TypeScript is a JavaScript superset primarily for web and Node.js development with 4.7M weekly npm downloads, while Dart is Google's language optimized for cross-platform mobile and web apps with Flutter framework, used by 42% of cross-platform developers. TypeScript dominates backend/frontend ecosystems; Dart excels in mobile-first development.
TypeScript vs Dart — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Typed superset of JavaScript that compiles to clean JavaScript for web and Node.js
Google's compiled language designed for fast, multi-platform development with Flutter framework
Primary Use Case. Weekly npm Downloads. Compilation Target. Mobile Development Maturity. Learning Curve for JavaScript Developers. Developer Ecosystem Size. Hot Reload/Development Speed
Choose TypeScript if you're building web applications, APIs, full-stack JavaScript projects, or need the largest developer community and most existing libraries—it's the industry standard for modern web development. Choose Dart if you're prioritizing mobile development with Flutter, need native cross-platform performance, or want compiled code that runs efficiently on mobile devices with fast hot reload cycles.
TypeScript: 5-15 (build tools required, or Node 22.6+ for native) | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: 10,000+ LOC (scales to millions) | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: Airbnb, Stripe, Slack, Google, Microsoft | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: Exceptional (full type inference via LSP) | Dart: N/A
Developers Writing Only This Language Professionally
TypeScript: Yes (optional on Node 22.6+) | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: +78% more postings | Dart: 2,100+ postings (2024)
TypeScript: 6th easiest (Slant.co 2026) | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: Optional (gradual typing) | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: Not applicable (interpreted) | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: Web, Node.js, browsers, desktop | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: TypeScript 6.0 (2026) - performance improvements | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: 6M+ weekly (npm) | Dart: N/A
Compilation Speed (5000 modules, 10 packages)
TypeScript: Optional (configurable strictness) | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: Excellent (native Copilot/ChatGPT support) | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: Seamless (JavaScript superset) | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: Minimal (JavaScript + types) | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: 5.9 (improved inference, decorators) | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: 5.7x larger | Dart: 1.0x (baseline)
TypeScript: 2,000,000+ (npm registry) | Dart: 180,000+ (pub.dev)
TypeScript: TypeScript 6.0 — enhanced type inference & compilation speed | Dart: Dart 3.11 — native WASM compilation (faster web execution)
TypeScript: JavaScript (interpreted at runtime) | Dart: Native machine code + WebAssembly (compiled ahead-of-time)
TypeScript: 1-5 seconds (depending on project size) | Dart: 0 seconds (direct execution or minimal compilation)
TypeScript: iOS/Android via React Native or NativeScript (third-party) | Dart: iOS, Android, web, desktop via Flutter (native first-class support)
Onboarding Difficulty for JavaScript Devs
TypeScript: Low (syntax and semantics extend JavaScript) | Dart: Moderate (new language with unique patterns)
TypeScript: Static (compile-time) | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: 10-30 seconds (typical) | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: 94% of LLM errors caught | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: 87% for new projects | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: Emerging (Node.js-based TensorFlow.js, Hugging Face JS) | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: Mandatory compile-time checking | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: Bidirectional across files | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: Built-in, first-class support | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: 4.8M packages | Dart: 18,000 (pub.dev)
Average Compilation Time (Large Project)
TypeScript: Minimal (superset) | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: Optional/Gradual | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: 2.3 million (npm) | Dart: N/A
Runtime Performance (fibonacci calculation)
TypeScript: 40% fewer runtime errors | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: 2-5 seconds (compilation) | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: Limited; Danfo.js, simple ML | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: Optimal at 10+ developers | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: ~12 MB (Node.js runtime) | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: Optional static typing | Dart: N/A
Typical Annual Salary Range (US Senior Dev)
TypeScript: 3-5 seconds | Dart: 1-2 seconds
TypeScript: React Native baseline | Dart: 15-30% smaller
TypeScript: Web, Node.js, Electron, Deno | Dart: iOS, Android, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux
TypeScript: Gradual typing with union types and generics | Dart: Sound null safety with strict type checking
TypeScript: Not optimized for mobile | Dart: Under 10ms
TypeScript: JavaScript (requires runtime) | Dart: Native binary (no runtime needed)
TypeScript: ~2,100,000 (npm registry) | Dart: N/A
TypeScript: N/A | Dart: 8% (mobile developers)
TypeScript: N/A | Dart: 300ms (Flutter compiled)
TypeScript: N/A | Dart: 95% (shared Dart codebase)
TypeScript: N/A | Dart: 2.8M (Flutter framework)
TypeScript: N/A | Dart: 40-60 hours (simpler syntax)
TypeScript: N/A | Dart: Built-in null safety (strict)
TypeScript: N/A | Dart: No native JVM access; 180K+ Pub packages
TypeScript: N/A | Dart: Full (preserves app state)
TypeScript: N/A | Dart: Not official for native Android
TypeScript: N/A | Dart: Sound null safety enforced
TypeScript: N/A | Dart: 42,000+ questions
Learning Curve (for experienced programmers)
Apps Using Framework (Flutter/JVM ecosystem)
TypeScript: N/A | Dart: 3.2 million Flutter apps
TypeScript: N/A | Dart: 800-1,200 ms (Dart AOT)
TypeScript: N/A | Dart: <0.5 seconds (Flutter's signature feature)
TypeScript: N/A | Dart: 11 years (created 2011, v1.0 in 2018)
How to choose between TypeScript and Dart
TypeScript vs Dart — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for TypeScript vs Dart. Contains 101 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
TypeScript vs Dart — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for TypeScript vs Dart.
Should I use TypeScript or Dart for a mobile app?
Use Dart with Flutter if mobile performance and native experience are priorities—Flutter apps are 15-30% smaller than React Native equivalents and compile to native code. Use TypeScript with React Native only if your team is already JavaScript-heavy and willing to accept slightly larger app bundles and slower performance. For most mobile-first projects, Dart/Flutter is the better choice in 2026.
Which has better developer experience and tooling?
TypeScript has more mature tooling overall with superior IDE support, larger library ecosystem (4.7M weekly downloads vs 180K), and better integration with VS Code and other editors. Dart's development experience shines specifically for mobile with hot reload that's 2-3x faster (1-2 seconds vs 3-5 seconds). Choose based on your primary use case: web = TypeScript, mobile = Dart.
Can I use TypeScript for backend servers?
Yes, TypeScript is excellent for backend with Node.js, Express.js, Nest.js, and many other frameworks. It's the standard choice for full-stack JavaScript teams. Dart has limited backend maturity and is primarily a client-side language, though Shelf and Server Side Dart exist but with smaller communities.
How long does it take to learn Dart vs TypeScript?
TypeScript takes 1-2 weeks for JavaScript developers since it's a superset adding optional typing. Dart takes 4-8 weeks for developers without mobile experience due to different paradigms, null safety concepts, and the Flutter framework learning curve. JavaScript developers picking up Dart face a steeper curve than TypeScript adoption.
Which language has better job market demand?
TypeScript vastly dominates job postings—LinkedIn shows 3x more TypeScript roles than Dart positions. However, Dart/Flutter roles are growing faster (35% YoY vs 12% for TypeScript) as companies adopt Flutter for mobile. For 2026, TypeScript remains more marketable, but Dart is catching up rapidly in mobile-focused markets.
How to Choose Between TypeScript and Dart
Primary Use Case: TypeScript has Web/Node.js backend and frontend, while Dart has Cross-platform mobile (Flutter) and web.
Weekly npm Downloads: TypeScript has 4.7M downloads, while Dart has ~180K downloads (pub.dev).
Compilation Target: TypeScript has JavaScript (requires transpilation), while Dart has Native code, JavaScript, or WebAssembly.
Mobile Development Maturity: TypeScript has React Native/Expo (third-party), while Dart has Flutter (first-party, native support).
Consider: Learning Curve for JavaScript Developers
Learning Curve for JavaScript Developers: TypeScript has Minimal (superset of JavaScript), while Dart has Moderate (different syntax, requires learning).
Developer Ecosystem Size: TypeScript has 3.2M Stack Overflow questions, while Dart has ~420K Stack Overflow questions.
Hot Reload/Development Speed: TypeScript has ~3-5 seconds (depending on setup), while Dart has ~1-2 seconds (Flutter hot reload native).