Astro vs Next.js for content sites

If your site is mostly words and you don't need a React single-page app, Astro is faster to build and faster to load. No contest.

Why Astro wins for content sites:

Zero JS by default. Astro ships zero JavaScript to the browser unless you explicitly add it. Your pages are pure HTML and CSS. This means faster load times, better SEO, and happier visitors on slow connections.

Markdown is a first-class citizen. You write content in markdown files, Astro turns them into pages. No CMS, no database, no build complexity. Just files.

Island architecture. Need one interactive widget on an otherwise static page? Astro lets you add a React (or Svelte, or Vue) component just for that piece. The rest stays static. This is brilliant for personal sites where 95% of the content doesn't need JavaScript.

When Next.js makes more sense: if you're building a web app with authentication, real-time features, complex client-side state, or API routes that do heavy lifting. Next.js is a full framework. Astro is a content-first tool.

For a personal site with blog posts, project pages, and maybe a protected section later? Astro all day.