tailwindcss vs bootstrap vs bulma vs uikit vs materialize-css vs fomantic-ui
CSS Frameworks for Web Development Comparison
1 Year
tailwindcssbootstrapbulmauikitmaterialize-cssfomantic-uiSimilar Packages:
What's CSS Frameworks for Web Development?

CSS frameworks are pre-prepared libraries that are meant to be used as a base for starting web development projects. They provide a standardized way to style web applications, offering a collection of CSS and JavaScript components that help developers create responsive and visually appealing designs quickly. These frameworks often include grid systems, UI components, and utility classes that can significantly speed up the development process while ensuring consistency across different browsers and devices.

Package Weekly Downloads Trend
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Package
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tailwindcss14,070,51386,067563 kB996 days agoMIT
bootstrap4,705,841171,6699.67 MB665a year agoMIT
bulma190,60649,6146.97 MB4932 months agoMIT
uikit24,59618,39012.4 MB59912 days agoMIT
materialize-css24,06538,871-7936 years agoMIT
fomantic-ui8,2103,62022.1 MB2388 days agoMIT
Feature Comparison: tailwindcss vs bootstrap vs bulma vs uikit vs materialize-css vs fomantic-ui

Design Philosophy

  • tailwindcss:

    Tailwind CSS adopts a utility-first approach, allowing developers to build designs directly in their markup. This philosophy promotes rapid prototyping and customization without being tied to predefined components, offering flexibility in design.

  • bootstrap:

    Bootstrap follows a mobile-first approach, focusing on responsive design and providing a comprehensive set of components that can be easily integrated into any project. It emphasizes a consistent look and feel across all devices.

  • bulma:

    Bulma is based on Flexbox, promoting a clean and modern design aesthetic. It encourages the use of semantic HTML and is designed to be simple and easy to customize, making it suitable for developers who prefer minimalism.

  • uikit:

    UIkit combines a modular approach with a clean design, providing a comprehensive set of components that can be easily customized. It focuses on simplicity and performance, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.

  • materialize-css:

    Materialize CSS is built around Google's Material Design guidelines, emphasizing depth, motion, and responsive layouts. It provides a set of components that follow these principles, making it suitable for modern web applications.

  • fomantic-ui:

    Fomantic UI retains the semantic approach of its predecessor, Semantic UI, focusing on human-friendly HTML. It aims to provide a natural language syntax for class names, making it intuitive for developers to understand and use.

Customization

  • tailwindcss:

    Tailwind CSS excels in customization, allowing developers to create unique designs using utility classes. Its configuration file enables extensive customization of design tokens, making it easy to adapt to any design requirement.

  • bootstrap:

    Bootstrap offers a robust customization system through SASS variables, allowing developers to easily override default styles. However, it may require additional effort to create a unique design due to its widespread usage.

  • bulma:

    Bulma is highly customizable with its SASS variables, allowing developers to adjust styles without having to write custom CSS. Its modular nature means you can include only the components you need, reducing bloat.

  • uikit:

    UIkit allows for easy customization through LESS or SASS variables, enabling developers to modify styles globally. Its modular approach also allows for selective inclusion of components, enhancing customization.

  • materialize-css:

    Materialize CSS offers customization through SASS variables and provides a set of predefined themes. However, achieving a unique look may require additional custom CSS to override default styles.

  • fomantic-ui:

    Fomantic UI provides extensive customization options through theming and SASS variables. It allows developers to create unique designs while maintaining a consistent semantic structure throughout the application.

Component Variety

  • tailwindcss:

    Tailwind CSS does not provide predefined components but instead offers utility classes to build custom components. This approach allows for complete flexibility in design but requires more effort to create reusable components.

  • bootstrap:

    Bootstrap boasts a vast array of components, including modals, carousels, and alerts, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. Its extensive documentation provides guidance on using these components effectively.

  • bulma:

    Bulma offers a solid selection of components, including cards, navbars, and forms, but it may lack some advanced components found in other frameworks. Its simplicity makes it easy to integrate into projects.

  • uikit:

    UIkit includes a comprehensive set of components, from navigation bars to sliders, all designed with a clean aesthetic. Its modular nature allows for easy integration and customization of components.

  • materialize-css:

    Materialize CSS includes a variety of components that adhere to Material Design principles, such as cards, buttons, and sliders. Its components are designed to be visually appealing and interactive.

  • fomantic-ui:

    Fomantic UI provides a rich set of components that are semantically structured, including dropdowns, modals, and progress bars. It emphasizes usability and accessibility in its component design.

Learning Curve

  • tailwindcss:

    Tailwind CSS has a steeper learning curve due to its utility-first approach. Developers need to adapt to using numerous utility classes, but once mastered, it offers unparalleled flexibility in design.

  • bootstrap:

    Bootstrap has a gentle learning curve, especially for those familiar with HTML and CSS. Its extensive documentation and community support make it accessible for beginners.

  • bulma:

    Bulma is easy to learn due to its straightforward syntax and clear documentation. Developers can quickly grasp its concepts, making it suitable for those new to CSS frameworks.

  • uikit:

    UIkit is easy to learn, with clear documentation and a modular structure that allows developers to pick and choose components as needed. Its simplicity makes it accessible for new users.

  • materialize-css:

    Materialize CSS has a moderate learning curve, particularly for developers unfamiliar with Material Design principles. However, its documentation provides clear examples to facilitate learning.

  • fomantic-ui:

    Fomantic UI is relatively easy to learn, especially for those familiar with Semantic UI. Its semantic class names and comprehensive documentation aid in understanding its usage.

How to Choose: tailwindcss vs bootstrap vs bulma vs uikit vs materialize-css vs fomantic-ui
  • tailwindcss:

    Select Tailwind CSS if you prefer a utility-first approach that allows for rapid custom styling without leaving your HTML. It is ideal for developers who want complete control over their design without being constrained by predefined components.

  • bootstrap:

    Choose Bootstrap if you need a widely-used framework with extensive documentation and a large community. It is ideal for quick prototyping and projects that require a robust grid system and a variety of pre-designed components.

  • bulma:

    Select Bulma if you prefer a modern, flexbox-based framework that is lightweight and easy to customize. Bulma is great for developers who want a clean design without the need for JavaScript components.

  • uikit:

    Choose UIkit if you want a lightweight and modular framework that provides a comprehensive set of components and a flexible grid system. It is suitable for projects that require a balance between customization and predefined styles.

  • materialize-css:

    Choose Materialize CSS if you are looking for a framework that implements Google's Material Design principles. It is perfect for projects that aim for a modern aesthetic with animations and transitions.

  • fomantic-ui:

    Opt for Fomantic UI if you want a framework that is a community fork of Semantic UI, offering a similar design philosophy with improved maintenance. It is suitable for projects that require a semantic and human-friendly HTML structure.

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.