98.css vs HyperUI
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A CSS stylesheet that makes plain HTML look like Windows 98 interface elements.
Open source · MIT
Free, open-source Tailwind CSS UI components you copy and paste into your project.
The short answer
Choose 98.css if you need…
- Web developers making a retro or nostalgic website
- Designers who want Windows 98-style mockups in HTML
- Developers who want a stylesheet with no JavaScript dependency
- Anyone building a novelty or joke app in an old Windows look
Choose HyperUI if you need…
- Developers building marketing sites with Tailwind CSS
- Developers who want starter layouts to adapt rather than build from scratch
- Small teams prototyping web apps or eCommerce pages quickly
- People who want free, MIT-licensed components they can modify freely
Side-by-side
| 98.css | HyperUI | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 11.6k | 12.3k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | See the README |
| Main language | CSS | Astro |
| Last code update | 14 months ago | 12 days ago |
What each one is
98.css
98.css is a CSS file that styles standard HTML elements so they resemble the classic Windows 98 user interface. It contains no JavaScript, so it can be used alongside any frontend framework. People use it to build retro-styled windows, dialogs, and buttons for websites or design projects.
HyperUI
HyperUI is a collection of ready-made user interface pieces, such as sections and layouts, written with Tailwind CSS. You browse components on the website, copy the markup, and paste it into your own Tailwind project. There is no package to install, so you keep full control of the code you use.
Best for
98.css
- Web developers making a retro or nostalgic website
- Designers who want Windows 98-style mockups in HTML
- Developers who want a stylesheet with no JavaScript dependency
- Anyone building a novelty or joke app in an old Windows look
HyperUI
- Developers building marketing sites with Tailwind CSS
- Developers who want starter layouts to adapt rather than build from scratch
- Small teams prototyping web apps or eCommerce pages quickly
- People who want free, MIT-licensed components they can modify freely
Strengths
98.css
- Single CSS file with no JavaScript, so it fits into any frontend stack
- Available via unpkg, npm, and GitHub releases
- MIT licensed
HyperUI
- Free and MIT licensed, so you can reuse the code in your own projects
- Simple workflow: find, copy, paste, with no install step
- Built on Tailwind CSS, which many front-end developers already know
Not ideal for
98.css
- Projects needing a modern, general-purpose UI kit, since it only mimics the Windows 98 look
- Teams that need accessibility guarantees, since the README does not discuss accessibility
HyperUI
- People who need a versioned component package they can update with a package manager, since the README says there is no package to install
- Non-developers who do not use Tailwind CSS, because the markup depends on it
- Teams that need a full framework with built-in logic or interactive components; the README describes copy-paste markup only
Trade-offs
98.css
- Only covers the Windows 98 visual style, not general layout or components beyond what it styles
- The README is brief on component details and points to an external documentation site for those
HyperUI
- No package or version tracking, so updates to components must be applied by hand
- You need an existing Tailwind CSS setup to use the markup well
- The README does not describe the component list or which Tailwind version each piece targets, so check before use
Getting started
HyperUI
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/markmead/hyperuiFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between 98.css and HyperUI?
98.css: A CSS stylesheet that makes plain HTML look like Windows 98 interface elements. HyperUI: Free, open-source Tailwind CSS UI components you copy and paste into your project. 98.css suits web developers making a retro or nostalgic website, while HyperUI suits developers building marketing sites with tailwind css.
Are 98.css and HyperUI free?
98.css: Free and open source. HyperUI: Free and open source.
Is 98.css or HyperUI more popular?
HyperUI has more GitHub stars (12.3k) than 98.css (11.6k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to 98.css and HyperUI?
Other options people compare them with include daisyUI, Primer CSS, TW Elements, Base UI, Headless UI.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.