Bulma vs. Mantine
By SW Habitation
Bulma
Mantine
You know how building a website can feel like a lot, especially when you’re trying to style every little thing yourself? Buttons, forms, layouts… it adds up fast. That’s where UI frameworks really save the day. They give you a bunch of premade design elements that you can just drop in and go. It’s like having a design starter pack that helps your site look clean and professional, without spending forever tweaking the details.
What is Bulma?
Bulma is a modern, open-source CSS framework based entirely on Flexbox. Unlike Bootstrap or Foundation, Bulma is a pure CSS framework, it doesn’t come with JavaScript components, which makes it lightweight, simple, and easy to use.
Bulma is especially loved by developers who want a minimalist yet responsive framework for quickly building prototypes, small projects, and clean modern websites.
Key Features of Bulma
- Lightweight: Small file size and fast performance.
- Clean Syntax: Readable, intuitive class naming convention.
- Customizable with Sass: Use Sass variables to easily adjust themes and styles.
- Flexbox-based Grid: Fully powered by Flexbox for responsive and modern layouts.
- Responsive Modifiers: Easy-to-use breakpoints for mobile, tablet, desktop, and widescreen.
- Pure CSS: No JavaScript dependencies — works with any JS framework or vanilla JS.
- Utility Classes: Includes helper classes for spacing, colors, display, typography, and more.
Advantages of Bulma
- Responsive by Default: Built-in responsive utilities.
- Fast Prototyping: Perfect for quick MVPs and small apps.
- Lightweight: No extra JavaScript, only CSS.
- Modern Layouts: Built entirely on Flexbox.
- Cross-Browser Consistency: Works well across modern browsers.
- Beginner-Friendly: Super easy to learn and use.
Disadvantages of Bulma
- Not Ideal for Enterprises: May not scale as well for very large applications.
- No JavaScript Plugins: Requires manual integration for modals, dropdowns, or carousels.
- Smaller Ecosystem: Fewer themes, templates, and community add-ons compared to Bootstrap.
- Limited Components: Doesn’t have as many prebuilt components as Bootstrap or Foundation.
What is Mantine?
Mantine is a React component library with over 100 UI components and 50+ custom hooks, designed to help developers build modern, accessible, and performant UIs. It supports RTL layouts, dark mode, and complete theme customization, all while staying lightweight.
Mantine doesn’t force you into a predefined design system. You build your own style while enjoying great developer experience, full TypeScript support, and zero CSS-in-JS lock-in.
Key Features of Mantine
- 100+ Modular Components: Buttons, modals, tabs, date pickers, accordions, and more.
- 50+ Built-in Hooks: Clipboard, notifications, form validation, hotkeys, modals, etc.
- Full Theming System: Custom colors, fonts, spacing, radii, shadows, etc. with MantineProvider.
- Dark Mode & RTL Support: Native dark mode toggle and right-to-left support out of the box.
- Flexible Styling Options: Use Emotion, CSS Modules, or inline styles — your choice.
- Responsive Design: Built-in Grid and responsive props.
Advantages of Mantine
- Fast Development: Prebuilt components + hooks mean fewer extra dependencies.
- Design Freedom: No locked-in theme or design system — perfect for building your own brand UI.
- Dark Mode + RTL: Native support with easy toggles — no extra setup.
- Hook-Powered: Includes handy hooks like useClipboard, useHotkeys, useForm, etc.
- Lightweight: Optimized and tree-shakable — loads faster with a smaller bundle size.
- Fully Typed: Built with and for TypeScript — no need for custom typings.
Disadvantages of Mantine
- Smaller Community: Limited plugins, templates, and community resources compared to MUI or Bootstrap.
- No Predefined Design System: Offers full freedom but requires extra design effort for polished UIs.
- Still Evolving: Newer framework; some components may lack long-term maturity.
- Lacks Pro-Level Components: No built-in advanced elements like data grids or calendars.
- Low Enterprise Adoption Not yet common in large-scale corporate environments.
Comparison Between Bulma vs Mantine
Use Cases of Bulma
- Prototyping: Developers can spin up layouts rapidly.
- Projects with JS Frameworks: Works seamlessly with React, Vue, Angular, or vanilla JS since it’s pure CSS.
- Portfolios & Blogs: Great for personal projects with minimal setup.
- Startups & MVPs: Perfect for small projects that need quick, clean UI.
Use Cases of Mantine
- Custom UIs with full design freedom
- Modern dashboards, admin panels
- Lightweight SaaS apps
- RTL and dark-mode web apps
- Startups and solo developers
Other Resources
Conclusion
UI frameworks make building a polished website way easier. Whether you're working on something simple or a big project, they help you get things looking just right without having to stress over every little design decision. With ready-to-use components, responsive layouts, and modern styles, you can build faster and smarter.
So, pick one that works for you, and start creating a site that looks amazing from the get-go.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bulma better than Bootstrap?
Bulma is simpler and lighter, great for small projects. Bootstrap is more feature-rich, with JavaScript plugins and a larger ecosystem, making it better for complex apps.
Does Bulma use Flexbox?
Yes, Bulma is 100% built with Flexbox, which makes it modern and responsive out of the box.
Can I use Bulma with React or Vue?
Absolutely! Since Bulma is pure CSS, it integrates easily with any JavaScript framework.
Does Bulma support dark mode?
Not natively, but you can customize Bulma with Sass or community add-ons to implement dark mode.
Is Bulma good for beginners?
Yes, Bulma is one of the most beginner-friendly CSS frameworks due to its clean syntax and simple utility classes.
Is Mantine production-ready?
Yes. Mantine is stable, actively maintained, and used in real-world production apps across various industries.
Does Mantine support dark mode and RTL?
Absolutely. Dark mode and right-to-left (RTL) layout support are built-in and easy to toggle with the theme.
Can I use Mantine without Emotion?
Mantine uses Emotion by default, but you can also style components using inline styles, CSS Modules, or even external CSS.
Does Mantine work with TypeScript?
Yes, Mantine is built with full TypeScript support, including auto-complete, prop types, and IDE hints.
How does Mantine compare to MUI or Chakra UI?
Mantine is more flexible with fewer design constraints. It offers built-in hooks and modern developer experience, while MUI and Chakra follow stricter design systems.