The React ecosystem has never been richer, and that abundance of choice can make architectural decisions genuinely difficult. For enterprise web applications, the choice between pure React (with a custom Webpack/Vite setup) and Next.js is one of the most common and consequential decisions teams face.
When to Choose Next.js
Next.js wins on almost every dimension for public-facing applications where SEO matters, applications that benefit from server-side rendering or static generation, teams that want an opinionated framework with less configuration overhead, and projects where performance out of the box is a priority. The App Router in Next.js 13+ represents a significant architectural evolution that aligns well with modern React patterns.
When Pure React Might Win
Pure React (or React with Vite) makes sense for highly interactive single-page applications where SSR provides minimal benefit (authenticated dashboards, internal tools, highly personalized UIs), applications already running in environments that complicate Next.js deployment (some enterprise container environments), and teams with specific server-rendering requirements that don't map well to Next.js's conventions.