Top 12 Libraries for Your Next.js Project in 2025

If you’ve ever started a Next.js project, you know the drill: you spin up a new app, and then… you get stuck in “library hunting mode.” Should you use Tailwind or Chakra UI? Prisma or Supabase? SWR or React Query?

Trust me, I’ve been there. Picking the right libraries can save you hours of headaches, while the wrong ones might leave you refactoring half your code later. That’s why I’ve rounded up the Top 12 libraries for Next.js in 2025—from styling to databases to authentication—so you can skip the guesswork and start building.

1. Tailwind CSS – Utility-First Styling

If you hate writing endless CSS files, Tailwind will feel like magic.

• Write classes directly in your JSX.
• Tiny bundle sizes thanks to purge.
• Works seamlessly with Next.js App Router.

👉 Pro Tip: Pair it with daisyUI or shadcn/ui for pre-styled components.

2. Chakra UI – Component Library for Fast Prototyping

Don’t want to start from scratch? Chakra UI gives you:

• Ready-to-use components (buttons, modals, forms).
• Dark mode support out of the box.
• Accessible by default.

Perfect for MVPs and dashboards.

3. Prisma – The Modern Database Toolkit

Tired of raw SQL queries? Prisma is a type-safe ORM that makes database work a breeze.

• Works with PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, MongoDB, and more.
• Auto-generates TypeScript types.
• Migrations built in.

👉 Why it’s awesome: You get database queries that feel like JavaScript.

4. Supabase – Firebase Alternative for Next.js

Need a backend but don’t want to build it all yourself? Supabase has:

• Postgres database with REST & GraphQL APIs.
• Authentication.
• Real-time subscriptions.

Great for hackathons and SaaS starters.

5. NextAuth.js – Authentication Made Simple

Handling login systems is usually painful. NextAuth.js fixes that.

• Social logins (Google, GitHub, Twitter, etc.).
• Email/password authentication.
• Works with JWT or database sessions.

👉 Pro Tip: Combine with Prisma for a full-stack auth solution.

6. SWR – Data Fetching the Easy Way

Built by the Vercel team, SWR is perfect for fetching and caching data.

• Automatic revalidation.
• Stale-while-revalidate pattern.
• Super lightweight.

If your app relies heavily on APIs, SWR should be in your toolkit.

7. TanStack Query (React Query) – API State Management

If SWR feels too minimal, go with React Query.

• Query caching.
• Mutation handling.
• Pagination and infinite loading.

Best for apps with lots of complex API interactions.

8. Zustand – Lightweight State Management

Redux is often overkill. Zustand is simple and effective.

• Tiny footprint.
• Minimal boilerplate.
• Great with Next.js server components.

👉 Analogy: If Redux is a big toolbox, Zustand is just the screwdriver you actually need.

9. Framer Motion – Smooth Animations

Want your Next.js site to feel alive?

• Page transitions.
• Drag-and-drop.
• Layout animations.

Animations in React have never been easier.

10. React Hook Form – Form Handling Without the Pain

Forms are usually annoying. This makes them painless.

• Tiny bundle size.
• Integrates with validation libraries like zod or yup.
• Excellent performance.

Perfect for login forms, checkout flows, and dashboards.

11. Zod – TypeScript Validation Made Fun

Data validation is a must. Zod gives you:

• Schema-based validation.
• TypeScript integration.
• Works great with forms and APIs.

👉 Pro Tip: Combine with React Hook Form for bulletproof forms.

12. Axios (or Fetch) – Reliable HTTP Client

Yes, you could just use fetch, but Axios still shines for:

• Interceptors (add auth tokens easily).
• Automatic JSON parsing.
• Error handling.

Great for projects calling multiple APIs.

Quick Recap (Cheat Sheet 📝)

• Styling → Tailwind CSS, Chakra UI
• Database/Backend → Prisma, Supabase
• Auth → NextAuth.js
• Data Fetching → SWR, React Query
• State → Zustand
• UX/UI → Framer Motion, React Hook Form
• Validation → Zod
• Networking → Axios

Conclusion: Don’t Overload on Libraries

Here’s the truth: you don’t need all 12. In fact, loading up too many libraries will only slow you down. Start with the essentials (like Tailwind, Prisma, and NextAuth), then add more as your project grows.

👉 My challenge to you: pick 3 from this list and try them in your next project. You’ll thank yourself later.

FAQ

Q1: Do I need both SWR and React Query?
👉 No. Pick one depending on your needs. SWR is simpler, React Query is more powerful.

Q2: Can I use Next.js without a database?
👉 Absolutely. You can stick to static pages or fetch from public APIs.

Q3: Are these libraries free?
👉 Yep! All of them are open-source (though Supabase has paid tiers for scaling).

💬 Your turn: Which of these libraries do you already use, and which one are you excited to try next?