Essential CSS Libraries for Next.js Developers: Shadcn, NextUI, and Radix UI
Rajnish
6 min read
- python
- node js
as a web develper while create a web app most of the time taking process is to create a ui of any website. to save over time to create building blocks of web applications we are using next js framework. like that to speedly and efficiency work we can use css libraries. i this blog post i will cover top most used css component library in next js.
1. Shadcn
Shadcn/ui is a great component library by which we can create staining ui design with beautifully designed components that you can copy and paste into your apps.its is very easy to integrate with any Next.js project. Its primary focus on delivering high-quality, accessible UI components that is easily customizable. Know a day this ui library is very famous because of it's key features:
faster: shadcn is optimized your performance and ensuring that your applications laod fastly.
customization: with this moduler architecture developers easily customize components.
accessibility: this library is built with accessibility in mind.
Why Use Shadcn with Next.js?
It's is very lightweight and simple library that why most of the developer select shadcn library for developing a next js ui with their easy to customize components.
2. NextUI
It's Similar like shadcn library but its provides a custom TailwindCSS plugin that allows you to customize the default themes or create your own. Down side of this library is that is complete not free. It's key features are:
beautiful design: nextUI offers a wide number of sexy components that help to create a cool look ui.
theme customization: developers can easily customize themes to match their ui more professional.
responsive components: designing responsivene UI in NextUI very easier then any other library and it ensures that your applications look great on all devices.
Why Use NextUI with Next.js?
NextUi is large number variety of compounds by this you have freedom to create large number of unique ui. Its easy integrate with next js as their name suggests. It's main focus is on next js framework.
3. Radix UI
Radix UI is a low-level UI component library. It's provide unstyled, accessible components to build custom design systems for developer's. It's an open source library that why it is good choice for us. Key features:
unstyled components: radix UI provide raw components that easily style by the developers, offering complete control over the appearance.
accessibility first: with a focus on accessibility, Radix UI ensures that all components
composable architecture: the library's composable nature allows developers to build complex interfaces by combining simple components.
Why Use Radix UI with Next.js?
Radix UI is ideal for developers who want maximum control over their application's design. It's is easily integrated with next JS framework.
Comparison Table
Feature Comparison Table
Feature | Shadcn | NextUI | Radix UI |
|---|---|---|---|
Design Philosophy | Simplicity and Flexibility | Beautiful Design | Unstyled, Customizable Components |
Performance | Lightweight and Fast | Optimized for Performance | Optimized for Flexibility |
Customization | Highly Customizable | Theme Customization | Complete Control Over Styling |
Accessibility | Built with Accessibility in Mind | Responsive and Accessible | Accessibility First |
Responsive Design | Responsive Components | Fully Responsive | Requires Manual Styling |
Ease of Use | Easy to Integrate and Use | User-friendly Interface | Requires More Initial Setup |
Ideal Use Case | Simple and Fast Applications | Visually Impressive Applications | Custom Design Systems |
Free/Paid/Open-Source | Open-Source | Free and Paid Options | Open-Source |
Component Features
Component Type | Shadcn | NextUI | Radix UI |
|---|---|---|---|
Accordion | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Alert | Yes | Yes | No |
Alert Dialog | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Aspect Ratio | Yes | Yes | No |
Avatar | Yes | Yes | No |
Badge | Yes | Yes | No |
Breadcrumb | Yes | Yes | No |
Button | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Calendar | No | Yes | Yes |
Card | Yes | Yes | No |
Carousel | No | Yes | No |
ChartNew | No | No | No |
Checkbox | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Collapsible | Yes | Yes | No |
Combobox | No | No | Yes |
Command | No | No | Yes |
Context Menu | No | Yes | Yes |
Data Table | No | Yes | No |
Date Picker | No | Yes | Yes |
Dialog | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Drawer | No | Yes | No |
Dropdown Menu | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Form | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Hover Card | No | Yes | No |
Input | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Input OTP | No | No | No |
Label | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Menubar | No | Yes | No |
Navigation Menu | No | Yes | Yes |
Pagination | Yes | Yes | No |
Popover | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Progress | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Radio Group | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Resizable | No | No | Yes |
Scroll Area | No | Yes | No |
Select | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Separator | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Sheet | No | No | Yes |
Skeleton | Yes | Yes | No |
Slider | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Sonner | No | No | No |
Switch | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Table | Yes | Yes | No |
Tabs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Textarea | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Toast | No | Yes | No |
Toggle | Yes | Yes | No |
Toggle Group | No | Yes | No |
Tooltip | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Conclusion
in this blog post i have covered top 3 most famus css components libreries widly used while create a next js ui. as a next js developer i have only user Shadcn and nextUi both are very smooth and easy to customize. you must try this libraries that make your development journey fasty then with as comparison creating ui with vanilla css. Shadcn, NextUI and Radix UI all of that are very famus in developer community.
