Clean Architecture vs. Vertical Slices Architecture, which approach is best for your application

Choosing the right architecture for your software isn’t just about following trends, but also about making your code easier to manage, grow, and maintain over time. Two popular options in my opinion are, clean architecture and vertical slices. Both have their fans and critics, but which one suits best and is fit for your project? Can they be combined? Let’s break it all down, but first let me explain what these two are and how they work.

What is Clean Architecture, and how does it work?

Clean architecture is all about organizing your code in layers. Think of a donut, at the center is your core business logic or domain. Surrounding that are different layers: application, presentation, infrastructure, and so on. The key rule is that the layers can depend on the inner ones, but not the other way around. This way, your core stays protected from outside changes. This design helps your core business rules stay stable even if parts of your system change. It makes testing easier because each layer has clear boundaries. Want to update your database? You can do that without messing up your business logic.

Let's now discuss the pros and cons of Clean Architecture. From the pros perspective, clear separation of responsibilities, easier to test core features and less chance of bugs spreading. The cons, in my opinion are, this architecture can lead to lots of abstractions and interfaces, structuring can become complex and sometimes, layering feels rigid or slow to work with.

What is Vertical Slices Architecture, and how does it organize the code?

Instead of dividing code into layers, vertical slices focus on features or use cases. Imagine each feature is a separate vertical column, handling everything needed for that task. For example, a “create order” feature has its own UI, logic, and data access altogether. This approach makes it easier to build and understand features from start to finish. New developers can jump into one feature without understanding the whole system. Updating a feature becomes simpler, too, since everything it needs is grouped.

Let's now discuss the pros and cons of vertical slices architecture. First the pros are, high cohesion within features, quicker development and testing, and easier to remove or add features. Few disadvantages, in my opnion, are possible duplication of code or logic, cross-cutting concerns may get tricky, and less focus on overall system structure.

How do they differ?

In my opinion, it's layered vs. feature-based, clean architecture stacks layers, while vertical slices organize code by features. Clean architecture restricts how layers depend on each other, and vertical slices focus on keeping features self-contained. Clean architecture emphasizes decoupling on the other hand vertical slices prioritize how related components work together. Till now, I have established a base, lets come to the main agenda of this post. You don’t have to pick just one, rather you can combine the strengths of both. For example, organize your core domain using clean architecture principles, but nest features as slices inside the system. Lets go bit deeper here, with this hybrid approach, keep your domain core stable and separate. Group related code for each feature into one folder or slice and use abstractions where needed, but avoid unnecessary complexity. Make sure slices communicate through events or shared services, that way, your app stays stable and organized, but also flexible for feature development.

Execution with example

Let’s say you have a project with multiple layers: domain, application, infrastructure, and API. Transitioning to a feature-based system might look like this:

• Combine all your code into fewer projects or folders.
• Group files by feature—like “CreateOrder,” “SearchProducts,” or “UserLogin.”
• Move related classes, commands, handlers, and API endpoints into each feature folder.
• Reduce layer dependencies. For example, each feature can interact through events or shared services.
• Simplify your build process as you flatten the structure—less complexity, more focus on features.
• The goal? Keep core principles, but make the code easier to navigate and modify.

Best Practices for Combining Both

A few learnings I would like to share are, focus on feature cohesion within a clean architecture core. Keep your business rules untouched. Use abstractions wisely; don’t overdo it. Small interfaces can reduce coupling without adding clutter.

Use domain events for communication between features. They help keep slices loosely connected. Maintain clear documentation so your team understands how features relate.

Conclusion

Neither clean architecture nor vertical slices is perfect on its own. The best choice depends on your project size, team, and goals. But you don’t have to stay locked into one style. Combining both can give you a maintainable, scalable, and flexible system. Tweak your architecture as you go. Focus on making your code easier to grow and fix. Keep your core stable and your features cohesive. That’s the real secret to building long-lasting software. Try merging your current layered system into a feature-based structure. Use domain events to connect slices. Keep your core rules untouched, and focus on feature cohesion. Watch your development speed improve. Your codebase will thank you. Never stop refining how you structure your code. By understanding both approaches and knowing how to blend them, you create an architecture that’s both solid and adaptable. Give it a shot—your future self will thank you.