MERN Stack vs MEAN Stack – Which Is Better?

MEAN Stack vs MERN Stack. This is a debate that has been going on for a while.

MERN/MEAN Stack are arguably two of the best tech stacks in the market right now. And with slight differences in their name and major differences in performance, they have been confusing clients for a while now.

And with React JS being used by 40% developers while only 22.9% of them use Angular, it’s time to settle the debate for once and for all.

So, if you are someone who wants to develop a market-leading website but can’t choose between MERN/MEAN Stack, this blog is for you.

Here, we shall be comparing both of these JavaScript Based tech stacks head to head. And for those of you who are new to the concept, don’t worry.

Therefore, with this said, let’s get started.

Full Stack Development: What Does A Tech Stack Mean?

Both MEAN and MERN are full-stack frameworks. But what is a full stack?

Well, in the world of web development, a project can be divided into two parts. Namely:

• Front-End Development
• Back-End Development

Front-end development which is also known as the client side concerned with UI/UX design and related stuff. In other words, this is the side which the user interacts with.

Moving on, back-end development is just the opposite. This is the backstage of the app where all the coding work is done. It’s just for developers and the maintenance crew.

Usually, they are done by different teams. But what if, you want to develop them under one roof, this is where dedicated full stack developers come in.

Full stack covers both front-end and back-end. By this definition, both MERN and MEAN are tech stacks that cover both areas of development.

This begs the question, what is a tech stack?

What is Tech Stack?

To develop a website or web app, you require technologies like Programming Languages, Code editors, Frameworks, Databases, and so on.

A particular set of technologies are used to get the desired result from the project. This set or stack of technologies is known as Tech Stack.

Both MERN and MEAN are tech stacks. With this cleared and out of the way, we shall be discussing the MEAN stack its meaning and it features, giving us insight in MERN stack vs MEAN stack.

What is MEAN Stack?

When it comes to web development, MEAN Stack is one of the most popular options and also the most widely used one.

MEAN Stands for

MongoDB – DataBase

Express.js – Back-End Framework

Angular.js – Structural Framework

Node.js – Server Environment

As one might guess, the entire stack is based on JavaScript. Built using some of the best frameworks in the industry, it packs a number of top-notch testing tools, task automation, as well as faster system administration.

MEAN Stack Development Services enables a modern approach to the web as well as app development. Based on the MVC architecture, it delivers a fast response.

To make the tech stack easier to understand, let’s look at its features.

Benefits of MEAN Stack Development

MEAN Development is well-renowned in the market. And as you might guess, the platform packs some amazing features. Let’s look at some of them below:

• Low-Cost Development

MEAN Stack development is one of the market-leading full stacks. Despite offering unmatched performance and fast speed, the cost to develop remains low.

Therefore, one of its main features, if you may, is that it offers low-cost development.  This one of the reason to prefer this option in MERN Stack vs MEAN Stack comparison.

• JavaScript As Programming Language

Well, well, there are several web programming languages in the market. For instance, you can hire dedicated laravel developer.

However, there are only a few technologies that offer performance similar to JS. Moreover, JavaScript helps reduce development time and also adds to the total quality.

• Isomorphic Coding

Being based on JS, MEAN.js uses isomorphic coding on both the front and back ends.

For those who aren’t familiar with the concept, this means the developer can reuse code. This removes the need to write the same code again and again.  This is certainly a big advantage.

• Community Support

JavaScript is a programming language backed by a large community.

This means solutions to the problems are readily available and several third-party components are too.

• Flexible Development

MEAN stack developers can use the technologies to build a range of applications.

The reason is that, with its various capacities and offerings, the tech stack allows developers to enable flexible solutions.

In fact, it can also be used to create SaaS solutions and other cloud platforms.

• Fast Development

Speed matters a lot in the world of development.

With flexible development and isomorphic coding, the development speed is increased in MEAN JS.  MEAN MongoDB has its own part to play in fast-time-to-market.

What is MERN Stack?

What Does MERN Stand For

MongoDB – DataBase

Express.js – Back-End Framework

React js – UI library

Node.js – Server Environment

As you can see, there aren’t many differences between these two tech stacks apart from React and Angular. Well, this makes all the different thoughts. This is one of the big reasons to choose a MERN Stack Development Company.

Moreover, contrary to the one we discussed above, this one is much preferable for the process of software development. This gives it an advantage in the MERN stack vs MEAN stack comparison.

Based on the same technologies the technologies offer fast development time. Now, let’s look at the benefits of this technology in the section below:

Benefits of MERN Stack

With the MERN stack explained, it’s time to look at the features. This will also clarify MERN

• Easy Deployment

With the technologies this stack consists of, the platform is very easy to deploy. This makes it a pleasant stack to work with.

This is one of the big advantages offered by the tech stack.

• MVC Architecture

The tech stack follows MVC architecture. MVC here stands for model view controller.

With this architecture, it becomes easier for MERN stack developers to create an amazing user interface that attracts customers.

In other words, MVC aids front-end development.

• Easier Code Maintenance

While the majority of other tech stack doesn’t cover the testing stage, the MERN stack does.

The platform comes with a range of advanced tools which makes bug detection and fixing that much easier. This is one of the reasons why MERN Stack development’s code is easy to maintain.

• Free Online Templates

While MERN Stack vs MEAN development is something been discussed for a long time, well, this one is a benefit MERN only offers.

There are various free online templates available on the market. They can be customized as per a development need, which makes everything much easier.

• Native Like Experience

MERN stack allows data synchronization between the online and offline parts of the application. This enables a native-like user experience.

This is a big advantage as boosts performance as well as user engagement.

• No Context Switching

With JavaScript as the core programming language in the MERN stack, web developers don’t have to worry about context switching.

The reason is that the same language is used in both the front-end and back-end.

These are the advantages the MERN stack offers. Now, for better into the full stack MEAN vs MERN, let’s compare them head to head.

MERN Stack vs MEAN Stack: Difference Similarities, & More.

Well, everyone asks about the differences between the MEAN stack vs the MERN stack. However, there are more similarities in the MEAN/MERN stack than there are differences.

So, before you decide whether to hire MERN stack developer or a MEAN one, let’s check this out.

Similarities Between MERN Stack and MEAN Stack

As you might have already noticed, MERN/MEAN stack has just a difference of one word i.e.  R and A which stands for react development, and Angular JS.

Apart from these two frameworks and libraries, other technologies used in these tech stacks are the exact same. This includes:

• MongoDB 
• ExpressJS
• NodeJS

Apart from these, the platforms also share other similarities. These are, as mentioned below:

• Both MEAN Stack and MERN Stack Development run MVC (Model View Controller) Architecture.
• MEAN Stack/MERN stack comes with built-in testing tools.
• MEAN and MERN both provide protection against “Cross-Site Scripting” (XSS), a big security threat.

These the points shared between  MEAN/MERN stack. Before, you choose between MEAN and MERN Stack Development Services let’s look at the differences between these two tech stack.

Differences Between MEAN Stack and MERN Stack

It goes without saying that there are some major differences between MERN stack vs MEAN stack. To be understanding the same, we shall be comparing both of these head-to-head. This is shown in the table below:

These are the major differences between MEAN vs MERN. As you might experience, it can be pretty confusing to choose between these two.

Therefore, let’s look at some things that you should consider when choosing between them in below section.

MEAN/MERN Stack: How To Choose The Right Tech Stack

Tech stack can affect performance, development cost, time to market, and many more things. So, it’s important to choose the right tech stack.

When it comes to the MERN stack vs MEAN stack, there are some parameters that you can consider. These are, as mentioned below:

• Project objective
• Maintenance Support Services
• Data Protection
• Development Cost
• UI requirements
• Robust applications
• Project Level and Complexity
• Third-party support
• Project’s Niche

Now, let’s see who is fit for MEAN or MERN Stack.

MEAN Stack: Who Should & Shouldn’t Use It.

Let’s see when is the right time to choose MEAN Stack for your web development project.

Choose MEAN Stack Development if

MEAN stack is an innovative and modern way to develop websites and web apps. Whether you are planning to develop single-page web applications or complex applications, MEAN Stack is a perfect choice.

Moreover, it can also be used for hybrid app development. Plus, it saves a lot of time and effort from the developer’s side with isomorphic coding.

So, if this is what you want in your project, it Is recommended that you go with a MEAN Stack Development Company.

Don’t Choose MEAN Stack Development if

So, when not to choose mean stack?

Well, MEAN Stack can be a bit difficult to learn. Moreover, it is made for larger development projects.

So, if you are planning to develop a small app, it is not advisable.

These are the use cases and times to avoid for MEAN Stack. Now, it’s time to look at MERN Stack.

MERN Stack: Who Should & Shouldn’t Use It.

While Mean stack is superior to the MERN in most areas, there are some places where MERN shines and it can be used preferably for the project.

Choose MERN Stack Development if

As opposed to MEAN, MERN is for smaller projects that require simple features. Moreover, it can also be used for enterprise products.

But usually, it is preferred for mobile app development.

As one might see, this tech stack shines where MEAN stack fails. Now, let’s look at some areas where you shouldn’t use the platform.

Don’t Choose MERN Stack Development if

Since it is designed for smaller projects, you should avoid it when if you want to hire dedicated web developers for larger projects.

Conclusion

This is everything you need to know about the MERN stack vs MEAN stack debate. If you have finalized which stack you want to use, all you need to do is reach out to a Custom Web Development Company and get the work started.

Niketan Sharma

Niketan Sharma is the CTO of Nimble AppGenie, a prominent website and mobile app development company in the USA that is delivering excellence with a commitment to boosting business growth & maximizing customer satisfaction. He is a highly motivated individual who helps SMEs and startups grow in this dynamic market with the latest technology and innovation.