If you’re a new or seasoned developer looking to compare the frontend frameworks to your toolkit, you might be wondering where to start. While some frameworks are slowly fading from production use, others are thriving, and those are the ones worth your time.
In this guide, we’ll focus on the top three JavaScript front-end frameworks: Angular, React, and Vue. We’ll also look at some key stats, strengths, and weaknesses, to help you decide which one is likely to stay trending and which one you should start learning.
Angular vs React vs Vue: Overview of Each Framework
Vue.js, React, and Angular each offer unique strengths. This comparison is based on important factors like performance, scalability, and development speed.
Angular Overview
Angular is a comprehensive JavaScript framework developed by Google for building dynamic single-page applications. It offers a full-featured solution for creating complex, data-driven apps with powerful tools like two-way data binding, dependency injection, and a modular component architecture.
React Overview
React is a popular JavaScript library developed by Facebook for building user interfaces, especially single-page applications. It allows developers to create reusable UI components and efficiently manage application state with a virtual DOM, resulting in high-performance and scalable web apps.
Vue Overview
Vue.js is a progressive JavaScript framework designed for building user interfaces. Its core library is focused on the view layer, making it easy to integrate with other projects or libraries, and it also supports building complex, single-page applications when combined with modern tooling and supporting libraries.
Angular vs React vs Vue: Comparison
Performance
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Vue shines with its lightweight design and speedy reactivity, making it a fantastic choice for small to medium apps where quick load times and smooth interactions are key.
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React is all about efficiently managing UI updates with its virtual DOM, keeping things fast and responsive, even in complex interfaces.
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Angular, while a bit heavier, is created to handle large-scale projects with plenty of built-in tools to keep things running smoothly.
Scalability
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Vue is flexible and can grow with your project, though it tends to shine brightest in smaller to medium-sized apps due to its simplicity.
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React scales well for larger applications, thanks to its component-based architecture, which lets developers build complex, maintainable systems by reusing and nesting components.
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Angular, with its comprehensive framework and robust features like strong typing and dependency injection, is the most scalable option, ideal for enterprise-level applications.
Development Speed
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Vue is a winner when it comes to quick setups and easy learning curves, making it perfect for rapidly building prototypes or smaller projects.
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React also supports fast development with its component-based structure and rich ecosystem of tools, though it might require a bit more configuration and setup time compared to Vue.
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Angular has a steeper learning curve and more boilerplate code, which can slow down initial development, but it pays off in larger projects with its built-in features and strong tooling, helping teams maintain speed as the project grows.
Pros and Cons of Each Framework
Let’s take a quick glance at the pros and cons of Angular, React, and Vue.
React
| Pros | Cons |
| Highly flexible and performant, with a large ecosystem and strong community support. | Requires more setup and configuration, and managing state in large applications can become complex. |
Vue
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to learn and integrate, with great flexibility and a gentle learning curve. | Less suited for very large-scale applications due to a smaller ecosystem. |
Angular
| Pros | Cons |
| Comprehensive and scalable, with built-in tools and features that support large, enterprise-level applications. | Steeper learning curve and more boilerplate code, which can slow down initial development. |
Angular vs React vs Vue: Use Cases
Now that we’ve covered the strengths and weaknesses of each framework, let’s dive into where each one shines.
When to Use Angular
Angular is your go-to for building enterprise internal management systems because it offers everything you need to handle complex, large-scale projects with ease. Its modular structure lets you organize your app into manageable pieces, making it easy to add new features as your business grows. With TypeScript, you benefit from strong typing, which helps catch errors early and keeps your codebase clean—something crucial when working with large teams.
Angular also comes packed with built-in tools like form validation and routing, so you don’t need to rely on third-party libraries, keeping your app cohesive and easy to maintain. Security is another big win with Angular, thanks to its built-in protection against common vulnerabilities, which is critical for keeping enterprise data safe. And with Google backing Angular, you can count on long-term support and a thriving community to help you along the way.
When to Use React
React is an excellent choice for building dynamic and interactive enterprise applications due to its flexibility and the support of a vibrant community. Its component-based approach allows you to create reusable UI elements, which not only makes your app more maintainable but also simplifies scaling as your project grows. The virtual DOM in React keeps your application fast and responsive, even when you deal with complex user interfaces.
Although React might require some additional setup, the extensive ecosystem of tools and libraries available allows you to customize your app to meet specific needs. There is also a vast Meta developer community, where you’ll benefit from continuous updates, best practices, and abundant resources to guide you through any development challenges.
When to Use Vue
Vue.js is a fantastic framework for building modern web applications, especially when you want something lightweight and easy to get started with. Its gentle learning curve makes it perfect for quickly setting up projects, whether you’re building a small app or prototyping a new feature. Vue’s flexibility allows you to structure your app the way you want, and its reactivity system ensures that your interface is always fast and responsive.
While it might not have the same extensive ecosystem as React or the built-in tools of Angular, Vue’s simplicity and ease of integration make it a joy to work with, especially for smaller teams or projects where speed and simplicity are key.
What is the most used JavaScript frontend framework?
In the 2023 State of JavaScript survey, React dominated as the most used framework, with Vue.js and Angular competing for second place. Vue.js gained momentum this year, while interest in Angular declined. Developers also shared their sentiments, with 71% expressing a favorable view of React. Newcomer Svelte is quickly closing the gap with a 70% positive response, and Vue.js remains strong with 62% approval.
JavaScript frontend frameworks insights (2023)
| # of respondents who use | # of respondents who would use again | # of respondents who are interested | |
| React | 84% (#1) | 65% (#1) | 42% |
| Vue.js | 50% | 38% | 50% (#1) |
| Angular | 48% | 20% | 23% |
Angular vs React vs Vue: which is easier to learn?
When it comes to learning curves, Vue takes the crown for being the most approachable, making it a breeze for beginners to pick up. React falls somewhere in the middle, offering a moderate learning curve that’s well worth it, given its widespread use and powerful capabilities. Angular, on the other hand, presents a steeper challenge, mainly due to its use of TypeScript and the fact that it’s a full-fledged framework rather than just a library.
What is the best Javascript framework for frontend?
React is often touted as the best frontend framework, and it’s easy to see why when you look at factors like GitHub stars, community support, and enterprise adoption. But don’t count out the newcomers—frameworks like Svelte are gaining attention for their innovative approaches to building user interfaces, showing that the JavaScript ecosystem is always evolving. That said, React’s proven track record and extensive ecosystem make it a safe and powerful choice for most frontend development needs.
Angular vs React vs Vue: keep evolving and learning
The exciting thing about JavaScript is that it’s always changing, which means there are always new opportunities to broaden your skills and try new things. Even if you’re comfortable with a particular framework, it’s worth revisiting the docs and exploring the latest updates to keep up with the pace of innovation.
JavaScript frameworks like Svelte are quickly gathering interest, and while Angular, React, and Vue remain strong, it’s smart to keep an eye on other players like PReact—they might just surprise you.
Javascript frameworks + TinyMCE
When it comes to TinyMCE integration npm package downloads for React, Angular, and Vue, React leads the pack as our most popular integration. This trend aligns pretty well with what we’ve discussed so far—React’s flexibility and broad adoption make it a go-to choice for developers. No matter which framework you’re using, TinyMCE can easily enhance your app with the power and flexibility of the world’s leading WYSIWYG rich text editor.
If you’re ready to enrich your app with TinyMCE, check out our integration guides:
- How to add TinyMCE to enrich a React textarea
- How to add TinyMCE to Vue textarea
- How to add TinyMCE to an Angular textarea
And the best part? TinyMCE offers integrations with several other popular frameworks too. To get started, simply sign up for your free API Key for Tiny Cloud.
Want to share your thoughts on JavaScript frameworks and TinyMCE? Head over to the TinyMCE Roadmap to get involved and let your voice be heard!
