tailwindcss vs @mui/material vs bootstrap vs react-grid-layout vs @material/layout-grid vs react-grid-system vs react-flexbox-grid
CSS Frameworks and Layout Libraries Comparison
1 Year
tailwindcss@mui/materialbootstrapreact-grid-layout@material/layout-gridreact-grid-systemreact-flexbox-gridSimilar Packages:
What's CSS Frameworks and Layout Libraries?

These libraries provide various approaches to building responsive layouts and UI components in web development. They cater to different design philosophies and use cases, enabling developers to create visually appealing and functional user interfaces efficiently. Each library has its unique features, strengths, and weaknesses, making them suitable for different types of projects and developer preferences.

Package Weekly Downloads Trend
Github Stars Ranking
Stat Detail
Package
Downloads
Stars
Size
Issues
Publish
License
tailwindcss19,801,49987,895676 kB696 days agoMIT
@mui/material5,475,95095,6895.56 MB1,73215 days agoMIT
bootstrap4,807,924172,3319.62 MB53516 days agoMIT
react-grid-layout941,08821,218527 kB2422 months agoMIT
@material/layout-grid573,90317,132104 kB0-MIT
react-grid-system52,02082888.9 kB418 months agoMIT
react-flexbox-grid19,8442,935-617 years agoMIT
Feature Comparison: tailwindcss vs @mui/material vs bootstrap vs react-grid-layout vs @material/layout-grid vs react-grid-system vs react-flexbox-grid

Design Philosophy

  • tailwindcss:

    Follows a utility-first approach, allowing developers to build custom designs without predefined components. Its philosophy promotes rapid development and flexibility, enabling unique and tailored user interfaces.

  • @mui/material:

    Built on Material Design, it provides a comprehensive set of components that are visually consistent and easy to use. The design philosophy emphasizes a clean and modern aesthetic, promoting user engagement.

  • bootstrap:

    Utilizes a mobile-first approach with a responsive grid system and pre-styled components. Bootstrap's design philosophy is centered around simplicity and ease of use, making it accessible for developers of all skill levels.

  • react-grid-layout:

    Designed for creating complex, draggable layouts, it focuses on user interaction and dynamic content arrangement. The philosophy emphasizes flexibility and customization for user-driven interfaces.

  • @material/layout-grid:

    Follows Material Design principles, focusing on creating a cohesive and visually appealing layout that aligns with Google's design guidelines. It emphasizes usability and aesthetics, ensuring a polished look.

  • react-grid-system:

    A straightforward grid system that prioritizes ease of use and responsiveness. It aims to simplify the process of creating responsive layouts in React, making it accessible for developers.

  • react-flexbox-grid:

    Embraces the flexbox layout model, allowing for flexible and responsive designs. Its philosophy focuses on simplicity and ease of integration within React applications, promoting a clean and maintainable codebase.

Customization

  • tailwindcss:

    Extremely customizable, allowing developers to create unique designs using utility classes. It encourages a design system approach, enabling rapid adjustments and custom styles without overriding existing components.

  • @mui/material:

    Highly customizable with theming capabilities, allowing developers to override default styles and create a unique look while maintaining Material Design principles. It supports responsive design out of the box.

  • bootstrap:

    Offers a variety of customization options through Sass variables and utility classes, allowing developers to modify styles easily. However, it may require additional effort to achieve a unique design beyond the default styles.

  • react-grid-layout:

    Highly customizable with options for grid item sizes, breakpoints, and layouts. Developers can create unique user experiences by allowing users to rearrange components dynamically.

  • @material/layout-grid:

    Customization is limited to Material Design guidelines, which may restrict creative freedom but ensures consistency across components. Developers can adjust spacing and alignment within the grid system.

  • react-grid-system:

    Offers straightforward customization options for breakpoints and grid properties, making it easy to adapt layouts to different screen sizes without complex configurations.

  • react-flexbox-grid:

    Provides a simple API for customization, allowing developers to adjust breakpoints and grid properties easily. It is lightweight and does not impose strict design constraints, promoting flexibility.

Learning Curve

  • tailwindcss:

    Moderate learning curve, particularly for those new to utility-first CSS. Developers need to adapt to a different approach to styling, but once learned, it can significantly speed up development.

  • @mui/material:

    Moderate learning curve, especially for developers new to Material Design. However, once familiar, it provides a robust set of components that can speed up development.

  • bootstrap:

    Low learning curve, making it accessible for beginners. Its extensive documentation and community support help new developers quickly grasp its usage and best practices.

  • react-grid-layout:

    Moderate learning curve due to its unique API for draggable layouts. Developers need to understand the concepts of grid systems and user interaction to implement it effectively.

  • @material/layout-grid:

    Moderate learning curve for those unfamiliar with Material Design. Developers need to understand Material Design principles to use this grid effectively within their applications.

  • react-grid-system:

    Low learning curve, designed to be intuitive for React developers. It focuses on simplicity, making it easy to create responsive layouts without extensive configuration.

  • react-flexbox-grid:

    Low learning curve, especially for those familiar with flexbox. It simplifies the process of creating responsive layouts in React without overwhelming complexity.

Community and Ecosystem

  • tailwindcss:

    Rapidly growing community with a strong emphasis on utility-first CSS. Extensive documentation and resources are available, along with a plethora of plugins and integrations.

  • @mui/material:

    Has a large and active community, with extensive documentation, tutorials, and third-party resources. The ecosystem is rich, providing many additional components and integrations.

  • bootstrap:

    One of the most widely used CSS frameworks with a vast community and extensive resources. It has a rich ecosystem of themes, templates, and plugins available for developers.

  • react-grid-layout:

    Growing community with a focus on dynamic layouts. Documentation is available, but it may not be as extensive as larger frameworks. It is well-supported on platforms like GitHub.

  • @material/layout-grid:

    Part of the larger Material-UI ecosystem, benefiting from a strong community and extensive resources. However, it may not have as large a user base as some other frameworks.

  • react-grid-system:

    Smaller community, but it is gaining traction among React developers. Documentation is clear, making it easier for newcomers to adopt.

  • react-flexbox-grid:

    Smaller community compared to larger frameworks, but still has a dedicated user base. Documentation is available, but resources may be limited compared to more established libraries.

How to Choose: tailwindcss vs @mui/material vs bootstrap vs react-grid-layout vs @material/layout-grid vs react-grid-system vs react-flexbox-grid
  • tailwindcss:

    Opt for Tailwind CSS if you prefer a utility-first approach to styling. It is suitable for projects where you want to have complete control over the design without being constrained by predefined components, allowing for rapid prototyping and custom designs.

  • @mui/material:

    Select this package when you want a comprehensive set of pre-designed React components that follow Material Design principles. It is suitable for applications that require a rich set of UI elements and a consistent design language, especially when using React.

  • bootstrap:

    Opt for Bootstrap if you need a well-established, responsive grid system and a wide variety of pre-styled components. It is perfect for projects that require quick prototyping and a solid foundation for responsive design, especially for traditional web applications.

  • react-grid-layout:

    Choose this package for building complex, draggable grid layouts in React applications. It is suitable for applications that require dynamic layouts, such as dashboards or data visualization tools, where users can rearrange components freely.

  • @material/layout-grid:

    Choose this package if you are already using Material Design in your application and need a grid system that integrates seamlessly with other Material components. It is ideal for projects that prioritize a consistent Material Design aesthetic.

  • react-grid-system:

    Select this package if you need a responsive grid system that is easy to integrate with React. It is ideal for developers looking for a straightforward solution to create responsive layouts without the overhead of additional styling or complexity.

  • react-flexbox-grid:

    Use this package if you prefer a lightweight, flexbox-based grid system specifically designed for React applications. It is ideal for developers who want to leverage the power of flexbox while maintaining a simple API and minimal overhead.

README for tailwindcss

Tailwind CSS

A utility-first CSS framework for rapidly building custom user interfaces.

Build Status Total Downloads Latest Release License


Documentation

For full documentation, visit tailwindcss.com.

Community

For help, discussion about best practices, or any other conversation that would benefit from being searchable:

Discuss Tailwind CSS on GitHub

For chatting with others using the framework:

Join the Tailwind CSS Discord Server

Contributing

If you're interested in contributing to Tailwind CSS, please read our contributing docs before submitting a pull request.