Static Site Generator vs Server Side Rendering

Developers should use static site generators when building content-focused websites that don't require real-time user interactions or dynamic server-side rendering, as they offer performance benefits like faster load times, improved SEO, and lower hosting costs due to serving pre-built files meets developers should use ssr when building applications that require fast initial page loads, improved seo for search engine crawlers, or better performance on low-powered devices. Here's our take.

Static Site Generator

Nice Pick

Developers should use static site generators when building content-focused websites that don't require real-time user interactions or dynamic server-side rendering, as they offer performance benefits like faster load times, improved SEO, and lower hosting costs due to serving pre-built files

Pros

• They are particularly useful for projects with predictable content updates, such as blogs, documentation sites, or landing pages, where the simplicity and security of static files outweigh the need for complex backend logic
• Related to: markdown, jamstack

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Server Side Rendering

Developers should use SSR when building applications that require fast initial page loads, improved SEO for search engine crawlers, or better performance on low-powered devices

Pros

• It's particularly useful for content-heavy websites like blogs, e-commerce platforms, and news sites where first contentful paint is critical
• Related to: next-js, nuxt-js

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Static Site Generator is a tool while Server Side Rendering is a concept. We picked Static Site Generator based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Static Site Generator wins

Based on overall popularity. Static Site Generator is more widely used, but Server Side Rendering excels in its own space.