Build at the Edge: Why We Chose Cloudflare for Next.js
Modern web applications shouldn’t live in a single region. This starter embraces an edge-first architecture using Cloudflare Workers and OpenNext, enabling global execution, lower latency, and infrastructure independence — without sacrificing the power of Next.js or the flexibility of structured content.
Why Edge Deployment Matters
Traditional server deployments centralize compute in one region. Even multi-region setups usually rely on a small number of data centers.
Edge platforms change that.
With Cloudflare Workers, your application runs across hundreds of global locations. That means:
- Lower latency
- Faster Time to First Byte
- Smarter caching strategies
- Better global performance by default
The edge isn’t just about speed — it’s about proximity.
Running Next.js on Workers
Deploying Next.js to Workers is made possible through OpenNext.
OpenNext adapts Next.js output to run inside the Workers runtime, enabling:
- React Server Components
- Streaming responses
- Middleware support
- Edge-native execution
This gives you modern React architecture — without platform lock-in.
Why Not Just Use a Traditional Platform?
This starter is built for teams who:
- Standardize on Cloudflare infrastructure
- Want infrastructure ownership
- Prefer CDN-first architecture
- Care about global distribution at scale
It’s not about replacing other platforms — it’s about choosing a different deployment philosophy.
The Result
You get:
- Next.js frontend
- Sanity-powered content
- Global edge deployment
- Clean separation of concerns
All without sacrificing developer experience.