Migrate from TanStack Router to TanStack Start
I am planning on building an app as a way to continue learning TanStack Router (and potentially the Start stack), but I am not sure if I need the features of Start yet. I am curious if I initially use the @tanstack/react-router quick start, will I (easily) be able to migrate to @tanstack/react-start later on or will I need to re-initialize a new project to get all the benefits from scaffolding a new Start project?
4 Replies
fair-rose•2mo ago
TanStack Start is 99% a superset of TanStack Router. You will easily be able to transition from just Router to Start
mute-goldOP•2mo ago
@Revolution I figured that was the case, I just didnt know how much was done by the
pnpm create @tanstack/start@latest command. Thank you!fair-rose•2mo ago
When switching to tanstack start, if you:
- plan to use the
ssr: "data-only" option in your routes
- and you use tanstack query
I highly recommend installing and using the @tanstack/react-router-ssr-query package. It will also be a big upgrade if you start prefetching queries in the loader. The loader runs on the server, and the query cache is completely seeded and sent to the client along with the initial html. No back-and-forth with loading spinners jumping in immediately when visiting the website, which is very nice. When the app is loaded in, the rest of the navigations will happen client side, however. But now you have the power to preload other routes before the user navigates there, and even await the loading if you want to show a loading spinner before navigating. I've got a minimal example of the pattern of prefetching in the loader here:
https://www.codebin.cc/code/cmfvffjno0003gq0330m9sgr3:8MD5qj4KmZm1U94pyNgetbbuyUGRnp9LMY6rhc6YvLDUCodebin Paste - Minimal tanstack start + react query example
Codebin Paste:
Description: Minimal tanstack start + react query example
Language: javascript
Last Edited: 9/22/2025, 5:55:16 PM
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mute-goldOP•2mo ago
I appreciate all the info, this is super helpful. Thank you! I've been super impressed by the small amount I've played around with Router (in addition to what I've seen previously with Query, Form, and Table). Excited to dig into Start