CSS Frameworks Comparison
tailwindcss vs bootstrap vs bulma
1 Year
tailwindcssbootstrapbulmaSimilar Packages:
What's CSS Frameworks?

CSS frameworks are pre-prepared libraries that are meant to be used as a base for starting a project. They provide a standardized structure and set of styles that can be easily integrated into web projects, enhancing development speed and consistency. Bootstrap, Bulma, and Tailwind CSS are popular frameworks that cater to different design philosophies and developer preferences. Bootstrap is known for its comprehensive components and grid system, Bulma offers a modern and flexible approach with a clean syntax, while Tailwind CSS promotes a utility-first methodology that allows for rapid prototyping and customization without leaving HTML.

NPM Package Downloads Trend
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Package
Downloads
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Size
Issues
Publish
License
tailwindcss10,463,55483,6805.73 MB11318 hours agoMIT
bootstrap4,364,492171,0009.67 MB6509 months agoMIT
bulma174,53949,4186.15 MB4784 months agoMIT
Feature Comparison: tailwindcss vs bootstrap vs bulma

Design Philosophy

  • tailwindcss:

    Tailwind CSS embraces a utility-first design philosophy, where developers apply utility classes directly in their HTML. This approach promotes rapid prototyping and customization, allowing for unique designs without writing custom CSS.

  • bootstrap:

    Bootstrap follows a component-based design philosophy, providing a comprehensive set of pre-styled components that can be easily integrated into projects. It emphasizes consistency and responsiveness, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.

  • bulma:

    Bulma adopts a modern CSS framework philosophy with a focus on simplicity and readability. It uses flexbox for layout, allowing for a responsive design without the need for complex grid systems. Bulma encourages a clean and semantic HTML structure.

Customization

  • tailwindcss:

    Tailwind CSS is designed for customization from the ground up. Developers can configure the framework using a configuration file, defining their own utility classes, colors, and breakpoints, making it extremely adaptable to any design requirement.

  • bootstrap:

    Bootstrap offers customization through its Sass variables and mixins, allowing developers to modify the default styles. However, extensive customization may require overriding default styles, which can lead to a more complex stylesheet.

  • bulma:

    Bulma is highly customizable with its Sass variables, enabling developers to easily change colors, sizes, and other design aspects. Its modular structure allows for importing only the components needed, reducing bloat.

Learning Curve

  • tailwindcss:

    Tailwind CSS has a steeper learning curve initially due to its utility-first approach, which may be unfamiliar to some developers. However, once accustomed to the utility classes, many find it speeds up the development process significantly.

  • bootstrap:

    Bootstrap has a moderate learning curve, especially for those familiar with HTML and CSS. Its extensive documentation and community support make it easier for beginners to get started, but mastering its grid system and components may take time.

  • bulma:

    Bulma is relatively easy to learn due to its straightforward syntax and clear documentation. Developers familiar with CSS will find it intuitive, as it avoids complex JavaScript components and focuses on pure CSS.

Community and Ecosystem

  • tailwindcss:

    Tailwind CSS has rapidly gained popularity and has a vibrant community. Its ecosystem includes plugins, UI kits, and tools that enhance its functionality, making it a strong choice for modern web development.

  • bootstrap:

    Bootstrap has a large and active community, providing a wealth of resources, plugins, and third-party themes. This extensive ecosystem makes it easier to find solutions and support for common issues.

  • bulma:

    Bulma has a growing community and a decent number of resources, but it is smaller compared to Bootstrap. It offers a variety of extensions and templates, though not as extensive as Bootstrap's ecosystem.

Performance

  • tailwindcss:

    Tailwind CSS promotes performance through its utility-first approach, allowing for minimal CSS file sizes when purged of unused styles. This results in faster load times and improved performance, especially for larger applications.

  • bootstrap:

    Bootstrap can lead to larger file sizes due to its comprehensive nature, which may affect performance if not optimized. However, it provides a responsive grid and components that can enhance user experience when used correctly.

  • bulma:

    Bulma is lightweight and focuses on CSS only, which can lead to better performance compared to heavier frameworks. Its modular approach allows developers to include only what is necessary, reducing load times.

How to Choose: tailwindcss vs bootstrap vs bulma
  • tailwindcss:

    Choose Tailwind CSS if you want maximum flexibility and control over your design. Its utility-first approach allows for rapid styling directly in your markup, making it perfect for custom designs and projects that require unique styling.

  • bootstrap:

    Choose Bootstrap if you need a robust, feature-rich framework with a wide range of pre-built components and a strong community. It's ideal for projects that require quick development and a consistent design across various devices.

  • bulma:

    Choose Bulma if you prefer a modern, lightweight CSS framework with a clean syntax and a flexbox-based grid system. It's suitable for developers who want a simple and elegant design without the overhead of JavaScript components.

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 casual chit-chat 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.