Netflix doesn’t use Next.js. Not for its main website, not for its app, and not for the core streaming experience you see on your TV, phone, or browser. That’s the straightforward answer. But if you’re asking this question because you’re trying to figure out what framework to learn for building high-performance, large-scale web apps, then you’re asking the right question - just not in the right way.
Why People Think Netflix Uses Next.js
It’s easy to assume Netflix uses Next.js. After all, Netflix is a single-page app with heavy interactivity, real-time recommendations, and a slick UI that loads fast even on slow connections. Next.js is the go-to framework for exactly that kind of experience. It’s built on React, supports server-side rendering, static generation, and has great performance out of the box. So when you see Netflix’s smooth transitions and instant content loads, it’s natural to think: Next.js must be behind it. But appearances can be misleading. Netflix’s frontend isn’t built on a standard framework you’d find on GitHub. It’s a custom-built system, optimized over more than a decade for one thing: delivering video to billions of devices, reliably and quickly.What Netflix Actually Uses
Netflix’s frontend runs on a homegrown framework called React - but not the kind you’d install via npm. They built their own rendering engine called React Server Components (RSC) long before React officially released it. They also use a custom module loader, a tailored data-fetching layer, and a build pipeline that’s been fine-tuned for their specific needs. Their architecture looks more like this:- React for UI components
- Custom SSR engine (not Next.js)
- GraphQL for data fetching
- Node.js for server-side logic
- CDN-heavy delivery with edge caching
- Internal tooling for A/B testing and feature flags
Why Next.js Isn’t Right for Netflix
Next.js is excellent for startups, agencies, and mid-sized companies. It gives you routing, caching, image optimization, and API routes out of the box. But it’s not built for the kind of infrastructure Netflix operates at. Here’s why Next.js doesn’t fit:- Too many abstractions - Netflix needs direct control over every layer of the stack, from HTTP headers to memory allocation.
- Fixed routing - Next.js uses file-system routing. Netflix uses dynamic, context-aware routing based on user location, device type, and subscription tier.
- Build-time limitations - Next.js generates static pages at build time. Netflix’s homepage changes in real-time based on what you’ve watched, what’s trending in your country, and even the weather.
- Deployment model - Next.js apps deploy to Vercel, Netlify, or your own server. Netflix deploys to AWS using their own internal CI/CD system that pushes changes to over 1,000 microservices in under 90 seconds.
What You Can Learn from Netflix’s Approach
You don’t need to build a Netflix-level system to benefit from their mindset. Here’s what you can steal:- Start with React - It’s the foundation of nearly every modern UI, including Netflix’s.
- Server-side rendering matters - Netflix loads the first screen before JavaScript even downloads. That’s why users see content in under 1.2 seconds on average.
- Optimize for device diversity - If your app works on a 2018 Samsung TV and a 2025 iPhone, you’re doing something right.
- Use data to drive UI - Netflix doesn’t guess what you want. It calculates it. Even small apps can use local storage or simple APIs to personalize experiences.
- Don’t over-engineer early - Netflix didn’t start with a custom framework. They started with jQuery. They evolved as their needs grew. You should too.
When Should You Use Next.js?
Next.js is perfect if you’re:- Building a marketing site, blog, or SaaS dashboard
- Working with a small team and need fast setup
- Want SEO-friendly pages without writing custom server code
- Using React and want SSR/SSG without managing a backend
The Real Takeaway
The question isn’t whether Netflix uses Next.js. It’s whether you should care. The answer? You should care about why they don’t use it - because it teaches you how to think about performance, scalability, and user experience at scale. Next.js is a powerful tool. But it’s not the only tool. And for most people, it’s the right one. Don’t feel like you need to replicate Netflix to build something great. You just need to understand what problem you’re solving - and pick the tool that fits that problem, not the one that sounds cool.Netflix doesn’t use Next.js. But millions of other websites do - and that’s exactly where you should start.
Does Netflix use React?
Yes, Netflix uses React as the foundation for its user interface. But they built their own custom rendering engine on top of it, rather than using a framework like Next.js. Their React setup is heavily modified to handle device diversity, real-time personalization, and global scalability.
Is Next.js better than Netflix’s custom system?
Not for Netflix’s scale - but for 99% of other projects, yes. Next.js is faster to build with, easier to maintain, and has strong community support. Netflix’s system took years and hundreds of engineers to build. Unless you’re serving hundreds of millions of users, Next.js is the smarter choice.
Can I use Next.js to build something like Netflix?
You can use Next.js to build a streaming app prototype or a small-scale service. But if you’re aiming for Netflix-level performance across thousands of devices, real-time recommendations, and global low-latency delivery, you’ll eventually outgrow Next.js. You’d need to replace it with custom infrastructure - which is what Netflix did.
Does Netflix use Node.js?
Yes. Netflix uses Node.js for server-side logic, API gateways, and content personalization engines. But the frontend rendering engine - the part that generates the UI you see - is a custom system built on React, not Node.js-based frameworks like Next.js.
What’s the difference between Next.js and what Netflix uses?
Next.js is a framework that abstracts away server setup, routing, and optimization. Netflix’s system is a custom-built stack with no abstractions - every part is hand-tuned for performance, device compatibility, and real-time data. Next.js gives you 80% of what you need quickly. Netflix built 100% of what they need slowly.
Should I learn Next.js if I want to work at Netflix?
Learning Next.js won’t directly help you land a job at Netflix’s frontend team. But learning React, server-side rendering, performance optimization, and data-driven UIs will. Netflix hires engineers who understand the fundamentals - not those who know a specific framework. Master React and how apps load fast, and you’ll be ready.