Choose Astro if
You have a developer, the site is mostly content, and loading speed matters more than letting the team edit pages visually.
Best for fast, coded content sites
All comparisonsPlatform comparison
Astro vs Framer: which one fits your site
Short answer: choose Astro for a fast content site that a developer writes and maintains in code. Choose Framer for a marketing site with motion that your team edits itself.
Side by side
Astro vs Framer
What decides the choice, row by row, with Next.js alongside for comparison.
Criteria
Astro
Framer
Next.js
Best for
Astro
Content sites written in code by a developer: blogs, documentation, and marketing sites where speed comes first.
Framer
Marketing sites and landing pages with lots of motion that a small team updates often.
Next.js
Sites that behave like a product: logins, payments, or data from your app.
Design workflow
Astro
Designed elsewhere, then written in code. There is no visual editor.
Framer
A freeform canvas that works much like Figma, so designs move across quickly.
Next.js
Designed in Figma, then written in code. Anything is possible, nothing is drag and drop.
Motion
Astro
Built-in view transitions between pages. Anything more is added in code.
Framer
Scroll effects, hover states, and animated components with little setup.
Next.js
Any animation library, with full control and more development time.
CMS
Astro
Content collections for Markdown files, or a headless CMS you connect.
Framer
Good for blogs, case studies, and simple collections. The Pro plan lists 10 collections.
Next.js
None built in. You connect a headless CMS or keep content in files.
SEO
Astro
Sends plain HTML with no JavaScript by default, so pages load fast. Metadata is set up by hand.
Framer
Page titles, descriptions, redirects, and a sitemap are built in.
Next.js
Full control over markup, metadata, and speed, all set up by hand.
Editing after launch
Astro
Changes go through code or Markdown files, unless a CMS is connected for your team.
Framer
On-page editing and a simple CMS that suit a small team without a developer.
Next.js
Changes go through code, unless a CMS is connected for your team.
Upkeep and security
Astro
Your host handles the servers. Code and dependency updates are yours.
Framer
Hosting, security, and updates are handled by Framer.
Next.js
Your host handles the servers. Code and dependency updates are yours.
Learning curve
Astro
Needs a developer. Its templates are close to plain HTML.
Framer
Short for anyone who already knows Figma.
Next.js
Needs a developer for anything beyond content.
Custom code
Astro
It is all code, and it accepts components from React, Vue, Svelte, and others.
Framer
Code components written in React.
Next.js
It is all code, so there are no platform limits.
AI agents
Astro
An official MCP server lets AI coding tools work with the project.
Framer
An MCP server, in preview, connects tools such as Claude to the project.
Next.js
Coding agents such as Claude Code work directly in the codebase.
Platform plan
Astro
Free, open-source software. You pay for hosting, which depends on the host and traffic.
Framer
Pro is listed at $30 per month, hosting included.
Next.js
No builder plan. You pay for hosting, which depends on the host and traffic.
Built by me
Astro
Not a framework I build in. For a coded site I use Next.js.
Framer
Two to three weeks, $6,000 to $9,000.
Next.js
Two to three weeks, $6,000 to $9,000.
Last updated November 2026.
At a glance
So, which one should you choose?
It usually comes down to how much content the site holds, how much motion it needs, and who looks after it once it is live.
Choose Framer if
You want a polished marketing site with motion, a blog or case studies, and a small team that edits pages without a developer.
Best for speed and motion
Framer designerChoose Next.js if
The site has to behave like a product: logins, payments, data from your app, or features no site builder offers.
Most flexible
Web developmentStill unsure?
Tell me about your site and I’ll recommend a platform before you build.
Year-one cost
What the first year costs on each
My rate is the same on every platform I build on, so what you pay the platform or your host is the difference.
Criteria
Astro
Framer
Next.js
Design in Figma
One week
Astro
Not offered
Framer
$3,000
Next.js
$3,000
Build
One or two weeks, by page count
Astro
I build coded sites in Next.js instead
Framer
$3,000 to $6,000
Next.js
$3,000 to $6,000
Platform plan
Twelve months at the listed price
Astro
Free software. Hosting is billed by your host
Framer
$360 (Pro)
Next.js
Hosting, billed by your host
Extra editors
Billed by the platform
Astro
No seats. Editors need a connected CMS
Framer
$20 per editor a month, or $10 for content-only editors
Next.js
No seats. Editors need a connected CMS
Year-one total
Design, build, and platform plan
Astro
Hosting and developer time
Framer
$6,360 to $9,360
Next.js
$6,000 to $9,000, plus hosting
Platform prices as listed on astro.build and framer.com/pricing in November 2026, in USD. Check current prices before you buy.
Quick quiz
Which one is right for your team?
Six questions, about a minute, scored against the comparison above.
Who will update the site after launch?
The people making most of the changes.
Question 1 of 6
Client work
I build in Framer and Next.js
The advice above comes from client sites I designed and built, not from a feature list.
Built in Framer
"Excellent work! Fast, reliable and look and feel matched beyond our expectations."
Lucas Berman
Partner, FOX BERMAN
Built in Next.js
"Arek did an outstanding job on our full brand redesign. From understanding our vision, to crafting the direction, to executing with speed, he nailed it from the beginning. We absolutely love all of it. What stood out most was how quickly he understood exactly what we were looking for. He was creative, came back with ideas that felt modern and genuinely good, and landed on something that fit our brand perfectly. He made himself available throughout the process and kept things moving fast without cutting corners on quality. Working with him was easy from start to finish. I’d recommend him to anyone looking for a designer who gets it and delivers. Thanks, Arek."
Karim Zitouni
Co-Founder, Elevate
Built in Next.js
"Working with Arek was an awesome experience. He is so creative and fast and talented in so many tech areas. He has great ideas and gave honest feedback to my ideas. Final website was incredible. Very impressive. I will be using him for everything going forward."
James Greaves
CEO, Brand Makers
Hello, I’m Arek
I design websites in Framer, Webflow & Next.js
I’m a certified Framer and Webflow expert, and you work with me directly from the first call to launch. Book a call, tell me about your site, and I’ll recommend the platform that fits.
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FAQs
Questions about Astro vs Framer
Need help choosing?
Send me your current site, your goals, and what your team needs to manage after launch. I’ll recommend the right setup.
Book a call
They solve different problems. Astro is a code framework for content sites, so a developer writes and maintains it. Framer is a visual builder, so a designer builds the site and a small team edits it without code.
Astro is built for speed: it sends plain HTML and no JavaScript by default. Framer handles hosting and performance for you, which is enough for most marketing sites. The difference matters most on large content sites.
The framework is free and open source. You pay for hosting and for the developer time to build and maintain the site. Framer’s Pro plan is listed at $30 per month with hosting included.
Only if a CMS is connected for them. Without one, changes go through code or Markdown files. In Framer, a small team can change pages and publish posts without a developer.
Both can rank. Astro’s light pages help with loading speed, and its metadata is set up by hand. Framer has page titles, descriptions, redirects, and a sitemap built in.
When a developer owns the site, the content lives in Markdown or a headless CMS, and the pages need little animation. Documentation and large blogs are typical examples.
$3,000 per week, flat, on Framer, Webflow, or Next.js. A site usually takes two to three weeks, so $6,000 to $9,000 in total, fixed on the kickoff call. The platform bills its own plan separately. See pricing.
No. I design and build in Framer, Webflow, and Next.js. For a site that has to be written in code, I use Next.js.
Not sure which one fits?
Book a 15-minute call. Tell me about your site and I’ll recommend a platform.