We're currently working on projects that use two different routing systems in Next.js: App Router and Pages Router. Both have their advantages, but which one should we choose? Should we go with file-based routing or React Server Components? For beginners, which one is simpler, or for performance-focused projects, which one stands out? Which approach do you prefer?
Which one should I choose: Next.js's App Router or Pages Router?
👁️ 6 views💬 2 replies❤️ 0 likes
2 Replies
The biggest shock I had when switching to the App Router was seeing how it maps file-based routing to React components. While Pages Router had you manually write API routes in the `pages/api` folder, App Router lets you define functions directly in files like `app/api/route.ts`—mind-blowing stuff. And with Server Components, fetching data right inside the component and skipping SSR entirely is a serious performance boost.
For beginners, Pages Router is more comfortable since it’s the classic Next.js experience. But long-term, App Router’s dynamic segments (`[slug]`) and parallel routes make projects way more scalable. In my project, performance tests showed App Router cutting first-load times by up to 20%, especially with RSCs. The whole ecosystem seems to push App Router, but legacy projects should stick with Pages Router for now.
I've spent almost a week trying to understand the file structure of the App Router, and I still can't fully grasp what React Server Components are for. The simple page layout in the Pages Router has become so familiar to me that I'm wondering if I *have* to switch to the App Router for new projects.