DaisyUI vs Shadcn: Which One is Better in 2025?

When it comes to UI component libraries, DaisyUI and Shadcn are two popular choices. Both offer unique features and cater to different needs. In this article, we'll compare their key features, pricing, limitations, and user reviews to help you make an informed decision.

DaisyUI: Overview and Key Features

DaisyUI is a popular UI component library known for its simplicity and ease of use. It offers a range of features that cater to various design needs.

• Pre-built Components: DaisyUI provides a wide array of pre-built components like buttons, cards, and modals. These components are customizable and ready to use, saving time on design and development.
• Tailwind CSS Integration: DaisyUI integrates seamlessly with Tailwind CSS, allowing users to leverage Tailwind's utility-first approach while using DaisyUI's components. This combination enhances design flexibility and efficiency.
• Theme Customization: DaisyUI supports multiple themes and allows users to switch between them easily. Users can also create custom themes to match their brand's identity.
• Responsive Design: DaisyUI components are designed to be fully responsive, ensuring that applications look good on all devices, from mobile phones to desktops.
• Accessibility Features: DaisyUI includes built-in accessibility features, such as ARIA attributes and keyboard navigation support, making it easier to create inclusive web applications.
• Lightweight: DaisyUI is lightweight, which helps in reducing the overall load time of web applications. This is crucial for improving user experience and SEO performance.
• Custom Plugins: DaisyUI supports custom plugins, allowing users to extend its functionality. Examples include plugins for form validation, date pickers, and tooltips, which enhance the overall user experience.
• Documentation: DaisyUI offers comprehensive documentation, including code examples and usage guidelines. This makes it easier for developers to get started and implement components effectively.

DaisyUI's Reviews

Overall, user feedback on DaisyUI highlights its comprehensive features and ease of use, though some areas for improvement are noted.

1. G2: 4.6/5
2. Product Hunt: 4.8/5

• "So glad to have a free and comprehensive Tailwind-based UI component library like DaisyUI. Really solid." - Travis, 5/5
• "Great collection of Tailwind components with constant updates and a comprehensive documentation, everything just works as intended and it saves me tons of time in configuring the UI." - Gianluca Cinellu, 5/5
• "Solved my problem of dealing with HTML/CSS in my projects. Using it with Django and loving it!" - Sergei Zotov, 4.5/5
• "After exploring many options for my Angular development, I circled back to DaisyUI - my initial choice. It's easy to install and use and I like the fact it merges with other popular Tailwind plugins, like Typography 😊 🚀 #UserFriendly #ScalableSolutions" - Gilles Hoarau, 4.8/5
• "I use it for my landing pages. I love the components." - Mathias Michel, 4.7/5

Positive Aspects:

• Comprehensive and free Tailwind-based UI component library
• Constant updates and comprehensive documentation
• Easy to install and use
• Saves time in configuring the UI
• Works well with various frameworks like Django, Angular, Laravel, and VueJS

Common Concerns:

• Some users may find the integration with certain frameworks challenging
• Occasional issues with component customization

Shadcn: Overview and Key Features

Shadcn is a UI component library designed for developers seeking flexibility and customization in their web projects.

• Component Variety: Shadcn offers a diverse range of components, including buttons, forms, and navigation bars. Each component is highly customizable to fit different design needs.
• Custom Themes: Shadcn supports custom themes, allowing developers to create and apply unique styles that align with their brand's identity. This feature ensures a consistent look and feel across the application.
• Accessibility: Shadcn includes built-in accessibility features such as ARIA roles and keyboard navigation. These features help developers create inclusive web applications that are usable by everyone.
• Performance Optimization: Shadcn focuses on performance by providing lightweight components that reduce load times. This is crucial for enhancing user experience and improving SEO rankings.
• Documentation: Shadcn offers detailed documentation with code examples and usage guidelines. This resource helps developers quickly understand how to implement and customize components.
• Integration with Frameworks: Shadcn integrates well with popular frameworks like React, Vue, and Angular. This compatibility allows developers to use Shadcn components within their existing projects seamlessly.
• Custom Plugins: Shadcn supports custom plugins, enabling developers to extend its functionality. Examples include plugins for form validation, date pickers, and tooltips, which enhance the overall user experience.

Shadcn's Reviews

Overall user feedback on Shadcn highlights its high-quality design and user experience, with minimal areas for improvement noted.

1. Product Hunt: 4.8/5

• "High quality, minimalist UI library that I love the most." - Clu Soh, 5/5
• "They enhance the overall user experience, making navigation and interaction a breeze for end-users." - Denise Moore, 4.8/5
• "This library is amazing. It is evident by how many new startups are adopting this UI library." - Ife Odubela, 4.7/5
• "I appreciate the way it's crafted with minimal aesthetics. This design system is time-saving, loved it!" - Ahnaf Habib, 4.9/5
• "Great UI package, really saved us a ton of time building robots.nxt." - Tim Sylvester, 4.6/5

Positive Aspects:

• High-quality and minimalist design
• Enhances user experience
• Widely adopted by startups
• Provides actionable insights
• Time-saving and well-crafted

Common Concerns:

• No specific concerns or areas for improvement mentioned in the provided reviews

Feature Comparison: DaisyUI vs. Shadcn

Similarities

Despite targeting different audiences, DaisyUI and Shadcn share several important similarities:

• Component Variety: Both libraries offer a wide range of components, including buttons, forms, and navigation bars, catering to diverse design needs.
• Custom Themes: Each platform supports custom themes, allowing developers to create unique styles that align with their brand's identity.
• Accessibility Features: Both include built-in accessibility features such as ARIA roles and keyboard navigation, ensuring inclusivity.
• Performance Optimization: Both focus on performance by providing lightweight components that reduce load times, enhancing user experience.
• Documentation: Comprehensive documentation with code examples and usage guidelines is available for both, aiding developers in implementation.
• Framework Compatibility: Both integrate well with popular frameworks like React, Vue, and Angular, allowing seamless use within existing projects.

Differences

Critical differences between DaisyUI and Shadcn will likely influence your choice.

• Primary Focus:
  • DaisyUI: Emphasizes providing a component library for Tailwind CSS to simplify and speed up development.
  • Shadcn: Focuses on offering beautifully-designed, accessible components and a code distribution platform.
• Customization Options:
  • DaisyUI: Extensive customization through Tailwind CSS utility classes and a theme generator tool.
  • Shadcn: Customization through themes, colors, and interactive component settings like cookie management and activity goals.
• Ease of Use:
  • DaisyUI: Simplifies usage with semantic class names and pre-built components that integrate easily.
  • Shadcn: Enhances usability with a clear navigation structure, interactive examples, and detailed documentation.
• Integration Capabilities:
  • DaisyUI: Designed to work with all JavaScript frameworks without requiring JavaScript dependencies.
  • Shadcn: Integrates with various frameworks and GitHub for version control and collaboration.
• Unique Features:
  • DaisyUI: Offers semantic class names, a theme generator, and a pure CSS approach.
  • Shadcn: Provides open-source components, interactive examples, and customizable themes and colors.

Pricing Comparison: DaisyUI vs. Shadcn

DaisyUI Pricing

DaisyUI offers a straightforward approach to pricing, ensuring developers can access its features without financial barriers.

• Free Plan: DaisyUI is available for free, providing access to all components, themes, and customization options. This plan includes comprehensive documentation and community support.
• Enterprise Plan: For organizations requiring additional support and custom solutions, DaisyUI offers an enterprise plan. Specific pricing details are not publicly available; interested parties need to contact DaisyUI's support team for more information.

Shadcn' Pricing

Shadcn's pricing structure is designed to cater to various needs, though specific details are not publicly available.

• Free Plan: Shadcn offers a free plan that includes access to all components, themes, and customization options. This plan also provides comprehensive documentation and community support.
• Enterprise Plan: For organizations requiring additional support and custom solutions, Shadcn offers an enterprise plan. Specific pricing details are not publicly available; interested parties need to contact Shadcn's support team for more information.

Subframe, a Better Alternative to DaisyUI and Shadcn

Subframe is a visual UI design tool that stays in sync with code. We combine a drag-and-drop editor with real, component-based design, allowing precise control for pixel-perfect, responsive layouts. Subframe instantly translates designs into clean, production-ready React and Tailwind code, removing the need for handoff and speeding up delivery.

Subframe's Features

Subframe is a visual UI design tool that stays in sync with code, offering a seamless experience for creating production-ready interfaces.

• Component-Based Design: Subframe allows the creation of user interfaces with real, reusable components instead of static mockups, ensuring designs are always production-ready.
• Pre-Built UI Templates: The tool offers a library of customizable templates inspired by established design patterns, built with reusable components to speed up the design process.
• Code Export: Subframe generates clean, production-quality React and Tailwind code, which can be directly integrated into a codebase, reducing the need for handoff and manual CSS adjustments.
• Free to Get Started: Subframe provides free access to its visual design tools with no credit card required, making it easy for anyone to start designing immediately.
• AI-Assisted Design: Subframe's AI capabilities help in designing interfaces quickly and efficiently, ensuring high-quality design outcomes with minimal effort.

Subframe's Pricing

Subframe pricing is designed to cater to different needs:

• Free: $0 per user/month
  • 1 project
  • Up to 3 page designs
  • Up to 3 team members
  • 100s of UI templates
  • Limited AI features
• Pro: $29 per user/month
  • Up to 3 projects
  • Unlimited page designs
  • Unlimited team members
  • Custom components
  • 100s of UI templates
  • Full AI beta access
• Custom: Pricing is negotiable ("Let's talk")
  • Unlimited projects
  • Unlimited page designs
  • Integrate your components
  • Dedicated Slack support
  • Figma plugin
  • Unlimited AI

For more details, visit the Subframe Pricing page. Book a demo with Subframe to explore how it can transform your design process.

Subframe's Reviews

Users have shared positive feedback about Subframe, noting its user-friendly interface, time-saving tools, and the quality of the UI designs it produces. The platform has earned a 5/5 rating on Product Hunt. Customers especially value the visual editor, drag-and-drop functionality, and AI features that help refine designs based on user input.

• "Without Subframe, the frontend build of this tool would've taken a lot longer and a lot more financial resources." - Erin Kim
• "Subframe helped us make a super clean UI for our console without designers." - Carl Peterson
• "Huge shoutout to Subframe guys! Super easy to create UI, and the support is great. Highly recommend!" - Amartya Jha

DaisyUI, Shadcn or Subframe? Which is The Best Tool For You

Each platform has its unique strengths. DaisyUI excels in providing a comprehensive, free Tailwind-based component library that simplifies and speeds up development. Shadcn stands out with its beautifully designed, accessible components and seamless integration with popular frameworks, making it a favorite among startups.

If you prioritize a free, easy-to-use Tailwind CSS component library, DaisyUI is a great fit. For those seeking high-quality design and accessibility, Shadcn may be the better choice. However, if you are looking for a tool that integrates design and code seamlessly, generating production-ready React and Tailwind code, Subframe stands out.

Explore Subframe today to see how it can streamline your workflow and transform your design process. Get started on Subframe for free.