The end: Create React App (2016-2025)

The Sunsetting of Create React App On February 14, 2025, React officially deprecated Create React App (CRA), marking the end of an era for React developers. For years, CRA was the go-to tool for bootstrapping new React projects. Why is Create React App Being Deprecated? React ecosystem has evolved significantly since CRA’s introduction in 2016. Modern frameworks and build tools have surpassed CRA in both performance and flexibility. With no active maintainers and better alternatives available, the React team decided to retire CRA. The React team is encouraging developers to migrate to frameworks like Next.js or build tools like Vite. Also because: CRA does not provide a routing system CRA lacks optimized data-fetching strategies CRA ships apps as a single JavaScript bundle, which can result in longer load times. Modern frameworks automatically handle code splitting CRA has lacked active maintainers What now? Starting today, developers installing Create React App will see a deprecation warning: create-react-app is deprecated. You can find a list of up-to-date React frameworks on react.dev For more info see: react.dev/link/cra CRA will still function in maintenance mode and has been updated to support React 19. However, no new features will be added, and developers are strongly encouraged to migrate to modern solutions. How to Migrate Away from Create React App You can visit the official guide at the React blog post here. Final Thoughts Our tip: If you're looking for the simplest and most efficient way to set up a new React project after Create React App's deprecation, React + Vite is the way to go. What are your thoughts on this change? Let’s discuss in the comments!

Feb 18, 2025 - 08:18

The Sunsetting of Create React App

On February 14, 2025, React officially deprecated Create React App (CRA), marking the end of an era for React developers. For years, CRA was the go-to tool for bootstrapping new React projects.

Why is Create React App Being Deprecated?

React ecosystem has evolved significantly since CRA’s introduction in 2016. Modern frameworks and build tools have surpassed CRA in both performance and flexibility. With no active maintainers and better alternatives available, the React team decided to retire CRA. The React team is encouraging developers to migrate to frameworks like Next.js or build tools like Vite.

Also because:

CRA does not provide a routing system
CRA lacks optimized data-fetching strategies
CRA ships apps as a single JavaScript bundle, which can result in longer load times. Modern frameworks automatically handle code splitting
CRA has lacked active maintainers

What now?

Starting today, developers installing Create React App will see a deprecation warning:

create-react-app is deprecated.

You can find a list of up-to-date React frameworks on react.dev
For more info see: react.dev/link/cra

CRA will still function in maintenance mode and has been updated to support React 19. However, no new features will be added, and developers are strongly encouraged to migrate to modern solutions.

How to Migrate Away from Create React App

You can visit the official guide at the React blog post here.

Final Thoughts

Our tip: If you're looking for the simplest and most efficient way to set up a new React project after Create React App's deprecation, React + Vite is the way to go.

What are your thoughts on this change? Let’s discuss in the comments!