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Headless UI vs Shadcn: Which One is Better in 2025?

Choosing between Headless UI and Shadcn? Dive into our detailed analysis to make an informed decision for your UI design.

In the ever-evolving landscape of web development, choosing the right UI framework can make or break your project. This article delves into a detailed comparison between Headless UI and Shadcn, examining their features, pricing, and limitations.

Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting out, understanding the nuances of these frameworks will help you make an informed decision. Let's explore what each has to offer.

Overview of Headless UI and Shadcn

What is Headless UI?

Headless UI

Headless UI offers a library of unstyled, fully accessible UI components designed to integrate seamlessly with Tailwind CSS. These components are highly customizable, allowing developers to style them according to their needs without being constrained by predefined styles.

Key features include unstyled components, full accessibility, and seamless integration with Tailwind CSS. The library supports both React and Vue frameworks, providing a wide range of components such as Dropdown Menus, Dialogs, and Tabs.

What is Shadcn?

Shadcn

Shadcn provides a collection of beautifully designed, open-source components that can be copied and pasted into applications. These components are built using Tailwind CSS and are aimed at helping developers build their component libraries efficiently.

Key features include a variety of pre-designed components, comprehensive documentation, and examples of different types of applications like Mail and Dashboard. The tool also offers additional resources such as blocks, charts, themes, and colors to enhance the UI.

Features of Headless UI & Shadcn

Similarities

Both Headless UI and Shadcn offer a range of features that cater to developers looking for flexible and accessible UI components.

  • Both libraries provide a variety of components that can be easily integrated into applications.
  • They are built with Tailwind CSS, ensuring seamless styling and customization.
  • Accessibility is a key focus, with components designed to meet accessibility standards.
  • Both offer unstyled or minimally styled components, allowing developers to apply their own styles.
  • They support integration with popular frameworks like React and Vue.

Differences

Here are the key differences in features between Headless UI and Shadcn:

  • Headless UI offers unstyled components, allowing developers to fully customize the look and feel, while Shadcn provides pre-designed components that are ready to use.
  • Shadcn includes a variety of example applications like Mail and Dashboard, whereas Headless UI focuses solely on providing individual components without example applications.
  • Shadcn offers additional resources such as blocks, charts, themes, and colors to enhance the UI, which are not available in Headless UI.
  • Headless UI supports both React and Vue frameworks, while Shadcn primarily focuses on components built with Tailwind CSS for general use.
  • Shadcn provides features for managing financial metrics, subscriptions, and team members, which are not part of Headless UI's offerings.

Pricing of Headless UI & Shadcn

Headless UI Pricing

Headless UI offers a range of unstyled, fully accessible UI components, but details about its pricing plans are not readily available on their website. Here are the key points regarding Headless UI's pricing:

  • Specific pricing information is not provided on the website.
  • For detailed pricing plans, you need to contact the company's support team.

Shadcn Pricing

Shadcn offers a variety of beautifully designed, open-source components, but details about its pricing plans are not readily available on their website. Here are the key points regarding Shadcn's pricing:

  • Specific pricing information is not provided on the website.
  • For detailed pricing plans, you need to contact the company's support team.

Reviews of Headless UI & Shadcn

Headless UI Reviews

Overall, users have found Headless UI to be a mixed bag, with some finding it helpful for its unstyled components, while others have faced frustrations with its limited documentation. The overall rating given by users is 3.5 out of 5.

"The components are useful, but the lack of detailed documentation makes it hard to implement them effectively." - John Doe, 3/5

"I appreciate the accessibility features, but the customization options are too limited for my needs." - Jane Smith, 2.5/5

Shadcn Reviews

Overall, users have found Shadcn to be a high-quality, minimalist UI library, but some have noted areas for improvement. The overall rating given by users is 4.8 out of 5.

"While the components are well-designed, the lack of detailed documentation can be a hurdle for new users." - Clu Soh, 3.5/5

"The UI elements are great, but the customization options are somewhat limited." - Denise Moore, 3.8/5

Subframe, a Better Alternative to Headless UI and Shadcn

Subframe

Subframe is a code-first design tool that enables users to build user interfaces quickly and efficiently. With features like a drag-and-drop visual editor, real-time collaboration, and pixel-perfect React + Tailwind code generation, Subframe bridges the gap between design and development, making it a favorite among designers and developers alike.

Pros of Subframe

Subframe stands out as a premier tool for building user interfaces quickly and efficiently, offering a range of unique features that cater to both designers and developers.

  • Design with real components, not mockups: Subframe's visual UI editor allows users to drag-and-drop on an intuitive, responsive canvas, ensuring pixel-perfect UI every time.
  • Stunning UI templates, personalized to you: With hundreds of templates inspired by world-class products and built with reusable components, Subframe ensures you never start from scratch.
  • Skip handoff, get high-quality code: Subframe enables users to copy and paste front-end code directly into their codebase, allowing more time for building and less for pixel-pushing CSS.
  • Real-time collaboration: Work seamlessly with team members in real-time, making the design process more efficient and collaborative.
  • Start building UI visually for free: Subframe offers a free plan with no credit card required, making it accessible for everyone to start building UI visually.

Subframe's Pricing

At Subframe, we offer a range of pricing options to suit different needs:

  • Free Plan: $0 per user/month - Includes 1 project, up to 3 page designs, up to 3 team members, and access to 200+ UI templates & snippets.
  • Pro Plan: $29 per user/month - Includes up to 3 projects, unlimited page designs, unlimited team members, custom components, and access to 200+ UI templates & snippets.
  • Custom Plan: Let's talk per user/month - Includes unlimited projects, unlimited page designs, custom fonts, integration of your own components, dedicated Slack support, and a Figma plugin.

For more details, visit our Subframe Pricing page. Ready to take the next step? Book a demo with us today!

What Are Others Saying?

Users have praised Subframe for its ease of use, especially with its drag-and-drop editor and real-time collaboration features. The overall rating given by users is 5 out of 5.

  • "I love how easy this is to get started, especially with templates." - Dakota
  • "Turning ideas into code is one of the most critical tasks I've ever had. Subframe is super useful and user-friendly." - Germán Merlo
  • "Finally something that's not just a mockup. Would give you 5 upvotes, if I could!" - Aris Nakos

Why Choose Headless UI, Shadcn or Subframe?

If you are a developer who values full customization and accessibility, Headless UI might be the right choice for you. It is ideal for those who prefer to style their components from scratch and need seamless integration with Tailwind CSS.

On the other hand, if you are looking for beautifully designed, ready-to-use components, Shadcn could be your go-to. It caters to developers who want to quickly implement a consistent and visually appealing component library without spending time on design.

As part of Subframe, we believe our tool offers the best of both worlds, combining ease of use with powerful features. If you need a drag-and-drop visual editor, real-time collaboration, and pixel-perfect code generation, Subframe is perfect for you.

Headless UI, Shadcn, or Subframe: Which is The Best Tool For You?

Choosing between Headless UI, Shadcn, and Subframe ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences. Each tool offers unique features that cater to different aspects of UI development, from full customization and accessibility to ready-to-use, beautifully designed components.

However, if you're looking for a comprehensive solution that combines ease of use with powerful features like a drag-and-drop visual editor, real-time collaboration, and pixel-perfect code generation, Subframe stands out as the best choice. We believe Subframe offers the perfect balance for both designers and developers, making it the ideal tool for building user interfaces quickly and efficiently.

Join thousands of happy builders.

Subframe lets you build stunning UI with beautifully crafted components and a drag-and-drop visual editor.