5 UI component libraries to build custom apps in 2024
Short version: I'm tired of every new project being a new CSS framework decision. Here's the shortlist I actually ship with.
The list
- shadcn/ui — not a library, a copy-paste pattern. You own the code, you control the design system. Default pick for me in 2024.
- Radix UI primitives — what shadcn is built on. Useful when you need a specific primitive (dialog, dropdown) and don't want the whole kit.
- Tailwind UI — paid, but the marketing sections alone pay for themselves the first time you launch a landing page.
- Aceternity UI — for when the product needs to feel "2024 web" (animated, motion-heavy). Good on landings, overkill in a dashboard.
- NextUI / HeroUI — the middle ground between "full framework" and "copy-paste components." Clean defaults.
How I choose
It comes down to two questions: do I want to own the components, and does the design system need to be distinctive. shadcn wins on the first, Tailwind UI wins on the second.