Next.js vs Remix: The Guide for Choosing Your React Framework based on a real Saas experience
I've spent the last few years building and scaling the website builder platform Kleap, and let me tell you - choosing the right framework can make or break your project. Today, I'm going to share our real-world experience with both Next.js and Remix.
The Challenge We Faced
No fluff, no theory - just pure, battle-tested insights.
"But which framework should we choose?" - that was the million-dollar question.
Picture this: you're building a platform that needs to handle thousands of client websites, real-time analytics, and complex form management. That was us at Kleap. We needed something robust, scalable, and developer-friendly.
Our Journey with Next.js
What Made Next.js Our Go-To Choice?
You know what's funny? When we first started with Next.js, we weren't sure if it could handle our scale. Fast forward to today, and it's powering thousands of client websites with blazing-fast performance.
Static Generation That Actually Works
Remember the days of sluggish page loads? Gone.
Our client sites now load in under a second.
And the best part? Revalidation happens every minute.
Image Optimization That Saved Us Big Time
We cut our bandwidth costs by 60%.
Images load faster than ever.
Zero configuration needed.
Build Process That Scales Think your build times are slow? We were generating thousands of pages. Next.js handled it like a champ.
Here's where it gets interesting. We discovered three game-changing features:
"The moment we implemented incremental static regeneration, our performance metrics went through the roof." - Our Lead Developer
Here's where the story gets interesting. While Next.js was crushing it for our core platform, we had these external tools that needed something different.
But Then Came Remix: The Dark Horse
Why Remix Stole Our Hearts for Tools
Let me share something most people don't tell you about Remix: it's a form-handling beast. And when you're building SaaS tools, that's pure gold.
What we discovered:
Ready for some mind-blowing stats? Here's what we saw in production:
Forms just work (like, really work)
Real-time updates feel natural
Development speed is insane
The Numbers Don't Lie
0.8s First Contentful Paint
2.1s Time to Interactive
94% Cache Hit Rate
Next.js Core Platform:
Pretty impressive, right? But wait until you see this...
Remix External Tools:
1.1s First Contentful Paint
1.8s Time to Interactive
0.015% Error Rate
The Real Secret: Using Both
Here's something controversial: you don't have to choose. We didn't.
At Kleap, we use:
Next.js for our core platform (client websites, marketing pages)
Remix for our external tools (admin panels, data management)
And you know what? It works beautifully.
Choose Next.js when:
Let me make this super simple for you.
Making The Choice: A Practical Guide
You need serious SEO juice
Static generation is your friend
Image optimization is crucial
You're building a large-scale platform
Go with Remix when:
Forms are your bread and butter
Real-time is a must
You need rapid development
User experience is everything
The Million-Dollar Lessons
Here's what nobody tells you:
Framework Wars Are Pointless The real question isn't "which is better?" but "what fits your needs?"
Performance Isn't Everything Developer experience and maintenance matter just as much.
Both Can Be Right Sometimes, the best solution is using both frameworks strategically.
The Bottom Line
What's Next?
The web development landscape is always evolving. Next.js and Remix are both getting better with each release. The key is staying flexible and choosing the right tool for each job.
After processing terabytes of data, serving millions of requests, and building countless features, here's my advice:
"The best framework is the one that solves your specific problems." - Every Successful Dev Ever
Don't get caught up in framework wars. Focus on your specific needs and choose accordingly. Sometimes, like us at Kleap, you might find that using both frameworks gives you the best of both worlds.
Want to Learn More?
Keep building awesome stuff! 🚀
I'm always excited to share more detailed insights about our experience. Drop a comment below if you want me to dive deeper into any aspect of our framework journey.
PS: If you found this helpful, follow me for more real-world web development insights. I share new articles every week about scaling SaaS platforms, performance optimization, and developer experience.