React vs Next.js: When to Use Each in 2026

Choosing between a plain React single-page application and Next.js is one of the first decisions on any new frontend project. Both are excellent tools, but they solve different problems.

When a React SPA Is Enough

A standalone React app (bootstrapped with Vite or Create React App) is the right choice when:

• Your app lives behind authentication. Dashboards, admin panels, and internal tools don’t need SEO. A client-rendered SPA is simpler to deploy and reason about.
• You already have a separate API. If your backend is a standalone service, the React SPA just consumes it. You don’t need a Node server in front of it.
• Static hosting is your goal. SPAs deploy to any CDN or S3 bucket with zero server infrastructure.

// A typical Vite + React entry point — simple, no server involved
import { createRoot } from "react-dom/client";
import { App } from "./App";

createRoot(document.getElementById("root")!).render(<App />);

Downsides of SPAs

• Poor initial load performance on slow connections (large JS bundle)
• No meaningful HTML for search engine crawlers
• Client-side routing can complicate deep linking and social sharing

When Next.js Shines

Next.js adds a server layer on top of React. That server unlocks capabilities a pure SPA can’t match:

Server-Side Rendering (SSR) and Static Generation (SSG)

Pages render to HTML on the server (or at build time), so crawlers and users see content immediately.

API Routes

Need a lightweight backend? Next.js API routes live alongside your frontend code:

// app/api/health/route.ts
export function GET() {
  return Response.json({ status: "ok" });
}

Built-in Optimizations

Image optimization, font loading, code splitting per route, and middleware all come out of the box.

Decision Framework

Factor	React SPA	Next.js
SEO required	No	Yes
Public marketing pages	Rarely	Yes
Internal dashboard	Yes	Overkill
Incremental static regen	N/A	Yes
Deploy target	CDN / S3	Node server / Vercel / Edge
Bundle size concern	Higher	Smaller per-route

The Hybrid Approach

Many teams use both. A public marketing site runs on Next.js for SEO, while the authenticated app is a React SPA served from a subpath. This gives you the best of both worlds without overcomplicating either surface.

Our Recommendation

Start with the simplest option that meets your requirements. If your project is an internal tool or a dashboard behind login, a Vite-powered React SPA will save you complexity. If you need public-facing pages, SEO, or server-side logic, Next.js is the clear winner.

Don’t choose Next.js just because it’s popular — choose it because your project genuinely benefits from server rendering.

Talk to us about your architecture decisions →