Headless UI vs. Shadcn UI
By SW Habitation
Headless UI
Shadcn UI
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 Headless UI?
Headless UI is an unstyled component library built by the creators of Tailwind CSS. It provides completely unstyled, accessible components for React and Vue.
It’s a perfect fit if you use Tailwind CSS and want flexible UI primitives without being locked into a pre-designed style.
Key Features of Headless UI
- UI Primitives for React: Includes Dialog, Menu, Listbox, Disclosure, Combobox, Tabs, etc.
- Works with Tailwind: Designed to be styled easily with Tailwind CSS.
- Fully Accessible: Handles keyboard interactions, focus states, ARIA roles.
- Transition Support: Built-in transitions using the <Transition> component.
- React + Vue Support: Available for both major frameworks.
- Simple API: Easy-to-use component structure for common UI patterns.
Advantages of Headless UI
- Easy to integrate with Tailwind CSS.
- Extremely lightweight and focused API.
- Comes with transition utilities for easy animations.
- Provides both React and Vue versions.
- Ideal for Tailwind-first projects needing flexibility.
Disadvantages of Headless UI
- Limited component set fewer primitives than others.
- Strongly tied to Tailwind ecosystem in examples and community.
- Transition component only supports basic animations not Framer Motion.
- Not suitable if you want full control outside Tailwind workflow.
- No TypeScript-first approach less complete typings than others.
What is Shadcn UI?
Shadcn UI is a beautiful and modern component library built on top of Radix UI, styled with Tailwind CSS, and intended for Next.js projects. It offers accessible, production-ready components with theming, variants, and built-in dark mode support.
You install components via CLI and get full control over the code.
Key Features of Shadcn UI
- Built on Radix Primitives: Accessibility and flexibility included.
- Tailwind CSS Styling: Easy customisation with utility-first approach.
- CLI Installation: Add only the components you need.
- Dark Mode Support: Pre-configured light and dark theme switching.
- TypeScript Friendly: Built entirely with TypeScript.
- Optimised for Next.js: Uses App Router structure and conventions.
Advantages of Shadcn UI
- Pre-styled and fast to use, ideal for building modern apps quickly.
- Easily theme-able using Tailwind and variants.
- Components are accessible by default.
- Ideal for SaaS apps, dashboards, and websites.
- Each component is editable because you own the code.
Disadvantages of Shadcn UI
- Requires Tailwind CSS, less suitable if you're not using Tailwind.
- Not suitable for other frameworks like Vue or Angular.
- Depends on Radix primitives, understanding Radix helps.
- Bundle size can grow if you install too many components.
- You need to manage components in your codebase manually.
Comparison Between Headless UI vs Shadcn UI
Use Cases of Headless UI
- Projects using Tailwind CSS (especially with React/Vue)
- Lightweight React or Vue apps needing basic headless components
- MVPs or quick prototypes with Tailwind
- Simpler UIs where you don’t need deep customization
- Beginners or solo developers familiar with Tailwind CSS
Use Cases of Shadcn UI
- Fast development for SaaS products and dashboards
- Admin panels, marketing websites, and eCommerce platforms
- React/Next.js projects with Tailwind CSS setup
- Projects requiring built-in light/dark theming
- Startups and devs who want pre-built UI with flexibility
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
What is Headless UI used for?
It provides unstyled, accessible components like dialogs, lists, and menus — perfect for Tailwind-based UIs.
Does Headless UI support Vue?
Yes, it supports both React and Vue.
Is Headless UI styled by default?
No. It gives full control over design; you provide all styling (often with Tailwind CSS).
Does Headless UI handle accessibility?
Yes, it handles keyboard nav, focus traps, ARIA roles, and screen reader compatibility.
Can I animate Headless UI components?
Yes, using the built-in <Transition> component — though it's basic compared to animation libraries.
What is Shadcn UI?
It’s a modern UI library built using Radix UI components, styled with Tailwind CSS, and ready for React apps.
Is Shadcn UI customizable?
Yes, heavily! It uses Tailwind for full styling control and supports variants.
Does Shadcn UI support dark mode?
Yes, via Tailwind’s dark mode and included config setup.
Is Shadcn UI production-ready?
Absolutely. It’s ideal for building sleek, modern, accessible UIs with minimal setup.
Does Shadcn UI work with other frameworks like Vue?
No, it’s built for React (especially Next.js) and not compatible with Vue or Angular.