Which web app development framework should you use: React, Angular, or Vue 2021?

How can you choose a JavaScript Framework/Library for your business web application in 2021? With this React vs Angular vs Vue comparison, you will be able to learn more about each and their benefits and disadvantages.

In terms of frontend development, JavaScript is way better than any other language on the market! The UI of your web app can be customized just the way you want it with the multitude of functionality it provides.

With JavaScript, you can quickly create intuitive user interfaces, just as everything else has evolved. In the year 2021, you’ll be able to choose from an extensive list of JS frameworks and UI libraries for your business web applications.  I will be discussing two JS frameworks and one JS library in this article.

  • A JS library that helps create intuitive user interfaces.
  • It is based on the Vue.js framework.
  • Other JavaScript framework based on TypeScript: Angular.js
  • Here are 2 JS frameworks and a JS library to quickly review before diving into React vs Angular vs Vue 2021

React.js

UI components for intuitive user interfaces are written in JavaScript in React.js or ReactJS. A JS library for this purpose was released by Facebook back in 2013.

There are hundreds and thousands of developers and companies in the community who contribute to this open-source library. Facebook products such as WhatsApp and Instagram are powered by this library.

In the upcoming sections, we will discuss other aspects of React.js, such as the architecture and performance of the framework. As of November 5, 2017, there is a new version of React available: 17.0.2.

Vue.js

Visually striking user interfaces are made possible by using the popular JavaScript framework, Vue.js. Developed by Evan You – a former Google employee, the framework was initially released in 2014.

However, Vue.js has its own support, and is still a popular JavaScript framework/libraries to create intuitive user interfaces in 2021, despite not being backed by a huge company.

This framework’s latest version is called Vue 3.

Angular

Initial releases of Google’s AngularJS framework were made in 2010. It is based on TypeScript and uses JavaScript to develop applications. This is the oldest of the bunch we will be examining today.

“JS” was dropped from the framework’s name when Angular 2 (also known as Angular 2) was released in 2016. Although Angular 1 (or AngularJS) still gets updates, Angular 2 is widely accepted in the community for its clear advantages over its older counterpart.

This framework is currently version 11 of the Angular framework.

Which one to choose between React, Angular, and Vue 2021?

Popularity

Javascript frameworks have become increasingly popular, in a sense, as businesses seek to select the right framework for their business applications for 2021.

It is still debated to be the best JS framework even though the oldest framework (Angular) is almost 10 years old. This makes you wonder how popular these frameworks actually are.

 

In general, if a framework is popular, it will be easier to recruit talents, get resources, and get community support. There are a variety of factors that determine a framework’s popularity, including:

  • What is the frequency of updates for the framework/library?
  • Compared to the native JavaScript language, what are the advantages of the framework/library?
  • What is the demand for the framework/library?
  • Are developers made to work more efficiently by the library/framework?

React.js is ranked number two with 35.9% of votes, followed by Angular/AngularJS at number three with 25.1%. The number seven spot goes to Vue.js with 19.1% votes.

The 2021 comparison of react vs angular vs vue by stackOverflow

Frameworks and their State in 2021

Keep trying Vue.js for a while longer. It can be seen from The State of JS in 2020 that Vue.js is 3rd in terms of the amount of JS frameworks/libraries used for frontend development.

In 2021, React, Vue, and Angular are the most popular JS frameworks

In the frontend JS framework market, React.js and Angular/AngularJS are the clear leaders, with 80% and 56% usage, respectively.

The NPM Trends data was used to determine the interest in these frameworks (in the past 1 Year) based on how often they were downloaded.

In 2021, the popularity contest between React js vs Angular js and Vue will be won by React/React.js/React JS in every category.

Architect

When it comes to ‘Architecture’ of these particular languages and libraries, there cannot be a clear winner among React vs Vue vs Angular 2021. A few examples follow. Because React/React.js/React is a UI library rather than a framework, it has a great deal more usability and, therefore, is popular than Vue.js or Angular. Basically, this means that you can customize the React components according to your liking.

As opposed to Vue.js and Angular, they are frameworks. You will always have some ‘useless’ components, making your frontend bulky, no matter how many components you use from these frameworks.

Having established this fundamental notion, let’s now examine the architecture of each of these 3 JavaScript frameworks – React, Vue, and Angular 2021.

React.js

In contrast to other frameworks and libraries, React is just a UI library and doesn’t enforce a particular design pattern.

Components in React are popular because they are simple elements – for example, labels & buttons – or more complex elements like user profiles or registration forms. An UI view is just a way to cater to your web application’s user interface.

Components form the backbone of React.js. That means an application built with React isn’t really just one thing, but a collection of loosely bound React elements. User interactions change only the state of the React component associated with that particular element of the UI. Herein lies React’s characteristic of being reusable & fully customizable, making it a great choice for frontend development of any web app.

To build a full-featured, enterprise-level web application using React, your team will need third-party dependencies, such as Redux and Axios.

Vue.js

As noted previously, Vue was created by a former Google employee. Angular and React are both included within this framework, which is why it still holds a strong place in the race for the BEST JS framework.

A v-model directive in Vue.js binds data in two directions. In addition, Vue.js supports other libraries phenomenally because it is primarily focused on View models. In order to make Vue.js incrementally adoptable, its architecture is designed to allow it.

AngularJS

In Angular, because it is the oldest of all, the Model-View-Controller architecture is used.

In the classic old way of dividing UIs into three views – Business Logic, User Interface Logic, and User Input Logic, MVC architecture can handle even the most complex user interfaces. UIs can be executed quite easily.

Data and logic are stored in the Model component.

  • Controllers interpret user actions as events, and they serve as a mediator between the View and Model.
  • The View is the part of your web app that the user interacts with.

Angular’s MVC framework allows it to be super easy to update and modify individual views without having to completely rewrite everything else.

Comparing Angular, React and Vue: Performance

It is not easy to determine how fast a web application will run unless the right framework or library is used. When you are looking for a framework for a small project, you can choose any of the frameworks or libraries I mentioned above. Taking into consideration the scalability, robustness, and integration of a JS framework is quite a challenge.

We will compare the DOM and JS Framework Benchmark performance of these JS frameworks and libraries when comparing React vs Angular vs Vue 2021. As a performance enhancement, virtual DOM is utilized by both Angular and Vue.js, while real DOM is used by Angular.

The Virtual DOM helps you avoid the hassle of constantly updating the state and re-rendering the interface of your web application. Consequently, making it faster is possible, especially in scenarios where multiple components are in different states.

The fact remains that many professional programmers still use Angular when creating large-scale web applications.

Memory requirements and boot time are superior to Angular when using React & Vue.js. The Angular framework requires more computational memory and can boot up in up to 150 milliseconds. The current state of JS, React versus Angular versus Vue. Benchmarking shows that there are only small differences between Angular, React, and Laravel, not enough to declare one superior to the other.

Upgrades and migrations

Regardless of how popular a framework or a library is, one of the most important factors to weigh is its future readiness and ease of upgradeability.

A good example is provided here. The consistency of Airbnb and Twitter’s platforms is extremely important to these brands, and they have used React for a long time.

Imagine if React released an update that utterly disrupted these platforms? How would their experience be changed? If that’s the case, React will have to get rid of the UI library, right? Facebook has stated that one of their design principles is stability.

The major updates to Angular are usually released every six months. Moreover, some APIs will be deprecated six months or so after those that have already been deprecated. As a result, a platform will have almost an entire year to implement upgrades, if any are required.

With regard to migration to their latest version, vue.js is easier. It is a fact that Vue 2.x continues to incorporate nearly 90% of the API from Vue 1.x. According to the creator of Vue 3.x, “although Vue looks different now, you’ll still enjoy many of the features it offers.”

Upgrades in terms of user interface are meant to keep up with the evolving market standards, regardless of the JS framework or library. Core concepts remain the same regardless of the framework or library used. React is a good choice for your business web application when you consider migrations and ease of upgrading.

Ranking of companies that use React vs Angular vs Vue based on usage in 2021 The top brands that rely on these libraries/frameworks will be a social proof of their success. We have selected a few top brands that will be using React.js as their frontend platforms in 2021.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • WhatsApp
  • Yahoo
  • New York Times

Angular will be used by a few large companies in 2021.

  • Microsoft Office
  • Deutsche Bank
  • Forbes
  • Gmail
  • PayPal

Big names that use Vue.js in 2021 are:

  • Xiaomi
  • Grammarly
  • Adobe
  • Behance
  • Reuters

Angular, React, and Vue.js have their downsides

Without knowing the cons of both JS frameworks and React – the JS library – this React vs Angular vs Vue.js 2021 would be incomplete.

React has some drawbacks

Minor and major updates to React can be found more frequently than Vue.js and Angular. As a result, developers find it difficult to find appropriate documentation about React updates due to the frequency with which the UI library is updated

A JSX syntax is present in React, which some developers find confusing. Actually, this is more a matter of personal preference than a downside. In no way does HSX syntax change React’s front-end definition capability.

Vue.js’s disadvantages

The least popular of the three is Angular. This was demonstrated earlier in this React vs Vue vs Angular 2021 comparison. Vue.js isn’t the only option, so you might be able to hire a React or Angular developer instead.

Although flexibility in a language is generally a good thing, Vue.js’s ‘excessive’ code flexibility has been pointed out as leading to irregularities when working with the codebase.

The drawbacks of Angular

A problem with Angular web apps is their inability to be crawled by search engines, which makes them poorly optimized for SEO. The framework is owned by Google, so in the long run it shouldn’t pose a problem.

We now have too many versions of what was Angular 11 when it started as a JS framework. With frequent updates to the framework, beginners may find it overwhelming.

Now it’s your turn!

To help you make the right decision for your business web app in 2021, I have covered almost every aspect of React vs Angular vs Vue. When you’re still trying to decide between two frameworks, the experts are the ones you should consult, right? Resourcifi can provide assistance in this area. Our company has been recognized for its expertise in Staff Augmentation. Using our flexible engagement models, you can hire React, Vue.js, or Angular developers. Get in touch if you have questions! Why hire Resourcifi developers when you can save so much money? Get started with our savings calculator today!