What is Tailwind CSS?

• Tailwind CSS is a utility-first CSS framework for creating custom user interfaces quickly. It is a snazzy way to write inline styling and create an awesome interface without writing a single line of CSS.
• Tailwind CSS gives developers much flexibility and control over how a component looks and feels, whereas typical UI kits include many prebuilt components, making it more difficult to create a unique UI. Its utility classes make it simple and quick to create reusable components that match the overall look and feel of your UI.
• The first alpha version of Tailwind CSS was released on November 1, 2017, according to the GitHub release history.

What is Bootstrap?

• Bootstrap is a free, open-source, and the most popular HTML, CSS, and Javascript framework developed by Twitter for creating responsive web applications.
• Bootstrap includes a mobile-first, responsive fluid grid system that scales up to 12 columns as the device or viewport size increases. It includes predefined classes for easy layout options and powerful mixins for generating more semantic layouts.
• Many companies use Bootstrap as part of their technology stack. Bootstrap is widely used by professional web developers when developing apps and websites for businesses in a variety of industries. According to SimilarTech, Bootstrap has been utilized to build over half a million websites in the United States.

Comparing Tailwind CSS and Bootstrap

a) Key Differences

• The primary distinction between Tailwind CSS and Bootstrap is that Tailwind CSS is not a user interface kit. Unlike UI kits like Bootstrap, Foundation, and Bulma.
• Tailwind CSS lacks a default theme and built-in UI components. Instead, it includes pre-designed widgets that you can use to build your site from the ground up. Bootstrap comes with responsive layouts, components, and utility classes.
• Due to the required files, the file size of Bootstrap is larger than Tailwind. Whereas you can use PurgeCSS to remove unused classes in Tailwind CSS.
• Bootstrap is well-known for its responsiveness and flawless design, whereas Tailwind CSS supporters typically value the framework’s customizability. The best option for you is determined by your priorities and project requirements.

b) Which one is more popular?

• Tailwind CSS is a newer framework gaining a lot of popularity, replacing Bootstrap in comparison.
• Bootstrap is used by well-known companies such as Spotify, Twitter, Lifebuoy, Forbes India, and Lyft, whereas Tailwind CSS is used by BlaBlaCar, Exyplis, and Bazzite.

c) Which one is a better choice?

• Tailwind CSS does not impose difficult-to-reverse design decisions because apps and sites are made of predesigned widgets. Working with Tailwind CSS entails utilizing a set of utility classes that allow you to work with only what you require. This is a clever way to create user interfaces that are more open to developers’ creativity.
• With Bootstrap, the sites almost always look the same, which limits our ability to incorporate creativity into the development environment. One of Tailwind CSS’s advantages is its ability to easily build complex user interfaces without encouraging any two sites to look the same.
• According to StackShare, Bootstrap has a higher level of acceptance, with 42906 companies using it in tech stacks, including Spotify, Twitter, and Udemy. In contrast, Tailwind CSS is reportedly used by 380 companies, including MAK IT, Superchat, and überdosis.

d) Which one is an easier framework?

• Bootstrap is a broader concept than Tailwind and necessitates using multiple files to access its full functionality. As a result, using Bootstrap results in a significantly larger file size than Tailwind.
• Bootstrap is a component-based framework that includes prebuilt components and utilities for layering displays, spacing, and so on. It includes pre-styled mobile-first, responsive components for quickly creating flawless website pages.
• CSS, on the other hand, is primarily a utility framework. Tailwind CSS is similar to writing regular CSS. It does not have any pre-built components, unlike Bootstrap.
• There is very little CSS to write with Bootstrap’s pre-built components. As a result, minor changes in the design could cause problems. Tailwind CSS allows you to style your elements from the ground up using Tailwind’s styling syntax. It makes changes easier because you only need to remove a few CSS classes.

Tailwind CSS or Bootstrap: Which one to choose for your organization?

Tailwind and Bootstrap are used to aid in the creation of a project’s user interface to reduce development time and, ultimately, improve your user experience.

• Tailwind CSS makes writing and maintaining your application’s code easier. You don’t have to write custom CSS to style your application if you use this utility-first framework. Instead, you can use utility classes to control your application’s padding, margin, color, font, shadow, and other properties.
• Bootstrap is much older and has evolved significantly over time. Tailwind is much younger and smaller than Bootstrap, resulting in faster loading times in comparison.
• The subject of developing with Tailwind or Bootstrap is vast, and determining which is superior should begin with research. Learning more about each approach and how to apply it will help you decide which is best for your needs. There are numerous methods for conducting research, and you can use them in small projects, watch videos, and become involved in the community.

Conclusion-

So, which CSS framework should you employ? It always depends on your specific situation. If your project does not deviate too far from some of the more common layouts, or if you are a backend or full-stack developer, Bootstrap may be the better framework. Tailwind might be a better option if your project requires a lot of front-end customization, follows a different layout, or if you’re more experienced with CSS. Whatever you decide, make sure it meets the requirements of your project.

Learn more about Tailwind CSS