React continues to dominate the frontend landscape as the premier library for building user interfaces. Its component-based architecture remains the gold standard for creating reusable UI elements, making development faster and more efficient. However, the ecosystem has shifted significantly in recent years. Developers are moving away from heavy, pre-styled frameworks toward "headless" primitives and code-ownership models that offer more control and better performance. In this blog post, we will explore the top five React UI component libraries trending in 2025: shadcn/ui, Radix UI, React Aria Components, NextUI, and Mantine. We will discuss their key features, advantages, and use cases to help you choose the right library for your next project.
shadcn/ui
shadcn/ui has redefined how developers think about component libraries in the modern React ecosystem. Unlike traditional libraries that you install as a dependency, shadcn/ui is not a library at all—it is a collection of re-usable components that you copy and paste directly into your apps. Built on top of Radix UI primitives and styled with Tailwind CSS, it gives you complete ownership of your code. This approach allows for unparalleled customization, as the components become part of your own codebase rather than a locked-in third-party package. It has become the de-facto standard for projects using Next.js and Tailwind CSS.
Key Features of shadcn/ui
- Zero runtime dependency: You own the code; components are copied into your project.
- Built on Radix UI: Ensures rock-solid accessibility and keyboard navigation out of the box.
- Tailwind CSS First: Styles are fully customizable using utility classes.
- Modular Architecture: You only add the specific components you need, keeping bundle sizes small.
Use Cases for shadcn/ui
- Projects where full control over component code and styling is required.
- Teams building their own internal design systems from a solid foundation.
- Modern applications using Next.js, Tailwind CSS, and Server Components.
Radix UI
Radix UI remains a powerhouse in the React community, serving as the "headless" foundation for many other popular libraries (including shadcn/ui). It provides a set of low-level, unstyled UI primitives for common patterns like dialogs, popovers, and accordions. In 2025, Radix has expanded to include Radix Themes, a pre-styled layer that offers a ready-to-use design system on top of their robust primitives. This dual approach makes it incredibly versatile: use the primitives if you want to build from scratch, or use Themes if you need a beautiful, accessible UI system ready to go.
Key Features of Radix UI
- Unstyled Primitives: Provides the functional logic without imposing any visual style.
- Radix Themes: An optional, fully styled component library for rapid development.
- Best-in-Class Accessibility: Handles complex WAI-ARIA patterns automatically.
- Incremental Adoption: Components can be installed individually to keep bundles light.
Use Cases for Radix UI
- Building custom design systems where you need perfect behavior but unique visuals.
- Applications requiring complex interactive components like Dialogs or Dropdowns.
- Teams that want a high-quality "batteries-included" option via Radix Themes.
React Aria Components
Developed by Adobe, React Aria Components has emerged as a top-tier choice for developers who prioritize accessibility and internationalization above all else. It offers a library of unstyled components that come with built-in accessibility, behavior, and focus management. Unlike older versions that were purely hook-based, the newer "Components" API provides a simpler, more ergonomic developer experience while still allowing you to bring your own styles (via CSS, Tailwind, or Styled Components). It is robust enough to power enterprise-grade applications that must meet strict compliance standards.
Key Features of React Aria Components
- Accessibility First: rigorously tested across all devices, screen readers, and input methods.
- Headless & Unstyled: Complete freedom to style components using any CSS solution.
- Built-in Internationalization: Native support for RTL layouts and localized date/time formatting.
- Adaptive Interactions: Handles mouse, touch, keyboard, and screen reader interactions consistently.
Use Cases for React Aria Components
- Enterprise applications with strict accessibility (WCAG) requirements.
- Global products that need robust internationalization (i18n) support.
- Complex web applications requiring native-like behavior across different devices.
NextUI
NextUI is a modern React UI library that combines the power of Tailwind CSS with the accessibility of React Aria. It stands out for its stunning default aesthetics—it is widely considered one of the most beautiful libraries out of the box. NextUI uses a plugin-based architecture for Tailwind, allowing for easy theme customization and dark mode support. It bridges the gap for developers who want the speed of a pre-styled library like MUI but the flexibility and performance of a Tailwind-based workflow.
Key Features of NextUI
- Beautiful Design: Modern, high-quality default aesthetics with a focus on glassmorphism and gradients.
- Tailwind CSS Integration: deeply integrated with Tailwind for seamless styling overrides.
- React Aria Foundation: Built on top of React Aria hooks for robust accessibility.
- Automatic Dark Mode: effortless theming and dark mode switching capabilities.
Use Cases for NextUI
- Consumer-facing applications where visual polish and "wow" factor are critical.
- Startups and MVPs that need a high-end look with minimal design effort.
- Developers who love Tailwind CSS but prefer ready-made components over copy-pasting code.
Mantine
Mantine continues to hold its ground in 2025 as the most feature-rich, "batteries-included" library for React. While newer trends lean toward headless libraries, Mantine shines by offering an enormous ecosystem of over 100 components and 50 hooks in a single package. It has evolved to support modern CSS features like native CSS variables and works seamlessly with Next.js App Router. For developers who want a traditional, comprehensive library that handles everything from layout to form validation and notifications without needing third-party plugins, Mantine remains an unbeatable choice.
Key Features of Mantine
- Massive Component Library: Includes advanced components like DatePickers, Rich Text Editors, and Charts.
- Great Developer Experience: Excellent TypeScript support and comprehensive documentation.
- Styles API: granular control over every part of a component using CSS modules or inline styles.
- Built-in Hooks: A huge collection of utility hooks for managing state, DOM interaction, and more.
Use Cases for Mantine
- Data-heavy dashboards and internal tools requiring complex inputs and tables.
- Projects where you want a single vendor to handle all UI and utility needs.
- Teams that prefer a stable, classic component library API over headless alternatives.
Conclusion
The landscape of React UI component libraries has evolved from monolithic frameworks to more modular, headless, and accessible solutions. In this blog post, we explored the top five libraries for 2025/26: shadcn/ui, Radix UI, React Aria Components, NextUI, and Mantine. The trend is clear: developers now prefer tools that offer better control over code (shadcn/ui), robust accessibility primitives (Radix, React Aria), and seamless integration with modern CSS workflows like Tailwind (NextUI). Whether you need the "copy-paste" flexibility of shadcn/ui or the comprehensive toolkit of Mantine, there is a perfect solution for your next project. Consider your team's design needs and workflow preferences to make the best choice for your application.
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