Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Tailwind CSS VS Framer

Compare Tailwind CSS VS Framer and see what are their differences

Tailwind CSS logo Tailwind CSS

A utility-first CSS framework for rapidly building custom user interfaces.

Framer logo Framer

🔥 Design real websites right on the canvas.
  • Tailwind CSS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-13
  • Framer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-24

Framer

Website
framer.com
$ Details
Release Date
2013 January
Startup details
Country
The Netherlands
City
Amsterdam
Founder(s)
Jorn van Dijk
Employees
50 - 99

Tailwind CSS features and specs

  • Utility-First Approach
    Tailwind CSS uses a utility-first approach, promoting the use of small, reusable utility classes to style elements directly in your markup. This can lead to more readable and maintainable HTML.
  • Customization
    The framework is highly customizable. You can easily configure its default theme, add your extensions, and create custom utilities. Tailwind’s config file allows for deep customization of all aspects of the framework.
  • Consistent Design
    Using utility classes ensures design consistency because the same classes will apply the same styles globally.
  • Responsive Design
    Tailwind CSS has excellent built-in support for responsive design. You can easily apply different styles for different screen sizes using responsive utility variants.
  • Performance
    Tailwind purges unused CSS in production, resulting in smaller final output files and improved performance.
  • Integrates Well with Frameworks
    Tailwind CSS integrates smoothly with modern JavaScript frameworks like React, Vue, and Angular.
  • JIT Compiler
    The Just-in-Time (JIT) mode in Tailwind CSS generates styles on-demand, reducing the development build sizes and speeding up the development process.

Possible disadvantages of Tailwind CSS

  • Steep Learning Curve
    For developers coming from traditional CSS or other CSS frameworks, getting used to Tailwind's utility-first approach may take some time.
  • HTML Congestion
    Due to the utility-first approach, HTML files can get filled with numerous utility classes, making it look cluttered and harder to read.
  • Initial Setup
    Setting up Tailwind CSS initially can be complex, especially for beginners. Configuration settings and integrations with build tools can be confusing.
  • Verbosity
    Some developers find the inline utility classes verbose, particularly when complex styles are required, which can lead to bloated template files.
  • Limited Abstractions
    Tailwind doesn't provide higher-level abstractions such as components out of the box, like other frameworks (e.g., Bootstrap) do. Developers need to build and maintain these abstractions themselves.
  • Dependency Tailoring
    While Tailwind aims to be minimalistic, it may enforce some dependencies or build tool integrations that could be unnecessary for very simple projects.

Framer features and specs

  • Interactive Prototyping
    Framer allows the creation of highly interactive and realistic prototypes, which can closely mimic the final product. This aids in user testing and feedback.
  • Code-based Design
    Framer combines design tools with production-level code, enabling designers to create custom animations and interactions using JavaScript and React.
  • Real-time Collaboration
    Teams can collaborate in real-time, making it easier to share ideas, review progress, and make adjustments on the fly.
  • Rich Component Library
    Framer comes with a comprehensive library of pre-built components, speeding up the design process and ensuring consistency across projects.
  • Responsive Design
    Framer supports responsive design, allowing prototypes to adjust seamlessly to different screen sizes and devices.
  • Third-party Integrations
    It offers integration with tools like Figma, Sketch, and Photoshop, enabling a smooth workflow for designers who use multiple tools.
  • Animation Capabilities
    Framer excels at creating complex animations and transitions, which can enhance the user experience and make the designs more engaging.
  • Flexible Workflows
    It accommodates various workflows, from designing static UIs to building fully interactive prototypes, making it versatile for different project needs.

Possible disadvantages of Framer

  • Learning Curve
    Framer's advanced features, including its code-based design, can be daunting for beginners or designers who are not familiar with coding.
  • Cost
    Framer can be expensive, and its subscription model may not be affordable for all individual designers or small teams.
  • Performance
    Complex prototypes with numerous interactions and animations can sometimes slow down the performance, especially on less powerful machines.
  • Limited Offline Capabilities
    Framer's reliance on an internet connection for real-time collaboration and cloud-based features can be a drawback in environments with limited internet access.
  • Over-reliance on Components
    While the component library is extensive, over-relying on pre-built components can sometimes stifle creativity and result in less unique designs.
  • Steep Pricing for Advanced Features
    Some of the advanced features and integrations are only available in higher-priced plans, which may limit access for users on basic plans.
  • Compatibility Issues
    There can be occasional compatibility issues with other design tools or software updates, which might disrupt the workflow.
  • Resource-Intensive
    Running Framer, especially with complex projects, can be resource-intensive and may require high-performance hardware to function smoothly.

Tailwind CSS videos

Why I Don't Like Tailwind CSS

More videos:

  • Review - Vanilla CSS vs Bootstrap vs Tailwind CSS - Which one should you choose?
  • Review - Get Started with Tailwind CSS in 15 Minutes

Framer videos

Introducing Framer Playground

More videos:

  • Review - UI Interactions in Framer Playground
  • Tutorial - Framer Playground Tutorial

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Tailwind CSS and Framer)
Developer Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Design Tools
73 73%
27% 27
Prototyping
0 0%
100% 100
CSS Framework
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Tailwind CSS and Framer

Tailwind CSS Reviews

  1. Awesome framework

    I use it in all my current projects. It's easy to start and very customisable. Love it so much! I improved the speed of development 2x times by using Tailwind.


22 Best Bootstrap Alternatives & What Each Is Best For
Tailwind CSS comes with features such as responsive design, customizability, hover, focus, and active states out of the box. These enable developers to build sophisticated, interactive interfaces with ease. When it comes to integrations, Tailwind CSS can be integrated with popular front-end frameworks like React, Vue, and Angular, enhancing its utility across different...
Source: thectoclub.com
15 Top Bootstrap Alternatives For Frontend Developers in 2024
If you want to learn the valuable skill of Tailwind CSS, we highly recommend taking the "Tailwind CSS From Scratch" course by Brad Traversy on Udemy. In this introductory course, you will build great-looking layouts quickly and efficiently using Tailwind CSS utility classes.
Source: coursesity.com
10 Best Free React UI Libraries in 2023
TailwindCSS is a utility-first CSS framework designed to build modern and beautiful websites in no time. Here, utility class names define what to do. Each utility class comes with pre-defined CSS properties.
11 Best Material UI Alternatives
Tailwind CSS promotes a modular approach to styling, where devs can combine classes to create unique and responsive designs. It offers utilities for layout, typography, colors, spacing, and more, allowing developers to create consistent and visually appealing interfaces with minimal effort.
Source: www.uxpin.com
Top 10 Best CSS Frameworks for Front-End Developers in 2022
Tailwind enables faster development of the front-end. Instead of a default theme or built-in UI components, you’d get pre-designed widget menus and utility classes to build your website. Tailwind has modular components, and if you make changes in one place, other parts of your code won’t get impacted. Tailwind requires the least amount of learning and is easy to use. You can...
Source: hackr.io

Framer Reviews

10 Best Figma Alternatives in 2024
Framer is known as the best Figma alternative for layout and design options available. Use the stop points in Framer to make sure your website functions properly on all devices. You can alter navigation bars, logos, widgets, and other components to make a website that meets with the client’s needs.
Top 10 Figma Alternatives for Your Design Needs | ClickUp
Use Framer’s breakpoints to ensure your website works seamlessly on any device. Extensive no-code positioning options allow you to customize navigation bars, badges, sidebars, and other elements to create a website that aligns with client requirements.
Source: clickup.com
9 Best InVision Alternatives to Switch to in 2024
Framer is known for having a steep learning curve. Due to its feature-rich interface, it takes fundamental design knowledge to master the platform. However, prototypes created with Framer are almost similar to the finished product.
Source: designmodo.com
Top No Code Website Builders in 2023
Framer is a comprehensive website design platform that believes in encouraging everyone to build beautiful, fast websites. It is more than simply a tool. Framer began as a basic JavaScript library but over time expanded and changed to become a platform that helps you at every step of your web design journey.
10 Best Website Builders for Companies in 2023
Top companies using Framer are not publicly available as the platform is used primarily by individual designers and design teams rather than large organizations. Framer is, however, used by design teams at tech giants like Google, Uber, Facebook, and Dropbox.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Tailwind CSS seems to be a lot more popular than Framer. While we know about 1013 links to Tailwind CSS, we've tracked only 19 mentions of Framer. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Tailwind CSS mentions (1013)

  • Top 5 Free React UI Libraries to Use in 2025
    Shadcn/ui contains a set of beautifully designed and accessible components, and it works seamlessly with major React frameworks. It’s open-source and has amassed 85.5k (and counting) GitHub stars. It’s built on the shoulders of giants — Radix UI and Tailwind CSS, making it one of the best to work with. Unlike many other UI libraries, the components are not just installed as npm modules, they’re downloaded into... - Source: dev.to / 3 days ago
  • Tailwind vs Linaria: Performance Investigation
    We're going to investigate the difference in performance between Tailwind and Linaria. Tailwind, you already know. And Linaria has been getting quite a lot of traction since styled components went into maintenance mode recently. We'll cover why Linaria is a good choice for this comparison a bit further. - Source: dev.to / 9 days ago
  • How to Integrate Tailwind with 11ty – With Code Examples
    It is a well-known fact that Tailwind CSS is a utility-first CSS framework. It lets you style elements directly within your HTML, thanks to pre-defined classes. Unlike other CSS frameworks that offer pre-built components, Tailwind offers these low-level utility classes that let you create your own design system. Thus, this makes crafting unique responsive designs effortless as there is not much to do with custom CSS. - Source: dev.to / 17 days ago
  • 🎨 Smooth UI Transitions in HTML with Grains.js, TailwindCSS and g-class directive
    Note: It's best to utilize TailwindCSS to use ready-made styles via their classes. g-class directive has nothing to do with TailwindCSS, however. It only switches class names based on state. After that, you can use whatever you want. - Source: dev.to / 28 days ago
  • ## Vibe Coding Adventures: Day 1 — HealthLens AI
    By having the AI building the skeleton of the project, I learn few things. First, this tool is fantastic for building impressive frontend applications with clean, well-structured Tailwind CSS styling. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
View more

Framer mentions (19)

  • The Best 100 Free UI/UX Resources for Every Designer & Developer
    Framer Framer.com Prototyping tool with free tier for small projects. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • If you need a E-Commerce solution here's my lay of the land
    Another thing to think about is taking advantage of a free Stripe account, and creating products, with a free payment links to start accepting payments for products without a website. You could build a free website with framer.com quickly and just not pay for a domain. There are a million site builders but framer is one of the best. Source: over 1 year ago
  • any idea why images in Framer are loading like this? seems like something is corrupted?
    Is this only on framer.com? If you load https://app.framerstatic.com/tinyTourCardDark-TORTZ2D4.png on its own what do you see? Source: over 1 year ago
  • How can i make a website like this fast ? can any one help ??
    See Framer (hosting from $10/mo) I find it one of the best website builders out there atm. If you have some skill you can quickly put together a great website there yourself, if not: https://kristinevilnite.com/. Source: over 1 year ago
  • website to commemorate my dead friend
    I preach Framer too, it is a great website builder however it doesn't provide a way for site visitors to add their own content or create new entries. You most likely will need to find a web developer that can build you a custom website. Source: over 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Tailwind CSS and Framer, you can also consider the following products

Bootstrap - Simple and flexible HTML, CSS, and JS for popular UI components and interactions

Webflow - Build dynamic, responsive websites in your browser. Launch with a click. Or export your squeaky-clean code to host wherever you'd like. Discover the professional website builder made for designers.

Bulma - Bulma is an open source CSS framework based on Flexbox and built with Sass. It's 100% responsive, fully modular, and available for free.

Invision - Prototyping and collaboration for design teams

React - A JavaScript library for building user interfaces

Zeplin - Collaboration app for UI designers & frontend developers