Angular vs. React in 2023: Is Angular Better than React?

The battle between React vs Angular has lasted over the last few years, with both being the most popular frameworks for creating scalable, reliable, and high-performing apps. They are powerful and well-developed open-source libraries and frameworks that have emerged over the last few years.

Choosing between the two can be quite challenging, and it is difficult to pick the best framework or library for your project as each has its advantages and disadvantages. Both Angular and React are frameworks/libraries with a wide variety of capabilities and ensure you know the benefits of both.

According to Statista, the most used web frameworks among developers are the following.

Coming to Angular vs. React popularity, both React and Angular hold a prominent position with the former having a 42.62% market share and Angular being at 20.39%.  We at Ailoitte have worked extensively with both tools and in this blog, we are here to shed some light on React vs Angular. So, let’s begin.

First, let us see React vs Angular as a Frontend Framework.

React vs. Angular as a Frontend Framework

They are both frontend frameworks, with Angular being a complete framework, meaning it provides more built-in features and tools than React.  However, more conventions must be followed for the code to work well. Both are open-source, free to use, and supported by a sizable developer community.

React, on the other hand, is a lightweight framework. Though it does not provide as many features as Angular, it gives more flexibility in the structure of the code. Another critical difference between the two is licensing. Angular is licensed under the MIT license, and React under Facebook. This means the code must conform to respective standards.

Difference between iOS and Android app development: What to choose for Web App

Let us first know what React is, its benefits, and why you chose React over Angular.

What is React?

React is an open-source JavaScript library with component-based and declarative qualities that can let developers build interactive and complex UI effortlessly. Developers can build fast and scalable apps for platforms as coding is simple.

React uses a scripting language, JSX, a variant of XML syntax, making it easy to operate. It is prevalent for its Virtual DOM, which facilitates faster updates in the code and the best performance.

Benefits of React for Web App Development

React has many benefits that help it stand out among other front-end frameworks.

• Reusable Components

It helps save developers time owing to its ability to reuse as they need not write different code to implement the same features. Also, other app components are not impacted if modifications are carried out to a specific area.

• Large Community Support

Developers have access to a vast expert community to resolve any issue they face as new tools and solutions are created frequently. React has more than 199K users on GitHub and over 15 million downloads per week on npm.

• Simple and Easy to Use

Developers can help create simple/complicated UI using just HTML and JavaScript components. The virtual DOM in the framework helps apps load faster, and dynamic changes of user interface elements happen without refresh. Therefore, React is beneficial for creating front-end web apps that need fast loading.

• Virtual DOM

A virtual DOM is just like a duplicate of the DOM that determines which elements must change on the front end quickly as per user request. It helps save a lot of time and makes the app easy to load and respond to.

Also read: What is React Native: A comprehensive guide for app entrepreneurs

Why Should You Choose to React over Angular?

React is considered superior to other front-end frameworks for several reasons. The following is what React is used for.

• Since React is a component-based architecture, code reusability, and modularity are more important, which is another factor. Sophisticated user interfaces can be built quickly with React.
• You can integrate it with projects and codebases that already exist.
• Also, React is declarative, aka code is simpler to read and understand than other frameworks.
• When it comes to React vs. Angular performance, React fares better owing to virtual DOM implementation and rendering optimization.
• Owing to being open-source, extensive community support is a huge plus. With a sizable community working towards improving React, community members are assisting and improving users in the betterment of the technology.

 Companies that use React

Cross-platform apps have many benefits; the following are some top companies worldwide that use React.

Dropbox: The online backup and cloud storage app was built using React Native framework, React JS, and other debugging tools.

Instagram: Well-knows photo and video-sharing social networking app using React JS and React developer tools.

Airbnb: Offers multiple tourism and hospitality services worldwide, employed React to make communication and search functions easier.

Discord: A voice and chat program for gamers used React for multi-server support, rich UI, self-hosting facilities, and better moderation tools.

Walmart: The largest superstore in the USA, saw improved user experience and many benefits after employing React native framework and libraries in both web and mobile apps.

Pinterest: A personalized social media platform that uses ReactJS as the tech stack of its web app.

Skype: The famous voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) application uses React Native for the mobile app that looks similar to the desktop version.

What is Angular

Angular is an open-source framework introduced in 2016 by Google. It was built using TypeScript and can be used to create scalable web apps with a set of integrated libraries and features. It offers a wide range of developer tools that allow you to build scalable projects from small to large enterprise sizes. It is widely supported by a vibrant community and offers a rich ecosystem and various tools.

Benefits of Angular

The following factors help Angular stand out.

Google Support

Each year, the development teams at Google for Angular develop a revised and updated version of the framework, which benefits developers. Thanks to the Angular community’s constant support, developers can efficiently work on complex projects.

Architecture

Instead of relying on the MVC (Model View Controller) architecture, developers can separate the components hierarchically as per use. The app can be separated into multiple functioning components and reintegrated further quickly. It allows easy testing of any web-based app.

Comprehensive Documentation

When developing and maintaining apps using Angular, developers can quickly find all the technical documents they need, as Google offers extensive documentation. The cost of developing and maintaining apps, therefore, remains low.

Native vs Cross-platform app development

Why Should You choose Angular over React?

We have discussed numerous benefits of using Angular while creating apps. Angular is a complete framework that comes with everything needed to build a mobile app, which means you need not use other libraries to get the app up and running. The following are some instances of what is Angular used for.

• TypeScript support given to development for Angular apps is another factor. More maintainable code can be written, and mistakes can be caught earlier.
• Also, learning and utilizing Angular for projects is more accessible owing to the presence of multiple tools, official documentation, third-party libraries, and online courses.
• Angular has a thriving community and support place with immense support from Google. The framework can be improved upon and supported for a long time.
• Angular is perfect for building single-page web apps, offline apps like PWAs, compelling graphics, and animation, e-commerce apps, enterprise apps, etc.

Coming to which type of web applications are more suitable for Angular, it can be perfect for building simple web apps, e-commerce, and enterprise apps, Server-Side Rendered (SSR) apps, mobile apps with stunning interfaces and animations, progressive web apps that work offline, travel and social apps and many more.

Companies that use Angular

The following are some top companies worldwide that use Angular as a part of their tech stack.

Gmail: the email service from Google uses the extensive range and prowess of Angular while handling heavy traffic.

Forbes: The esteemed worldwide publication used Angular for a high-performance and responsive website.

PayPal: The trusted online payment company in the world uses the AngularJS framework for safe, secure real-time transactions.

Deutsche Bank: The German fintech company uses AngularJS for the front page of its portal.

UpWork: The freelancing platform used Angular for features such as in-app calling and a payment gateway for their high-performing website and app.

The Guardian: The UK-based top newspaper uses AngularJS for an accessible and user-friendly web app that reaches millions of readers.

Microsoft: The hardware and software giant used Angular for its Office 365 web application and Microsoft Office suite.

Differences Between Angular and React

We have the table summing up the differences between Angular and React that you need to know

Checklist for What to do after Mobile App Launch

Angular vs React – How to choose between them

To answer which language to use for your development project, you must consider the following aspects.

• Does it offer all the features required for the project
• What coding languages does each of the frameworks use
• How adaptable is the ecology
• Does the developer have prior experience working on the framework
• How easy will it be for the team to learn to work on the framework

These lay the foundation for any project and once you understand the differences between Angular and React, you can choose the right framework for the project.

Our Verdict

To aid your decision-making, we’ve put together this thorough comparison guide for Angular vs. React. Every web app demands a specific approach, and choosing the best technology stack for your web application can ensure success. Evaluate the project specifications, a team of developers, budget, and experience of the Angular and React web app development company, etc, before you embark on the project.

However, the final decision on how to choose Angular and React depends on personal preferences. Both can tackle issues but with different methodologies because each one is unique. The bigger and more active the community is, the quicker will be the solution you expect for unexpected problems that come your way.

However, if you are in doubt and seek professional advice, you can contact a leading mobile app development company like Ailoitte for your needs. Our team has extensive experience in building custom apps with both Angular and React. Owing to both frameworks having their benefits and drawbacks, depending on your requirements. Ailoitte can help you choose the right framework and deliver a cost-effective, scalable app satisfying your and user’s needs. Contact us today to consult on the appropriate tech stack for your project.

FAQ