shouldiuse.io

VERDICT

Should I use Gatsby?

Gatsby is a React-based open source framework with performance, scalability and security built-in. Collaborate, build and deploy 1000x faster on Netlify. - gatsbyjs.com

Depends. Buy if your team already writes React and you're building a content-heavy site on a headless CMS. Skip if you just need a simple website or want the most future-proof stack — Astro or Next.js fit better.

Confidence

Medium. Based on ~13 usable public sources. Search results were heavily contaminated by unrelated 'Gatsby' entities (the novel/film, a UK charity, Gatsby.ai influencer platform, hotels and restaurants); these were excluded.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of useCommunity threads cite friction; no rating data
  • Feature depth
  • Support qualityNo support-quality evidence in sources
  • Security posture

Pricing

Free

Open Source

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes
Cloud / NetlifySee Netlify plans

Best for

  • React teams shipping content sites
  • Headless CMS front-ends (Sanity, Contentful)
  • Performance-critical marketing sites
  • Blogs and docs at scale

Not for

  • Non-developers wanting a simple website — massively overkill
  • Small teams without React/GraphQL experience
  • Dynamic, server-rendered app-style sites
  • Teams wanting the most actively growing ecosystem

Gotchas - check before you buy

medium

Legacy Gatsby Cloud plans moved to Netlify; re-check pricing before committing.

medium

2023 CVEs hit the framework and gatsby-plugin-sharp; stay on patched releases.

medium

Free core, but hosting and build minutes bill via Netlify — model costs first.

medium

React and GraphQL data-layer lock-in; migrations to Astro/Next.js are common.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Free, open-source React framework with performance and security built in
  • G2 reviewers call it the fastest framework
  • Strong headless CMS integrations including Sanity and Contentful
  • Deployment now backed by Netlify hosting
  • Public security policy and coordinated disclosure

Cons

  • Community openly asking whether the project is dead
  • Developers migrating to Astro or
  • Several 2023 CVEs in framework and plugins
  • Dependency installs trigger severe npm audit warnings
  • Gatsby Cloud being folded into Netlify

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/24/2026 - 13 sources - No breaches disclosed; several 2023 CVEs in the framework and plugins, since patched, with a security policy.

official x3review x5security x4news x1
  • CVE-2023-30548, Vulnerability in gatsby-plugin-sharp.
  • CVE-2023-34238, 2023 vulnerability in the Gatsby framework.
  • Local File Inclusion in Gatsby develop server (GHSA-c6f8-8r25-c4gc), Framework issue affecting the local develop server.
  • CVE-2023-22491, 2023 vulnerability tracked against Gatsby.

Key stats

  • Value for money: 4/5

    Rating

  • Free

    Starting price

  • 13

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 4/5. Free open-source core; costs live in hosting
  • Ease of use. Community threads cite friction; no rating data
  • Feature depth: 4/5. Performance, scalability, security built-in; large plugin ecosystem
  • Support quality. No support-quality evidence in sources
  • Security posture: 3/5. Multiple 2023 CVEs, patched; published security policy
  • Free Open-source core React framework, self-hostable
  • $28M Funding Series B, May 2020
  • 3+ 2023 CVEs Framework and plugins
  • Netlify Owner Cloud plans folded into Netlify

Pricing

Open Source

Free

  • Full framework and plugin library
  • Self-hosted builds

Cloud / Netlify

See Netlify plans

  • Build, preview, and hosting
  • Legacy Gatsby Cloud migrated to Netlify

Security

No breaches disclosed; several 2023 CVEs in the framework and plugins, since patched, with a security policy.

  • CVE-2023-30548Vulnerability in gatsby-plugin-sharp.⁵
  • CVE-2023-342382023 vulnerability in the Gatsby framework.⁶
  • Local File Inclusion in Gatsby develop server (GHSA-c6f8-8r25-c4gc)Framework issue affecting the local develop server.⁷
  • CVE-2023-224912023 vulnerability tracked against Gatsby.

Alternatives

Compare Gatsby with each alternative.

  • Astro

    Content sites with minimal JavaScript; simpler than Gatsby.

    Gatsby vs Astro

  • Next.js

    React with server rendering; better for dynamic, app-like sites.

  • Nuxt

    Vue-based equivalent if your team prefers Vue.

    Gatsby vs Nuxt
Full analysis

Based on ~13 usable public sources. Search results were heavily contaminated by unrelated 'Gatsby' entities (the novel/film, a UK charity, Gatsby.ai influencer platform, hotels and restaurants); these were excluded.

Free open-source React framework, solid but past peak hype; great for React CMS sites, overkill for a simple website.

Methodology

Based on ~13 usable public sources. Search results were heavily contaminated by unrelated 'Gatsby' entities (the novel/film, a UK charity, Gatsby.ai influencer platform, hotels and restaurants); these were excluded.

Sources

  1. Gatsby Reviews — G2g2.com
    review
  2. Gatsby Cloud Reviews — G2g2.com
    review
  3. Security at Gatsbygatsbyjs.com
    official
  4. Gatsby-Contentful Sales Guidegatsbyjs.com
    official
  5. CVE-2023-30548 — NVDnvd.nist.gov
    security
  6. CVE-2023-34238 — CVE.orgcve.org
    security
  7. Local File Inclusion in Gatsby develop server — GitHub Advisorygithub.com
    security
  8. gatsby — Snyk vulnerability databasesecurity.snyk.io
    security
  9. Is GatsbyJS Officially Dead? — GitHub Discussion #39062github.com
    review
  10. Severe npm audit vulnerability — GitHub Discussion #28852github.com
    review
  11. After Gatsby: looking for an alternative — Astro or Next.js? — Redditreddit.com
    review
  12. Gatsby Raises $28M Series Bgatsbyjs.com
    news
  13. Gatsby vs Next.js vs Jekyll vs Nuxt.jsgatsbyjs.com
    official

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