For years, Create-React-App (CRA) has been the go-to tool for setting up React projects. It provided an easy, out-of-the-box development environment, making it a popular choice for beginners and seasoned developers alike. However, as of 2025, CRA is officially deprecated, and the React community is moving on.

So, what led to the downfall of CRA, and what are the best alternatives to replace it? Let’s dive in.

Why Did Create-React-App Die?

There are several key reasons why CRA has fallen out of favor:

1. Performance Issues – CRA uses Webpack under the hood, which is slower compared to newer bundlers like Vite, ESBuild, and SWC. The slow build times frustrated developers.
2. Lack of Modern Features – CRA was slow to adopt modern optimizations like server-side rendering (SSR) or support for Edge functions. Other frameworks filled this gap.
3. Better Alternatives Emerged – Vite, Next.js, and other tools provided faster, more flexible, and more feature-rich solutions.
4. Official Deprecation by the React Team – In 2024, the React team stopped maintaining CRA, signaling its end as the preferred tool for bootstrapping React projects.

With CRA no longer recommended, developers need to choose a new way to start React projects.

Top Alternatives to Create-React-App

1. Vite – The Fastest Choice

🚀 Why Choose Vite?

• Blazing Fast: Uses ESBuild for instant dev server startup.
• Modern and Lightweight: Works well with React, Vue, and Svelte.
• Built-in HMR (Hot Module Replacement): No more waiting for slow refreshes.

👉 To start a React project with Vite:

Code

    npm create vite@latest my-app --template react
    cd my-app
    npm install
    npm run dev
                                            
            

If you want a modern, lightweight, and super-fast React setup, Vite is the way to go.

2. Next.js – The Full-Stack Powerhouse

🔥 Why Choose Next.js?

• Supports SSR & Static Site Generation (SSG)
• Built-in API Routes for backend functionality
• Image Optimization, Routing, and More

👉 To create a React project with Next.js:

Code

    npx create-next-app@latest my-next-app
    cd my-next-app
    npm run dev                               
            

If you’re working on production-grade React apps that need SEO, performance optimizations, or a backend, Next.js is the best choice.

3. Remix – For Web Standards and Performance

🌎 Why Choose Remix?

• Built on web fundamentals for better performance
• Automatic data fetching and caching
• Server-side rendering (SSR) by default

👉 To create a Remix project:

Code

	npx create-remix@latest                              
            

Remix is great if you need a modern, optimized React framework for interactive applications.

4. Parcel – Zero Config Simplicity

⚡ Why Choose Parcel?

• Zero configuration bundler
• Faster than Webpack
• Great for small-to-medium projects

👉 To start a React project with Parcel:

Code

    npm init -y
    npm install parcel-bundler react react-dom
                           
            

Parcel is a solid alternative for those who still want a Webpack-like experience without the complexity.

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Which One Should You Choose?

• For the fastest dev experience → Vite
• For production-grade full-stack apps → Next.js
• For modern web standards → Remix
• For simple projects without config → Parcel

With CRA officially dead, it's time to embrace these faster and more powerful alternatives. Whether you're building a small project or a large-scale application, there’s a perfect tool for every need.

What do you think? Was this the right move?

📖 Read the official blog post here: https://react.dev/blog/2025/02/14/sunsetting-create-react-app 

Create-React-App is Officially Dead

For years, Create-React-App (CRA) has been the go-to tool for setting up React projects. It provided an easy, out-of-the-box development environment, making it a popular choice for beginners and seasoned developers alike. However, as of 2025, CRA is officially deprecated, and the React community is moving on.

Why Did Create-React-App Die?

There are several key reasons why CRA has fallen out of favor:

1. Performance Issues – CRA uses Webpack under the hood, which is slower compared to newer bundlers like Vite, ESBuild, and SWC. The slow build times frustrated developers.
2. Lack of Modern Features – CRA was slow to adopt modern optimizations like server-side rendering (SSR) or support for Edge functions. Other frameworks filled this gap.
3. Better Alternatives Emerged – Vite, Next.js, and other tools provided faster, more flexible, and more feature-rich solutions.
4. Official Deprecation by the React Team – In 2024, the React team stopped maintaining CRA, signalling its end as the preferred tool for bootstrapping React projects.

With CRA no longer recommended, developers need to choose a new way to start React projects.

Top Alternatives to Create-React-App

1. Vite – The Fastest Choice

• Blazing Fast: Uses ESBuild for instant dev server startup & Modern and Lightweight: Works well with React, Vue, and Svelte.

2. Next.js – The Full-Stack Powerhouse

• Supports SSR & Static Site Generation (SSG), Built-in API Routes for backend functionality & Image Optimization, Routing, and More

3. Remix – For Web Standards and Performance

• Automatic data fetching and caching & Server-side rendering (SSR) by default

4. Parcel – Zero Config Simplicity

• Zero configuration bundler & Faster than Webpack

With CRA officially dead, it's time to embrace these faster and more powerful alternatives. Whether you're building a small project or a large-scale application, there’s a perfect tool for every need.

What do you think? Was this the right move? 

📖 Read the official blog post here: https://react.dev/blog/2025/02/14/sunsetting-create-react-app