Astro vs Next.js: Why I Switched

The Monolith vs The Islands

Next.js is a powerhouse. It’s the standard for web apps. But for a blog? A portfolio? It feels heavy. The hydration cost is real.

Enter Astro

Astro takes a different approach. HTML first. JavaScript only when needed.

// This component ships zero JS to the client by default
import Card from '../components/Card.astro';

Benchmarks

My lighthouse score went from 85 to 100 instantly. The “Island Architecture” allows me to embed interactive React components (like my dark mode toggle) without hydrating the entire page.

Verdict

If you are building a dashboard, use Next.js. If you are building a Digital Garden, Astro is the clear winner.