Farewell, Create React App (CRA): Why It’s Time to Move On

For nearly a decade, Create React App (CRA) was the go-to tool for spinning up React projects effortlessly. But in 2025, the React team pulled the plug. If you’re still using CRA, it’s time to rethink your setup because better, faster alternatives are here. It became popular for its simplicity and beginner-friendly approach.

However, as front-end development advanced, CRA struggled to keep up. On February 14, 2025, the React team officially deprecated it, recommending alternatives like Vite, Next.js, and Parcel. This article explains why CRA is no longer recommended, what alternatives developers can use, and how to transition to a more modern setup.

What Is Create React App (CRA)?

Create React App (CRA) was a command-line tool that allowed developers to quickly scaffold a new React application without dealing with complex configurations. It provided a pre-configured development environment, making it easier for developers, especially beginners, to start working on React applications immediately.

For more details on CRA, check out the official React documentation.

Use of CRA

CRA was widely used because of its simplicity and ease of use. Some of its key advantages included:

• Zero Configuration Setup – No need to manually configure Webpack, Babel, or other tools.
• Built-in Development Server – Provided a local development server with hot reloading for real-time updates.
• Optimized Production Builds – Automatically optimized assets for production.
• Support for Progressive Web Apps (PWA) – Built-in support for PWAs.
• Consistency – Enforced a uniform project structure and best practices.

Many developers, including myself, started their React journey using CRA. It was the perfect tool to quickly spin up projects and focus on coding rather than configurations. However, as the React ecosystem evolved, CRA began to show its limitations.

Why Was CRA Deprecated?

Despite its popularity, CRA has fallen behind in modern building tools and frameworks. Here’s why it was deprecated:

1. Performance Issues

CRA’s reliance on Webpack feels like using a dial-up modem in the age of 5G—slow, frustrating, and outdated. Modern tools like Vite load almost instantly, making CRA hard to justify.

 Vite. As projects grew in complexity, developers experienced longer build times and slower development experiences. The slow refresh times in development mode became a major drawback, making the experience frustrating for many developers.

2. Lack of Customization

While CRA simplified project setup, it restricted customization. Many developers had to "eject" CRA to modify Webpack or Babel configurations, which led to a bloated and difficult-to-maintain setup. Ejecting a project introduced unnecessary complexity, forcing developers to manage configurations manually.

3. Outdated Tooling

CRA’s reliance on Webpack and Babel made it less efficient than newer tools like ESBuild and SWC, which offer significantly faster compilation times. Many modern projects demand faster build speeds and better performance, which CRA could not provide.

4. Limited Support for Modern Features

New React features, such as React Server Components and Streaming SSR, require modern frameworks to function efficiently. CRA was not built with these features in mind, making it an unsuitable choice for new React projects.

5. Better Alternatives Exist

With the rise of tools like Vite, Next.js, and Remix, developers now have faster, more flexible options. The React team officially recommends alternatives like Vite due to their superior performance and improved developer experience.

Read more about the official deprecation announcement here.

What Should You Use Instead?

Developers moving away from CRA have several options, depending on their needs.

Build Tools (For Custom React Setups)

If you only need a build tool and don’t require a full framework, these are the best alternatives:

1. Vite (Highly Recommended)

• Lightning-fast builds using ESBuild.
• Native support for modern JavaScript and TypeScript.
• Hot Module Replacement (HMR) for instant updates.
• Officially recommended by the React team.

Learn more about Vite on their official website.

2. Parcel

• Zero-config bundler with automatic optimizations.
• Faster build times compared to Webpack.
• Suitable for small to medium-sized projects.

Explore Parcel’s features on their official documentation.

3. Webpack (Manual Setup)

• Still powerful for enterprise-level applications requiring fine-grained control.
• Large ecosystem of plugins and integrations.

For an advanced Webpack setup, visit the Webpack documentation.

Full-featured frameworks (For Large-Scale Applications)

If you need more than just a build tool, modern frameworks offer additional features like routing and server-side rendering (SSR):

1. Next.js (Most Popular Choice)

• Supports server-side rendering (SSR) and static site generation (SSG).
• Optimized for performance and SEO.
• Built-in API routes for full-stack applications.

Read the Next.js documentation for more details.

2. Remix

• Optimized for server-side rendering and data fetching.
• Best suited for applications that interact heavily with APIs.

Discover Remix at remix.run.

3. Gatsby

• Designed for static site generation.
• Ideal for content-heavy websites like blogs and documentation.
• Provides a plugin system for CMS integration.

Find out more about Gatsby at gatsbyjs.com.

4. React Server Components & Emerging Tools

• React Server Components (RSC) are changing the way React applications are built.
• New frameworks like Astro and SolidStart offer innovative rendering and bundling approaches.

Explore Astro’s new approach at astro. build.

How to Migrate from CRA?

For developers still using CRA, transitioning to a modern tool is straightforward:

1. Evaluate Your Needs – Determine whether you need a bundler (like Vite) or a full-fledged framework (like Next.js).
2. Set Up a New Project – Use CLI commands to initialize a new project with the chosen tool.
3. Migrate Codebase – Move your src folder, components, and logic to the new project.
4. Install Dependencies – Reinstall and update packages based on the new environment.
5. Test and Debug – Ensure everything works correctly, resolving compatibility issues as needed.
6. Deploy – Platforms like Vercel (for Next.js) and Netlify (for Gatsby) make deployment seamless.

Final Thoughts

The deprecation of CRA marks a shift toward faster and more efficient tools. Developers are encouraged to explore modern alternatives like Vite for bundling, Next.js for full-stack applications, and Remix for API-driven apps. These new tools offer better performance, flexibility, and maintainability compared to CRA.

If you’re still using CRA, now is the perfect time to transition to a modern setup. Have you migrated yet? Share your experience in the comments below!