Microservices vs Modular Monolith

Understand the differences between microservices and modular monolith architectures and when to choose each approach.

Microservices have become popular for building large distributed applications, but they are not always the best architectural choice. A modular monolith can provide many organizational benefits of microservices while keeping deployment and infrastructure simpler. In a modular monolith, the application remains a single deployable unit while its internal modules have clear boundaries. Microservices can make sense when independent scaling, deployment, ownership, or technology choices are important. Starting with a well-designed modular architecture can provide a strong foundation and allow services to be extracted later when there is a real need.