When comparing MERN and MEAN stacks, it’s like comparing two winning athletes; both are winners, but they are suited for different events. Just one choice influences performance, scalability, maintenance costs, etc. Make the wrong choice, and get ready for expensive rewrites.

According to Stack Overflow’s 2024 survey, the JavaScript ecosystem dominates modern web development. 65% of developers use full-stack JavaScript frameworks. Hire MERN stack developers in Los Angeles they utilize technologies that serve their needs, from small apps to Fortune 500 companies, and even more.

Identifying the core differences

All stacks have three common technologies: MongoDB for the database, Express.js for the backend framework, and Node.js for the runtime environment. The main difference is the frontend frameworks: for MEAN, it’s Angular, and for React, it’s MERN.

On the one hand, the MEAN stack (MongoDB, Express.js, Angular, Node.js) offers a more or less opinionated and structured framework that comes with several predefined solutions to common issues, while on the other hand, the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express.js, React, Node.js) comes with greater flexibility and a component-based architecture that allows you to fit the framework around almost any project.

Angular vs React: The Frontend Battle

The Angular vs. React debate is one that draws a multitude of opinions to the table, but more objective consideration in any given scenario will determine that there is more than likely no other framework option available.

Angular has a more structured approach

Angular offers a complete framework with all the necessary routing, state management, HTTP clients, and form-handling integrated solutions that one might need. Angular is backed and maintained by Google, and while there is no guarantee as to how long Google will provide support for Angular, no other enterprise application will be as well maintained as one using Angular.

There is no need for additional TypeScript additions, as it is already built in, and type safety will be there to catch any issues that may arise in production. Sure, the framework might feel that it is slowing down progress due to the strictness, but long debugging sessions will likely be a thing of the past. 

This is why MEAN stack development services in the USA have to offer will usually recommend Angular to enterprise clients who truly care about maintainability more than the speed of development. This is why banking applications, healthcare platforms, and government systems are built using MEAN due to its optimal structure for governance.

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React’s Flexible Philosophy

React is a library and not a framework because it only takes care of view layers, allowing developers to integrate whatever other layers they want. Because it is a library, it allows developers to pick the most suited technology for their other layers instead of getting the default options offered by a framework.

With component-based architecture, it is possible to build a single component for an application and reuse it in other applications. This means, for instance, a button component built for one app is easily transferable to another. 

For MERN stack development in USA, React is the most recommended framework for new startups with applications that require a lot of user interaction and also for startups that need to release their products in the market very fast.

Performance and Scalability Analysis

There is not much of a difference in optimal performance benchmarks for both MEAN and MERN applications. Once architected in the correct way, both stacks handle enterprise-scale traffic just fine. The performance discussion should revolve around use cases as opposed to synthetic benchmarks.

Where MEAN Excels

With ahead-of-time compilation in Angular, it creates optimized bundles that mitigate load time when users visit for the first time. Angular also offers a reactive forms module that allows complex forms with a lot of validation logic that can be easily built and implemented.  

Enterprise-grade applications use Angular’s module system to maintain structure and coherence, even with dozens of interconnected features.

Where MERN Excels

React provides smaller initial bundles to users due to its lightweight core (40 kb gzipped), making it more advantageous to use than Angular in terms of large initial growth.

Here are some advantages of the MERN stack in specific constellations:

• Rapid prototyping: When a project needs to be developed quickly, MERN provides lower boilerplate to build a proof of concept.
• Mobile expansion: React Native lets you run the same code across web and mobile applications.
• SEO requirements: Next.js makes server-side rendering easy and super versatile.
• Startup environments: It has a smaller learning curve.

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Developer Availability and Hiring Considerations

Other tools in the React ecosystem (Next.js, Gatsby, and React Native) surpass Angular’s offer of integrated tools. When cross-platform development is on the table, MERN’s ecosystem is often preferred.

React also has a larger brand presence, which leads to greater market share and availability. According to the State of JS 2024, 40% of web developers have experience with React compared to 23% using Angular. This disparity in availability often leads to developers of the MERN stack being hired much faster than others, with more competitive rates due to high demand.

Some important considerations in this regard include:

• React developers have more availability, experience diversity, and background skills in startups.
• Angular developers focus on enterprise development, have experience with TypeScript, and have a more structured approach to development.
• React developers earn between $95,000 and $130,000, while Angular developers earn between $100,000 and $140,000 in the US.
• Both technologies have a global pool of remote developers.

When you hire MEAN stack developers in Los Angeles, you can expect candidates to have a well-defined approach to architecture and documentation. MERN candidates often have a more free-spirited approach to problem solving, and their iteration tendencies tend to be much faster.

Best Use Cases for Each Stack

Avoiding forced compromises is essential in preventing technical debt, and to do so requires mismatched technologies.

Choose MEAN Stack for:

The Angular governance model is a huge asset in building enterprise-level applications. It is valuable in applications that serve as customer relationship management, enterprise resource planning, or internal business applications.

For real-time applications like chat systems and collaboration tools, or dashboards that display real-time data, Angular coupled with RxJS is a great choice. Projects that handle many complex forms, like applications in the insurance and government sector or healthcare systems, benefit from Angular’s ability to validate forms with great sophistication.

Organizations that have expertise in Angular do not need to diversify their technological stack without good reason.

Choose MERN Stack for:

Applications that focus on users are more valuable when enhanced with the performance of React. The social media, eCommerce, and content management systems can benefit from the component reusability and render efficiency.

Startups need to implement high modification cycles to validate their products to the target market. The flexibility of the MERN stack allows for unrestricted pivoting for development frameworks. If a project includes mobile applications, React Native can also be used to improve the cost of development by 30-40% by sharing mobile applications.

Making Your Final Decision

Data in technical comparison helps focus the foundation of the argument, but the context of the business situation helps to make the better argument.

In consideration of factors such as the expertise of the teams, timelines of the projects, scalability, and long-term maintenance, with an Angular background possessed by your team, enterprise requirements, and structured governance, the MEAN stack is the way to go. 

If quick development with flexibility and the capability of expanding into mobile is the focus, the MERN framework is the best.

Conclusion

Organizations from varying fields have to make the decision of whether to use the MEAN stack or the MERN stack. After they make the decision, they need to find a development team who will work to fully understand the team of developers to understand the potential of the MEAN stack or the MERN stack, then understand the organization, and meet the organizational development requirements, which is no small task. 

From a Syndell perspective, we have the most experience and are the leaders in providing a tailored JavaScript full-stack suite of services that provide business value. We are the most used company in the United States to hire MERN and MEAN stack developers.

At Syndell, we understand that each and every project has their own unique needs, such as their own technical specifications, timelines, and scalability. 

If you would like to discuss the opportunity to implement business growth strategies and create visions for applications, contact Syndell and access our high-level MEAN and MERN stack development knowledge.

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