Beautifully designed, customizable UI components for your design system.
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Tracked since2026
0 reviews trackedThe Bottom Line
Entry price
Free, no paid tier
Biggest pro
Copy-paste components
Biggest con
Not a library
TL;DR - shadcn/ui
- Provides customizable UI components as code, not a library.
- Offers full control and flexibility for developers to extend components.
- Open-source and free to use for building design systems.
Pricing: Free forever
Best for: Individuals & startups
What is shadcn/ui?
shadcn/ui is an open-source collection of beautifully designed UI components that developers can use as a foundation for their design systems. Unlike traditional component libraries, shadcn/ui provides the actual code for each component, allowing users to copy, paste, and fully customize them to fit their specific project needs and branding.
This approach gives developers complete control over the components, enabling them to extend and build upon them without being constrained by a fixed API or styling. It's ideal for developers and teams looking for a flexible, unopinionated starting point for their UI, ensuring consistency and accelerating development while maintaining full ownership of their codebase. The components are designed to be integrated directly into projects, promoting a "bring your own styles" philosophy.
Available on: Web
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Copy-paste components
- Full control
- Tailwind based
- Accessible
- Customizable
Cons
- Not a library
- Manual updates
- React/Next.js focused
- Tailwind dependency
- Less out-of-box
Key Features
Copy-paste componentsRadix primitivesTailwind stylingCustomizableTypeScript supportOpen source
Pricing Plans
Pricing checked Jul 12, 2026
Free
Free
- Open source
- 105k+ GitHub stars
- Full component library
- Customizable and extendable
- Copy and paste components
Reviews
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shadcn/ui FAQ
How does shadcn/ui differ from traditional UI component libraries?
shadcn/ui provides the actual code for each component, which developers can copy, paste, and customize directly. This contrasts with traditional libraries that offer pre-built components with fixed APIs, giving users full control over their UI code.
Which teams would benefit most from using shadcn/ui?
Teams looking for a flexible, unopinionated starting point for their UI will find shadcn/ui beneficial. It is ideal for developers who need to maintain full ownership of their codebase and ensure consistency across their design system.
Does shadcn/ui include a free tier?
Yes, shadcn/ui is entirely free to use, and no paid plan is required to access its components or features. It is an open-source collection available for all developers.
What kind of customization is possible with shadcn/ui components?
Developers can fully customize shadcn/ui components to fit specific project needs and branding because they receive the actual code. This approach allows for extensive modification and extension without being constrained by a fixed API or styling.
How does shadcn/ui compare to Chakra UI?
Unlike Chakra UI, which is a traditional component library, shadcn/ui provides copy-pasteable code for its components, offering developers full control and ownership. This allows for deeper customization and integration directly into a project's codebase.
What are the main trade-offs when choosing shadcn/ui?
A key trade-off is that shadcn/ui is not a traditional library, meaning updates are manual, and it requires a Tailwind CSS dependency. It also offers less out-of-the-box functionality compared to some other solutions, focusing instead on flexibility and control.
Can shadcn/ui be used for building complex design systems?
Yes, shadcn/ui is designed to be a foundation for design systems, offering customizable UI components. Its approach allows developers to extend and build upon the components, ensuring consistency and accelerating development while maintaining full ownership of the codebase.
Source: ui.shadcn.com