Next.js App Router vs Pages Router

Next.js App Router vs Pages Router

Compare Next.js App Router and Pages Router to understand which to use for your project.

Pages Router (Traditional)

pages/
  index.tsx
  about.tsx
  blog/
    [slug].tsx

App Router (Modern)

app/
  page.tsx
  about/
    page.tsx
  blog/
    [slug]/
      page.tsx

Key Differences

1. File Structure

• Pages Router: One file per route
• App Router: Folder-based routing with page.tsx

2. Server Components

• Pages Router: Client-side by default
• App Router: Server components by default

3. Data Fetching

• Pages Router: getServerSideProps, getStaticProps
• App Router: Async components, fetch with caching

Which Should You Use?

Use App Router for:

• New projects
• Better performance
• Modern React features

Use Pages Router for:

• Existing projects
• Specific requirements
• Team familiarity