MERN Stack Cost

All four elements of the MERN stack, MongoDB, Express.js, React, and Node.js, are open-source JavaScript libraries that are free to use. Programmers will also need to download and install a code editor, but almost all modern code editors are free or have versatile free versions.

What is the MERN Stack?

The MERN stack is a colloquial name given the full stack JavaScript development framework consisting of MongoDB, Express.js, React, and Node.js. As a full stack framework, the MERN stack covers front end operations with React, server infrastructure with Express.js and Node.js, and database operations with MongoDB. MERN is quickly becoming one of the most commonly used full stack development frameworks owing to its versatility and the integration between the stack's various elements. Learning to use the MERN stack will let users build complex websites and applications.

Each aspect of the Stack serves a different function. Still, they are all built off the JavaScript programming language, meaning skilled JavaScript users can easily pick up each aspect of the stack. React is used to build client-side assets and component bundles of code that can be replicated and repurposed as developers see fit. This framework is built to improve workflow and create more dynamic single-page applications. Node.js and Express.js provide the infrastructure for programs to query and access server-side requests, allowing those applications to run JavaScript code outside a web browser. MongoDB is used for sorting, analyzing, and querying databases as part of a web application. Taken together, MERN stack training will let users design all aspects of complex web design projects.

Read more about what the MERN stack is and why you should learn it. 

What Can You Do with the MERN Stack?

Using the MERN stack, skilled programmers can develop and maintain all aspects of a web application. Using these four JavaScript frameworks, you can build the front end, back end, and database infrastructure for complex webpages, including the increasingly in-demand single-page applications and internet-enabled devices we use daily. The more complex a web application is, the more complex its programming will need to be, and learning the MERN stack offers students an accessible way to learn full stack web development skills. Learning the MERN stack will also let users take advantage of the functionalities of each framework for their non-full stack web development projects.

The most significant advantage of learning the MERN stack is that it allows you to do full stack web development projects without combining multiple programming languages. Since MongoDB, Express.js, React, and Node.js are all JavaScript frameworks, MERN stack training will let users build the entire infrastructure of a web application in a single programming language, JavaScript. This is ideal both for making a student’s JavaScript training more versatile and for improving workflow since developers can be confident that there won’t be any problems owing to the server and client-side elements of the application running off of different languages. MERN is an ideal skill set for users hoping to build complex, multi-functional web applications without learning multiple programming languages.

In-Depth Review of the Cost

All of the elements of the MERN stack are open-source, meaning that they are free for anyone to use. Some of the elements of completing a functional MERN stack development project will cost some money, such as hosting a website or storing MongoDB data. Still, the process of programming and developing the code won’t cost anything.

Why Learn the MERN Stack?

Students with JavaScript training may want to learn the MERN stack to expand the kinds of web design projects they can work on. MERN is an accessible collection of frameworks that will let users begin full stack web development work. Learning these skills also helps complement existing JavaScript training as they are four of the most commonly used framework libraries for JavaScript (including 3 of the top 6 most commonly used frameworks). Even if you aren’t going to work as a Full Stack Web Developer, learning these frameworks can significantly expand the scope of the projects that you can code with JavaScript. Since this is a full stack framework, learning to use the MERN stack will allow programmers to manage both the front and back end of their web applications, making it easier to maintain them without needing to employ a team of programmers.

MERN compiles many of the most versatile and commonly used JavaScript frameworks and gives its users complete control over every aspect of web development. This makes the MERN stack an ideal place to follow up on JavaScript training. Learning any individual aspect of the MERN stack will pay immediate dividends in your web development career. You won’t have to wait until you’ve mastered all the elements of the MERN stack to use React training to build components front end web assets, nor will you need to learn MongoDB to take advantage of Expres.js and Node.js server-side development functionalities. Students can learn MERN at their own pace since the skills are complementary to one another, but once you have learned JavaScript, no single part of the MERN stack is required to start making practical designs with the other aspects of the stack.

Read more about why you should learn the MERN stack.

Free Introductory MERN Stack Course Online 

Students who aren’t ready to dive into an entire MERN stack course may want to consider exploring some free introductory training options. These are well-suited to help students become more comfortable with the basics of full stack web development. They let students become accustomed to the basic features of each framework, making it easier for students to decide what kind of additional training they will want to pursue. These courses won’t replace professional skills training for students who want to use the MERN stack in a professional context, but they are a great place for any student to start.

Noble Desktop offers a wide range of free tutorials and resources for students hoping to learn the MERN stack. Over at their official YouTube page, new students can view their Intro to Full Stack with JavaScript seminar, where they can learn everything they need to know about the essential functions and common uses of MongoDB, Express.js, React, and Node.js. This course will help students understand how these frameworks operate separately and what they can do together. This makes the course ideal for students who are confident that they want to pursue further training but aren’t sure where to begin.

Students may also wish to consider the free course offerings provided by training centers such as Udemy and Coursera. These training centers offer free resources for students interested in learning more about individual MERN stack frameworks or the MERN stack as a whole.

Read about more free MERN stack videos and online tutorials.

Learn the MERN Stack with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Students looking to master the MERN stack can turn to Noble Desktop for comprehensive skills training, regardless of their prior programming experience. These courses are taught through live online instruction or in person at Noble’s Manhattan campus. Regardless of which delivery method a student chooses, they will be taught by Noble’s experienced instructors in real-time. Students can ask questions, receive feedback, and get assistance directly from their instructors. Plus, all of Noble’s courses provide students with the chance to retake the class within one year, allowing students to receive extra instruction and more hands-on experience in all of the component frameworks that make up the MERN stack.

Students with prior coding experience who want to learn the extent of the MERN stack should consider enrolling in Noble’s JavaScript Development Certificate program. In this career-focused skills training program, students will learn how to develop web applications using JavaScript and, once comfortable with that training, will learn the functions and uses of each element of the MERN stack. By the conclusion of this class, students will be prepared to enter the workforce as JavaScript Developers. Since this is a career-focused course, students will also benefit from professionalization training seminars, including one-on-one career mentorship and portfolio-building training sessions. This course expects students to have a working knowledge of coding fundamentals and HTML and CSS, so students should consider the requirements before enrolling.

Students looking to become expert coders from scratch will instead want to look into Noble’s Full Stack Web Development Certificate. This immersive training course is designed to take students with no prior coding experience and teach them all of the elements of professional web development. MERN is a relatively advanced set of skills with many prerequisites to learn, and this course will teach students all of those prerequisites, including JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Once that training is out of the way, students will learn MERN stack frameworks and tools like Flex, Git, Virtual Studio Code, and Bootstrap. On top of this, students will also receive the same top-notch professionalization training that they can expect from any Noble certificate program, meaning they will leave the class ready to start working as Full Stack Web Developers.

Students looking for more directed training in some aspects of the MERN stack or wanting to space their training to fit their needs and schedules should explore Noble’s JavaScript classes and bootcamps. These immersive skills courses will teach students the ins and outs of the frameworks that make up the MERN stack, but they are less directly focused on helping students find new careers.