Astro vs gatsby difference

AstroComparisonBeginner · 4 min read

Astro vs Gatsby: Key Differences and When to Use Each

Astro is a modern static site builder focused on delivering fast websites by shipping zero JavaScript by default, while Gatsby is a React-based framework that pre-builds pages with rich client-side interactivity. Astro supports multiple UI frameworks and partial hydration, whereas Gatsby relies heavily on React and GraphQL for data fetching.

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Quick Comparison

Here is a quick side-by-side look at key factors between Astro and Gatsby.

Factor	Astro	Gatsby
Rendering Approach	Static site generation with partial hydration	Static site generation with React hydration
JavaScript Delivery	Zero JS by default, add only what you need	Full React JS bundle for interactivity
UI Framework Support	Supports React, Vue, Svelte, Solid, and more	React only
Data Fetching	Flexible, can use any API or file-based data	GraphQL-based data layer
Build Speed	Generally faster due to less JS and simpler bundling	Slower with large sites due to GraphQL and React
Community & Ecosystem	Growing, newer but rapidly expanding	Mature, large plugin ecosystem

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Key Differences

Astro is designed to build fast websites by default. It sends almost no JavaScript to the browser unless you explicitly add it. This means pages load quickly and use less bandwidth. Astro supports multiple UI frameworks like React, Vue, and Svelte, letting you mix components from different libraries in one project.

In contrast, Gatsby is built on React and uses a GraphQL data layer to fetch content at build time. It pre-renders pages but hydrates the entire React app on the client side, which can lead to larger JavaScript bundles. Gatsby has a mature ecosystem with many plugins and starters, making it easy to add features but sometimes increasing build times.

Astro’s partial hydration lets you load JavaScript only for interactive parts, improving performance. Gatsby’s approach is more traditional React SPA style, which is great for complex apps but can be heavier. Overall, Astro focuses on minimal client-side code and flexibility, while Gatsby emphasizes React integration and a rich plugin system.

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Code Comparison

Here is how you create a simple page with a button that shows an alert in Astro.

astro

---
// Astro component: src/pages/index.astro
---
<html lang="en">
  <head>
    <title>Astro Example</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h1>Hello from Astro!</h1>
    <button onClick={() => alert('Clicked!')}>Click me</button>
  </body>
</html>

Output

<h1>Hello from Astro!</h1><button>Click me</button> (button shows alert on click)

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Gatsby Equivalent

Here is the same page implemented in Gatsby using React.

jsx

import React from 'react';

export default function Home() {
  return (
    <main>
      <h1>Hello from Gatsby!</h1>
      <button onClick={() => alert('Clicked!')}>Click me</button>
    </main>
  );
}

Output

<h1>Hello from Gatsby!</h1><button>Click me</button> (button shows alert on click)

🎯

When to Use Which

Choose Astro when you want ultra-fast static sites with minimal JavaScript and the flexibility to use multiple UI frameworks. It’s ideal for content-heavy sites, blogs, and marketing pages where performance is key.

Choose Gatsby when you need a mature React-based framework with a rich plugin ecosystem and GraphQL data integration. It suits complex React apps, sites needing many integrations, or when you want to leverage React’s full client-side capabilities.

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Key Takeaways

Astro delivers faster sites by default with minimal JavaScript sent to browsers.

Gatsby uses React and GraphQL, offering a mature ecosystem but larger JS bundles.

Astro supports multiple UI frameworks; Gatsby is React-only.

Use Astro for performance-focused static sites and Gatsby for complex React apps.

Build speed is generally faster with Astro due to simpler bundling.