NextUI vs shadcn/ui
NextUI was rebranded to HeroUI in 2024, so new projects should use HeroUI, a styled React library built on Tailwind CSS and React Aria that you install as a dependency. shadcn/ui is a free collection of accessible, Tailwind-styled components that you copy into your own project through a CLI, and since July 2026 it defaults to Base UI primitives with Radix still supported. Choose HeroUI for a packaged library, and shadcn/ui if you want to own and edit the component code.
Facts checked on against the official sources listed at the end. Usage numbers update daily.
Best for
A packaged, themed component library on Tailwind (now HeroUI)
Free plan.
Best for
Owning editable component source copied into your project
Free plan.
NextUI vs shadcn/ui at a glance
| Compared on | NextUI | shadcn/ui |
|---|---|---|
| Current name | HeroUI; NextUI name no longer used for new development | shadcn/ui |
| Delivery | Installed as a package dependency | Component source copied into your repo through a CLI |
| Underlying primitives | React Aria | Base UI by default since July 2026, Radix UI optional |
| Styling | Tailwind CSS with a themed default look | Tailwind CSS, editable directly in your code |
| Migration path | Codemod from NextUI to HeroUI | Not applicable |
| Open source | Yes, MIT | Yes, MIT |
| Free plan | Yes, the core HeroUI (formerly NextUI) library remains free and open source | Yes, shadcn/ui is completely free |
| Paid plans from | Not listed | Not listed |
| Made by | HeroUI (formerly NextUI) | shadcn (open source project) |
What's the difference between NextUI and shadcn/ui?
Rename status
NextUI became HeroUI in 2024 and is maintained by the same team. shadcn/ui has no such change, but in July 2026 it switched its default primitives from Radix UI to Base UI, with Radix still available through a CLI flag.
Dependency vs owned code
With HeroUI you upgrade a package and customise through theming. With shadcn/ui the component source lives in your project, so you edit it directly but also maintain it.
Primitives
HeroUI builds on React Aria. shadcn/ui uses Base UI by default, from the same team behind Radix.
Paid extras
HeroUI has a separate paid Pro product for templates, while shadcn/ui is entirely free.
NextUI vs shadcn/ui pricing
Both cores are free and MIT-licensed. HeroUI adds an optional paid Pro product.
NextUI
The core HeroUI library is free and open source. HeroUI Pro, formerly NextUI Pro, is a paid product for additional templates.
Prices in USD from the official pricing pages on 5 October 2026. They change often, so confirm on heroui.com and ui.shadcn.com before you commit.
Usage and activity
shadcn/ui has 4.1 times as many GitHub stars as NextUI (125k against 30.9k). Weekly npm downloads: 771k for @heroui/react and 13M for shadcn. Releases on GitHub in the last 90 days: 4 for NextUI and 10 for shadcn/ui.
| Measure | NextUI | shadcn/ui |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | 30,877 | 125,216 |
| npm downloads a week | 771k (@heroui/react) | 13M (shadcn) |
| Latest release | v3.2.6, 2 weeks ago | [email protected], 1 day ago |
| Releases in 90 days | 4 | 10 |
From the public GitHub and npm APIs, updated daily. Stars and downloads show developer interest, not product quality.
Should you choose NextUI or shadcn/ui?
Choose NextUI if
- You prefer upgrading a package to maintaining component source
- You want a themed library with a polished default look
- You are migrating an existing NextUI project
- You want optional paid templates
Choose shadcn/ui if
- You want to read and edit every component's source
- You want freedom to diverge from library defaults
- You like Tailwind with primitives you can swap
- You want a fully free option
Switching between NextUI and shadcn/ui
NextUI users have a supported route to HeroUI through a codemod. Moving to shadcn/ui instead means reinstalling components through its CLI and re-applying your theme, since the code is copied into your project rather than imported.
NextUI vs shadcn/ui: common questions
What happened to NextUI?
It was rebranded to HeroUI in 2024 because its mission grew beyond Next.js. HeroUI is its direct successor.
Does shadcn/ui use Radix UI?
As of July 2026 its default is Base UI, but Radix UI remains fully supported and existing projects keep working.
Which is easier to customise?
shadcn/ui, because the source is in your project. HeroUI is customised through theming.
Are both accessible?
Both build on accessibility-focused primitives, React Aria for HeroUI and Base UI or Radix for shadcn/ui.
Is shadcn/ui free?
Yes, it is MIT-licensed and free.
Other options to consider
All ui libraries tools
Tailwind CSS
Utility-first CSS framework for building custom designs directly in markup, now owned by Shopify.
Radix UI
Unstyled, accessible React component primitives for building your own design system.
Material UI
React component library implementing Google's Material Design, with free core and paid MUI X components.
Ant Design
Enterprise-focused React component library and design system, maintained by Alibaba's Ant Group.
Sources
More sources for each tool are on the NextUI and shadcn/ui pages.
Related comparisons
Headless UIvsshadcn/ui
Headless UI is a small, focused set of unstyled, accessible components from the Tailwind CSS team, installed as a normal npm package for React or Vue.
Mantinevsshadcn/ui
Mantine is a React component library you install as a normal npm dependency, with over 100 pre-styled components and matching hooks ready to use.
Radix UIvsshadcn/ui
Radix UI is a free, open source library of unstyled, accessible React component primitives, such as dialogs, dropdowns and tooltips, that handle behavior and ARIA attributes while leaving visual styling up to the developer.
NextUIvsRadix UI
NextUI was a React component library built on Tailwind CSS and React Aria, and it was rebranded to HeroUI in 2024, so new work should use HeroUI rather than the NextUI name.