shouldiuse.io

VERDICT

Should I use Material?

This site uses cookies from Google to deliver its services and to analyze traffic. - material.angular.io

Depends. Use it if you build Angular apps and want Google's Material look for free — it's the default choice there. Skip it for React/Vue projects or brands needing a custom identity; this is a developer library, not software you buy.

Confidence

Medium. Based on 8 relevant public sources; most scraped evidence concerned unrelated products also named 'Material', so confidence is capped at medium.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of useNo direct usability evidence reviewed
  • Feature depth
  • Support quality
  • Security postureNo confirmed findings in reviewed sources

Pricing

Free

Open source

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes

Best for

  • Angular apps needing consistent Google-style UI
  • Internal tools, admin panels, dashboards
  • MVPs where speed beats custom branding
  • Teams wanting accessible components out of the box

Not for

  • React, Vue or Svelte teams — Angular-only, zero reuse
  • Brands needing a distinctive look; Material screams template
  • Non-developers shopping for finished software — this is code, not a product
  • Small teams on non-Angular stacks overcomplicating a simple site

Gotchas - check before you buy

high

Angular-only: migrating frameworks later means rebuilding the entire UI

medium

Fast release cadence; major upgrades can force refactors

low

Official docs site loads Google analytics cookies — expect tracking on Google properties

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Free, open-source component kit from Google's Angular team
  • Versioned npm package with supply-chain monitoring
  • Implements Google's Material Design, familiar to end users
  • Publishes an official product security page

Cons

  • Developers publicly question its long-term direction
  • Material Design 3 look is polarizing among designers
  • Numerous alternatives guides exist, signaling fit complaints
  • Security trackers actively monitor the package for advisories

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/27/2026 - 8 sources - No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

official x1review x3security x2news x2

Key stats

  • Value for money: 5/5

    Rating

  • Free

    Starting price

  • 8

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 5/5. Free, Google-maintained component library
  • Ease of use. No direct usability evidence reviewed
  • Feature depth: 3/5. Solid core widgets; thinner than rivals
  • Support quality: 2/5. Community GitHub support only, no SLA
  • Security posture. No confirmed findings in reviewed sources
  • Free Price Open-source Angular UI kit
  • 19.2.9 Latest version in sources npm @angular/material
  • Google Maintainer Official Angular team project
  • Material Design 3 Design language Google's design system

Pricing

Open source

Free

  • All components
  • Community support via GitHub

Security

No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

What users say

Reddit sentiment is mixed: developers debate Angular Material's future and some designers dislike Material Design 3's aesthetic.

“Is Angular Material really the future?”
Reddit, r/Angular2
“Isn't Material Design 3 kind of ugly ?”
Reddit, r/UI_Design

Alternatives

Compare Material with each alternative.

  • PrimeNG

    Free Angular component set with a much larger widget catalog

  • Clarity Design

    Enterprise-focused Angular UI system from VMware/Broadcom

    Material vs Clarity Design
  • Kendo UI for Angular

    Paid commercial components with professional support contracts

Full analysis

Based on 8 relevant public sources; most scraped evidence concerned unrelated products also named 'Material', so confidence is capped at medium.

Free Angular-only UI kit from Google. Perfect fit if you build Angular; useless elsewhere.

Methodology

Based on 8 relevant public sources; most scraped evidence concerned unrelated products also named 'Material', so confidence is capped at medium.

Sources

  1. official
  2. security
  3. security
  4. review
  5. review
  6. news
  7. news
  8. review

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