In this tutorial, we’ll integrate CKEditor, a powerful and versatile rich text editor that provides an intuitive editing experience. It’s well-documented and widely used across various applications. As of now, CKEditor 5 is available in both free and paid versions, allowing you to choose the best option based on your needs.

For this guide, I’ll be using Next.js version 15.2.3 to build the project, ensuring seamless integration with the latest features and best practices. By the end of this tutorial, you'll have a fully functional CKEditor setup that you can further customize to fit your requirements.

To make things even easier, I’ll provide a link to the project repository at the end, so you can reference the complete implementation. Let’s dive in!

Preparation – Create a New Next.js Project

Begin by creating a new Next.js project using the command npx create-next-app@latest. For this example, I’ll configure the project as shown in the image below and name it xcode-ckeditor-example.

Once the project is created, open it using your preferred code editor. In my case, I’ll be using Visual Studio Code. At this initial stage, the project structure will look like this.

Next, run the project using the command pnpm dev, and your application should be like this. For now, we’ll leave it as is — let’s move on to installing the CKEditor.

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Main chapter – CKEditor Setup

Go to https://ckeditor.com/ and log in to your account. If you don’t have one yet, feel free to sign up first. On your first login, you’ll be asked a few questions and granted an 8-day free trial. Now let’s proceed to configure our editor — click "Go to Builder".

At the initial stage, you’ll be presented with several presets that you can choose and customize based on your preferences. For this tutorial, I’ll select the Notion-like Editor. A live preview will appear on the right side, showing you how your editor will look. Once you're satisfied, click Next to continue.

On the left side, you’ll find a variety of features that can be added to your editor. Note that some features are premium, and you can enable them by checking the corresponding boxes if needed.

Once you’ve completed the setup, you’ll be redirected to a confirmation page. We get a 14-day free trial—better than nothing, right? Haha!

Since we’re integrating CKEditor with Next.js, we should select the React framework and use the Cloud (CDN) integration method for easier setup. You’ll then have the option to download the project or copy the code snippets. For this tutorial, I’ll go with copying the code.

You’ll now be provided with a step-by-step guide on how to integrate CKEditor into your project. Simply follow the instructions given.

Additionally, since we’re using Next.js, you’ll need to install an extra dependency by running:

npm i ckeditor5

Also, take note of the license key, token, and other sensitive information provided. Make sure to store them securely, such as in environment variables, and never commit them to your repository to avoid data leaks or security issues.

Once everything is set up correctly, you can run your project. You should now see the editor successfully integrated! From here, feel free to customize it according to your specific use case.

Note: Some CSS styles from Tailwind and CKEditor may conflict with each other. To ensure proper styling and avoid unexpected issues, you’ll need to handle these conflicts carefully. Consider using scoped styles, global overrides, or custom class configurations to maintain a clean and consistent appearance in your project.

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Pros and cons of CKEditor

– Pros

Feature-Rich – CKEditor comes with powerful editing capabilities, including tables, media embedding, mentions, and collaboration tools.
Customizable – You can tailor the editor with plugins, themes, and toolbar configurations to fit your needs.
Modern UI/UX – It provides a clean and intuitive interface, making content editing seamless.
Cross-Browser Compatibility – Works well across different browsers and platforms.
Cloud & On-Premise Options – You can use CKEditor via CDN (Cloud) or self-host it for better control.
Good Documentation & Community Support – Well-documented with strong community and enterprise support.

– Cons

Pricing for Advanced Features – Some features like real-time collaboration, track changes, and export tools require a paid license.
Bundle Size – CKEditor is relatively heavier compared to simpler editors, which may impact performance in large applications.
Tailwind CSS Conflicts – Some CKEditor styles may clash with Tailwind, requiring extra configuration.
Customization Complexity – While CKEditor is highly customizable, deep modifications can be challenging for beginners.
Limited Free Version – The free version lacks some advanced capabilities, making it less ideal for enterprise-level applications without a paid plan.

Overall, CKEditor is a great choice for rich text editing, especially for projects that require a professional and feature-rich experience. However, if you need a lightweight and fully free alternative, other editors like Quill.js or TinyMCE might be worth considering.

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References

That’s it! You can refer to the official CKEditor documentation for more details and explore the complete implementation in my GitHub project linked below.

Implement CKEditor in Next.js: Beginner-Friendly Guide