Question 1

Is Astro or Next.js easier to hire for in 2026?

Accepted Answer

Both Astro and Next.js have active talent pools on Haystack. We see first shortlists for Astro and Next.js land within 24 hours of kick-off, with the median Astro hire closing in 14-21 days alongside comparable Next.js roles.

Question 2

What does a Astro developer cost vs a Next.js developer?

Accepted Answer

Mid-level Astro engineers anchor around £60k–£80k UK base, with seniors reaching £85k–£120k. Next.js engineers sit around £70k–£95k mid and £100k–£145k senior. German bands run 5-20% higher in EUR and US bands 40-50% higher in USD.

Question 3

Which ecosystem libraries should I screen for - Astro or Next.js?

Accepted Answer

For Astro we look for working experience with TypeScript, MDX, Tailwind CSS. For Next.js the equivalents are React, TypeScript, Vercel. Both ecosystems get surfaced on every Haystack profile so you can filter on exact tooling.

Question 4

Can the same engineer cover both Astro and Next.js?

Accepted Answer

Often yes - particularly when both stacks live in the same category (Frontend vs Frontend). On Haystack we let you require both as primary or secondary skills; senior generalists typically carry one as their main stack and one as supporting.

Question 5

Should I bet on Astro or Next.js for a greenfield project?

Accepted Answer

Pick on hiring depth, your team's current strengths and the ecosystem fit. Astro suits marketing and content sites with mdx, content collections and zero-js by default; Next.js suits marketing and content sites with on-demand revalidation. We can shortlist both in parallel so you can interview against the same brief.

Question 6

Do you cover senior and staff Astro and Next.js engineers?

Accepted Answer

Yes - the full ladder from junior through staff/principal in both Astro and Next.js. The kick-off call captures the level and shipped-work bar you need, and shortlists are filtered accordingly.

Dimension	Astro	Next.js
Category	Frontend	Frontend
Mid-level UK base	£60k–£80k	£70k–£95k
Senior UK base	£85k–£120k	£100k–£145k
Best for	Marketing and content sites with MDX, content collections and zero-JS by default	Marketing and content sites with on-demand revalidation
Core ecosystem	TypeScript, MDX, Tailwind CSS, Starlight	React, TypeScript, Vercel, Tailwind CSS
First shortlist	24 hours	24 hours

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Astro vs Next.js - common hiring questions

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