In the fast-changing software development landscape, where the technology changes in popularity in a very short timeframe, one stack still remains as popular as before. We are talking not other than but the MERN stack technology, which is just gaining more popularity day by day. Being the combination of MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, and Node.js, this technology is widely known for building scalable MERN stack applications. When it comes to building modern applications, user experience, along with performance, matters the most. Slow and unresponsive sites can be frustrating and drive users to alternative options. Therefore, it is essential to build MERN stack applications that are optimized and can handle a large amount of data without sacrificing speed.

In this blog, we will know more about what is MERN stack and microservices architecture, how to build MERN stack applications using microservices, and whether the MERN stack is still up as the go-to solution for scalable web app development.

What is MERN stack?

A technology stack can either be custom, where developers select tools based on specific project needs, or pre-established, where the components are predefined. MERN is a pre-established technology stack composed entirely of JavaScript-based tools, making it a streamlined choice for full-stack development. 

This is one of the MEAN stack variations, which is used to build full-stack web applications. The only distinction between them is that the MERN stack leverages React.js instead of Angular for its front-end development.  

MERN stands for:

MongoDB – a NoSQL document-oriented database

Express.js – a lightweight Node.js web app framework

React.js – an influential client-side JavaScript library for developing UI’s

Node.js – a JavaScript runtime for building fast, scalable server-side applications

What Makes MERN Stack So Popular?

Several other technology stacks are widely used in the industry. The most recognized ones include the MEAN stack, Java stack, Vue.js stack, and LAMP stack. When it comes to scalability, the MERN stack stands out above the rest.

Developers favor this stack primarily because it relies heavily on JSON and JavaScript, enabling developers to write code in the same language for both front and back end. It enables the use of cloud-based databases for building scalable applications. This simplifies the overall process and makes the collaborations between teams more seamless and efficient. Moreover, every technology in the MERN stack is open-source. 

Thus, it serves as an ideal option for building scalable applications cost-effectively. This stack integrates several top-tier frameworks. It allows developers to utilize the key features of each technology included in the stack during project development.

What is Microservices Architecture? 

Microservices—also referred to as microservice architecture—is a design approach that arranges an application into a group of two or more services that are:

• Individually deployable
• Loosely connected

These services are generally structured around business functionalities. Each service is usually managed by a small, dedicated team. Moreover, every service in a microservices architecture is responsible for performing some particular business function, and they communicate with others using APIs.

Containers serve as a fitting example of microservices architecture, as they allow you to concentrate on building the services without concern for dependencies. Moreover, today’s cloud-native applications are commonly developed as microservices using containers.

Why Combine MERN Stack with Microservices?

Merging MERN with a microservices allows you to:

• Scale individual parts of your application independently
• Organize your application around business capabilities
• Improve team productivity with service ownership and separation of concerns
• This blend is ideal for large MERN stack applications with complex requirements that need frequent updates and deployment flexibility.

Steps to Build a Scalable MERN App with Microservices

1. Plan Your Application Structure

Break down your application into domain-specific microservices. For example:

• User service
• Product catalog service
• Order service
• Notification service
• Each service should have its own database and REST/GraphQL APIs.

2. Develop Individual MERN Components

For each service, use:

• React.js for the frontend user interface
• Express.js + Node.js for API endpoints
• MongoDB for data persistence

Each service should be lightweight and dedicated to a single business capability.

3. Use Docker for Containerization

Containerize each service using Docker. It helps maintain consistency between development, testing, and live environments.

4. Implement Communication Between Services

Use REST APIs or message brokers (like RabbitMQ or Apache Kafka) to enable secure and scalable communication between services.

5. Deploy and Scale with Kubernetes

Use Kubernetes for container orchestration. It helps with:

• Auto-scaling services based on traffic
• Rolling updates
• Load balancing and service discovery

Benefits of implementing Microservices Architecture for Building scalable applications:

There are several advantages of integrating microservices architecture for web applications, some of which we have listed below:

1. Scalability

Each service is individually deployable and can be scaled up and down based on the specific needs, enabling the maximization of productivity and minimizing waste.      

2. Agility

As larger applications are divided into small chunks and are independent, they can be built faster and can be updated in a very short time interval. 

3. Built-in Fault Tolerance

As each component is separately managed, if some failure occurs in some specific part, it does not affect other parts and crash the whole system.  

4. Technology Independence

Eliminate technology dependency as each module can leverage separate technologies.

5. Modular Development 

Small components are often easy to manage, update, and fix.

6. Self-Recovery Features

Microservices can be built with self-recovery features that automatically handle failures, maintaining high availability.

7. Instant Feature Updates

Deploy new features or updates to individual services without affecting the whole application, enabling quicker innovation.

8. Reduced Vendor Lock-in

Eliminate reliance on a single tech stack, enabling enhanced scalability and future adaptability.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, Microservices architecture has become a mature method of developing contemporary, scalable, and flexible MERN stack applications. However, through decomposition of complex systems into independent, standalone services, developers are able to attain agility, scalability, and fault tolerance that used to be hard to achieve.

In 2025, developing highly scalable MERN stack applications with microservices architecture is not just a trend—it’s the way to future-proof your application. Moreover, this integration of technologies increases performance, flexibility, and maintainability, making it the perfect solution for enterprise-level, complicated applications.