Shadcn vs Radix: Which One is Better in 2025?

When it comes to choosing the right UI component library, Shadcn and Radix are two popular options that often come up in discussions. This article delves into a detailed comparison of their features, pricing, and limitations to help you make an informed decision.

Whether you're a developer looking for flexibility or a business aiming for cost-efficiency, understanding the nuances of Shadcn and Radix can significantly impact your project's success. Let's explore what each has to offer.

Overview of Shadcn and Radix

What is Shadcn?

Shadcn offers a collection of open-source components designed to be easily integrated into applications. These components are built using Tailwind CSS, facilitating the creation of consistent and visually appealing user interfaces.

The main features of Shadcn include a comprehensive component library, Tailwind CSS integration, and extensive customization options. Additionally, it provides example applications and detailed documentation to assist developers in utilizing the tool effectively.

What is Radix?

Radix UI is an open-source component library that aims to optimize the development process by providing pre-built, accessible components. It allows developers to quickly import and use these components without requiring any configuration.

Key features of Radix include predefined themes, basic building blocks for UI components, and a collection of icons. Additionally, it offers a set of color schemes, comprehensive documentation, and an interactive playground for testing components.

Features of Shadcn & Radix

Similarities

Both Shadcn and Radix offer a range of features that make them popular choices for developers looking to streamline their UI development process.

• Open Source: Both libraries are open-source, allowing for community contributions and free usage.
• Component Libraries: Each provides a comprehensive library of pre-built UI components that can be easily integrated into applications.
• Customization Options: Both offer extensive customization options, including themes and color schemes, to tailor the UI to specific needs.
• Documentation: Detailed documentation is available for both, helping developers get started and make the most of the components.
• Integration Capabilities: Both libraries support easy integration into existing projects, facilitating a smooth development process.

Differences

Here are the biggest differences in features between Shadcn and Radix:

• Application Examples: Shadcn provides examples of different application types like Mail, Dashboard, and Tasks, which Radix does not offer.
• Interactive Elements: Shadcn includes interactive UI elements such as calendars and payment management tables, whereas Radix focuses more on basic building blocks and themes.
• Notification Settings: Radix offers comprehensive notification settings, including Slack, email, and push notifications, which are not available in Shadcn.
• Financial Performance Review: Radix provides tools for reviewing financial performance and KPIs, a feature not found in Shadcn.
• App Integrations: Radix supports app integrations in its Pro plan, a feature that Shadcn does not include.

Pricing of Shadcn & Radix

Shadcn Pricing

Understanding the pricing structure of Shadcn is crucial for making an informed decision. Here is a summary of the available pricing plans:

• Free Plan: Includes access to all open-source components, basic documentation, and community support.
• Pro Plan: $29/month. Offers advanced components, priority support, and access to premium themes and templates.
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing. Tailored solutions with dedicated support, custom integrations, and on-site training.
• Contact Support: For specific pricing details and custom plans, contacting the company's support team is recommended.

Radix Pricing

Radix offers a variety of pricing plans designed to cater to different needs and team sizes. Here is a summary of the available plans:

• Basic Plan: $0/month
  • 3 team members
  • Expense tracking
  • Invoicing
  • Payment tracking
  • Transaction recording
  • Basic reports
  • Email support
• Growth Plan: $49/month
  • 10 team members
  • Online payments
  • Recurring invoices
  • Bill management
  • Inventory tracking
  • Detailed reports
  • Phone support
• Pro Plan: $99/month
  • Unlimited team members
  • Custom invoices
  • Multi-business
  • Team collaboration
  • App integrations
  • Advanced security
  • Priority support

Each plan includes a 30-day trial of all Pro features, with no credit card required for the trial.

Reviews of Shadcn & Radix

Shadcn Reviews

Overall, users have given Shadcn a rating of 4.8 out of 5. While many found the UI library high quality and time-saving, some users had frustrations with specific aspects.

"The components are great, but the documentation could be more detailed." - Clu Soh, 3.5/5

"Good library, but I encountered some bugs that took a while to fix." - Denise Moore, 3.8/5

Radix Reviews

Overall, users have given Radix a rating of 5 out of 5. While many found the toolkit easy to use and well-documented, some users had specific frustrations.

"I wish Radix would expose the underlying React Contexts of their components for easier modification." - Moritz Tomasi, 4/5

"Great toolkit, but I encountered some issues with customization." - Wouter Raateland, 4/5

Subframe, a Better Alternative to Shadcn and Radix

Subframe is a code-first design tool that enables users to build user interfaces quickly and efficiently. It offers a drag-and-drop visual editor, real-time collaboration, and generates pixel-perfect React and Tailwind CSS code, making it a favorite among both designers and developers.

Pros of Subframe

Subframe stands out as a unique design tool that bridges the gap between designers and developers, offering a seamless experience for building user interfaces.

• 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 generates high-quality React and Tailwind CSS code that can be easily integrated into your codebase, allowing you to focus more on building and less on pixel-pushing CSS.
• Real-time collaboration: Subframe supports real-time collaboration, enabling multiple users to work together seamlessly on the same project.
• Start building UI visually for free: Subframe offers a free plan that allows you to start building user interfaces without requiring a credit card.

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". 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 pricing page. Ready to see Subframe in action? Book a demo with us today!

What Are Others Saying?

Users have given Subframe an overall rating of 5 out of 5. They appreciate its ease of use, especially with templates, and its ability to turn ideas into production-ready UI quickly.

• "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 Shadcn, Radix or Subframe?

If you are a developer who values beautifully designed components and extensive customization options, you might prefer using Shadcn over Radix. Shadcn is ideal for those who are already familiar with Tailwind CSS and want a library that offers example applications and detailed documentation to streamline their development process.

On the other hand, if you prioritize accessibility and ease of maintenance, Radix could be the better choice for you. Radix is perfect for developers and teams who need pre-built, accessible components that can be quickly imported and used without any configuration, making it a great option for fast-paced development environments.

As part of Subframe, we believe you would benefit from using Subframe over both Radix and Shadcn if you are looking for a tool that bridges the gap between design and development. Subframe is tailored for designers and developers who want to collaborate in real-time, use a drag-and-drop visual editor, and generate high-quality React and Tailwind CSS code effortlessly.

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

Choosing between Shadcn, Radix, and Subframe ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences. Shadcn and Radix both offer robust features and customization options that can significantly enhance your development process.

However, if you're looking for a tool that seamlessly bridges the gap between design and development, Subframe stands out as the superior choice. With its drag-and-drop visual editor, real-time collaboration, and high-quality code generation, Subframe offers a comprehensive solution that caters to both designers and developers. We highly recommend giving Subframe a try to experience a more efficient and enjoyable UI building process.