Next.js Development
Production-grade Next.js -- App Router, React Server Components, edge delivery, and Lighthouse 95+ guaranteed.
Next.js is the gold standard for React applications that need to be fast, indexable, and maintainable at scale. We build with the App Router, React Server Components, and edge runtimes -- shipping production code that reflects how Next.js is meant to be used today, not patterns from 2021.
Since Vercel released the App Router in Next.js 13 and stabilised it in 14 and 15, the framework has fundamentally changed how React applications are structured. Server components do the heavy lifting. Client components handle interactivity. Edge middleware manages routing, auth, and personalisation in under 100ms globally. We've shipped dozens of production Next.js projects on this architecture -- SaaS platforms, headless commerce stores, content platforms, and enterprise tools.
Why Next.js in 2026
React Server Components eliminate 80-90 percent of the JavaScript that used to ship to browsers. The result: faster Time to Interactive, better Core Web Vitals, and pages that rank. We consistently hit Lighthouse scores above 95 on complex Next.js applications because we design for performance from the data layer up -- not as an afterthought.
Partial Prerendering (PPR), introduced in Next.js 15, lets us serve static shells instantly while streaming dynamic content in parallel. Pages feel fast because they are fast -- no layout shift, no loading spinners for above-fold content.
What we build with Next.js
Marketing sites and content platforms with ISR (Incremental Static Regeneration) and on-demand revalidation. Pages serve from CDN edge nodes globally but update on your schedule -- no stale content, no full site rebuilds on every change.
SaaS products and dashboards using the App Router with Clerk or Auth.js for authentication, Supabase for database and realtime subscriptions, and Stripe for billing. We have built full SaaS platforms from zero to production in six to eight weeks.
Headless e-commerce with Shopify Storefront API, Medusa, or custom Supabase-backed catalogues. Faster than any Shopify theme. Full control over checkout UX, product pages, and search.
Enterprise applications with complex role-based access control, multi-tenant architecture, and deep API integrations. We handle the architectural decisions that scale to millions of monthly visits without performance degradation.
Migrations to Next.js from WordPress, Webflow, Gatsby, Create React App, and Vue/Nuxt. We map every URL, implement redirects, verify crawl coverage, and monitor rankings through the transition.
App Router architecture
Every new project we deliver uses the App Router -- not the legacy Pages Router. This is not about following trends. The App Router is a fundamental rethinking of how React applications should be structured.
React Server Components by default: Components render on the server, fetch data directly, and stream HTML to the browser. No client-side data waterfalls. No useEffect loading states for initial data. No hydration overhead for components that do not need interactivity.
Nested layouts: Persistent UI shells that do not re-render between navigations. Nested layouts for dashboards, sidebars, and complex application UIs -- all with clean URL-based routing.
Server Actions: Form submissions and mutations that work without writing separate API routes. Type-safe from component to database, with built-in optimistic updates and error handling.
Streaming and Suspense: Pages stream progressively. Critical above-fold content renders first. Secondary sections load in parallel. Loading states are a first-class routing concern, not an afterthought.
Parallel routes and intercepting routes: Modal patterns that preserve URL state, split-screen views, and side panels -- UI patterns that were complex before are now clean and maintainable.
Our technical stack
We use a consistent, battle-tested stack across Next.js projects:
- Framework: Next.js 15 with App Router and Turbopack
- Language: TypeScript throughout
- Styling: Tailwind CSS with CSS Modules for component isolation where needed
- Database: Supabase (PostgreSQL, realtime, row-level security) or PlanetScale for high-write workloads
- CMS: Sanity, Contentful, or Payload depending on content structure and editorial requirements
- Auth: Clerk for SaaS products, Auth.js for simpler requirements, custom RBAC for enterprise
- Deployment: Vercel for edge functions and ISR, Railway or Fly.io for persistent background services
- Testing: Vitest for unit tests, Playwright for end-to-end coverage
Performance guarantees
Every Next.js project we deliver is benchmarked before handoff. We do not sign off until these numbers are met:
- Lighthouse Performance: 95 or above on mobile
- LCP (Largest Contentful Paint): under 1.2 seconds
- CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift): under 0.05
- INP (Interaction to Next Paint): under 150ms
- Time to First Byte: under 300ms globally via Vercel edge
Performance is measured against real devices on real networks -- not just Chrome DevTools.
Migrations from other frameworks
We migrate sites to Next.js from WordPress, Webflow, Gatsby, Create React App, and Vue/Nuxt. Our migration process:
URL audit: Every existing URL is catalogued and mapped to its Next.js equivalent. Redirects are implemented with 301s, not meta refreshes.
Content migration: Structured content is moved to Supabase or a headless CMS. Unstructured content is parsed and cleaned. No content is lost.
SEO verification: We run crawls before and after launch, monitor Search Console for coverage drops, and track keyword rankings for 60 days post-launch.
Performance baseline: The new site must match or exceed the performance of the old site on every Core Web Vital before DNS cutover.
Why Social Animal for Next.js development
We have been building React applications since before Next.js existed. The team has shipped over 200 Next.js projects -- marketing sites, SaaS platforms, e-commerce stores, enterprise tools, and content platforms.
Every project is handled by a senior developer. We do not outsource. We do not ship low-quality generated code without review. We write TypeScript that the next developer on the project can understand and maintain.
We are also obsessive about SEO. A fast Next.js application that does not rank is a missed opportunity. We bring performance engineering and search visibility together from day one -- technical foundations that compound over time.
If you are evaluating Next.js for a new project or migration, we will give you an honest assessment of whether it is the right fit. Sometimes Astro is better. Sometimes your existing stack with targeted improvements is enough. We would rather tell you that upfront than take a project that is not the right tool.
Related services & resources
These are the other engagements we ship alongside this one, plus the tools and guides founders use most.
Productized services:
- 30-day MVP development sprint — fixed-scope founder MVPs in 4 weeks
- Vibe coding to production — Lovable, Bolt, v0, Cursor, Replit graduation to production
- Lovable app rescue — broken Lovable apps, RLS fixes, security audits
- Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) — production AEO implementation for AI search
- Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) — AI citation + passage-ranking work
- White-label Next.js development — agency partner engagements
- White-label headless CMS development — Sanity, Payload, Contentful
Industry launches:
- Skincare brand launch (UK) — DTC with UK RP + CPSR bundled
- Supplement brand launch (UK)
- SaaS MVP launch
- Marketplace MVP launch
- Consulting business launch (UK)
Hub + tools:
- MVP Starter hub — full 12-stage founder journey
- MVP Cost Calculator — estimate from 400+ real engagements
- Brand Name Generator — vertical-aware AI naming with trademark pre-check
- WordPress migration checklist (PDF) — 42-point gated download
Key guides:
Common questions
What version of Next.js do you build with?
We build with Next.js 15 and the App Router. All new projects use React Server Components, Turbopack for local development, and Partial Prerendering where applicable. We do not start new projects on the Pages Router.
How long does a Next.js project take?
A marketing site or content platform typically takes 4-8 weeks from kickoff to launch. A SaaS product with auth, billing, and a dashboard is 6-12 weeks depending on scope. Enterprise platforms with custom integrations are quoted after a discovery session.
Can you migrate our WordPress site to Next.js without losing rankings?
Yes. We have migrated over 50 WordPress sites to Next.js with zero ranking loss. Our process includes full URL mapping, 301 redirects, content migration, structured data transfer, and 60-day post-launch monitoring in Search Console.
Do you use the App Router or Pages Router?
All new projects use the App Router. If you have an existing Pages Router codebase that needs maintenance or incremental migration, we can work with that too -- but new work always starts with the App Router.
What Lighthouse score can I expect?
We guarantee a Lighthouse Performance score of 95 or above on mobile for all Next.js projects we deliver. LCP under 1.2s and CLS under 0.05 are standard. We benchmark against real devices, not just DevTools.
Do you handle hosting and deployment?
Yes. We configure Vercel deployments with preview environments, edge function regions, ISR revalidation settings, and environment variables. We also set up monitoring, error tracking, and alerting before handoff.
Ready to get started?
Free consultation. No commitment. Just an honest conversation about your project.
Let's build
something together.
Whether it's a migration, a new build, or an SEO challenge — the Social Animal team would love to hear from you.