Angular vs. React: Which one should you choose?

Angular and React are two of the most popular JavaScript frameworks in modern web development.

Angular is a full-fledged framework based on TypeScript. It boasts a wide range of built-in features offering a structured approach to building web applications.

React, on the other hand, is a lightweight framework for building user interfaces.

Angular is great for large, scalable, and maintainable projects that follow strict rules, while React offers more flexibility and is perfect for agile, fast-paced environments. Angular has a wider scope but is rigid, and React offers more freedom and creativity.

Quick comparison: Angular vs. React

Feature	Angular	React
Type	TypeScript	JavaScript (or JSX)
Data binding	Bidirectional	Unidirectional
Routing	Built-in Angular Router	Requires React Router
State management	Built-in with RxJS and Signals	Requires third-party solutions, like Redux
Performance	Slower because it requires compilation	Faster because it uses the virtual DOM
Learning curve	Angular has a steep learning curve	React is generally easier to learn

Angular is typically best for:

• Enterprise applications that require structure and a scalable architecture
• Complex applications requiring long-term support and maintainability
• Large teams with many concurrent tasks

React tends to work best for:

• Applications that require quick development and fast updates
• Projects that prioritize agility and flexibility
• Small teams and fast-moving startups

An introduction to Angular vs. React

JQuery was the first true heavyweight JavaScript framework/library. It was released in 2006 and its main purpose was to address issues with browser compatibility, DOM manipulation, and AJAX support.

The 2010s saw the emergence of frontend JavaScript frameworks and libraries like AngularJS, React, Vue, Backbone.js, Ember.js, Svelte, Angular, and more. Fast-forward to the mid-2020s, and there are now over 80 JavaScript frameworks/libraries. Depending on who you ask, that number could be even higher.

If modern web development had a heavyweight division, Angular and React would be among the leading contenders. This post will explore the key differences between Angular and React, their strengths, and use cases to help developers decide which option to choose.

Meet the contenders: Angular and React

In the red corner, weighing in with a plethora of built-in features, TypeScript mastery, full-fledged enterprise-level monster, boasting a powerful CLI, and backed by tech giants Google…Aaaaangularrr!

And now, in the blue corner, forged in the depths of Facebook, reborn as Meta, weighing in as a lightning-fast UI library, repping JavaScript, champion of flexibility and high performance, lord of the virtual DOM…Reeeact!

Let’s get ready to…render?

Angular: Opinionated and “square”

Angular is a full-fledged framework for building web applications. It’s TypeScript-based and was released by Google in 2016 as a complete rewrite of AngularJS to improve performance and scalability.

Angular can be described as having “batteries included” because of its many built-in features for routing, state management, form handling, dependency injection, and more.

The current version is Angular 19, and it introduced some changes, like standalone components now being true by default, stabilized signal-related APIs, and support for incremental hydration in developer preview. You can learn more details in the Angular 19 release blog post.

Key features of Angular

Angular provides a solid structure for building reliable and scalable web applications:

• Signals for state management — Angular provides state management out of the box with Angular Signals and RxJs. Signals track and update elements in your template, optimizing how components respond to changes
• SSR and SSG support — Angular supports server-side rendering (SSR) and static site generation (SSG). SSR means components are rendered on the server, then the fully rendered HTML is sent to the client
• Lazy-loading — You can mark parts of your template with the @defer feature to be hydrated or lazy-loaded later. The client downloads less code, improving page load speeds
• Powerful CLI — Angular’s CLI simplifies version upgrades and applies changes automatically with ng update

Angular enforces a specific way of structuring web applications. It plays by the rules and likes to follow best practices. It can be considered a strength or limitation depending on how you look at it. Angular enforces a well-defined architecture where you build applications using components and modules. It makes large applications easy to maintain but limits flexibility.

React: Agile and flexible

React is a JavaScript library for building UI components. It was developed and released by Facebook (Meta) in 2013. It’s a minimalist, lightweight but solid option for building web applications.

React is quick to set up but relies on a few third-party solutions to provide features like routing, authentication, and translation. It follows a component-based approach, empowering you to create reusable UI components.

Key features of React

React has several features that make it a reliable option for building web applications.

• Virtual DOM — This is one of React’s most important features. The virtual DOM ensures only the necessary parts of the UI are updated, improving performance. It requires few resources and has its own state management library
• Component-based structure — React encourages developers to build projects with reusable UI elements
• Unidirectional data binding — Data flows in one direction, from parent components to child through props. Developers usually organize smaller components inside larger ones, making information flow smoothly
• Flexibility — React has no enforced structure, allowing you to choose any third-party solutions in your project, but it can be costly if you choose the wrong ones. The quality of your web applications depends on your skills as a developer; it’s variable

Head-to-head: Differences between Angular and React

Angular and React share a few commonalities and concepts, like using a component-based system. However, there are key differences that set them apart.

Different types

The first major difference between Angular and React is their type. Angular is TypeScript-based, while React is JavaScript-based. However, TypeScript is well-supported on React.

TypeScript is a superset of JavaScript, so it’s technically possible for you to build Angular applications with JavaScript, but it could lead to issues.

Data binding

Angular uses bidirectional or two-way binding, while React is unidirectional. When the UI changes in an Angular application, the corresponding modal state also changes. In React, data flows in one direction, from parent to child components.

Routing

Angular has a first-party solution for routing (@angular/router), while React requires React Router, a third-party solution.

State management

Angular also has built-in state management solutions, Signals and RxJS, while React requires third-party solutions like Redux.

Performance

TypeScript needs to be compiled into JavaScript before it gets to your browser. This doesn’t necessarily mean all Angular applications are slow, but React is faster due to its use of the Virtual DOM.

Learning curve

Angular has a steeper learning curve compared to other JavaScript frameworks. It has many built-in features and complex concepts you’d need to learn. Angular also requires a solid understanding of TypeScript, which means you need a good understanding of JavaScript as well.

You only need an intermediate level of understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to use React. React’s JSX syntax might take some getting used to, but it’s generally considered easier to learn than Angular.

Decision time: The scorecards are ready, Angular vs. React

After 12 rounds, the contenders are still standing, and it’s down to the judges to decide. But how do we decide?

If this were the court of public opinion, React would take the crown. It tops virtually every popularity and desirability poll/survey, not to mention its 234k GitHub stars to Angular’s 97.3k (1k = 1000). However, it’s best to look at them objectively.

Both Angular and React offer solid options for building modern web applications. It’s not black and white; the choice comes down to your project’s needs and requirements.

Angular is the wise, old head, providing stability and security. If these are your preferences, then Angular is a good fit. Angular is best suited for enterprise applications that require structure and a scalable architecture. It’s also well-suited for large teams because it can handle many tasks at the same time. Angular can be used to build complex applications that require long-term support and maintainability.

React is a great choice in dynamic, fast-moving environments. It’s suited for applications that require quick development and fast updates. React is perfect for small teams and startups that prioritize agility and flexibility.

You can build a small application with Angular, but that might be overkill. You can also build an enterprise-level application with React, but it might not keep its shape if you try to expand.

There’s no clear winner, and we can’t call it a draw either. Consider what your project needs, and you’ll know which one to choose.