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Meta Frameworks

Comparing SvelteKit and Next.js - performance, features, and use cases

SvelteKit vs Next.js

A comparison of two popular full-stack meta-frameworks for building modern web applications.

Overview

FeatureSvelteKitNext.js
Base FrameworkSvelteReact
Initial Release20202016
MaintainerSvelte TeamVercel
ArchitectureCompiler-basedVirtual DOM
RuntimeNone (compiles away)React (~42 KB)
RenderingSSR, SSG, CSRSSR, SSG, ISR, CSR
DeploymentAdapter-based (flexible)Optimized for Vercel

Performance Benchmarks

SSR Benchmark (requests/second)

Test ScenarioSvelteKitNext.jsDifference
Hello World4,063 req/s2,570 req/s+58%
Component Rendering4,265 req/s2,794 req/s+53%
API Endpoint Fetch2,286 req/s388 req/s+489%

Response Latency

Test ScenarioSvelteKitNext.js
Hello World1,382ms1,761ms
Component Rendering48ms71ms
API Endpoint Fetch92ms527ms

Bundle Size

MetricSvelteKitNext.js
Initial Bundle (typical)50-100 KB200-300 KB
With Client Router (gzip)~25 KB~131 KB
Runtime Overhead0 KB~42 KB
Bundle Size Reduction60-80% smallerBaseline

Lighthouse Scores (typical)

MetricSvelteKitNext.js
Performance ScoreHigh 90sLow 90s
LCP (Largest Contentful Paint)< 1s> 1s
First Input Delay< 100msMay exceed 100ms

Rendering Strategies

SvelteKit

// +page.server.js - Server-side data loading
export async function load({ params }) {
  const post = await getPost(params.slug);
  return { post };
}

// +page.js - Universal (runs on server & client)
export async function load({ fetch }) {
  const res = await fetch('/api/data');
  return { data: await res.json() };
}

Rendering options via +page.js:

export const prerender = true;  // SSG
export const ssr = true;        // SSR (default)
export const csr = true;        // CSR (default)

Next.js

// App Router - Server Component (default)
async function Page({ params }) {
  const post = await getPost(params.slug);
  return <Article post={post} />;
}

// Client Component
'use client';
function Counter() {
  const [count, setCount] = useState(0);
  return <button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>{count}</button>;
}

Rendering options:

  • generateStaticParams() - SSG
  • dynamic = 'force-dynamic' - SSR
  • revalidate = 60 - ISR (Incremental Static Regeneration)

Routing

SvelteKit

src/routes/
├── +page.svelte           → /
├── about/
│   └── +page.svelte       → /about
├── blog/
│   ├── +page.svelte       → /blog
│   └── [slug]/
│       └── +page.svelte   → /blog/:slug
└── api/
    └── posts/
        └── +server.js     → /api/posts

Features:

  • File-based routing with +page.svelte
  • Layouts with +layout.svelte
  • API routes with +server.js
  • preloadCode() and preloadData() for prefetching

Next.js

app/
├── page.tsx               → /
├── about/
│   └── page.tsx           → /about
├── blog/
│   ├── page.tsx           → /blog
│   └── [slug]/
│       └── page.tsx       → /blog/:slug
└── api/
    └── posts/
        └── route.ts       → /api/posts

Features:

  • File-based routing with page.tsx
  • Layouts with layout.tsx
  • API routes with route.ts
  • Parallel routes and intercepting routes
  • Built-in prefetching via <Link>

Data Loading

AspectSvelteKitNext.js
Server Data+page.server.js load functionServer Components (default)
Client Data+page.js load function'use client' + hooks
API Routes+server.jsroute.ts
StreamingSupportedSupported with Suspense
CachingManual or adapter-basedBuilt-in with revalidation

State Management

SvelteKit

Built-in reactive stores:

import { writable, derived } from 'svelte/store';

const count = writable(0);
const doubled = derived(count, $count => $count * 2);

// In component
$count = 5;  // Direct assignment

Next.js

External libraries required:

// Using Zustand
import { create } from 'zustand';

const useStore = create((set) => ({
  count: 0,
  increment: () => set((state) => ({ count: state.count + 1 })),
}));

// In component
const { count, increment } = useStore();

Deployment

PlatformSvelteKitNext.js
Vercel✅ (adapter-vercel)✅ (Optimized)
Netlify✅ (adapter-netlify)
Cloudflare✅ (adapter-cloudflare)⚠️ Limited
Node.js✅ (adapter-node)
Static✅ (adapter-static)✅ (export)
Docker

Ecosystem

AspectSvelteKitNext.js
Component LibrariesLimited (Skeleton, Flowbite)Extensive (shadcn, MUI, Chakra)
Learning ResourcesGrowingAbundant
Job MarketEmergingLarge
Community SizeSmallerLarger
Corporate UsersFewerNetflix, TikTok, Notion, Nike

Use Cases

Choose SvelteKit When

  • Performance is critical (smaller bundles, faster SSR)
  • Building lightweight to medium complexity apps
  • Prefer simpler mental model (no virtual DOM)
  • Deploying to edge/serverless with bandwidth constraints
  • Want built-in state management without external libraries

Choose Next.js When

  • Already invested in React ecosystem
  • Building large-scale enterprise applications
  • Need extensive third-party component libraries
  • Deploying primarily on Vercel
  • Require ISR (Incremental Static Regeneration)
  • Team has React experience

Summary

Best ForFramework
Raw PerformanceSvelteKit
Bundle SizeSvelteKit
EcosystemNext.js
EnterpriseNext.js
Learning CurveSvelteKit
Flexibility (Deployment)SvelteKit
Edge/ServerlessSvelteKit
ISR & CachingNext.js

Note: Benchmarks from Pau Sanchez SSR Benchmark and BetterStack Comparison. Results may vary based on app complexity.

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