MEAN Stack Vs. MERN Stack- A Comparison Between the Two Tech Stacks

Regardless of the scale and scope of your app development initiative, choosing the right technology stack is crucial to project success. 

In your journey through the 0’s and 1’s of software development stacks, you have probably come across the MEAN and MERN stacks. Join us as we get into the minutest details of all you need to know about choosing between a MEAN stack and a MERN stack for your development endeavor.

What is a Tech Stack?

The technologies used within a JavaScript development environment are called ‘stacks.’ Every tech stack consists of a set of components, each of which serves a specific need during development. Read more about Full Stack vs MEAN Stack vs MERN Stack here. Here is an overview of the most commonly used components nestled within a tech stack- 

• Front-End Framework 

Front-end frameworks are designed to do the heavy lifting required to build an application/software UI. This includes layouts, widgets, navigational elements, and all other user-facing design elements of the developed software.    

• CSS Framework 

Tech stacks deploy CSS frameworks to translate design ideas into easily reproducible steps for the coding/development team to follow. 

• Backend Framework 

Backend frameworks are used to translate developer-written code into machine-intelligible instructions while maintaining communication between user actions and the intrinsic logic of the software being developed. 

• Database Technologies 

A database technology forms an integral part of every tech stack as it helps in data organization and features that facilitate searches, filtering, and report submissions.   

MEAN & MERN stack: What They Are  

Both MEAN and MERN stack are the two most popular JavaScript technology stacks beating out MEVN and MEEN stacks.  

While the MEAN stack developers deploy Angular as the front-end framework, the MERN stack deploys developers with experience in both front end and back end development. 

Both these stacks are capable of building high-value web and mobile applications. Here is an overview of the functions each technology incorporated by our contenders serves. 

• MongoDB   

Mongo DB is a “NoSQL” database framework utilized for backend data storage for the application being developed. If the application you are building is user-facing, MONGO DB is capable of storing user data effectively. 

• Express.js 

Express.js is a lightweight backend framework that serves content to the web. It is incorporated in a JavaScript tech stack so that the application can send information over the internet. 

• Angular/React 

These are the front-end framework used by the two stacks. 

• NodeJS 

The application in development requires a ‘runtime’ environment’ to run outside a browser, e.g., on a clod backend server. Here is where NodeJS steps in.  

MEAN Stack Vs. MERN stack: A Comparative Analysis 

The only difference between MEAN and MERN stacks is the use of Angular vs. React. However, this difference leads to a bevy of variations between the development process and final output. Here are the significant points of variance between MEAN and MERN stack.  

1. Learning Curve 

MongoDB, express.js, and Node.js are typical to both stacks. These technologies are prevalent and sport detailed documentation making development endeavors a piece of cake even for the average developer. However, there is a stark difference between Angular and React regarding their respective learning curves.  

React is a reasonably straightforward framework that automates a large portion of the coding process. Angular, on the other hand, uses templates and TypeScript, resulting in a steep learning curve. This difference can cuase delays that may prove detrimental to the development initiative.    

2. Profitability 

As in the previous point, the profitability aspect is again decided by the difference between React and Angular for both stacks. 

Angular is a complete framework with a Command Line Interface that augments developer productivity resulting in high profitability for MEAN stack development solutions. React requires third-party libraries, complicating updates and increasing exertion

3. Data Flow 

Angular offers an Omni-directional data flow resulting in real-time transformations in the model state. React sports a unidirectional data flow, which requires transforming the model state manually before making UI alterations. 

The MEAN stack’s omnidirectional data flow is perfect for smaller projects. In contrast, the unidirectional data flow of the MERN stack offers a better data overview, which is crucial for effectively handling more extensive projects.  

 4. Third-Party Support 

Angular sports readymade features to support HTTP call for backend unification leading to a plug-and-play system for third party extensions. React has a broad set of libraries that can be used to build similar functionalities. However, this requires a certain amount of configuration that can prove resource-intensive. 

5. Code Management and Upgradation 

Angular can support MVC architecture resulting in simplifying code management and Upgradation through an intermediate layer. Code management and Upgradation are more of a task in React, given that it is built on external libraries. 

6. Mobile App Development 

Angular in MEAN stacks use Ionic to build hybrid mobile apps. This means that both iOS and Android platforms are catered to through a single codebase. The trade-off is that hybrid apps fall a little shy of a true-blue native app experience. 

Regarding mobile app development, React takes a different route. React offers a near-native experience while remaining cross-platform, resulting in it being the tech stack of choice for mobile app development. 

7. Testing 

Testing experiences across MEAN and MERN stacks vary greatly. In the case of MEAN (Angular) applications, testing requires a single tool. E.g., Jasmine. Making testing by a MEAN stack development company an easy task. As for an app developed with the MERN stack (React), it would require separate testing tools for its JS code and separate tools to test its third-party library components 

8. Scalability and Security 

Both MEAN and MERN stacks provide robust security for your application. However, in terms of scalability MERN STACK beats MEAN thanks to easy component addition through external libraries. 

9. UI Rendering 

The MERN stack quickly accelerates ahead of the MEAN stack with detailed yet straightforward UI rendering for your application. React can create a frame in real-time, resulting in development efficiency and a seamless UI/UX. 

10. CRUD Apps 

React takes the lead against Angular when it comes to creating a CRUD app. (Create, Read, Update, and Delete). Applications built on the MERN stack can help in rapid data change management and an appealing UI. The MERN stack is therefore perfect for mobile apps and SPAs. 

11. Error Removal 

The MEAN stack is the best option if error prevention is a concern. Angular deploys TypeScript, a framework that automates error detection and resolution, so the MEAN stack beats MERN STACK in error reduction and removal

12. Performance 

Angular can update the real DOM (Document Object Model), the programming interface for HTML and XML documents. This is an advantage when it comes to precision. However, real DOM updates are time and effort-intensive.
MERN STACK’s React updates the Virtual DOM making the coding process a lot simpler. 

Summing Up 

It is clear that when pit toe-to-toe, both MEAN and MERN stack developers have their own advantages and use-cases. Whether you hire MEAN stack developers or you hire MERN stack developers, your choice between the two rests heavily on what you want to build, how soon you wish to deploy, and how many changes you wish to implement.  

There is close competition between MEAN and MERN stack in the development community, and the choice between them is dependent on the factors mentioned above. We trust that this article has proven informative. Until next time, happy coding.