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reactstrap

React components that wrap Bootstrap 5 styles, so you can build pages with Bootstrap pieces.

GitHub Download v9.2.3
Stars
10.5k
Forks
1.3k
Licence
MIT
Language
JavaScript
Last update
2.1 years ago
Type
Library

No commits in over a year — check for forks or alternatives before adopting.

What it is

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.

  • Build a page layout with Bootstrap buttons, forms, and cards as React components
  • Add tooltips, popovers, or dropdowns that position themselves using react-popper
  • Create a reusable component library on top of reactstrap using the linked component template

Great for

  • 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

Not ideal for

  • 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
Step-by-step guide: how to use reactstrapInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs
reactstrap alternativesReact-Bootstrap vs reactstrapreactstrap vs shadcn/uireactstrap vs Recharts

How to get it

  1. 1

    Install with a package manager

    You'll need: Node.js and npm · React

    Install Bootstrap and reactstrap with React

    npm i bootstrap

    Install reactstrap with React and React DOM

    npm i reactstrap react react-dom
  2. 2

    Run it

    • Run npx create-react-app my-app and cd into my-app/ (per the README's tl;dr)
    • Install bootstrap, reactstrap, react, and react-dom with npm
    • Import 'bootstrap/dist/css/bootstrap.css' in src/index.js
    • Import a component such as Button from 'reactstrap' and use it in your app, then run npm start
  3. 3

    Get the most out of it

    • Pass content through props.children, which the README calls the preferred approach
    • Use the color and size props to apply Bootstrap color and size classes
    • Use the tag prop to change the element a component renders
    • Use the documentation site and CodeSandbox examples to explore components
    • Use the component-template repository if you plan to publish your own components built on reactstrap

Downloads

Source code (.zip)master branch · straight from GitHubRelease v9.2.3Release notes and sourceOfficial website & docsreactstrap.github.io

Strengths

  • 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

Trade-offs

  • Bootstrap CSS must be installed and imported separately
  • Tied to Bootstrap 5; Bootstrap 4 users must use an older version

How it compares

ProjectStarsTypeLevelUpdatedBest for
reactstrap (this)10.5kLibrarybeginner2.1 years agoReact developers who already know Bootstrap and want its styling as components
react-bootstrap22.6kLibrarybeginner6 days agoReact developers who already use Bootstrap styling
ui127kLibraryintermediate4 days agoDevelopers building React or Next.js interfaces who want full control over component code
storybook91.4kDev toolintermediate4 days agoFrontend teams building a shared component library or design system
recharts27.7kLibrarybeginner4 days agoReact developers who need standard charts such as line, bar or similar graphs in a web app
bootstrap-vue14.4kLibraryintermediate7 months agoDevelopers maintaining an existing Vue 2 app that already uses BootstrapVue

Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.