The end: Create React App (2016-2025)

The Sunsetting of Create React App

On February 14, 2025, React officially deprecated Create React App (CRA), marking the end of an era for React developers. For years, CRA was the go-to tool for bootstrapping new React projects.

---

Why is Create React App Being Deprecated?

React ecosystem has evolved significantly since CRA’s introduction in 2016. Modern frameworks and build tools have surpassed CRA in both performance and flexibility. With no active maintainers and better alternatives available, the React team decided to retire CRA. The React team is encouraging developers to migrate to frameworks like Next.js or build tools like Vite.

Also because:

• CRA does not provide a routing system
• CRA lacks optimized data-fetching strategies
• CRA ships apps as a single JavaScript bundle, which can result in longer load times. Modern frameworks automatically handle code splitting
• CRA has lacked active maintainers

---

What now?

Starting today, developers installing Create React App will see a deprecation warning:

create-react-app is deprecated.

You can find a list of up-to-date React frameworks on react.dev
For more info see: react.dev/link/cra

CRA will still function in maintenance mode and has been updated to support React 19. However, no new features will be added, and developers are strongly encouraged to migrate to modern solutions.

---

How to Migrate Away from Create React App

You can visit the official guide at the React blog post here.

---

Final Thoughts

Our tip: If you're looking for the simplest and most efficient way to set up a new React project after Create React App's deprecation, React + Vite is the way to go.

What are your thoughts on this change? Let’s discuss in the comments! 🚀

---

Comments

[Amir Husain]

React + vite or react + next which one is more future secure?

[Nikola Perišić]

Hello, Amir! I think it depends on your project’s needs. React + Vite is awesome for fast development. It's the best choice for SPAs & smaller projects IMO. On the other hand, React + Next is best for scalability because of it's server-side rendering(SRR) and static generation(SSG) and built-in routing. I don't think you can go wrong whichever one you choose. Thanks for the comment 🚀

[programORdie]

For big projects nextjs, for quick testing or static pages vite

[Nikola Perišić]

Agree @programordie

[Jayaraj Viswanathan]

Definitely next js!!

[Sarfaraz Shaik]

It's sad that CRA is deprecated, but I'm excited to try Next.js and Vite for better one

[Nikola Perišić]

Yes, it's sad. To be honest, I haven't used it in a long time. I remember using it when I started learning React.js. I always use React + Vite + Typescript. However, there is some nostalgia because the first React app I built was generated using CRA :(

[Osman Zakir]

I'm the same way. Using Next.js with TypeScript now, and React + TypeScript + Vite if Next.js isn't needed, but CRA still gives me nostalgia.

[muwanguzi alvin]

Now where does this leave react native?

[Nikola Perišić]

Hello! I have good news for you 🙂
React Native remains unaffected by CRA's deprecaton because it has its own ecosystem.

[Friday candour]

Which is metro bundler

[Nikola Perišić]

Yep

[Future_Developer]

Thanks for sharing. Am currently using react + vite, it performance is outstanding and awesome.

[Nikola Perišić]

You're welcome! Yes, it's performance is awesome you will see.

[Nerdherd]

Im coming from NextJS (used at work for an e-commerce platform), and have to say I'm really liking the simplicity of react-router v7 over the vastly many concepts you have to know in nextjs.

[Nikola Perišić]

Like for example?

[Nerdherd]

I like that:

• caching is just using http headers
  • Back in NextJS 14, I had to run a bash script that would periodically delete cached images on my instance (it was a simple setup, since we didnt have time for a CDN)
  • the only alternative was to use vercel that automatically handles the cached files back then, not sure if its the same now since ive not run latest nextjs in prod. I didnt like that we would be vendor locked in, especially for a small company.
• routing can either be explicit or via file/directory of your pages (using fs-routes)
  • I personally prefer explicitness for routing for larger frontend projects
• client vs server side rendering is defined with a simple clientLoader function in a file that defines your page component
  • it feels more natural to have it defined as a function to me vs having a 'use client' string defined in the page in NextJS

React router provides SSR with actions

• the action functions visually breaks the page into key "segments" making it feel more "class-like"
• makes it easier for junior and mid-lvl engineers in my team to reason about , especially if they're new to frontend and need to work on simple CRUD dashboards for internal tools.

NextJS has something similar to react-router's actions with getServerSideProps and getStaticProps, but I never managed to get the caching mechanism to work properly

• maybe my understanding was poor or did not learn the proper fundamentals of nextjs in the rush to build the web app

[Gad Iradufasha]

Vue.js is the future, thanks to react!

[Nikola Perišić]

Hahaha, RIP React developers. Just kidding, of course

[the_aceix]

Just deprecate react already. Vue is the better

[Nikola Perišić]

I like Vue, but what are the key things because you think it's better?

[Ryan Wheale]

Tanstack start is something to keep your eye on.

[Nikola Perišić]

Yes! I used it to implement a frontend for a big bank in Serbia and it's awesome! The only negative issues I had were the integration tests. They are not yet supported.

[MD. Ariful Islam]

What about rsbuild?

[Nikola Perišić]

If you prefer more flexibility, RSBuild is a good choice. If you prefer stability and larger ecosystem, go for Vite.

[Geoffrey Swenson]

You may as well add Vue to Vite and ditch React altogether :-)

[Nikola Perišić]

Yes, I like Vue.js too 🙂