GatsbyJS and create-react-app are similar in that can help you set up an application and removes much of the configuration headache. However, GatsbyJS offers more like backed in performance optimizations and static rendering without the need for a server and a thriving ecosystem of plugins.

Why Migrating to GatsbyJS?

Gatsby Create-React-App Webpack support Hot Reloading Static Rendering Code and data splitting SEO Friendly App Plugins Support Unified Data Layer

Zero config performance optimazations

GatsbyJS provides code and data splitting out-of-the-box. It loads your critical HTML and CSS, then prefetches resources for other pages. That way, clicking around feels so fast. Additionally, it offers things like:

gatsby-link uses an intersection observer to preload linked pages when they appear in the viewport, making them feel like they load instantly

uses an intersection observer to preload linked pages when they appear in the viewport, making them feel like they load instantly gatsby-image creates optimized versions of your images in Different sizes, loading a smaller, optimized version of an image and replacing it with a higher resolution version when loading has finished. It also uses an intersection observer to cheaply lazy load images.

Server side rendering without a server

At build time, GatsbyJS takes all your react component with all the needed data and generates static HTML, JavaScript, and CSS files. Once the website is fully loaded it rehydrates it into a fully fledge React PWA

A unified Data layer using GraphQL

GatsbyJS unifies all data sources into one layer using GraphQL

A rich plugin ecosystem

With GatsbyJS's flexible plugin system, it lets you bring your data source. From anywhere like CMS, database, or filesystem and makes it queriable through GraphQL.