Gatsby vs Razzle
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 React-based framework for building fast websites and apps, with static or server rendering.
Open source · MIT
A framework for server-rendered universal JavaScript apps that needs no configuration
The short answer
Choose Gatsby if you need…
- Developers building content-heavy sites such as blogs or documentation
- Teams that already work with React and want a shared GraphQL data layer
- Projects that need a mix of static, deferred, and server-rendered pages
- Anyone who wants a site hosted on a CDN without running servers
Choose Razzle if you need…
- Developers who want server-rendered React or Preact apps without writing webpack configuration themselves
- Developers who want to try a configuration-free setup for universal JavaScript apps
- Teams evaluating older server-rendering frameworks and comparing them against newer options
Side-by-side
| Gatsby | Razzle | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Framework | Framework |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 55.9k | 11k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Clone and build from source |
| Main language | JavaScript | JavaScript |
| Last code update | 17 days ago | 3 years ago |
What each one is
Gatsby
Gatsby is a free, open-source framework built on React for making websites and web apps. It pulls data from sources such as Markdown files, headless CMSs, or REST and GraphQL APIs, then builds pages that load quickly. The README says it automates tasks like code splitting, image optimization, and lazy-loading.
Razzle
Razzle is a framework for building JavaScript apps that render on both the server and the browser, based on its description as a tool for server-rendered universal applications with no configuration. Its topics list React, Preact, TypeScript, and webpack, which suggests those are the main pieces it works with. The README was not available for this review, so the details of how it is set up are unconfirmed.
Best for
Gatsby
- Developers building content-heavy sites such as blogs or documentation
- Teams that already work with React and want a shared GraphQL data layer
- Projects that need a mix of static, deferred, and server-rendered pages
- Anyone who wants a site hosted on a CDN without running servers
Razzle
- Developers who want server-rendered React or Preact apps without writing webpack configuration themselves
- Developers who want to try a configuration-free setup for universal JavaScript apps
- Teams evaluating older server-rendering frameworks and comparing them against newer options
Strengths
Gatsby
- The README lists built-in performance features such as code splitting and image optimization
- It supports static, deferred static, and server-side rendering on a per-page basis
- It has a large plugin and starter ecosystem and an active community
Razzle
- Its description says it needs no configuration, which can reduce initial setup work
- It is an established open-source project with 11,019 stars and an MIT license
- It lists support for React, Preact, and TypeScript in its topics
Not ideal for
Gatsby
- Beginners with no React or JavaScript experience, since the README assumes developer skills
- Very simple static pages, where a plain HTML generator may be less work
- Teams that need to avoid learning GraphQL and a plugin-based data pipeline
Razzle
- Projects that need a framework with documented, current maintenance, because the last push was 2024-03-11 and this review could not confirm its current status
- Beginners with no JavaScript experience, because the README was not reviewed and no beginner guidance could be confirmed
Trade-offs
Gatsby
- The README does not describe the learning curve in detail, and it assumes React and GraphQL knowledge
- Its feature set and plugin model add complexity compared with simpler site generators
- The README is truncated, so details about the security claims in the description are not verified here
Razzle
- The README was unavailable, so features and setup details could not be verified
- The last push date of 2024-03-11 suggests development may have slowed, so check activity before adopting it
Getting started
Gatsby
Initialize a new project
npm init gatsbyStart the site in develop mode
cd my-gatsby-site/ && npm run developRazzle
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/jaredpalmer/razzleFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Gatsby and Razzle?
Gatsby: A React-based framework for building fast websites and apps, with static or server rendering. Razzle: A framework for server-rendered universal JavaScript apps that needs no configuration. Gatsby suits developers building content-heavy sites such as blogs or documentation, while Razzle suits developers who want server-rendered react or preact apps without writing webpack configuration themselves.
Are Gatsby and Razzle free?
Gatsby: Free and open source. Razzle: Free and open source.
Is Gatsby or Razzle more popular?
Gatsby has more GitHub stars (55.9k) than Razzle (11k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Gatsby and Razzle?
Other options people compare them with include Next.js, Nextra, Wasp, refine, React Static.
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.