Updated May 2, 2026UI Libraries Comparison

NextUI v2 vs shadcn/ui Comparison

A detailed comparison of NextUI v2 and shadcn/ui.

NextUI v2

Next generation of NextUI, built with React Aria.

Primary Task

React Components

Pricing

Open Source

Key Features

React Aria
Tailwind CSS
Accessibility

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shadcn/ui

Beautifully designed components built with Radix UI and Tailwind CSS.

Primary Task

Component Collection

Pricing

Open Source

Key Features

Copy/Paste Components
Radix UI
Tailwind CSS

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At a Glance

Feature	NextUI v2	shadcn/ui
Primary Task	React Components	Component Collection
Pricing Model	Open Source	Open Source
Founded	2023	2023
Theming	N/A	N/A
Accessibility (A11y)	N/A	N/A
TypeScript	N/A	N/A
Figma Kit	N/A	N/A
Frameworks	N/A	N/A

Pros & Cons

NextUI v2

Strengths

Top-tier accessibility
Modern design
Great performance

Limitations

Nnewer ecosystem
Still evolving
Requires Tailwind

shadcn/ui

Strengths

Own the code
Customizable
Accessible (Radix)

Limitations

Manual updates
Tailwind required
Not a package

Final Decision

The Verdict

Both tools are excellent. Here's how to choose the right one for your project.

Choose NextUI v2

Best for

Strong React Aria capabilities
Open Source pricing model
React Components workflows

Choose shadcn/ui

Best for

Copy/Paste Components focused projects
Open Source approach
Component Collection use cases

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between NextUI v2 and shadcn/ui?

NextUI v2 is primarily a React Components, while shadcn/ui is focused on Component Collection. Next generation of NextUI, built with React Aria. Beautifully designed components built with Radix UI and Tailwind CSS.

Is NextUI v2 open source?

Yes, NextUI v2 is open source.

Is shadcn/ui open source?

Yes, shadcn/ui is open source.

Which is better for UI Libraries?

It depends on your specific needs. NextUI v2 is often chosen for its react aria capabilities, while shadcn/ui is popular for its copy/paste components features.