Greatest React UI Element Libraries — SitePoint

On this article, we’ll evaluation a number of the finest React UI part libraries and clarify how to decide on the fitting one for you. The article is written primarily for newbie React builders, however you’ll want some familiarity with React’s particular phrases.

React powers the consumer interfaces (UI) of greater than 10 million web sites all over the world. Whereas the bottom library of React is stable, there are a number of part libraries full of precious design components on your React app or internet growth venture.

Let’s have a look at the preferred React UI libraries on GitHub that will help you discover one of the best React UI library on your present venture. We’ll analyze their software in growth, deliver examples, and have a look at their recognition amongst builders based mostly on utilization statistics from GitHub and npm.

Let’s begin with why you ought to be enthusiastic about utilizing a React UI library within the first place. However If you wish to get began with the listing straight away, soar right here.

Key Takeaways

• React UI part libraries supply quite a few advantages together with time financial savings, beginner-friendly design, customizable elements, and confirmed compatibility throughout units.
• MUI (previously Materials-UI) is extremely fashionable with over 745,000 tasks on GitHub, providing a complete design system based mostly on Google’s Materials Design.
• React-Bootstrap is notable for its compatibility with Bootstrap themes and its use in over 605,000 GitHub tasks, making it ultimate for each rookies and skilled builders conversant in Bootstrap.
• Ant Design, utilized by giants like Alibaba and over 255,000 GitHub tasks, is tailor-made for enterprise-level functions with in depth documentation and customization choices.
• Chakra UI stands out for its simplicity and give attention to accessibility, serving over 20,000 tasks on GitHub with a powerful emphasis on creating environment friendly consumer experiences with much less coding.
• Theme UI and Rebass are geared in direction of builders seeking to construct customized themes and design programs with a minimalistic method, highlighting flexibility and ease of use.
• Blueprint is optimized for advanced, data-dense desktop functions, not totally mobile-responsive, utilized in over 9,800 tasks, and presents in depth customization choices for growing distinctive consumer interfaces.

Do I would like a React UI Element Library?

Every React part library has professionals and cons, which we’ll focus on in additional element beneath. However on the whole, utilizing any part library can have many advantages that may allow you to when working in your React venture:

Benefits of Utilizing a React UI Library

• Newbie-friendly: A UI library React rookies can make the most of comes with prebuilt elements like buttons, kind fields, and so on. So, as a newbie, you gained’t have to determine find out how to create any of the required components from scratch. As an alternative, you may give attention to the implementation and customization with the assistance of the documentation.
• Sooner prototyping: With ready-made React elements at your disposal, you may rapidly create a number of functioning prototypes. This implies you may show that the design idea is functioning with out spending an excessive amount of time on any particulars.
• Saves time: Utilizing a React part library saves time not solely when prototyping, but additionally when already working in your React venture. It allows you to write much less code, as you gained’t have to put in writing all of the types your self.
• Recognizable elements by customers: Innovation, to a sure extent, helps your venture stand out. Nonetheless, an excessive amount of innovation in designing UX/UI can put customers off. Because the UI components in libraries are designed to be common, they gained’t trigger any friction on your customers.
• Customizable elements: Regardless of being common, most components might be custom-made, no less than to some extent. Every library offers you a unique quantity of management over the customization, however you’ll be capable to guarantee your web site doesn’t look an excessive amount of like many others.
• Confirmed compatibility throughout units: Most prebuilt UI elements are mobile-responsive by default, so that you gained’t must put a lot further effort into guaranteeing your React venture works on various kinds of units.
• Accessible by default: Hottest React UI part libraries have built-in accessibility options and even totally adhere to WCAG or different requirements and finest practices. Due to this, you gained’t have to fret about self-coding semantic tags or keyboard navigation.
• Crowd-sourced: UI part libraries usually have their communities centered round GitHub. This implies customers can elevate points, request options, and simply develop into library contributors.

Disadvantages of Utilizing a React UI Library

Regardless of these many upsides, even one of the best React UI part libraries have some downsides that it’s best to contemplate earlier than you commit to 1:

• Customizing elements might be troublesome. Relying on the particular library you select, the benefit of customizing elements differs. With some React libraries, you get primitive elements that should be closely custom-made by the developer, however with others, getting the outcome you need might be difficult.
• Related internet design with different websites. Every React UI library has its design system, so when you select to make use of a well-liked library however don’t customise the elements or theme sufficient, your web site can find yourself trying similar to different websites utilizing the identical library — in some instances, even unoriginal. Nonetheless, relying in your venture, which may not be a difficulty in any respect.
• Assist depends on the neighborhood. Most React UI libraries don’t supply official assist however as a substitute information their customers to Stack Overflow, GitHub, Discord, or different related channels. With much less fashionable libraries, the neighborhood is smaller, and getting assist might be extra sophisticated.

Because you now perceive the professionals and cons of utilizing React UI part libraries, let’s check out the preferred libraries based mostly on GitHub statistics. We’ve listed the libraries based mostly on their variety of lively tasks on GitHub, beginning with the preferred.

By the top of this put up, it is possible for you to to resolve what’s the finest UI library for React tasks.

1. Radix Primitives

Radix UI is a contemporary part library with a lot of unstyled, accessible React elements. Not like many different part libraries, Radix UI focuses on delivering primitives that enable builders to design from scratch. Radix UI presents 4 predominant libraries to facilitate UI growth:

• Radix Themes: This library gives customizable themes that work seamlessly with Radix Primitives.
• Radix Primitives: These are the core unstyled and accessible UI elements.
• Radix Colours: A group of fastidiously crafted coloration palettes for UI elements.
• Radix Icons: A set of open-source icons designed for use alongside Radix Primitives or as standalone components in any React venture.

Radix Primitives is the principle a part of this assortment, which gives low-level constructing blocks to create customized UIs whereas guaranteeing accessibility, interactivity, and keyboard assist. Radix Primitives is nearly constructed utilizing TypeScript and has greater than 8.9 million weekly NPM downloads.

Options of Radix Primitives

• All primitives are designed with accessibility in thoughts. They meet WCAG requirements to make sure everybody makes use of your software.
• Radix Primitives comply with the WAI-ARIA tips.
• Light-weight and optimized for efficiency.
• Present smart focus administration defaults.
• All elements share the same API.
• Every part is its personal independently versioned bundle.

With Radix Primitives, you may give attention to creating distinctive designs with out sacrificing accessibility or efficiency. The image beneath reveals some generally used primitives like dialogs, dropdown menus, and sliders:

2. MUI (previously Materials-UI)

MUI is a simple and customizable React elements library based mostly on Google’s Materials Design. It’s utilized by greater than 4.1 million weekly NPM downloads and is constructed on 55.8% TypeScript and 44% JavaScript. MUI shouldn’t be merely a part library however a whole design system. It incorporates a healthful system of tips, design ideas, and finest practices of UI design.

Options of MUI

• It presents a lot of React elements which can be appropriate for all kinds of general-purpose growth tasks.
• You need to use the prevailing Materials Design elements, customise them, or create your personal design system.
• Primarily based on Google’s Materials Design system and extensively used throughout Google’s platforms.
• MUI elements can have a distinctly Google-like appear and feel, making it a perfect selection for constructing Android apps.
• Present an in depth documentation.

Nonetheless, the customization choices of this library are restricted, and your app would possibly find yourself trying like it’s related to Google. Nonetheless, seeing how a lot MUI is used and what number of GitHub stars it has, it’s the most effective UI library for React tasks.

MUI is utilized by medium.com, Scale AI, and UNIQLO, amongst others. If you happen to’d like to think about another, strive Enlite Prime, which is roofed in our information to one of the best Materials UI themes, can be a superb possibility.

The image beneath reveals an instance of MUI ranking variants.

You’ll be able to set up the MUI elements library utilizing npm or Yarn:

// npm
npm set up @mui/materials @emotion/react @emotion/styled

// yarn
yarn add @mui/materials @emotion/react @emotion/styled

3. Ant Design

Ant Design is one other fashionable React UI library created by Alibaba, and it has over 1.6 million weekly NPM downloads. It describes itself as a design system for enterprise-level customers. Ant Design presents a big set of high-quality elements for constructing total UI frameworks rapidly — or you may simply use particular person elements. The library is constructed on 99.2% TypeScript and 0.8% unspecified code.

Options of Ant Design

• It’s fairly simple to get began with Ant Design because it has nice documentation that features loads of tips, examples, and variants.
• It’s additionally a sturdy platform for customizing the prevailing elements and themes.
• It helps many third-party React libraries and a number of other of its personal merchandise, like AntV Knowledge Visualization, Ant Design Charts, and Ant Design Cellular.
• Though Ant Design looks like an enormous library to totally embrace (at 1.2 MB), it’s tree-shakable. So, the manufacturing construct will solely embrace the used elements.

Along with Alibaba, Ant Design can be utilized by the likes of Lenovo and Toyota, displaying it’s an excellent selection for high-level enterprise tasks. It additionally has extra stars on GitHub than React Bootstrap, which proves its greatness.

The picture beneath reveals an instance of icon variants in Ant Design.

You’ll be able to set up Ant Design elements utilizing npm or Yarn:

// npm
npm set up antd

// yarn
yarn add antd

4. React-Bootstrap

React-Bootstrap is likely one of the oldest React UI part libraries in GitHub, and it has greater than 1.2 million weekly NPM downloads. It’s a rebuild of the favored frontend framework Bootstrap utilizing React. The library is principally constructed on 65.3% TypeScript and 22% JavaScript. The most recent launch of React-Bootstrap is appropriate with the most up-to-date Bootstrap model, 5.3.

Options of React Bootstrap

• The library consists of ready-made elements which can be totally responsive and accessible.
• All of the design components are additionally extremely customizable.
• React-Bootstrap can be utilized for UI foundations, web sites, and designing functions.
• It’s appropriate with hundreds of Bootstrap themes.
• You’ll be able to simply create customized themes if you already know the lessons and variants outlined in Bootstrap.
• You’ll be able to solely import the person elements you want, which may also help reduce the whole quantity of code.
• It’s a beginner-friendly library and has good documentation.

On the draw back, when you’re conversant in Bootstrap and resolve to decide on React-Bootstrap on your venture, you’ll must be taught a brand new API. Furthermore, in comparison with different libraries, like MUI or Ant Design, React-Bootstrap has a smaller set of elements.

Nonetheless, React-Bootstrap’s recognition is a transparent signal that it’s an excellent selection for all kinds of growth tasks. And when you’re already conversant in Bootstrap, it may well really feel pure to make use of React-Bootstrap, too.

The picture beneath reveals an instance of React-Bootstrap’s button variants.

You’ll be able to set up React Bootstrap utilizing npm or yarn:

// npm
npm set up react-bootstrap

// yarn
yarn add react-bootstrap

5. Chakra UI

With over 586,000 weekly NPM downloads, Chakra UI presents easy, modular, and customizable React elements for internet growth. Chakra UI codebase contains 62.1% MDX, 34.8% TypeScript, and three.1% JavaScript.

Options of Chakra UI

• All of the elements are optimized for darkish mode.
• Absolutely appropriate with the WAI-ARIA accessibility customary.
• Customizing the elements and themes is sort of simple, because of type props.
• It focuses rather a lot on the method of growth, with a promise that you simply’ll spend much less time writing code and extra time constructing an excellent consumer expertise.
• Present a superb documentation.

Nonetheless, Chakra UI nonetheless lacks some options and elements in comparison with libraries like React Bootstrap. So, it’s best used for small to medium-sized growth tasks requiring just a few elements or superior options.

The picture beneath reveals an instance of checkbox variants in Chakra UI.

You’ll be able to set up Chakra UI and its elements utilizing npm or Yarn:

// npm
npm i @chakra-ui/react @emotion/react @emotion/styled framer-motion

// yarn
yarn add @chakra-ui/react @emotion/react @emotion/styled framer-motion

6. Mantine

Mantine is one other fashionable React part library with greater than 500,000 weekly NPM downloads. It gives over 100 customizable and accessible elements, hooks, and utilities for constructing trendy internet functions. Mantine helps TypeScript out of the field and works nicely with fashionable CSS-in-JS libraries. Mantine codebase contains 79.9% TypeScript, 15.1 MDX and 4.9% CSS.

Options of Mantine

• Free and open supply.
• Affords a various set of elements, from primary UI components like buttons to extra advanced components like notifications and modals.
• All elements and hooks export varieties.
• Helps all trendy frameworks: Subsequent.js, Remix.
• Features a extremely versatile theming system.
• Helps darkish mode out of the field.

Mantine has over 200 contributors and is quickly rising in recognition, making it a powerful selection for contemporary React growth. The beneath picture reveals some fashionable Mantine elements:

You’ll be able to set up Mantine utilizing npm or Yarn:

// npm
npm set up @mantine/core @mantine/hooks

// yarn
yarn add @mantine/core @mantine/hooks

7. Shadcn

Shadcn is likely one of the newest React elements libraries out there. Though it has been solely a yr since Shadcn was launched, it already has greater than 84,000 weekly NPM downloads. Shadcn is constructed on high of Radix Primitives. Therefore, all of the elements are unstyled and accessibility-focused, permitting builders to type their elements based mostly on distinctive necessities. Shadcn is constructed on 91.4% TypeScript, 7% MDX, and 1.1% CSS.

Options of Shadcn

• Shadcn comes with full TypeScript assist, offering builders with sturdy kind security.
• Shadcn elements are extremely composable.
• Elements are unstyled. Therefore, they are often simply themable.
• Shadcn works nicely with fashionable animation libraries.
• Makes use of tree-shaking, guaranteeing that solely the elements you utilize are included within the ultimate bundle.
• It gives utility hooks that may simplify state administration and deal with UI interactions.

Shadcn is right for builders who need to construct accessible, versatile, and high-performance UIs with full management over styling and theming. The beneath picture reveals an instance of Shadcn mail elements:

You may get began with Shadcn utilizing npm or Yarn:

// npm
npm set up shadcn-ui

// yarn
yarn add shadcn-ui

8. Reactstrap

With greater than 484,000+ weekly NPM downloads, Reactstrap presents easy and self-contained elements for Bootstrap 5.1. Its’ UI components are responsive, easy in design, and relevant to quite a lot of tasks. Reactstrap codebase contains 82.4% JavaScript, 16.5% TypeScript, and 1.1% unspecified code.

Options of Reactstrap

• You need to use Reactstrap for full UI growth or solely use particular person elements.
• It presents nice flexibility and prebuilt validation, which is nice for rapidly constructing lovely varieties with an excellent consumer expertise.
• Rookies can simply get began with Reactstrap since it’s a easy library.
• There’s an honest neighborhood round Reactstrap.
• Many free and premium Reactstrap themes can be found to hurry up your growth course of.

All in all, Reactstrap is much like React-Bootstrap, with a couple of small variations. If you happen to like working with Bootstrap, you may simply select both on your venture.

However, as Reactstrap is a comparatively new React part library in comparison with different mentions on this listing, it has a small assortment of elements. Then once more, this generally is a good factor when you’re aiming for a easy design. The official Reactstrap documentation is thorough however primarily consists of code and solely has a couple of explanations.

The picture beneath reveals an instance of button dropdown variants in Reactstrap.

To make use of Reactstrap, you first want to put in Bootstrap:

// npm
npm set up bootstrap

// yarn
yarn add bootstrap

Then you may set up Reactstrap utilizing npm or Yarn:

// npm
npm set up reactstrap react react-dom

// yarn
yarn add reactstrap

9. Semantic UI React

Utilized by greater than 266,000 weekly NPM downloads, Semantic UI React is a frontend part library for ready-made, mobile-responsive options. Because the title suggests, it’s the official React integration of the Semantic UI growth framework, recognized for its responsive, human-friendly HTML code. It’s constructed on 99.9% JavaScript and 0.1% TypeScript.

Options of Semantic UI React

• The Semantic UI React library gives a number of variations for every part. So, you’ll almost definitely be capable to discover an present part appropriate on your use case.
• You’ll be able to customise every part to suit your design by modifying the SCSS stylesheets.
• You need to use the Semantic UI React library on your venture or solely set up particular person components.
• Since Semantic UI was created for internet growth, Semantic UI React can be extra fitted to internet growth tasks than cell apps.

Nonetheless, the unique Semantic UI framework is not maintained, and never all of the elements are totally accessible by default.

Nonetheless, Semantic UI React goes sturdy and is an effective selection for rookies seeking to construct responsive internet apps. It has human-friendly code, nice documentation with loads of examples, and a code sandbox for every part.

The picture beneath reveals an instance of label elements in Semantic UI React.

YYou can set up Semantic UI React elements utilizing npm or Yarn:

// npm
npm set up semantic-ui-react semantic-ui-css

// yran
yarn add semantic-ui-react semantic-ui-css

After set up, import the minified CSS file in your app’s entry file:

import 'semantic-ui-css/semantic.min.css'

10. Blueprint

With greater than 181,000 weekly NPM downloads, Blueprint options over 40 modern-day elements in its library. The principle focus of Blueprint is constructing a React UI for advanced data-dense desktop functions; due to this fact, it’s not totally mobile-responsive. Blueprint is constructed on 89.1% TypeScript, 7.6% SCSS, 2.7% JavaScript, 0.3% Shell, and 0.2% HTML.

Options of Blueprint

• Blueprint permits you to set up the core bundle with elementary elements and add extra part packages as wanted, reminiscent of Datetime, Icons, and Desk packages.
• You’ll be able to import solely the required elements, optimizing your venture’s bundle measurement.
• Affords solely a default mild theme and a darkish mode theme, with no extra prebuilt themes.
• Supplies ample room for personalization, permitting you to switch lessons, coloration themes, and typography.
• Blueprint has complete and detailed documentation.

Blueprint might be one of the best React part library for you if you wish to construct a data-dense desktop software with lovely pre-made elements. However, like Theme UI and Rebass, the neighborhood isn’t very massive but, so discovering assist may very well be difficult. And, in fact, it’s not very appropriate for cell apps.

The picture beneath reveals an instance of icon variants in Blueprint.

You may get began with Blueprint’s core elements and set up them utilizing npm or Yarn:

// npm
npm set up @blueprintjs/core

// yarn
yarn add @blueprintjs/core

Create Distinctive Designs by Utilizing a React UI Element Library

Constructing an software might be far more easy utilizing ready-made React UI elements. By customizing the elements to your particular wants, you gained’t have to begin from scratch and may create a novel design rapidly.

Right here’s a fast abstract of the appropriate use instances of the libraries lined on this put up:

• For a massive variety of prebuilt elements and nice documentation, it’s best to look into MUI, Ant Design, Semantic UI React, Blueprint, and Mantine.
• If you happen to’re on the lookout for a library for cell app growth, then strive MUI, React-Bootstrap, and Ant Design. You need to use these for each Android and iOS apps, though MUI is healthier fitted to Android.
• Blueprint is particularly appropriate for data-dense desktop functions.
• If out-of-the-box accessibility is vital in your React venture, then it’s best to contemplate MUI, React-Bootstrap, Chakra UI, or Blueprint.
• React-Bootstrap and Reactstrap are good for compatibility with Bootstrap themes.
• For primitive elements, check out Radix Primitives and Shadcn.

We suggest you discover the preferred React UI part libraries lined on this put up. They’ll assist kickstart your React app or internet growth venture.

Which React part libraries have you ever used and which one from the listing would you utilize on your subsequent venture? Share your ideas on Twitter and tag @sitepointdotcom.

FAQs About React UI Element Libraries and Materials UI

What Is a React UI Element Library?

A React UI part library is a set of pre-designed, reusable consumer interface components (elements) for constructing internet functions utilizing React. These libraries present a constant and environment friendly solution to create a consumer interface with React.

Why Ought to I Use a React UI Element Library?

Utilizing a UI part library saves effort and time in UI growth by offering ready-made, well-tested elements that comply with finest practices. It ensures a constant appear and feel all through your software and may enhance growth velocity.

What Are Some Well-liked React UI Element Libraries?

Well-liked React part libraries embrace MUI, Ant Design, Radix Primitives, Mantine, Shadcn, React-Bootstrap, and Chakra UI, amongst others.

Are React UI Element Libraries Appropriate with State Administration Libraries Like Redux or Mobx?

Sure, React UI part libraries are appropriate with numerous state administration options. You’ll be able to combine them into your software whatever the state administration library you select.

Are UI Element Libraries Cellular-Responsive?

Sure, most React part libraries are designed to be responsive, guaranteeing that the elements adapt nicely to completely different display sizes, together with cell units and tablets.

What Is Materials-UI, and Why Ought to I Take into account Utilizing It in My React App?

Materials-UI is a well-liked open-source library that gives a set of customizable, high-quality React elements following the Materials Design tips. It permits you to create visually interesting and responsive consumer interfaces rapidly.

How Do I Get Began with Materials-UI in My React Software?

To get began, you may set up Materials-UI utilizing npm or yarn. Then, you may import and use Materials-UI elements in your React software.

How Do I Customise the Look of Materials-UI Elements to Match My App’s Design?

Materials-UI gives in depth theming assist. You’ll be able to create a customized theme utilizing the createTheme perform and override theme variables to match your app’s design. For newer variations, think about using the sx prop or the styled API for extra superior styling choices.

Can I Use Materials-UI Elements in Conjunction with My Personal CSS Types?

Sure, you may combine Materials-UI elements together with your customized CSS types. Materials-UI elements mean you can cross className and elegance props, so you may apply your personal styling alongside Materials-UI’s styling.

Can I Use A number of React UI Element Libraries within the Identical Challenge?

Sure, you need to use a number of React part libraries inside the similar venture. Nonetheless, it’s vital to be aware of potential styling conflicts, variations in design ideas, and elevated bundle measurement.

What Are the Most important Variations Between React-Bootstrap and Reactstrap?

Each React-Bootstrap and Reactstrap supply elements based mostly on Bootstrap. React-Bootstrap is a extra mature library with a bigger neighborhood the place as Reactstrap is a little more light-weight and versatile.

Can I Customise Themes in React UI Element Libraries?

Sure, most React UI part libraries enable for some stage of theme customization. For instance, libraries like MUI, Ant Design, Mantine, Chakra UI, Radix Primitives, and Shadcn supply in depth theming capabilities and instruments for customizing elements.