Comparison: Monolith vs Microservices vs Modulith
Comparative table of the three main architectural styles.
#Executive Summary
| Axis | Monolith | Modulith | Microservices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deployment Units | 1 | 1 | N |
| Databases | 1 | 1 (with separate schemas) | N per service |
| Internal Communication | Method call | In-process call/event | Network (HTTP/MQ) |
| ACID Transactions | Yes | Yes | No (Saga) |
| Operations | Minimal | Low | High |
| Granular Scaling | No | No | Yes |
| Ideal Team Size | 1-15 | 5-30 | 30+ |
| Cost of Getting it Wrong | Low (refactor) | Low (refactor) | High (rewrite) |
| Time to First Deploy | Days | Days | Weeks |
#Which one should I choose?
CSHARP
Team < 15 people? → Monolith or Modulith
Multiple clear bounded contexts? → Modulith
Need to scale parts 10×+? → Microservices (partial)
Have a platform team? → Microservices viable
Product seeking PMF? → Always MonolithRule: start monolithic, modularize from day 1, extract microservices only when the pain justifies it.
Visual Summary
| Style | Main Pro | Main Con |
|---|---|---|
| Monolith | Total simplicity | Couples teams and scaling |
| Modulith | Best cost/benefit ratio | Requires discipline |
| Microservices | Autonomy and scaling | Very expensive operations |
#comparison