Next.js App Router vs React Router: My Journey From Confusion to Clarity

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AI image illustration comparing Next.js App Router vs React Router, showing a confused developer, framework logos, and a headline about routing choices

The Early Days With React Router

When I first started building web apps, I jumped into React. It was exciting, modern, and all over the internet. But little did I know, I’d end up spending a lot of time just figuring out routing. Yep — I’m talking about React Router.

Back then, I didn’t even know frameworks like Next.js existed. So naturally, I relied on React Router for navigation. But here’s the thing — in React, you have to manually install the router library, import components like <BrowserRouter>, <Routes>, <Route>, and sometimes even wrap your head around other components like <Navigate> or <Outlet>.

And don't even get me started on how frustrating it is when these libraries update. Sometimes the syntax changes, other times things get deprecated, and worst of all — different projects use different versions of React Router!

In one project, <Routes> is used; in another, everything’s built with just <BrowserRouter> and <Route>. Not all teams keep up with the latest best practices, so switching between codebases felt like learning a new mini-framework every time.

External Modules and Routing Confusion

Now imagine this: you're constantly switching between projects. One uses React Router v5, another is on v6. Some projects even have custom wrappers or context-based routing. It quickly becomes a mess. You're not just writing code — you're adapting to ever-changing router patterns.

And of course, you always need to:

  • Manually install react-router-dom
  • Import the components in every file
  • Configure the router at the app’s entry point
  • Handle nested routes carefully to avoid breaking layouts

It’s a lot of overhead for something as simple as "when I click this link, go to that page".

Discovering Next.js: Built-In Routing Bliss

After a long break from frontend work, I stumbled across Next.js — and wow, what a discovery!

Next.js completely changed my perspective. No more npm install react-router-dom. No more manually configuring routes. With App Router (and also the legacy Pages Router), Next.js offers built-in file-based routing.

Here’s how it works:

  • You create a folder called /app or /pages
  • Inside it, every file becomes a route — simple as that!
  • You want a dynamic route? Just create a file like [slug].js — done.

And the best part? No imports. No setup. No boilerplate. Just focus on building your components, and Next.js takes care of the rest.

Example:

/app
  └── dashboard
       └── page.tsx  ➜  route: /dashboard

That's it. No <BrowserRouter>, no <Routes>, no wrapping with context. You just write code, and it works.

Dynamic Routing Made Simple

One of the most beautiful features of Next.js App Router is how easy it makes dynamic routing. Instead of complicated path matching or stateful redirects, you just create a file like: 

/app/blog/[slug]/page.tsx ➜ /blog/my-awesome-post

And just like that, you’ve got a dynamic blog route. Clean, elegant, and developer-friendly.

Developer Productivity and Framework Evolution

Here’s what I’ve realized: frameworks evolve to make developers’ lives easier. Yes, new tools can be intimidating at first, but they're built for a reason — better performance, easier maintenance, improved developer experience.

Switching from React Router to Next.js App Router felt like moving from a manual car to an automatic. Suddenly, I’m not juggling gears — I’m just driving.

So if you're still stuck dealing with the React Router chaos, or if you’re tired of re-learning routing patterns every few months, give Next.js a shot. The App Router will save you hours, reduce your code, and make your projects way more scalable.

Final Thoughts: Should You Choose React Router or Next.js App Router?

Feature React Router Next.js App Router
Manual Installation ✅ Yes ❌ No
File-based Routing ❌ No ✅ Yes
Built-in SSR ❌ No ✅ Yes
Dynamic Routing ✅ Complex ✅ Simple
Learning Curve 🔺 Steep with updates 🟢 Flat
Productivity ⚠️ Depends on version 🚀 High

At the end of the day, use what suits your project, but don’t hesitate to explore newer tools. You might just fall in love with how far the web has come.

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