uivsprimitives
Shadcn is Radix wrapped with Tailwind. Use Radix directly if you want full styling control and zero opinion; use shadcn if you want sensible defaults you can still own.
ui
github.com/shadcn-ui/uiThe default for Next.js builders in 2026. Not a dependency — you copy components into your codebase and own them forever. Built on Radix primitives so accessibility is solid out of the box. The catch: when something breaks or needs updating, you maintain it yourself. For most apps that is the right trade. For huge teams it can create drift across projects. Survey data from 2026 puts it as the third-most-loved tool in the React ecosystem.
Full review →primitives
github.com/radix-ui/primitivesThe accessibility primitives shadcn/ui is built on. If shadcn is too opinionated drop down one level and use these directly. WAI-ARIA compliant out of the box, unstyled so you bring your own design. ~18k stars and maintained by WorkOS. Pairs well with Tailwind for custom design systems.
Full review →Which should you pick?
Pick ui if…
You are on Next.js or Vite + React with Tailwind, you want full control over component code, and you do not mind some manual maintenance.
Skip ui if…
You need Material Design specifically, you want automatic library upgrades, or you are not on Tailwind.
Pick primitives if…
You are building a custom design system and need accessible primitives without imposed styling.
Skip primitives if…
You want ready-to-ship styled components — use shadcn/ui or Material UI instead.
Still picking? Get the full curated stack.
StackPicks members get 100+ open-source tools with curator takes, 13 ready-to-ship stack bundles, and 12 skill tracks. ₹99 lifetime.
See pricing