Choosing the right UI library can significantly impact your React.JS or Next.JS project's development speed, maintainability, and overall aesthetic.
Two popular contenders often top the list:
Chakra UI and Tailwind CSS. This blog post dives deep into each library, comparing their core philosophies, features, and potential drawbacks to help you make an informed decision.
Read till the end to discover which library is the best fit for your next awesome project and quick assessment test to help you decide between Chakra UI and Tailwind CSS.
Core Philosophy
Chakra UI
Offers a component-centric approach. It provides pre-built, styled React components that adhere to accessibility best practices like aria-labels and role attributes.
This allows for rapid prototyping and consistent UI development. I repeat, consistent because thats where teams struggle with Tailwind CSS.
Chakra UI is like a LEGO set with pre-built components that you can easily snap together to create your UI.
Tailwind CSS
Employs a utility-first methodology. Instead of pre-built components, it provides a vast collection of CSS utility classes that can be combined directly in your JSX to style individual elements. This gives you granular control over every aspect of your design.
Imagine it as a bag of LEGO bricks – highly flexible but requiring more assembly. If more assembly not your thing then Chakra UI is your best bet.
Installation & Setup
Chakra UI
npm install @chakra-ui/react @emotion/react@^11 @emotion/styled@^11 framer-motion@^4
// In your app's entry point:
import { ChakraProvider, Text } from '@chakra-ui/react'
function App() {
return (
<ChakraProvider>
<Text>Hello From Chakra Land!</Text>
</ChakraProvider>
)
}
Tailwind CSS
npm install -D tailwindcss postcss autoprefixer
npx tailwindcss init -p
Include Tailwind directives in your CSS file (e.g., src/index.css):
@tailwind base;
@tailwind components;
@tailwind utilities;
// import the CSS file into your main app file:
import './index.css'
Pre Made Components:
Chakra UI
Chakra UI: Boasts a rich set of pre-built components, including but no limited to:
These components are readily customizable through inbuild props and theme-based styling.
import { Button, ButtonProps } from '@chakra-ui/react'
const AwesomeComponent = (props: ButtonProps) => {
return (
<Button colorScheme="teal" size="lg" {...props}>
Press me, Senpai!
</Button>
)
}
There are some pre made UI Kit which makes working lot more faster as you get pre made component such as Chakra UI Pro, Chakra Framer, etc.
Chakra Framer is totally free premium and fancy component kit made by us at The Zen Labs
Tailwind CSS
Tailwind CSS Doesn't provide pre-built components. You style existing HTML elements using utility classes.
But there are third-party libraries like Headless UI, Aceternity UI, and Tailwind UI that offer great pre-built components.
<button className="bg-blue-500 hover:bg-blue-700 text-white font-bold py-2 px-4 rounded">
Press me, Senpai!
</button>
Styling Capabilities 🎷
Both libraries offer powerful styling options. Chakra UI uses theme-based styling and allows for component variants, while Tailwind provides extensive utility classes for fine-grained control.
My take: Chakra UI because it offers a more structured approach to styling, making it easier to maintain and scale your project.
Performance 🚀
Both libraries are optimized for performance. Tailwind's utility-first along with PostCSS approach can lead to smaller bundle sizes if used carefully. Chakra UI's component approach might lead to slightly larger bundles but can be optimized through code splitting.
My take: Both libraries are performant, but Tailwind CSS might have a slight edge due to its utility-first approach this could be easily seen in lighthouse performance and contentful paint scores.
Accessibility Features 🌐
Chakra UI: Prioritizes accessibility. Its components are built with WAI-ARIA guidelines in mind, ensuring better usability for everyone.
Tailwind CSS: Doesn't inherently enforce accessibility. However, it provides utility classes for ARIA attributes, requiring developers to implement them correctly.
My take: Chakra UI wins in this category due to its baked-in accessibility features. This is a big win for teams that prioritize accessibility compliance.
Customization Options 🎨
Both offer extensive customization options.
Chakra UI is more flexible in terms of theming and component customization.
Tailwind CSS is more modular and requires more manual configuration.
My take: If you are solo dev or small team on a project and want high customization go with Tailwind CSS else Chakra UI is your best bet.
Learning Curve 📈
Chakra UI: Easier to learn due to its component-centric approach. It's more intuitive for developers familiar with React.
Tailwind CSS: Steeper learning curve. Developers need to learn the utility classes and how to combine them effectively to style components. then there is the whole @apply thing + how to configure the setup based on different requirements and frameworks.
My Take: Chakra UI is easier to learn and more beginner-friendly. Tailwind CSS requires a deeper understanding of CSS and utility classes. But, once you get the hang of it, it can be a powerful tool.
Community Support 🤝
Both libraries have active and supportive communities.
Pros and Cons 🤔
| Feature | Chakra UI | Tailwind CSS |
|---|---|---|
| Core Philosophy | Component-centric | Utility-first |
| Learning Curve | Easier | Steeper |
| Speed | Faster prototyping | More flexible but potentially slower |
| Accessibility | Baked-in | Requires developer implementation |
| Customization | Theme & Component overrides | Configurable utility classes |
Quick Assessment Test 📝
1) Do you prefer a component-centric approach (LEGO set) or a utility-first methodology (bag of LEGO bricks)?
- Yes: Chakra UI
- No: Tailwind CSS
2) Do you prioritize/want rapid prototyping and consistent UI development?
- Yes: Chakra UI
- No: Tailwind CSS
3) Do you want a library that enforces accessibility best practices out-of-the-box?
- Yes: Chakra UI
- No: Tailwind CSS
4) Is your team more experienced with CSS and utility classes?
- Yes: Tailwind CSS
- No: Chakra UI
5) Do you have a small team or are you a solo developer who wants maximum flexibility?
- Yes: Tailwind CSS
- No: Chakra UI
6) Is design consistency across components a top priority for your project?
- Yes: Chakra UI
- No: Tailwind CSS
7) Do you need a library with minimal bundle size and better SEO performance (little difference but counts)?
- Yes: Tailwind CSS
- No: Chakra UI
Conclusion
The choice between Chakra UI and Tailwind depends on your project's specific needs and your team's preferences.
If you prioritize rapid development and accessibility out-of-the-box, Chakra UI is a strong choice.
If you prefer granular control and a highly customizable styling solution, Tailwind CSS might be a better fit. Consider your project's requirements, your team's familiarity with each approach, and the overall aesthetic you aim to achieve.
Do check out Chakra Framer for free and awesome pre-build chakra UI components for Faqs, Cards, Heros and more
Get In Touch
| Platform | Handle |
|---|---|
| Youtube | @thesohailjafri |
| X/Twitter | @thesohailjafri |
| @thesohailjafri | |
| @thesohailjafri | |
| Github | @thesohailjafri |
Top comments (17)
I’ve used both for real-world projects, and your pros and cons list aligns with my experience. One thing I’d add: Tailwind requires a lot more discipline to maintain consistency, especially in larger teams.
Yes definitely. someone in charge maintaining and managing design system
Tailwind is a horrible choice for big teams. I only use it for small teams or static websites
I feel the same. If they have someone experienced who can design the style system using Tailwind CSS and is solely responsible for maintaining it, then it's worth trying—especially with a big team.
What I’m going to share is my personal opinion.
I don’t like the idea of having a long list of class names around my source code. The concept of Tailwind is incredibly cool, but it’s making my source code look ugly. On the other hand, libraries like Emotion have runtime overhead. The entire idea behind pandaCSS was to address this issue. It started as a discussion in Chakra. I feel like people aren’t paying enough attention to this incredible masterpiece.
I feel the same way about PandaCSS. I have read the docs but didn't have enough time to play with it, and it's totally new, so I can't test it on any client project.
Big kudos to the team behind panda CSS and chakra UI
One thing that’s helped me with Tailwind’s learning curve is using an extension like Tailwind Intellisense. Would recommend it to anyone getting started—it makes the process so much smoother
those are great for showing the rope. also check out my arsenal of tailwindCSS extension some might be a help to you
This was super helpful! Would love to see a follow-up post comparing the ecosystem of plugins or add-ons for each library
coming right up
The LEGO analogy is spot on! I’m a huge LEGO fan, and now I feel like I need to try Chakra UI just for that reason. 😂 Thanks for the fun and relatable comparison!
Lol
Great article! Which one do you personally prefer for side projects, and why? I’m curious about your real-world preference beyond the theoretical comparison.
If cutting-edge SEO performance is not needed I go with Chakra UI any day
As a beginner, I found the Chakra UI installation process way easier to follow compared to Tailwind’s. It’s great to see someone else mention this
I feel the same here!
Amazing.
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