reactstrap vs shadcn/ui
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
React components that wrap Bootstrap 5 styles, so you can build pages with Bootstrap pieces.
Open source · MIT
Copy-in React UI components you customize as your own code, built on Tailwind CSS.
The short answer
Choose reactstrap if you need…
- React developers who already know Bootstrap and want its styling as components
- Teams building admin dashboards or internal tools with Bootstrap look and feel
- Projects that want to avoid jQuery and Bootstrap's own JavaScript
- Developers who prefer composing content through props.children
Choose shadcn/ui if you need…
- Developers building React or Next.js interfaces who want full control over component code
- Teams that want a consistent design system they can change freely
- Designers working with developers who need components that match a custom look
- Projects already using Tailwind CSS, which the topics list suggests is the styling base
Side-by-side
| reactstrap | shadcn/ui | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 10.5k | 127k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | See the README |
| Main language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 2 years ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
reactstrap
Reactstrap is a library of React components for Bootstrap 5, such as buttons, tooltips, and dropdowns. You write React code using these components instead of raw Bootstrap HTML and class names. It does not include Bootstrap's CSS, so you install Bootstrap separately and import it into your project.
shadcn/ui
shadcn/ui is a collection of UI components (buttons, forms and similar pieces) that you add to your own project as source code rather than installing as a locked package. You can then edit, extend and restyle them. The README describes it as a starting point for building your own component library.
Best for
reactstrap
- React developers who already know Bootstrap and want its styling as components
- Teams building admin dashboards or internal tools with Bootstrap look and feel
- Projects that want to avoid jQuery and Bootstrap's own JavaScript
- Developers who prefer composing content through props.children
shadcn/ui
- Developers building React or Next.js interfaces who want full control over component code
- Teams that want a consistent design system they can change freely
- Designers working with developers who need components that match a custom look
- Projects already using Tailwind CSS, which the topics list suggests is the styling base
Strengths
reactstrap
- Stateless components that fit naturally into React code, per the README
- Does not depend on jQuery or Bootstrap's JavaScript
- Documentation site and CodeSandbox examples are provided
shadcn/ui
- Component code lives in your project, so you can change it without waiting on an upstream release
- The README states the components are open source and MIT licensed
- Large community interest, with over 120,000 stars on GitHub
Not ideal for
reactstrap
- Projects using Bootstrap 4, which needs the older Reactstrap v8 according to the README
- People who do not use React, since the library is React-only
- Teams wanting a non-Bootstrap design system, because it is built specifically for Bootstrap styling
shadcn/ui
- People who want a finished, unstyled-free app or website template; this is a set of building blocks
- Developers who do not use React, since the topics point to a React-focused stack
- Beginners without basic web development knowledge, as adapting components requires reading code
Trade-offs
reactstrap
- Bootstrap CSS must be installed and imported separately
- Tied to Bootstrap 5; Bootstrap 4 users must use an older version
shadcn/ui
- Because you own the code, you are responsible for updating components yourself
- The README provided is short, so detailed setup and feature information lives on the external docs site
- Relies on a specific stack (React and Tailwind) as indicated by the topics, which limits use elsewhere
Getting started
reactstrap
Install Bootstrap and reactstrap with React
npm i bootstrapInstall reactstrap with React and React DOM
npm i reactstrap react react-domshadcn/ui
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/shadcn-ui/uiFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between reactstrap and shadcn/ui?
reactstrap: React components that wrap Bootstrap 5 styles, so you can build pages with Bootstrap pieces. shadcn/ui: Copy-in React UI components you customize as your own code, built on Tailwind CSS. reactstrap suits react developers who already know bootstrap and want its styling as components, while shadcn/ui suits developers building react or next.js interfaces who want full control over component code.
Are reactstrap and shadcn/ui free?
reactstrap: Free and open source. shadcn/ui: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, reactstrap or shadcn/ui?
reactstrap is easier to get started with (rated beginner); shadcn/ui is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is reactstrap or shadcn/ui more popular?
shadcn/ui has more GitHub stars (127k) than reactstrap (10.5k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to reactstrap and shadcn/ui?
Other options people compare them with include React-Bootstrap, Recharts, Base UI, BootstrapVue, Preact.
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.