next.js

Next.js is the framework that handles everything React doesn't: routing, server-side rendering, API endpoints, image optimization, and deployment. It's the default choice for React apps, and for good reason: it works out of the box and scales from a landing page to a full SaaS.

Everything is free and open source under MIT. Vercel (the company behind it) makes money on hosting, not the framework. You can deploy Next.js anywhere: Vercel, AWS, a Docker container, a VPS. No features are locked to Vercel's platform.

The catch: Next.js has gotten complex. App Router vs Pages Router, Server Components, Server Actions, caching layers, middleware. The mental model is heavier than it was in 2020. And while you CAN deploy anywhere, the best experience is on Vercel, which creates soft lock-in. Self-hosting means handling things Vercel automates: image optimization, ISR, edge functions. It works, but you'll feel the gaps.