When Gatsby first entered the web development arena, it revolutionised static site generation (SSG) with a modern developer experience and lightning-fast performance. Positioned as a React-based open-source framework, Gatsby became the go-to choice for developers building SEO-friendly and performance-focused websites. As we step into 2025, its place within the SSG and headless CMS ecosystem is being re-evaluated amid competition from platforms like Next.js and Astro.
So why does Gatsby still matter in 2025?
This year is critical in assessing its continued relevance. With rapid shifts toward JAMstack, composable architectures, and headless CMS integrations, Gatsby's robustness, plugin ecosystem, and developer-centric tooling are more valuable than ever.
Let’s dive into the current stats, notable users, and why a GatsbyJS web development agency still recommends Gatsby for high-performance web experiences.
Market Share & Usage Statistics
➥ Current Adoption Rates
Despite fierce competition, Gatsby still powers around 0.2% of websites using a known CMS and approximately 0.5% of the top 1 million websites that leverage a registered content management system (as of August 2025).
While its overall web presence sits at 0.1%, these figures reflect its focused use in performance-sensitive applications such as technical documentation, marketing sites, and blog platforms.
To give context, Gatsby currently powers around 0.5% of the top 1 million websites that use a content management system. In comparison, Next.js holds a larger share at 2.1%, Hugo has about 0.7%, and lighter platforms like Publii account for only 0.03%. While Gatsby may not lead in market share, it clearly outpaces smaller players and continues to hold its ground in performance-sensitive use cases.
Compared to lighter or more marketing-centric platforms like Publii, Gatsby is miles ahead in scalability and developer tooling.
Read More: How Headless CMS for eCommerce: Benefits, Challenges, and Best Use Cases
➥ Notable Brands Using Gatsby
Several industry leaders continue to trust Gatsby for their digital experiences. Noteworthy users include:
● CIA’s official website – Over 3,000+ pages, showcasing Gatsby’s power in managing extensive content libraries.
● Typescript Documentation – A testimony to Gatsby's seamless integration with markdown and MDX.
● Airbnb Design – Gatsby fuels this site’s high-performance design blog.
● Apollo GraphQL Blog – Built on Gatsby to highlight performance and seamless GraphQL integration.
These cases validate Gatsby's core strength: balancing performance with scale. Whether you’re a startup or enterprise, a GatsbyJS development services provider can leverage this strength to craft modern, fast-loading digital experiences.
The Power of Gatsby’s Plugin Ecosystem
➥ 3,000+ Plugins to Extend Functionality
One of Gatsby’s standout features in 2025 is its mature and diverse plugin ecosystem.
With 3,000+ plugins, developers can integrate:
● Headless CMSs: WordPress, Drupal, Contentful, Sanity
● Data formats: Markdown and MDX
● E-commerce: Shopify, BigCommerce
● SEO & Analytics: Yoast, Google Analytics, Segment
● Performance tools: Image optimisation, lazy loading, caching
This diversity reduces development time, enabling agencies and companies to roll out high-quality features without reinventing the wheel. A trusted GatsbyJS agency can efficiently implement these plugins to tailor websites for performance, accessibility, and SEO.
➥ Community & GitHub Popularity
With over 55,800 stars on GitHub, Gatsby remains one of the most starred web development frameworks. Its active developer base contributes regularly, making the framework highly resilient and future-proof.
Regular updates, extensive documentation, and community events like Gatsby Days and JAMstack Conf further highlight its vibrant ecosystem.
This community-driven innovation allows any Gatsby development agency to provide reliable, up-to-date, and best-practice solutions to businesses across industries.
Read More: How Headless CMS for eCommerce: Benefits, Challenges, and Best Use Cases
Website Count & Geographic Distribution
➥ Live and Historical Usage
According to BuiltWith and W3Techs:
● 130,000+ live websites are currently powered by Gatsby JS.
● Over 160,000 sites have been built historically using Gatsby.
● More than 50,000 Gatsby sites are in the United States alone.
These numbers indicate that while Gatsby isn't the largest SSG by raw count, it commands a loyal and quality-focused user base.
➥ Growth Insights
Why is Gatsby popular in regions like the United States, Canada, Germany, and the UK?
This adoption aligns with:
● Early adoption of JAMstack principles
● Emphasis on developer-centric workflows
● Popularity of React-based technologies
With headless CMS adoption on the rise and the JAMstack movement pushing decoupled architectures, Gatsby’s market share in these regions shows long-term resilience. For businesses aiming to enter these markets, partnering with a Gatsby JS development company ensures localisation-ready, performance-first websites.
Why Gatsby Still Matters in 2025
Despite increased competition, Gatsby remains technically relevant and strategically advantageous for the right projects.
Here’s why:
Blazing Fast Load Times: Gatsby pre-builds pages and leverages edge caching, yielding excellent Lighthouse scores.
Ideal for Multiple Use Cases: Gatsby continues to thrive in documentation sites, developer blogs, e-commerce frontends, and product marketing sites.
Progressive Web App Support: Built-in capabilities enable developers to create PWA-ready applications out of the box.
Performance at Scale: Thanks to its data layer, image optimisation tools, and flexible build architecture, Gatsby supports scalability without compromising performance.
If you're looking for high SEO scores, minimal TTFB (Time to First Byte), and a future-proof architecture, engaging with a professional GatsbyJS web development agency is the smart choice.
Read More: Gatsby vs Next.js Which Framework Should You Choose in 2025
Gatsby’s Niche Advantage in 2025 and Beyond
Gatsby may not dominate the usage charts in 2025, but its presence is niche, intentional, and powerful.
Its blend of:
● Modern developer experience
● Scalable performance
● Vibrant community support
makes Gatsby a strategic tool, especially in industries demanding speed, structure, and innovation.
Going forward, Gatsby’s alignment with serverless functions, AI-driven build optimisations, and incremental static regeneration promises to keep it in the game.
If you’re an enterprise, startup, or content-heavy platform wondering about performance-first development, Gatsby deserves your attention.
Build Your Next High‑Performance Site with Our Gatsby Expertise
Gatsby might not be the largest SSG in 2025—but that’s never been the goal.
It stands out for what it does best: delivering developer-friendly, SEO-optimised, and blazing-fast websites.
At our GatsbyJS agency, we specialise in building:
Conversion-optimised landing pages
● Interactive documentation hubs
● Lightning-fast e-commerce storefronts
● Scalable, content-rich blogs and portals
Whether you're starting fresh or migrating from legacy systems, our Gatsby development agency is ready to help.
Thinking of building a blazing-fast, SEO-optimised site? Let’s talk Gatsby!
Explore how our GatsbyJS development services can drive your digital presence forward.
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Encircle Technologies is an IT company specialising in the Web and Mobile app development services for all types of businesses; small or large, for all business verticals, across the world. We’re proud to say that our team has worked with some truly incredible partners over a short period of time.
