Astro
Astro makes content-first websites its starting point, offering a focused alternative to Next.js’s broader React application architecture. Its islands model renders most content as HTML and adds client-side JavaScript only where interactive components need it. This makes it appealing for marketing sites, publications, and catalogs where extensive application behavior is unnecessary.
Unlike a React-centered workflow, Astro supports components from multiple frontend frameworks, including React and Solid. Teams can preserve familiar components while controlling when individual sections become interactive. Starlight also provides a dedicated starting point for documentation sites, reducing the work involved in assembling a documentation experience.
Static output supports straightforward deployment across hosting providers, while server-side capabilities accommodate projects that need backend functionality. Astro is particularly compelling when lean content delivery matters more than an integrated React application stack, although shared state across islands and editorial workflows require planning.
Best for
Best for developers and agencies building content-heavy websites with selective interactivity and flexible hosting.
Standout features
- ✓Islands architecture with selective hydration
- ✓Support for multiple component frameworks
- ✓Starlight documentation framework
- ✓Portable static output
- ✓Server-side rendering and API endpoints
