Blitz.js vs Next.js
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A toolkit that adds full-stack features on top of Next.js, built with Prisma.
Open source · MIT
A React framework for building websites and web apps with server rendering and routing built in.
The short answer
Choose Blitz.js if you need…
- Developers already comfortable with React and Next.js who want more built-in full-stack structure
- Teams building a full web app with a database and want a single project setup
- Developers who use or want to use Prisma alongside Next.js
Choose Next.js if you need…
- Developers already comfortable with React who want a full framework around it
- Teams building sites that need server rendering or static generation
- Projects that want routing and build tooling included rather than assembled by hand
Side-by-side
| Blitz.js | Next.js | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Framework | Framework |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 14.1k | 143k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | JavaScript |
| Last code update | 12 months ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
Blitz.js
Blitz is a toolkit built on Next.js, the React framework, meant to cover the parts of building a full web app that Next.js leaves out. The README describes it as 'The Missing Fullstack Toolkit for Next.js' and its topics list Prisma, which suggests it is commonly paired with that database tool. It is aimed at developers who want to build a complete app in one project.
Next.js
Next.js is a framework built on top of React, the JavaScript library for user interfaces. It adds features such as page routing, server rendering, and static site generation so that a React project can be a complete website or web app. Developers use it to ship React applications with less custom setup.
Best for
Blitz.js
- Developers already comfortable with React and Next.js who want more built-in full-stack structure
- Teams building a full web app with a database and want a single project setup
- Developers who use or want to use Prisma alongside Next.js
Next.js
- Developers already comfortable with React who want a full framework around it
- Teams building sites that need server rendering or static generation
- Projects that want routing and build tooling included rather than assembled by hand
Strengths
Blitz.js
- Open source under the MIT license, so it can be used and modified freely
- Builds on Next.js, a widely used React framework
- Has an active community with Discord and a discussions forum linked from the README
Next.js
- Built on React, so it uses a widely known component model
- Supports both server rendering and static generation in one framework
- Open source under the MIT license with a large community (about 143k stars)
Not ideal for
Blitz.js
- Complete beginners to JavaScript or React, since the README gives little guidance for learning the basics
- Projects that need only a static site or a simple frontend with no backend
- People who need a stable, long-term version guarantee, since the README does not describe its release policy
Next.js
- Complete beginners with no JavaScript or React experience, since the framework assumes those basics
- Simple static pages where a plain HTML file or lighter static generator would be enough
- Teams that want a framework-agnostic setup, because Next.js is tied to React
Trade-offs
Blitz.js
- The README is truncated and gives limited detail on features, so the exact scope is unclear from it
- Relies on the Next.js and Prisma ecosystems, so you inherit their complexity
- Install instructions show a global npm package, which some teams may prefer to avoid
Next.js
- Requires understanding of React and modern JavaScript tooling
- The README excerpt provided is truncated, so detailed feature coverage is limited here
- Framework conventions and version changes mean projects may need upgrades over time
Getting started
Blitz.js
Install Blitz globally with npm
npm install -g blitzInstall Blitz globally with yarn
yarn global add blitzNext.js
Create a new app (command from the project's standard setup)
npx create-next-app@latestFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Blitz.js and Next.js?
Blitz.js: A toolkit that adds full-stack features on top of Next.js, built with Prisma. Next.js: A React framework for building websites and web apps with server rendering and routing built in. Blitz.js suits developers already comfortable with react and next.js who want more built-in full-stack structure, while Next.js suits developers already comfortable with react who want a full framework around it.
Are Blitz.js and Next.js free?
Blitz.js: Free and open source. Next.js: Free and open source.
Is Blitz.js or Next.js more popular?
Next.js has more GitHub stars (143k) than Blitz.js (14.1k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Blitz.js and Next.js?
Other options people compare them with include Wasp, RedwoodGraphQL, react-admin, refine, Nextra.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.