by EmilyHow to Build a Multi-Page App with Next.js and Express
As web applications evolve, developers and freelancers are constantly looking for frameworks that combine speed, SEO-friendliness, and flexibility. One such powerful stack in 2025 is the combination of Next.js and Express. Together, they enable you to build scalable, performance-driven multi-page applications (MPAs) with ease.
At FreelancerBridge, we aim to guide developers—especially freelancers—through modern web development trends and tools. This post explores how to plan and build a multi-page web app using Next.js for the frontend and Express as a robust backend, while focusing on SEO, performance, and real-world application.
Long Description
✅ What is a Multi-Page Application (MPA)?
Unlike SPAs (Single Page Applications) where content dynamically loads on a single HTML page, MPAs have multiple distinct HTML pages. This setup is ideal for:
SEO-focused projects
Blogs or news sites
E-commerce platforms
Corporate sites with many static pages
Each page is served individually, which improves page-level SEO and reduces complexity when tracking analytics or integrating ads.
✅ Why Combine Next.js and Express?
Next.js is a React framework known for server-side rendering (SSR), static site generation (SSG), and API route flexibility. On the other hand, Express is a minimalist Node.js framework that excels at handling custom server logic, routing, and backend integrations.
Together, they offer:
🚀 Fast server-side rendering
🔧 Full control over routing and middleware
🔐 Easy integration of authentication, databases, and APIs
📈 Great SEO performance with crawlable pages
Perfect for freelancers needing scalable and customizable web apps.
✅ Benefits of Multi-Page Apps in 2025
As the web becomes more complex, MPAs are making a comeback due to:
Improved SEO: Each page has its own metadata, making it easier for search engines to index content.
Enhanced performance: Pages load independently, reducing memory usage.
Better analytics tracking: Easily measure individual page views.
Easier ad placement: Better suited for websites with multiple campaigns.
✅ Planning Your Next.js + Express MPA
Before starting development, plan your app structure carefully:
Define all the pages you need: home, about, services, blog, contact, etc.
Map out routing for each page and how data will be fetched.
Determine API needs—what data needs to be fetched from the server?
Set up backend services—authentication, database access, email forms, etc.
Proper planning avoids architectural problems and improves maintainability.
✅ Structuring the Project for Scale
Your file structure should separate frontend (Next.js) and backend (Express) responsibilities clearly:
pages/ – Contains all your frontend views
public/ – Static assets like images and CSS
server/ – Express logic, routes, and middleware
components/ – Reusable React components
utils/ – Utility functions like API handlers
This separation makes collaboration and updates easier.
✅ Routing in Next.js for MPAs
Next.js uses file-based routing, meaning each file in the pages/ directory becomes a unique URL route:
pages/index.js → /
pages/about.js → /about
pages/contact.js → /contact
This is perfect for MPAs where every page has unique content and layout.
Additionally, dynamic routes like pages/blog/[slug].js allow flexible content handling like blog posts or product pages.
✅ Using Express for Backend APIs
Express allows you to:
Handle custom routes that Next.js doesn’t support
Implement authentication (OAuth, JWT, sessions)
Build custom APIs for database or third-party integrations
Serve static or dynamic content not handled by Next.js
It’s ideal when you need more control over your backend logic.
✅ Integrating Frontend and Backend
You can run both frameworks in the same project using a custom server setup. This allows:
Seamless routing between frontend pages and backend APIs
Shared logic between client and server
Easier deployment and scaling as one full-stack unit
The result is a fully integrated MPA that functions like a traditional website but with modern web capabilities.
✅ SEO Optimization for Multi-Page Apps
SEO is a major reason for choosing MPAs. Use these tactics for optimization:
Set unique <title>, <meta description>, and Open Graph tags per page
Use schema markup for rich results (especially on blogs and product pages)
Optimize images and lazy-load non-critical assets
Enable server-side rendering for dynamic content
Keep URLs clean and readable (e.g., /blog/how-to-build-mpa)
Next.js makes all of this very straightforward.
✅ Dynamic Content and SSR
Need real-time or frequently changing content? Use:
getServerSideProps in Next.js to fetch data during page load
Express routes to fetch or manipulate data dynamically
Caching strategies to balance performance and freshness
This allows you to serve dynamic, SEO-optimized content across all pages.
✅ Handling Forms and Contact Pages
Most MPAs need a contact or feedback form. Using Express, you can:
Create a /contact endpoint to handle POST requests
Integrate with email services (SendGrid, Mailgun)
Add spam protection like reCAPTCHA
Store submissions in a database
This server-side flexibility makes your app more functional and secure.
✅ Deploying a Next.js + Express App in 2025
Deployment options are rich and accessible:
Vercel (Next.js creators) supports hybrid apps with serverless functions
Render.com, Heroku, and Railway support full-stack Express deployments
Docker lets you containerize and host anywhere, including cloud platforms
Use CI/CD pipelines to automate testing and deployment
Be sure to set environment variables securely and enable HTTPS.
✅ Best Practices for Multi-Page Apps
Use meaningful URLs for better SEO
Preload important resources for speed
Use consistent layouts across pages (shared headers/footers)
Modularize code into components for reusability
Monitor performance using tools like Lighthouse
Secure your backend (input validation, auth, HTTPS)
These practices future-proof your web app and improve user experience.
Conclusion
Building a multi-page application using Next.js and Express in 2025 is a smart move for any freelancer or developer. You get the best of both worlds—frontend speed and SEO with backend control and customization. Whether you're building a business website, an e-commerce store, or a content-rich platform, this combination gives you the flexibility to scale and evolve.
At FreelancerBridge, we help developers like you stay current with real-world tools and techniques. If you're serious about mastering full-stack development and delivering professional-grade web apps, learning how to structure MPAs with Next.js and Express is a must-have skill.
