router and Server Components, frontend and certain backend logic can live in one structured environment.
For small to medium projects, this reduces architectural overhead.
Where the “Overrated” Argument Appears
1. For Simple SPAs
If you are building a standard SPA without SEO requirements, React with Vite may be simpler and more predictable.
Next.js introduces additional abstraction that may not be necessary.
2. Increasing Complexity
With App Router, Server Components, streaming, and edge rendering, the mental model has grown more complex.
Developers must understand:
server vs client components
execution boundaries
caching behavior
fetch semantics
differences between development and production
This is not beginner-friendly.
3. Vendor Lock-In Concerns
Many projects end up tightly coupled to:
Vercel infrastructure
specific build behavior
framework-specific routing conventions
Migration can become non-trivial.
4. Hidden Abstractions
“Works out of the box” is powerful — until it doesn’t.
When something breaks, debugging can be harder than in a simpler stack.
Abstraction speeds up development but reduces visibility.
Performance: Real Advantage or Illusion?
Next.js can be extremely fast.
But it does not guarantee performance.
If you have:
bloated JavaScript bundles
unoptimized images
poor caching strategy
slow backend responses
The framework will not fix architectural problems.
Performance is a systems decision, not a branding feature.
When Next.js Is Clearly Justified
SEO-critical projects
Content-heavy platforms
SaaS products with public marketing pages
Multilingual websites
Hybrid static + dynamic architectures
Teams familiar with the ecosystem
In these cases, it saves time and reduces infrastructure decisions.
When It May Be Overkill
Internal dashboards
Small admin panels
Pure SPAs without SEO
Micro-projects with minimal routing needs
Here, simpler tools may offer better clarity and control.
The Real Issue
Next.js itself is not overrated.
The problem is universal thinking.
No framework fits every scenario.
It becomes “overrated” when:
chosen because of hype
adopted without requirement analysis
alternatives are ignored
Technology fails when misapplied.
Conclusion
Next.js is powerful.
It is not magic.
It excels where you need:
SEO
hybrid rendering
structured architecture
scalable growth
It becomes excessive where simplicity would suffice.
The real question is not whether Next.js is overrated.
The real question is whether it fits your problem.
