Vue vs. Angular: Which framework is better for Front-end Development in 2023?

Although numerous JavaScript frameworks have been released so far, none has come close to the holy trinity – Angular, React, and Vue. In this blog post, I’ll analyze Vue and Angular to help you determine which is better for your front-end development in 2023.

Angular.js and Vue.js are both JavaScript frameworks used for the front-end development of web interfaces. While Angular is a TypeScript structured framework, Vue is more progressive and lightweight. First, let’s comprehend the basics of both web frameworks.

What is Angular?

Angular is a TypeScript-based front-end framework. Its first release was in 2010, known under the Angular JS name. Google develops it and has many built-in tools and libraries, making it a great tool for developing large-scale applications with high performance. Among other things, the official CLI helps create, manage, or update Angular projects and add dependencies.

What is Vue.js?

Vue is by far the youngest member of the current top JS frameworks. Initiated by Evan You in 2014, it began to gain popularity very quickly. What distinguishes it is its developing open-source community. Learning from the ups and downs of Angular and React, Vue tries not to make mistakes, becoming a faster and simpler child than his predecessors.

The popularity of Angular vs. Vue

Until recently, the Angular framework reigned supreme in popularity rankings. Today, the reality is a bit different. Both in terms of Google searches or the number of stars on GitHub – 197k vs. 90.3k stars, Vue has a definite advantage. It’s a bit different in the labor market. Vue is still the least popular, but from year to year, there are more and more offers, at a very fast pace, chasing Angular, in which offers have significantly decreased in favor of React. The rapidly growing popularity of Vue is probably due to its greater simplicity and accessibility for novice software developers.

Community and development of Vue compared to Angular

How does this popularity translate into the development of the framework itself? Google makes Angular, so it has big support and lots of tools you can use. But because it’s so big, it can be harder to learn and less flexible. A big company does not make Vue, but it has a lot of fans who help make it better. It’s easier for new people to learn, and you can do more with it your own way. Moreover, Vue is a much younger framework, currently in the version 3 stage, which is why its development history is much smaller yet still extensive.

So, if you like something big and established, go with Angular. But if you want something easier to learn and you can shape the way you want, go with Vue.

Differences between Angular and Vue 

TypeScript

If you want to work with Angular, you need to know TypeScript. The entire framework and its documentation are based on it. It has its advantages, like static type checking, which could be useful for large-scale applications. But with smaller projects, the Type system may simply not be needed and be too time-consuming.

With the introduction of version 3 of Vue, it moved to TypeScript, but still, most projects are based on version 2 of it.

Runtime Performance

Both frameworks are exceptionally fast, having their own slight drawbacks. Vue tends to perform better in memory allocation. Angular is generally bulkier than Vue. Unlike Vue, the code written with Angular needs to be rendered fully on the server side, and only then does it get downloaded and run in the app or browser. As a result, Angular may sometimes be slightly slower at the startup. Although Vue is overall faster, Angular performs much better in DOM manipulation.

Size of Vue and Angular

Vue is considered much lighter and faster. Even with the addition of Vuex, it takes up less due to the large number of components Angular has as standard. Vue 2 project with Vuex + Vue Router included (~30KB gzipped) vs. AOT-compiled application generated by angular-cli (~65KB gzipped). Nevertheless, both frameworks have been greatly reduced in size over time, and the difference isn’t that big today.

Structure and Flexibility

Vue provides a lot of flexibility to the developer. You can extend your application with many well-known and well-supported libraries like Vuex or Vuetify, which are also recommended by the wide Vue community. This gives you the flexibility to design your application however you want. On the other hand, Angular is characterized by a much more defined app architecture. When developing large-scale apps, Angular works best! Many companies prefer it due to the standard architecture it provides to all front-end developers. This is a complex factor to consider when deciding between Vue and Angular – think about your front-end team and how they prefer to work.

Data Rendering

Vue uses a virtual DOM. With its help, the virtual DOM framework sorts the default configuration optimized for performance. Whenever the application data changes, it renders a virtual DOM instead of a user interface. The result is faster application loading times and much more efficient updating of views with the help of virtual DOM.

On the contrary, Angular.js doesn’t use Virtual DOMs, unlike other frameworks. Instead, it uses watchers to keep track of the old data values and updates only those parts of the original DOM whose values have changed.

Learning Curve and Complexity

If you want to start working with Vue, you need HTML and JavaScript knowledge. With these basic skills and documentation, you can start to create your first projects. On the other hand, Angular’s targeting of larger and more complex applications makes its syntax and structure much more complicated. At the start, you need to have an understanding of such elements as TypeScript, MVC and be familiar with Angular’s huge library. That could be more challenging for beginning developers.

So, which one should you choose for front-end development in 2023 – Vue or Angular?

In fact, these are very different libraries addressed to different development groups and web applications created with them. Certainly, both have their pros and cons. Vue will be a better solution for people with less experience who want to build slightly smaller applications. In addition, it has only the third version with a separate repository, so it requires less knowledge when working with older projects. On the other hand, Angular is used for creating large applications, and along with its huge library, it requires more care in keeping up with news and updates. So choose the right one.

When to use Vue?

• Vue’s ease of use can speed up the development process for businesses that need to get a working model up quickly.
• Given its simplicity, Vue could require less developer time for training and development, potentially saving costs.
• Ideal for small to medium e-commerce platforms and content management systems where flexibility is essential.
• When you want a user interface that is highly interactive but doesn’t require enterprise-level complexity.
• It is great for agencies that work with multiple clients with diverse needs due to its flexibility and ease of integration.
• If you’re a beginner or switching from another framework, Vue is simpler to get started with.

When to use Angular?

• Suited for large-scale applications that require strong typing, scalability, and robust features.
• Angular’s strict guidelines are beneficial for maintaining code consistency across large development teams.
• With Google’s backing, Angular is quite a safe bet for long-term projects requiring ongoing maintenance and updates.
• When your project requires seamless integration with other Google technologies like Google Cloud Platform or Firebase.
• It is helpful for industries that have strict coding and security guidelines, as Angular offers robust security features.
• If you’re developing skills for the job market, Angular is often sought after for enterprise-level positions.

Hopefully, this will help in deciding on the preferred framework for your front-end development in 2023. I’ll just add that it’s crucial to keep an eye on both of them and the trends in the front-end development. A lot of changes in a short time can happen, as it is in the front-end development world. Sometimes, it’s better to reach out to IT experts who can help you decide, taking into consideration your particular project, its scope, and business needs.