shadcn/ui vs Ant Design: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between shadcn/ui and Ant Design comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
shadcn/ui
Beautifully designed, customizable UI components for your design system.
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (7.2/10 vs 7.0/10)
- • Provides customizable UI components as code, not a library.
- • Offers full control and flexibility for developers to extend components.
Ant Design
Enterprise UI design language
Best for you if:
- • Enterprise UI library
- • React components
| At a Glance |  shadcn/ui |  Ant Design |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free | Free |
Best For | UI/UX Design | UI/UX Design |
Rating | 72/100 | 70/100 |
| Feature | shadcn/ui | Ant Design |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Free |
| Editorial Score | 72 | 70 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | UI/UX DesignDesign Systems | UI/UX DesignDesign Systems |
How shadcn/ui and Ant Design Compare
shadcn/ui
Beautifully designed, customizable UI components for your design system.
Free · 72/100 score
Ant Design
Enterprise UI design language
Free · 70/100 score
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are free. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: shadcn/ui
Want the highest-rated option?
shadcn/ui: 72/100. Ant Design: 70/100.
Go with: shadcn/ui
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: shadcn/ui
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are free. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Both are ui/ux design tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
shadcn/ui scores higher: 72/100 vs 70/100.
Key Takeaways
shadcn/ui
- Higher score: 72/100 vs 70
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
Ant Design
The Bottom Line
shadcn/ui (72/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is shadcn/ui or Ant Design better?
shadcn/ui scores 72/100 in our evaluation. Both are free.
What are shadcn/ui and Ant Design used for?
shadcn/ui: Beautifully designed, customizable UI components for your design system.. Ant Design: Enterprise UI design language.
What does shadcn/ui cost vs Ant Design?
shadcn/ui is completely free. Ant Design is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.