TanStack Start vs Next.js: The Real Differences

Next.js has been the default choice for full-stack React for years. But TanStack Start is changing that conversation.

Here's what actually matters when choosing between them.

The Core Philosophy

Next.js: Server-first, convention-driven, optimized for Vercel.

TanStack Start: Client-first, type-safe, deploy anywhere.

Neither is "better" — they solve different problems.

Type Safety: The Biggest Difference

TanStack Start is built on TanStack Router, which provides compile-time type safety for routes, params, and search queries.

typescript

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// TanStack Start - fully typed at compile time
import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'

export const Route = createFileRoute('/posts/$postId')({
  loader: async ({ params }) => {
    // params.postId is typed as string
    return fetchPost(params.postId)
  },
})

function Post() {
  const { postId } = Route.useParams()
  // TypeScript knows postId exists and is a string
}

With Next.js, dynamic params often need manual type assertions:

typescript

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// Next.js - types require manual work
interface Props {
  params: { postId: string }  // You're trusting this
}

export default function Post({ params }: Props) {
  // params.postId might not exist at runtime
}

Server Functions vs Server Actions

TanStack Start has composable server functions with built-in validation and middleware:

typescript

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// TanStack Start
import { createServerFn } from '@tanstack/react-start'
import { z } from 'zod'

export const getTodos = createServerFn({ method: 'GET' })
  .inputValidator(z.object({ userId: z.string() }))
  .middleware([authMiddleware])
  .handler(async ({ data, context }) => {
    // Fully typed data and context
    return db.todos.findMany({ where: { userId: data.userId } })
  })

// Call with full type safety
const todos = await getTodos({ data: { userId: '123' } })

Next.js Server Actions are simpler but less structured:

typescript

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// Next.js
'use server'

export async function getTodos(userId: string) {
  // No built-in validation
  // No middleware support
  return db.todos.findMany({ where: { userId } })
}

Dev Experience: Vite vs Turbopack

TanStack Start uses Vite — fast hot reloading, lightweight, instant startup.

Next.js uses Turbopack (still maturing) or Webpack. Many developers report slower dev servers:

Aspect	TanStack Start	Next.js
Dev Server	Vite (fast)	Turbopack/Webpack
HMR Speed	Instant	Varies
Memory Usage	Lightweight	Heavy

Deployment: Flexibility vs Convenience

TanStack Start: Deploy anywhere Vite runs — Cloudflare, Netlify, Railway, AWS, Vercel. No lock-in.

Next.js: Best on Vercel. Self-hosting works but some features (ISR, image optimization) have caveats.

Built-in Caching

TanStack Start includes SWR caching out of the box:

typescript

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export const Route = createFileRoute('/posts/$postId')({
  loader: async ({ params }) => fetchPost(params.postId),
  staleTime: 10_000,  // Fresh for 10 seconds
  gcTime: 5 * 60_000, // Cache for 5 minutes
})

Next.js requires manual setup with React Query or SWR.

When to Choose TanStack Start

You want end-to-end type safety
You need deployment flexibility
You prefer explicit over magic
You already use TanStack Query/Router
You want faster dev server

When to Choose Next.js

You want React Server Components today
You're deploying to Vercel
You prefer convention over configuration
You need built-in image optimization
Your team knows Next.js already

The Bottom Line

TanStack Start isn't trying to replace Next.js. It's offering an alternative for developers who value:

Type safety over conventions

Control over magic

Flexibility over optimization

Both are production-ready. The right choice depends on your project and team.

Quick Decision Matrix

Project Type	Recommendation
Marketing site / Blog	Next.js (SSG, SEO)
Data-heavy dashboard	TanStack Start
E-commerce	Either works well
Internal tools	TanStack Start
Vercel deployment	Next.js
Multi-cloud deployment	TanStack Start

Try both. Pick what fits your brain.

TanStack Start vs Next.js: The Real Differences

The Core Philosophy

Type Safety: The Biggest Difference

Server Functions vs Server Actions

Dev Experience: Vite vs Turbopack

Deployment: Flexibility vs Convenience

Built-in Caching

When to Choose TanStack Start

When to Choose Next.js

The Bottom Line

Quick Decision Matrix

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