Quick Comparison
| shadcn/ui | Material UI (MUI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Copy components into your project | Install as npm package |
| Styling | Tailwind CSS | Emotion/styled-components |
| Customization | Full (you own the code) | Theme system |
| Bundle size | Only what you use | Larger |
| Design system | Minimal, customizable | Google Material Design |
When to Use shadcn/ui
- You want full control over component code
- You’re using Tailwind CSS
- You want a minimal, modern look
- You don’t want to fight a design system
When to Use Material UI
- You want a complete, consistent design system
- You need many specialized components (data grid, date picker)
- Your app follows Material Design guidelines
- You want extensive documentation
Verdict
shadcn/ui for custom designs and Tailwind projects. Material UI for apps that need a complete design system with many components out of the box.