Migrating from Create React App to Next.js

The motivation

Create React App ships everything to the client and gives you nothing for SEO out of the box. Next.js fixes both with server rendering, file-based routing, and a first-class metadata API.

What changed

• Components became server components by default; only interactive pieces are marked "use client".
• Routing moved from manual anchors to the App Router file structure.
• SEO is now declarative via the metadata export and a JSON-LD script.

The payoff

Faster loads, better Lighthouse scores, real social-share previews, and a codebase that's far easier to extend. If you're starting a React project today, reach for Next.js first.