tailwindcss vs bootstrap vs flowbite vs bulma
CSS Frameworks for Responsive Web Design Comparison
3 Years
tailwindcssbootstrapflowbitebulmaSimilar Packages:
What's CSS Frameworks for Responsive Web Design?

CSS frameworks are pre-prepared libraries that are meant to be used as a base for starting a project. They contain a set of CSS, JavaScript, and sometimes HTML components that help developers create responsive and visually appealing web applications more efficiently. These frameworks provide a structured approach to styling, ensuring consistency across different devices and screen sizes. Popular CSS frameworks include Bootstrap, Bulma, Tailwind CSS, and Flowbite, each offering unique features and design philosophies to cater to various development needs.

Package Weekly Downloads Trend
Github Stars Ranking
Stat Detail
Package
Downloads
Stars
Size
Issues
Publish
License
tailwindcss21,417,782
89,669681 kB956 days agoMIT
bootstrap4,483,969
172,8699.62 MB5642 months agoMIT
flowbite409,335
8,7685.44 MB2396 months agoMIT
bulma179,315
49,8986.97 MB5064 months agoMIT
Feature Comparison: tailwindcss vs bootstrap vs flowbite vs bulma

Design Philosophy

  • tailwindcss:

    Tailwind CSS takes a utility-first approach to design, encouraging developers to build custom designs using small, reusable utility classes. This approach allows for greater flexibility and creativity while reducing the need for writing custom CSS.

  • bootstrap:

    Bootstrap follows a component-based design philosophy, providing a wide range of pre-styled components like buttons, modals, and navigation bars. It emphasizes consistency and ease of use, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced developers.

  • flowbite:

    Flowbite is designed to complement Tailwind CSS by providing a set of pre-built components that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. It focuses on accessibility and usability, ensuring that components are easy to use and integrate into any project.

  • bulma:

    Bulma embraces a modern, minimalist design philosophy with a focus on simplicity and elegance. It is built with flexbox, which allows for more flexible and responsive layouts without the need for complex CSS.

Customization

  • tailwindcss:

    Tailwind CSS is built for customization, allowing developers to configure the framework to suit their needs. Its utility-first approach means that styles can be applied directly in the HTML, reducing the need for custom CSS.

  • bootstrap:

    Bootstrap allows for customization through its Sass variables and mixins, but it is often used with its default styles. Developers can override styles as needed, but the framework is designed to be used as-is for quick development.

  • flowbite:

    Flowbite is designed to be used alongside Tailwind CSS, allowing for easy customization of components using Tailwind's utility classes. This makes it highly flexible and adaptable to different design requirements.

  • bulma:

    Bulma is highly customizable, with a straightforward Sass-based architecture that makes it easy to modify variables and styles. It encourages developers to customize the framework to fit their design needs while maintaining a clean and modern aesthetic.

Component Availability

  • tailwindcss:

    Tailwind CSS does not come with pre-built components, as it is a utility-first framework. However, it provides the tools needed to create custom components quickly and efficiently.

  • bootstrap:

    Bootstrap offers a comprehensive set of pre-designed components, including forms, modals, carousels, and more. This extensive library makes it easy to build feature-rich applications quickly.

  • flowbite:

    Flowbite extends Tailwind CSS by providing a wide range of pre-built components, including buttons, modals, and navigation elements. These components are designed to be accessible and easy to integrate into any project.

  • bulma:

    Bulma provides a solid set of components, but it is not as extensive as Bootstrap. It focuses on providing the essentials while allowing developers to create custom components as needed.

Accessibility

  • tailwindcss:

    Tailwind CSS does not provide built-in accessibility features, as it is a utility framework. However, it allows developers to create accessible designs by following best practices and using utility classes to style elements appropriately.

  • bootstrap:

    Bootstrap has made significant improvements in accessibility, providing ARIA attributes and keyboard navigation support for its components. However, developers are still encouraged to follow best practices when using the framework.

  • flowbite:

    Flowbite places a strong emphasis on accessibility, ensuring that all components are designed to be usable by people with disabilities. It follows WCAG guidelines and provides documentation on how to use components accessibly.

  • bulma:

    Bulma is designed with accessibility in mind, but it is up to developers to ensure that components are used correctly and that accessibility features are implemented.

Ease of Use: Code Examples

  • tailwindcss:

    Tailwind CSS has a learning curve due to its utility-first approach, but it is highly rewarding for those who invest the time. Example:

    <link href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/tailwindcss@2.2.19/dist/tailwind.min.css" rel="stylesheet">
    <div class="container mx-auto">
      <h1 class="text-4xl text-center font-bold">Hello, Tailwind!</h1>
      <button class="bg-blue-500 text-white px-4 py-2 rounded">Click Me</button>
    </div>
    
  • bootstrap:

    Bootstrap is known for its ease of use, especially for beginners. Its comprehensive documentation and large community make it easy to find resources and support. Example:

    <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://stackpath.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/4.5.2/css/bootstrap.min.css">
    <div class="container">
      <h1 class="text-center">Hello, Bootstrap!</h1>
      <button class="btn btn-primary">Click Me</button>
    </div>
    
  • flowbite:

    Flowbite is user-friendly, especially for those familiar with Tailwind CSS. Its documentation provides clear examples of how to use components. Example:

    <link href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/flowbite/1.4.0/flowbite.min.css" rel="stylesheet">
    <div class="container">
      <h1 class="text-2xl font-bold text-center">Hello, Flowbite!</h1>
      <button class="btn btn-primary">Click Me</button>
    </div>
    
  • bulma:

    Bulma is also easy to use, with clear documentation and a simple class naming convention. Example:

    <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/bulma/0.9.3/css/bulma.min.css">
    <div class="container">
      <h1 class="title has-text-centered">Hello, Bulma!</h1>
      <button class="button is-primary">Click Me</button>
    </div>
    
How to Choose: tailwindcss vs bootstrap vs flowbite vs bulma
  • tailwindcss:

    Choose Tailwind CSS if you want a utility-first framework that allows for highly customizable designs without writing much custom CSS. It promotes a different approach to styling by using utility classes, making it ideal for developers who prefer a more hands-on approach to design.

  • bootstrap:

    Choose Bootstrap if you need a comprehensive, feature-rich framework with a wide range of pre-designed components and a strong grid system. It is ideal for quick prototyping and building responsive layouts with minimal custom CSS.

  • flowbite:

    Opt for Flowbite if you are looking for a component library that extends Tailwind CSS with pre-built, accessible UI components. It is perfect for projects that already use Tailwind and need ready-to-use components that adhere to accessibility standards.

  • bulma:

    Select Bulma if you prefer a modern, lightweight framework that is purely CSS and follows a flexbox-based layout system. It offers a clean design and is easy to customize, making it suitable for projects where you want a minimalist aesthetic without JavaScript dependencies.

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 feature ideas:

Discuss Tailwind CSS on GitHub

Contributing

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