Simple Table vs ngx-datatable: Modern Angular Data Grid Comparison
ngx-datatable kept Angular afloat through the AngularJS-to-Angular jump. In 2026, the maintenance signal and standalone-component ergonomics tell a different story.
ngx-datatable (Swimlane's open-source Angular data table) was the most-used free Angular grid for years. It still works, but maintenance has slowed: Angular 16/17/18/19 compatibility lands late, the API predates standalone components and signals, and key features like column pinning beyond the simple frozen-left model are missing.
Simple Table for Angular targets the same niche—a free Angular data grid—but on Angular 17+ standalone-component primitives. It ships virtualization for 1M+ rows, column pinning, row grouping with aggregations, and inline editing under MIT.
If you've been thinking 'I should probably move off ngx-datatable,' here's the side-by-side that justifies the move.
Choose Simple Table for Angular when…
- You're on Angular 17+ and want first-class standalone-component support.
- You need real virtualization for 100k+ row datasets without ngx-datatable's well-known scroll glitches.
- You want column pinning, row grouping with aggregations, and inline editing in the same library—not glued together with workarounds.
- You want active maintenance with regular Angular major-version compatibility.
- You also build React/Vue/Svelte/Solid surfaces and want one shared engine.
Choose ngx-datatable when…
- You have a stable AngularJS-era app on Angular 14/15 and zero appetite to migrate.
- You only need a basic sortable/paginated table and don't care about pinning, grouping, or editing.
- You're already deeply integrated with @swimlane/ngx-datatable's row-detail and group-header API.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Simple Table for Angular | ngx-datatable |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone-component support (Angular 17+) | First-class import. | Module-based; requires NgModule wrapper. |
| Active major-version support cadence | Tracks Angular majors at release. | Lags Angular major releases by months. |
| Row + column virtualization | Engine virtualization for 1M+ rows. | Row virtualization only; known scroll-restoration bugs. |
| Column pinning (left / right) | Both sides, runtime drag. | Frozen-left/right via [frozenLeft]/[frozenRight], no runtime drag. |
| Row grouping with aggregations | Built-in tree + aggregations. | Group headers only; no aggregation pipeline. |
| Inline cell editing | Built-in. | Not provided; bring your own form layer. |
| Custom cell / header / footer renderers | Pass any Angular component. | Template directives. |
| TypeScript strict mode | Strict types. | Many `any` in older types. |
| License | MIT (free). | MIT. |
Bundle: ~70 kB gzipped for @simple-table/angular vs. ~120 kB minified for @swimlane/ngx-datatable plus an Angular CDK Scrolling dependency.
Migrate to Simple Table on Angular
Replace your existing ngx-datatable usage with @simple-table/angular.
npm install @simple-table/angularngx-datatable's [columns] + [rows]map to Simple Table's defaultHeaders + rows. Cell templates with ng-template let-row become standalone Angular components passed as renderers.
FAQ
- Is ngx-datatable still maintained?
- ngx-datatable receives occasional patches but lags Angular major releases by months and hasn't shipped major new features in years. Angular 17+ standalone-component patterns are not a first-class citizen.
- Does Simple Table support virtualization for hundreds of thousands of rows?
- Yes. The shared simple-table-core engine handles row + column virtualization for 1M+ rows in benchmarks; ngx-datatable only virtualizes rows and has known scroll-restoration regressions.
- Can I migrate one screen at a time?
- Yes. Both libraries are MIT and can coexist in the same Angular app. Migrate the highest-traffic screen first, then move the rest.
- Does Simple Table support row detail and group headers like ngx-datatable?
- Yes. Simple Table provides nested rows, expandable detail rows, and group headers via row grouping with custom renderers.
Bottom line
ngx-datatable was great for its era. In 2026, with Angular 17+ standalone components, signals, and stricter bundle budgets, Simple Table for Angular delivers a more modern API, better virtualization, and active maintenance—still under MIT.