20+ MERN Stack Project Ideas (With Source Code)

MERN stack is a powerful combination of MongoDB, Express.js, React, and Node.js technologies, enabling full-stack web application development using JavaScript. This tech stack offers efficiency, flexibility, and scalability to cater to modern development needs. Developers prefer the MERN stack as it streamlines the development and maintenance process.

MongoDB serves as the database and offers document-based data storage solutions; Express.js takes care of the server-side logic and handles HTTP requests; React, a JavaScript library, manages the frontend and powers dynamic user interface with reusable components and efficient rendering, and Node.js is the runtime environment that facilitates scalable and high-performance backend operations.

Beginners and professional developers build various MERN stack projects to showcase their skills and demonstrate their proficiency in modern web technologies. They pick the best project ideas from across industries to prove their ability to efficiently handle complex tasks, deliver seamless user experience, and stand out as a valuable asset in the competitive tech world. 

This blog will explore the top MERN stack project ideas for beginners and advanced professionals, sharing opportunities to strengthen their understanding and resumes. If you’re a beginner, you can join our MERN Stack course to gain a solid foundation and start building impressive projects.

What is MERN Stack?

MERN stack consists of four main technologies- MongoDB, Express.js, React, and Node.js. Together these technologies form the MERN stack and provide an end-to-end architecture to create open-source projects. MERN stack was created to speed up and enhance the development process. Each technology in the stack serves a different purpose:

MongoDB- It is a NoSQL database that stores data in a JSON-like format. It provides flexibility, scalability, and performance, making it ideal for handling large volumes of data and different data types.

Express.js- This web application framework for Node.js handles the backend server and routing. It provides a robust set of features that simplifies the process of web application and API development.

React- It is a JavaScript library that is used to build user interfaces. It uses a component-based architecture that lets developers build reusable, interactive, and dynamic UI elements.

Node.js- It is a runtime environment that facilitates server-side operations, i.e., it executes code on the server side. Node.js provides an event-driven non-blocking I/O model, making it an efficient and lightweight option for building scalable network applications.

As the MERN stack uses JavaScript throughout the stack, it has gained immense popularity among developers. It also improves developer productivity, code reusability, and web application development. 

Also read: MERN Stack Developer Roadmap (A Beginner’s Guide)

MERN Stack Project Ideas (for Beginners)

Do you want to enhance your portfolio? Here are the top MERN stack project ideas for beginners to help you establish a solid framework and strengthen your resume. Anyone with basic knowledge of MERN stack, front-end, and back-end development should be able to execute these projects. 

1. To-Do List App

Building a to-do list is a simple app for creating and managing tasks. Hence, it is the most basic MERN stack endeavor. It implements CRUD operation using the MERN stack and allows the logged-in users to read, add, update, and delete components. This MERN stack project addresses authentication, databases, and more such crucial topics. 

MongoDB stores user profiles, task lists, and the status of each task; Express.js handles APIs for list management, task creation, and user authentication; React is used to render an intuitive UI for deleting, adding, organizing, and marking tasks, and Node.js manages server-side operations, such as user authentication, real-time updates, and task synchronization. 

Users can also add a deadline for task completion. There is also a feature to remind users of the last day to complete a task. The technical requirements for this project includes backend, frontend, and database. 

Source Code- To-do List

2. Travel Journal App

The next project idea that you can explore is a travel journal app. It is a full-stack app that allows only authorized and registered users to communicate their traveling experience with a community. 

They can log in and make journal entries, describe destinations, upload photos, and share stories. They can also search for a specific entry and delete them. Users can contribute their expertise and share insights, include details regarding a specific encounter, and learn about the travel experiences of others. It is a dream project for travel buffs and a good project idea for beginners. It will help you understand the varied functionalities of MERN. 

3. Stock Market Portfolio App

Here is an interesting project on MERN stack that enables users to track and manage their investment portfolios. Stock market portfolio is a web application that efficiently keeps an eye on your investments. 

MongoDB stores portfolio data, transaction history, and stock prices; Express.js handles APIs for portfolio management, real-time stock data retrieval, and user authentication; React renders a UI for tracking portfolio performance, adding stocks, and viewing stock information, and Node.js manages server-side tasks, such as portfolio calculations, stock price updates, and user authentication. 

Source Code- Stock Market Portfolio App

4. Social Media Platform

If you want to leverage the true power of the MERN stack, create a social media platform that allows users to post pictures and like and comment on other people’s posts. Users need to create a profile to follow others, post updates, and comment on posts. 

MongoDB stores user data and posts, Express.js handles API endpoints or CRUD operations, data manipulation, and retrieval, React provides an interactive UI, and Node.js manages server-side logic and authentication. It also involves an integration phase for connecting frontend and backend API URLs, configuring CORS, and conducting end-to-end tests for a seamless user experience.

Source Code- Social Media Platform

5. Chat Application

As social networking sites with built-in messaging features are gaining more and more attention, independent chat and messaging apps are growing less prominent. However, creating a chat app is a great opportunity to acquire practical skills, gain hands-on experience, and build a strong profile. The best part is it doesn’t involve any complexity. Hence, it is among easiest MERN stack project ideas for beginners. 

A chat app that enables real-time communication and instant messaging is a dynamic and scalable project idea. It uses WebSockets or Socket.io. MongoDB stores user information and chat history, Express.js provides APIs for handling messages and user authentication, React renders chat interface and manages real-time updates, and Node.js manages chat server and socket connections for real-time messages. 

Source Code- Chat App

6. Job Portal

This project requires you to create a portal for job seekers so they can look and apply for jobs across varied industries, and employers can post job listings with job descriptions and eligibility. Also, it offers a feature to manage job applications based on qualifications. A user-friendly interface is a must for implementing user authentication and managing job listings. 

MongoDB stores user profiles, job listings, and applications, Express.js provides APIs for job listing management, application handling, and user authentication, React renders dynamic and interactive interface for searching jobs, submitting applications, and interacting with employers, and Node.js manages server-side operations, such as user authentication, job filtering, and email notifications. 

Source Code- Job Portal

7. Fitness Tracker

If you want simple MERN stack projects with source code, this is the one to try. Many people plan to achieve their fitness goals within a specific period, and this app helps them track their activities, progress, workouts, calories burned, and health metrics. You must possess higher user interaction capability to create this app.

MongoDB stores activity logs and fitness goals; Express.js provides APIs for user authentication, activity tracking, and goal setting; React is used for frontend and UI for tracking progress, logging workouts, and analyzing fitness data, and Node.js manages server-side operations, such as goal tracking, data aggregation, and user authentication.

Source Code- Fitness Tracker

8. Expense Tracker

You can also develop an expense tracker or budget management app using the MERN stack. It is a powerful and versatile solution for businesses and individuals to track, manage, and categorize their expenses. Using MERN, you can build a seamless, efficient, and full-fledged application with a dynamic frontend and robust backend. 

The app includes features like budget setting, expense logging, and visual expense reports. The technical requirements include MongoDB for storing user data, expense records, financial data, and user profiles, Express.js for providing APIs for budget tracking, expense management, and user authentication, React for rendering visually appealing UI for categorizing transactions, adding expenses, setting financial goals, and generating reports, and Node.js for handling server-side tasks, like budget calculations, data visualization, and expense categorization. 

Source Code- Expense Tracker

9. E-commerce Platform

An e-commerce site is a common project idea for beginners and experienced developers. It is an opportunity to implement different technologies to add varied features to create a comprehensive and interactive online marketplace for new and existing businesses.

Brands and sellers can list their products and customers can browse through hundreds of products and buy their favorite items securely. An e-commerce platform can serve multiple functions, including buying old products at discounted prices, restoring and resale them, and selling brand-new products. 

The portal also allows users to register and build profiles. The technical requirements include MongoDB for storing user data, product listings, and transaction records, Express.js for managing APIs for order processing, product management, and user authentication, React for rendering intuitive and responsive UI for browsing products, adding them to cart, and checkout, and Node.js for handling server-side logic for processing payments, managing inventory, and sending order notifications. 

Source Code- E-commerce Platform

10. Blogging Platform

Another idea for the best MERN stack projects is a blogging platform where users can create, edit, manage, and publish articles or blog posts. The platform also supports comments, likes, and shares. The project involves a client-side architecture that uses React and Material-UI components and a backend side that is implemented using Express.js. 

Its features include adding new blogs through a form with heading tags and content fields, fetching existing posts from the backend and displaying them on the frontend, and deleting posts using the delete button. 

MongoDB is used for storing data like comments, blog posts, and user profiles; Express.js for handling APIs for user authentication, article management, and comment posting; React for building a responsive UI for writing blog posts, reading articles, and interacting with comments, and Node.js for managing server-side operations, such as notifications, content management, and user authentication.

Source Code- Blogging Platform

11. Forum or Discussion Board

The community forum platform aims to provide a dynamic portal where users can engage in discussions, share expertise and insights, post valuable information, and build a thriving community environment. 

MongoDB stores user data and forum posts, Express.js handles CRUD operations via APIs, React facilitates building an interactive user interface for viewing and posting content, and Node.js manages backend operations, such as data retrieval and user authentication. 

Source Code- Forum Board Board

12. Event Management System

The last in the list of MERN project ideas for beginners is an event management system that allows users to create, manage, and register events, such as workshops, seminars, conferences, and social gatherings. It includes features like event calendars, attendee management, and notifications. 

MongoDB is used for storing event details, scheduling data, and attendee information; Express.js for handling APIs for attendee management, event creation, and schedule updates; React for developing interactive and easy-to-navigate interfaces for event updates, listings, and registration; and Node.js for server-side operations like attendee notifications, event scheduling, and user authentication. 

Source Code- Event Management System

MERN Stack Projects Ideas (Advanced)

Projects help professionals learn something new constantly. Working on MERN projects is crucial for acquiring new skills and offers high growth potential. If you are looking for interesting MERN stack projects for final year, here are the top options to choose from.

1. Text Translation Tool

As an experienced developer, you can create an app that translates text between languages using translation APIs. Use MERN stack technologies to create a powerful and efficient application. 

MongoDB is used to store translation history and user preferences; Express.js to provide APIs for user authentication, text translation, and language management; React to render a responsive user interface for selecting languages, entering text, and displaying translated output; and Node.js to manage server-side operations, such as caching translation, API integration, and user authentication. 

Source Code- Text Translation Tool

2. News Media Platform

Users need instant and easy access to the latest news and updates, leading to the significant growth of digitization. So, make the best of this increasing demand by developing a news media app.

This app will allow users to publish news and articles on the platform. Also, they can use various built-in features to add images and make articles visually appealing. 

Source Code- News Media Platform

3 .Quiz App

There are numerous project ideas for MERN stack, but you must pick the one that is interesting and allows you to implement your skills and knowledge in the best way possible. So, develop a quiz app for users to create and take quizzes. 

You can store data, user profiles, questions, and results using MongoDB, use APIs provided by Express.js for user authentication, quiz management, and scoring, create an intuitive and interactive UI for quizzes, display results, and review answers using React, and handle server-side tasks like user authentication, real-time scoring, and quiz generation using Node.js. 

Source Code- Quiz App

Also read: MERN Stack Developer Salary in India (Complete Details)

4. Online Learning Platform

Create a platform that enables users to host and manage online courses. It requires using MERN stack technologies to build efficient and robust frontend and backend. 

MongoDB stores user profiles, progress data, and course content; Express.js handles APIs for user authentication, course management, and student enrollment; React enables creating dynamic UI for viewing lessons, tracking progress, browsing courses, and taking quizzes; and Node.js manages backend, including analytics and course scheduling. 

Source Code- Online Learning Platform

5. Weather App

If you want to build a project on MERN stack that takes only a few hours of coding, this is a great choice. It involves creating a dashboard that displays current weather status and forecasts for selected locations. While working on this project, you will learn to connect to external APIs and display results, which will come in handy while working on single-page apps.

MongoDB stores data related to weather and user preferences; Express.js provides APIs for data retrieval, location management, and user authentication; React is used to build an interface that displays weather information for selected locations and shows weather forecasts, and Node.js manages the backend; such as data caching and API integration.‍

Source Code- Weather App

6. Gaming Platform

This web-based gaming platform allows users to play and review games. It includes various built-in features such as leaderboards, quizzes, puzzles, multiplayer support, and game recommendations. It is a fun project for beginners and professionals.

You will use MongoDB to store scores, progress, and other game data, Express.js to handle APIs for user authentication, game management, and score tracking, React to build an interface to handle game logic and display scores, and Node.js to manage backend tasks, such as real-time multiplayer interactions, game state management, and more. 

Source Code- Gaming Platform

7. Music Player

It is a simple project that requires you to develop a music player application that allows users to create a playlist, add songs to it, play favorite tracks, and more. The built-in features of the music player must include shuffling songs, searching for music, and organizing, uploading, and streaming songs.

MongoDB stores metadata, playlists, and history; Express.js provides APIs for user authentication, music management, and streaming devices; React facilitates responsive UI development for creating playlists, browsing music libraries, and controlling playback; and Node.js manages server-side, which includes playlist management and audio streaming. You will study media player API authentication, playlist functionality, footer style, toolbar statistics, and much more. 

Source Code- Music Player

8. Dashboard with Analytics

When it comes to developing the best MERN stack projects for resume, a dashboard app that can visualize and analyze data from different sources definitely sounds promising. 

Use MongoDB for storing analytics data, dashboard configuration, and user preferences, Express.js for handling APIs for user authentication, data retrieval, and dashboard customization, React for creating an attractive interface that includes graphs, charts, and data visualization based on user-selected filters and metrics, and Node.js for managing server-side tasks, such as real-time updates and data aggregation.

Source Code- Dashboard with Analytics

9. Food Delivery App

A food delivery app may be a common project idea, but it allows you to tap into your skills and knowledge to build an extensive app with various advanced features. 

Restaurant owners must be able to register, show the menu, accept orders, and assign it to a delivery rider. Customers ordering food should be able to register, find local eateries, track the location of the rider, review restaurants, and interact with the rider and restaurant owners. 

Source Code- Food Delivery App

10. Cryptocurrency Tracker

As the name suggests, this is an app to track cryptocurrency prices and market data. You will use MERN stack technologies to handle frontend, backend, and data storage. 

MongoDB for storing data related to user portfolios, transaction history, and other cryptocurrency data; Express.js for user authentication, data retrieval, and portfolio management; React for managing portfolios, tracking cryptocurrency prices, and viewing market trends; and Node.js for server-side tasks, such as real-time price updates, cryptocurrency API integration, and user authentication.

Source Code- Cryptocurrency Tracker

11. Appointment Scheduler

Develop an app that allows users to schedule appointments, meetings, and other important appointments. They will get a reminder or notification before the appointment.

MongoDB stores user schedules, appointment details, and availability; Express.js provides APIs for user authentication, appointment management, and calendar integration; React for creating a user interface for booking slots, selecting appointment times, and managing appointments, and Node.js for backend tasks, such as appointment reminder and calendar synchronization. 

Source Code- Appointment Scheduler

12. Digital Resume Builder

The last idea to try for MERN stack projects is a tool for creating and managing digital resumes. 

MongoDB is used for storing profiles, resume data, and job application history; Express.js for resume management, user authentication, and application tracking; React for creating an intuitive UI for customizing templates, building resumes, and submitting job applications; and Node.js for backend operations, such as template rendering, resume storage, and job application tracking. 

FAQs about MERN Stack Projects