MEAN vs MERN vs MEVN – Which Stack is Better?

by | 18-05-2023

In the fast-paced realm of technology, websites are becoming increasingly significant. In the corporate sector, every company wants an attractive and responsive website to advertise their services and attract more customers. This has led to an ever-growing demand for skilled web developers.

When it comes to selecting a technology stack in the web development domain, there are a number of options available. Talking about full-stack web development, three of the most popular choices are MERN, MEAN, and MEVN Stacks.

In this article, these three technology stacks will be described in detail, along with their use cases and pros and cons.

What is a Stack?

A stack consists of a combination of similar elements placed on top of each other. In the context of technology, a stack refers to a collection of software tools, languages, and frameworks that work together to create a complete solution for a specific purpose. It includes both the front-end and back-end components necessary for building applications or systems.

A technology stack typically consists of programming languages, frameworks, libraries, and databases that complement each other and provide a cohesive environment for developers to work with.

Following are some of the stacks you must be familiar with:

  • MEAN Stack
  • MERN Stack
  • MEVN Stack
  • Serverless Stack
  • Ruby on Rails
  • Flutter for Web

Is MERN better than MEAN or MEVN stacks? You see this question everywhere on the development forums, but there is seldom a good answer. To understand these stacks, we need first to understand the term stack.

Similar technological stacks include many frameworks such as front-end, CSS, back-end, and databases. Over the last decade, we have seen how web pages and applications have evolved. There are two sides to the development process: one is the front, which the end-user gets to see, and the latter is the back-end, where the magic happens.

The tech/software stack is different in this crucial aspect in that it does not have two separations like frameworks. Instead, it works because of the collective effort of all the tools. 

MEAN vs MERN vs MEVN – Comparison of Stacks

In this section, a comprehensive comparison between the three web technology stacks, MERN vs MEAN vs MEVN has been provided to guide the readers.

What is a MERN Stack?

The MERN stack is very similar to the MEAN stack, but the critical difference lies in using ReactJS instead of AngularJS. The user interacts with ReactJS UI components on the customer end. The back-end lies with a server, usually with the help of Express.js running on top of Node.js. 

what is a MERN stack

Examples 

The list of popular websites created using the MERN framework includes Facebook, Instagram, Netflix, Airbnb etc.

MERN Stack Components

  • MongoDB – A scalable and flexible cross-platform NoSQL database.
  • Express.js – A free, open-source back-end web application framework that runs on Node.js. 
  • ReactJS is an open-source front-end JavaScript library to build user interfaces based on UI components.
  • Node.js – An open-source and cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment

MERN Stack Features

  • A single coding script covers both back- and front-end
  • MongoDB can run over various servers
  • The entire stacking process can happen purely on Java and JSON
  • Dynamic schema, robust GUI, command-line tools for faster 
  • Real-time testing through built-in tools
  • Smooth UI rendering

MERN Stack Pros

  • MERN architecture is scalable as it enables applications to handle increase traffic
  • It supports code reusability
  • React, which is a popular JavaScript framework, is used to create interactive interfaces

MERN Stack Cons

  • MERN’s flexibility can result in inconsistent code structures
  • Maintaining code structure and keeping up with the changes are big challenges
  • It has a steep learning curve as knowledge of multiple technologies is required

What is a MEAN stack?

An open-source JavaScript-based technology stack ideal for building dynamic web applications and websites – both responsive and progressive. It comprises several components that simplify app development and accelerate the process. A detailed view of the components is given below.

Examples

Some of the famed websites built on MEAN are IBM, The Guardian, PayPal, and LinkedIn.

MEAN Stack Components

  • MongoDB – A scalable and flexible cross-platform NoSQL database.
  • Express.js – A free, open-source back-end web application framework that runs on Node.js. 
  • AngularJS (or Angular) – A popular JavaScript front-end framework for cross-platform application development
  • Node.js – An open-source and cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment

what is a mean stack

MEAN Stack Features

  • Use of JavaScript for a reduction in unnecessary bandwidth usage
  • Real-time testing due to built-in tools
  • Benefits of having plug-ins and widgets
  • Node.js decreases website loading time
  • Can build all types of applications 
  • Has an isomorphic code: allows running both browser and server end
  • Allows swift code transfer to another framework while keeping its functions intact
  • A single language for back- and front-end

MEAN Stack Pros

  • Use of JavaScript throughout the stack streamlines the development process
  • It supports cross-platform operating systems
  • MEAN is versatile and adaptable

MEAN Stack Cons

  • JavaScript can sometimes cause websites to slow down
  • Poor isolation of server from business logic
  • Doesn’t provide same functionality as the relational databases

What is a MEVN stack?

MEVN is again a web stack like MERN and MEAN, though it is relatively new to its front-end technology, VueJS. Here’s how the components are similar and different from MERN and MEAN.

Examples

Following are some of the famous brands’ websites created using MEVN stack:

  • Alibaba
  • Xiaomi
  • EuroNews
  • Trustpilot

MEVN Stack Components

The mevn full form is as follows:

  • MongoDB – A scalable and flexible cross-platform NoSQL database.
  • Express.js – A free, open-source back-end web application framework that runs on Node.js. 
  • VueJS – A client-side framework with two-way data binding that allows seamless front-end development and MVC capability and interactive, server-side applications
  • Node.js – An open-source and cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment

MEVN Stack Features

  • Javascript is used on all layers of development, from client-side to server-side, which simplifies the process. It makes development faster and more efficient.
  • Platform-independent
  • MVC architecture in the back-end 
  • Vue.JS is faster and easier to learn.

MEVN Stack Pros

  • Supports MVC architecture
  • It is end-to-end encrypted
  • MEVN is easy to learn

MEVN Stack Cons

  • Limited SEO support
  • Vue.js and Node.js are still new compared to other technologies
  • MEVN stack has relatively fewer resources and documentation available

MERN vs. MEAN vs. MEVN Comparison

Now it’s time to dig deeper into the comparison of three full-stack technology frameworks. The difference between the three lies in the third alphabet of their acronyms. MERN relies on React, MEAN uses Angular, while Vue.js is the front-end technology used in MEVN. MERN is the preferred technology stack for the creation of smaller applications. MEAN, on the other hand, is known for its versatility and enterprise-level architecture. MEVN is more secure because of its end-to-end encryption. It is also comparatively easier to learn.

The following image shows the popularity graph of MERN, MEAN, and MEVN Stacks:

When everything is said and done, we know that the difference between React, Angular, and Vue makes all these stacks different. 

ReactJS AngularJS VueJS
UI library framework Full-fledged frontend framework Lightweight; small size
Virtual DOM State management MVC Framework
One way data binding Routing To way data binding
Native mobile development framework Form validation and handling No form validation or handling
Used by millions across the globe according to GitHub stars HTTP client No HTTP client

MERN vs. MEAN vs. MEVN: Who’s The Winner?

Spoiler alert: there is no winner. Each framework and stack has value-adding features, making them unique, and choosing the best stack for your project and software development process determines which type of stack you use. If the developers in your team prefer Angular over React, you will have to go with the MEAN stack. Otherwise, there is no significant preference other than the need and comfort.

FAQ’s

What is the difference between MEAN Stack and MEVN Stack?

While both are full-stack frameworks, MEAN Stack relies on Angular for its front-end framework while MEVN uses Vue.js.

Is MERN better than MEAN?

MERN and MEAN have their own sets of advantages and disadvantages. While MERN is preferred for shorter applications, MEAN Stack is adopted for faster development of large-sized applications.

Is MEAN Stack easy to learn for beginners?

If you are a beginner looking to master a particular full-stack technology, choose MEAN as its relatively easier to learn.

Is MEAN more popular than MERN?

Both stacks boast numerous strengths that make them stand apart. MERN is more popular for creation of smaller applications while MEAN is renowned for enterprise-level architecture.

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Muhammad Mustafa is an experienced content writer with expertise in SEO. With a background in Software Engineering, Mustafa combines his knowledge of various technology stacks with a passion for writing. Besides writing, he loves cricket and traveling.

Muhammad Mustafa

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