@swimlane/ngx-datatable was a first choice for Angular data grids for nearly a decade. It works, it's familiar, and it's installed in thousands of production Angular apps. But two things have changed: Angular's standalone components and signals have shifted what 'idiomatic' means, and ngx-datatable's release cadence has slowed enough that teams are routinely waiting on Angular-version compatibility patches.
Simple Table for Angular is the MIT-licensed alternative built specifically for modern Angular. @simple-table/angular is a standalone component that supports Angular 17, 18, and 19, plays well with signals, and ships virtualization, pinning, grouping with aggregations, and inline editing in one ~70 kB gzipped package.
This article walks through the real differences between ngx-datatable and Simple Table for Angular—API ergonomics, feature parity, performance, and migration cost—so you can decide whether your existing ngx-datatable app should keep upgrading or jump.
Quick comparison
| Feature | ngx-datatable | Simple Table for Angular |
|---|---|---|
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Active maintenance cadence | Slower | Active |
| Standalone components | Workable, NgModule legacy | First-class |
| Signals-native API | No | Yes |
| Row virtualization | Yes (scrollbarV) | Yes (built-in) |
| Column virtualization | No | Yes |
| Column pinning (left / right) | No | Built-in |
| Row grouping with aggregations | Manual / DIY | Built-in |
| Inline cell editing | Template-based | Built-in |
| Bundle size (gzipped) | ~140 kB | ~70 kB |
Stay on ngx-datatable when…
- You have a large, stable ngx-datatable codebase and the team is happy with its template-projection patterns.
- Your features are basic (sort, paginate, virtual scroll, custom cells) and you don't need pinning or grouping.
- Your team prefers ngx-datatable's specific theming or feels invested in custom CSS overrides.
Switch to Simple Table for Angular when…
- You're migrating to Angular 17/18/19 standalone components and signals.
- You need column pinning, row grouping with aggregations, or inline editing without writing a renderer pipeline.
- You're tired of waiting for the next ngx-datatable Angular-version compatibility release.
- You want a smaller bundle (~70 kB vs ~140 kB).
- You also build React / Vue / Svelte / Solid surfaces and want one shared engine.
Real-world scenarios
Existing Angular 14 app with ngx-datatable, planning the v17+ jump
Migration to standalone components is on the roadmap. ngx-datatable works today but feels weighty next to signals.
Switch to Simple Table for Angular as part of the standalone migration—handle two big changes in one PR series.
Internal reporting tool needing grouping + aggregations
You need expanded/collapsed groups with sum, avg, and count footers. ngx-datatable doesn't ship this directly.
Choose Simple Table—grouping with aggregations is built-in and MIT.
Stable ngx-datatable surface, basic features only
Three internal admin tables; basic sort, paginate, custom cells. No grouping or pinning. Team is comfortable.
Stay on ngx-datatable—the migration cost isn't worth it for basic feature usage.
Brand-new Angular 18 SaaS
Greenfield. Standalone components, signals, lean bundle.
Choose Simple Table for Angular from day one.
Frequently asked questions
- Is ngx-datatable abandoned?
- Not formally, but its release cadence has slowed enough that production teams routinely wait for Angular-version compatibility releases. If you're worried, the safer long-term bet is a more actively maintained alternative.
- How long does the migration take?
- Usually a few days for a single feature area. Map ngx-datatable columns to Simple Table HeaderObjects, adapt your rows to Simple Table's row shape, and convert template-projection columns to cellRenderer components. See the migration guide linked below.
- Will I keep custom cell templates?
- Yes. ngx-datatable's <ng-template> projection becomes Simple Table's cell renderer pattern. You pass an Angular component instead of inline template projection.
- Does Simple Table support tree data?
- Yes. Tree data, expandable rows, and lazy loading are all first-class in Simple Table.
The verdict
ngx-datatable is fine if you're happy where you are and your needs are basic. If your Angular app is migrating to standalone components and signals—or you've outgrown ngx-datatable's basic feature set—Simple Table for Angular is the natural upgrade path.
It's a half-day to a week of migration work depending on how many tables you have, and the result is a smaller, more idiomatic Angular grid that ships pinning, grouping with aggregations, and inline editing in MIT.