Bulma vs. Vanilla Framework CSS

By SW Habitation

Back to articles

Table of contents

What is Bulma?

Key Features of Bulma

Advantages of Bulma

Disadvantages of Bulma

What is Vanilla Framework CSS?

Key Features of Vanilla Framework

Advantages of Vanilla CSS

Disadvantages of Vanilla Framework

Comparison Between Bulma vs Vanilla Framework CSS

Use Cases of Bulma

Use Cases of Vanilla Framework CSS

Other Resources

Conclusion

Frequently asked questions

Bulma

Vanilla Framework CSS

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 Vanilla Framework CSS?

Vanilla Framework is an open-source, lightweight, and extensible CSS framework developed by Canonical (the creators of Ubuntu). It’s designed to provide a consistent and responsive design foundation without unnecessary bloat. Unlike component-heavy frameworks such as Bootstrap or Foundation, Vanilla focuses on clean base styles, responsive layouts, and utility classes that can be extended into full design systems.

It’s particularly popular for enterprise projects and design systems where consistency, accessibility, and scalability matter more than having hundreds of prebuilt UI widgets.

Key Features of Vanilla Framework

Lightweight & Scalable: Provides only what you need, no bloat.
Responsive Grid System: Built-in grid system for mobile-first design.
Accessibility First: Designed with WCAG compliance in mind.
Design Consistency: Used by Canonical across Ubuntu products.
Sass Support: Highly customizable via Sass variables and mixins.
Framework Agnostic: Works with plain HTML, React, Angular, Vue, or any setup.

Advantages of Vanilla CSS

Good Documentation: Clear guidelines with usage examples.
Clean and Lightweight: Minimal CSS, loads fast, and avoids bloat.
Consistent UI/UX: Ideal for creating unified design systems.
Enterprise-ready: Backed by Canonical, proven in large-scale projects.
Customizable with Sass: Change themes, colors, and spacing easily.
Accessibility Focused: WCAG-compliant components for inclusive design.

Disadvantages of Vanilla Framework

Less Popular in Freelance/Startup Space: Mainly adopted by enterprises like Canonical.
No Built-in JavaScript: Only CSS, you’ll need custom JS for interactivity.
Limited Community Support: Not as popular as Bootstrap or Tailwind.
Learning Curve with Sass: Beginners may find customization tricky.
Smaller Ecosystem: Fewer templates, themes, and third-party plugins.

Comparison Between Bulma vs Vanilla Framework CSS

Features	Bulma	Vanilla Framework CSS
Philosophy	Modern, lightweight, utility-first CSS framework	Modular, composable CSS framework
Ease of Use	Very easy, just add classes	Beginner-friendly, well-documented
Customization	Sass variables, modular imports	Sass variables, modular imports
Design System	Basic — typography, grid, components	Base styles + responsive grid
Responsiveness	Mobile-first flexbox grid	Responsive grid included
File Size	Small to medium	Small - grows with modules used
Learning Curve	Low	Low, but depends on modules chosen
Pricing	Free and open-source	Free & open-source
Best For	Quick landing pages, prototypes, small apps	Websites, dashboards, apps
Styling Method	Sass, CSS classes	Sass, modular CSS imports
Accessibility	Decent, but not as strong as Foundation	Basic, customizable
Dark Mode	Manual implementation	Manual implementation
Framework	Any (HTML/CSS/JS)	Works with any (HTML/CSS/JS)
Bundle Size	Small	Scales based on modules used

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 Vanilla Framework CSS

Company Websites: clean, responsive base styling.
Dashboards & Web Apps: modular grid + utility classes.
Design Systems: consistent Sass variables & mixins.
Prototypes / MVPs: fast setup with pre-styled elements.

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.

You can also compare

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 Vanilla Framework free to use?

Yes, it is open-source and completely free to use under the LGPLv3 license.

Does Vanilla Framework include JavaScript components?

No, it’s a CSS-only framework, so you need to implement JavaScript for dropdowns, modals, etc.

Is Vanilla Framework beginner-friendly?

Yes, for basic usage. But customization requires some knowledge of Sass.

Who uses Vanilla Framework?

It is used by Canonical (Ubuntu) and related projects, but developers can also use it for general web projects.

Should I use Vanilla Framework instead of Bootstrap?

If you want a lightweight, enterprise-ready design system with a focus on accessibility, Vanilla is great. But if you need ready-to-use components with JS support, Bootstrap might be better.