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Web Development · head to head

shadcn/ui vs HTMX

shadcn/ui logo

shadcn/ui

Web Development

Copy-paste React components you own, not a dependency

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
HTMX logo

HTMX

Web Development

Lightweight JavaScript library enabling AJAX, WebSockets, and server-sent events in HTML

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: shadcn/ui no upgrade path: once copied, upstream fixes and improvements are yours to port by hand; HTMX best suited for server-rendered architectures, not pure client-side SPAs
  • They diverge on capability: shadcn/ui covers Copy, not install, HTMX covers AJAX requests.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which shadcn/ui and HTMX actually diverge.

Attributes where shadcn/ui and HTMX differ
Attributeshadcn/uiHTMX
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feeopen-source

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Web Development).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in shadcn/ui

  • Copy, not install
  • Radix primitives
  • Tailwind styling
  • Themeable

Only in HTMX

  • AJAX requests
  • HTTP verb support
  • DOM targeting
  • Swap strategies
  • WebSocket support
  • Server-sent events
  • Out-of-band updates

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

shadcn/ui

  • Projects already using Tailwind that need accessible components without a theming fightnot HTMX
  • Design systems that will diverge from any library’s defaults anywaynot HTMX
  • Teams who have been burned by breaking changes in component library upgradesnot HTMX

HTMX

  • Building interactive applications without JavaScript framework complexitynot shadcn/ui
  • Server-rendered applications requiring dynamic updatesnot shadcn/ui
  • Adding interactivity to existing server-side applicationsnot shadcn/ui
  • Hypermedia-driven applications using HTML-first approachesnot shadcn/ui

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

shadcn/ui

  • No upgrade path: once copied, upstream fixes and improvements are yours to port by hand
  • Requires Tailwind and React, so it is not an option outside that stack
  • Component code lives in your repository, which grows it and puts maintenance on your team
  • Its popularity has made the default look recognisable, which undercuts the customisation argument

HTMX

  • Best suited for server-rendered architectures, not pure client-side SPAs
  • Limited client-side state management capabilities compared to frameworks
  • Smaller ecosystem with fewer third-party libraries and tools
  • Learning curve for developers from JavaScript framework backgrounds

Pricing, plan by plan

shadcn/ui

Free
  • shadcn/uiFree
    • Full functionality
    • Commercial use permitted
    • Community support

HTMX

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the HTMX review.

Which should you pick?

Choose shadcn/ui if

  • You need copy, not install.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want radix primitives.
shadcn/ui review

Choose HTMX if

  • You need ajax requests.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want http verb support.
HTMX review

Questions people ask

Is shadcn/ui or HTMX better?
Neither clearly leads. shadcn/ui starts at Free and HTMX at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, shadcn/ui or HTMX?
shadcn/ui starts at Free and HTMX at Free.
Does shadcn/ui or HTMX run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use shadcn/ui for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is shadcn/ui best used for?
shadcn/ui is most often used for projects already using tailwind that need accessible components without a theming fight, design systems that will diverge from any library’s defaults anyway, teams who have been burned by breaking changes in component library upgrades. Of those, projects already using tailwind that need accessible components without a theming fight and design systems that will diverge from any library’s defaults anyway are not what HTMX is typically brought in for.
What can shadcn/ui do that HTMX cannot?
shadcn/ui covers Copy, not install, Radix primitives, Tailwind styling, Themeable. HTMX covers AJAX requests, HTTP verb support, DOM targeting, Swap strategies.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

shadcn/ui: Is shadcn/ui free?

Yes, open source and free for commercial use.

HTMX: How big is the HTMX JavaScript library?

HTMX is only 16 kilobytes minified and gzipped with zero external dependencies.

Source
shadcn/ui: Why is it not an npm package?

So you own the code. Components are copied into your project, which makes customisation trivial — at the cost of receiving no automatic updates.

HTMX: Can HTMX work with JSON APIs?

While HTMX is optimized for HTML responses, it can work with JSON through additional configuration and response handling.

Source
shadcn/ui: Do I need Tailwind?

Yes. Components are styled with Tailwind utility classes and built on Radix primitives, so both are required.

HTMX: Does HTMX support real-time features like WebSockets?

Yes, HTMX includes support for WebSockets and server-sent events for real-time bidirectional communication.

Source
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