We recommend that these methods replace OTU-based approaches for all applications, except when it is necessary to combine sequence data that were generated using different technologies (that is, Illumina sequencing and 454 pyrosequencing) or with different primer sets, when mapping to a common reference database of full-length sequences is often still needed

generally derives from variations in filtering out spurious and low-abundant sequences (e.g. Edgar, 2017; Prodan et al., 2020).

If your data is high quality, you want improved taxonomic resolution, and you are not concerned about the intra-genomic heterogeneity in the targeted marker genes, an ESV-based approach could be advantageous. Otherwise, a more standard OTU-based approach might be your best bet.