Why Companies Are Parting Ways with Next.js in 2025

Image for — Why Companies Are Parting Ways with Next.js in 2025

Next.js has long been celebrated as a premier framework for React developers, offering features like server-side rendering (SSR), static site generation (SSG), and a streamlined developer experience. However, in 2025, many companies are reevaluating their fit for their projects.

The Initial Appeal

Next.js promised:

  • Performance: Blazing-fast load times.
  • SEO Optimization: Improved search engine visibility through SSR.
  • Developer Experience: Simplified routing and deployment.

These features made it an attractive choice for many organizations.

Emerging Challenges

1. Performance Bottlenecks

Despite its performance claims, companies like Northflank reported significant slowdowns:

  • Basic page renders taking 200–400ms.
  • Dynamic pages spiking beyond 700ms.
  • Unpredictable caching leading to frequent crashes under load.

After migrating to a custom React SSR solution, Northflank observed:

  • First Contentful Paint improved from 2.1s to 0.5s.
  • Largest Contentful Paint improved from 5.1s to 0.8s.
  • Speed Index improved from 8.4s to 1.7s.

These improvements highlight the performance limitations some have experienced with Next.js.

2. SEO Concerns

While SSR is intended to enhance SEO, slow render times can negate these benefits. Northflank experienced a 50% drop in SEO performance, with Google penalising slow-loading pages.

3. Complexity and Overengineering

Next.js has evolved to include features like Edge Functions, App Router, Middleware, and React Server Components. While powerful, this complexity can be overwhelming:

  • Steep learning curve for new developers.
  • Increased potential for bugs and maintenance challenges.
  • Difficulty in debugging due to the framework’s abstraction layers.

4. Vendor Lock-In with Vercel

Next.js is tightly integrated with Vercel, its parent company. This integration offers seamless deployment but raises concerns:

  • Advanced features optimised primarily for Vercel’s infrastructure.
  • Challenges in migrating to alternative hosting solutions like AWS or DigitalOcean.
  • Perceived push towards Vercel’s ecosystem, limiting flexibility.

5. Developer Experience Issues

Developers have reported:

  • Slow hot module reloading, with delays of 6–7 seconds even on high-end machines.
  • Frequent need to restart the development server due to broken fast refresh features.
  • Increased time spent on debugging and configuration rather than development.

Alternatives Gaining Traction

In response to these challenges, companies are exploring other frameworks:

  • Remix: Offers a focus on web fundamentals and improved developer experience.
  • Astro: Emphasizes performance by shipping less JavaScript.
  • Vite: Provides faster build times and a simpler setup.
  • Custom React SSR Solutions: Tailored setups that offer greater control and performance.

Reference Resources

Please refer to the following resources to gain better clarity.

🧭 Final Thoughts

Next.js remains a powerful tool, but it’s essential to assess whether its features align with your project’s needs. When choosing a framework, consider factors like performance requirements, team expertise, and infrastructure preferences.

Note: This article is a rephrased and elaborated version of the original piece titled “Why Companies Are Saying Goodbye to Next.js,” incorporating recent discussions and feedback to provide a comprehensive overview. You can read it here

If you like reading my articles, you can always support my writings by buying me a cup of coffee here ☕️ .

Let me take the hot sip and enjoy 😉

At Dev Simplified, We Value Your Feedback 📊

👉 If you like the article, then please support the writer by clapping for this article.

👉 Have any suggestions? Let us know in the comments!

👉 Subscribe for free and join our growing community!