As modern web applications grow more interactive and design-intensive, choosing the top UI libraries for Next.js has become critical for developers building production-grade solutions.
Whether you’re a startup creating an MVP, an enterprise modernizing legacy software, or a seed-funded company launching a SaaS platform, your UI framework directly impacts speed, accessibility, and maintainability.
In this blog, we evaluate the best UI libraries for Next.js in 2025, each tested for its SSR compatibility, accessibility, performance, design flexibility, and developer experience.
1. shadcn/ui – A Customizable UI Framework for Tailwind + Next.js
Why it stands out: Full control, beautiful defaults, and developer-first design.
shadcn/ui combines Radix UI primitives with Tailwind CSS, allowing developers to copy components directly into their Next.js projects. Unlike traditional React UI libraries for Next.js, you own the code, making it ideal for building fully customized, scalable UI systems.
Key Benefits:
- Tailwind-based styling with full control over component logic
- Built-in accessibility using Radix UI
- Works flawlessly with Next.js App Router and supports SSR
- Ideal for design systems that require flexibility
bash
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npx shadcn-ui@latest init
tsx
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import { Button } from “@/components/ui/button”;
export default function Page() {
return <Button variant=”outline”>Hello Next.js</Button>;
}
Best Suited For:
- Custom design systems
- Tailwind-centric development workflows
- Performance-focused Next.js apps
2. Chakra UI – Accessible and Themeable UI Components for Next.js
Why it’s preferred: Built-in accessibility and theming for fast development.
Chakra UI is one of the most trusted React UI libraries for Next.js, especially for startups and teams prioritizing accessibility and rapid prototyping. With excellent SSR support and styled-system-based theming, it helps teams launch scalable, beautiful UIs quickly.
Key Benefits:
- Pre-built responsive components with ARIA support
- Built-in dark mode and theming
- Compatible with Next.js SSR through ChakraProvider
- Minimal configuration required
tsx
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import { ChakraProvider, Button } from “@chakra-ui/react”;
export default function App({ Component, pageProps }) {
return (
<ChakraProvider>
<Component {…pageProps} />
</ChakraProvider>
);
}
Best Suited For:
- Startups building MVPs
- Accessibility-first applications
- Teams seeking fast development with UI consistency
3. Mantine – Full-Featured UI Framework for Next.js
Why developers love it: Rich components, built-in form management, and productivity tools.
Mantine is a highly flexible UI framework for Next.js offering over 120 components, utility hooks, and SSR support. Whether you’re building a complex dashboard or a dynamic admin panel, Mantine provides everything you need to go from idea to execution.
Key Benefits:
- Supports SSR and Next.js App Router
- Includes useForm, useDisclosure, and other helpful hooks
- Fast, customizable UI with responsive components
- Dark mode and global styles out of the box
tsx
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import { MantineProvider, Button } from ‘@mantine/core’;
export default function App({ Component, pageProps }) {
return (
<MantineProvider withGlobalStyles withNormalizeCSS>
<Component {…pageProps} />
</MantineProvider>
);
}
Best Suited For:
- Enterprise dashboards and internal tools
- Projects with complex form and state requirements
- Teams wanting “batteries-included” development
4. NextUI – Beautiful and Lightweight UI Library for Next.js
Why it’s a favorite: Visual appeal with minimal configuration.
NextUI is a modern Next.js UI component library built on Stitches (a fast CSS-in-JS engine). It emphasizes polished design, fast rendering, and developer ergonomics.
Key Benefits:
- SSR-ready and fully integrated with NextUIProvider
- Includes animated, pre-styled components
- Simple theming with built-in variants
- Lightweight and performance-oriented
tsx
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import { NextUIProvider, Button } from “@nextui-org/react”;
export default function App({ Component, pageProps }) {
return (
<NextUIProvider>
<Component {…pageProps} />
</NextUIProvider>
);
}
Best Suited For:
- SaaS landing pages
- Teams looking for a quick visual upgrade
- Projects requiring polished design with minimal effort
5. Radix UI – Unstyled UI Primitives for Custom Systems
Why it’s essential: Accessibility without design constraints.
Radix UI is a low-level UI toolkit for Next.js that offers fully accessible, unstyled components. It’s perfect for developers who want to implement their own design system using Tailwind, Stitches, or Emotion, without compromising on accessibility or performance.
Key Benefits:
- Fully accessible by default
- Supports SSR with hydration-safe components
- Enables custom UI architecture
- Powers other libraries like shadcn/ui
tsx
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import * as Toggle from ‘@radix-ui/react-toggle’;
<Toggle.Root aria-label=”Toggle italic” className=”toggle-btn”>
Italic
</Toggle.Root>
Best Suited For:
- Custom UI system builders
- Performance-driven projects
- Design system teams
Quick Comparison Table
| Library | Styling Method | SSR Support | Accessibility | Customization | Ideal Use Case |
| shadcn/ui | Tailwind CSS | ✅ | ✅ | 🔥 Full | Custom workflows, scalable UIs |
| Chakra UI | styled-system | ✅ | 🔥 Excellent | ⚡ High | MVPs, accessible SaaS |
| Mantine | Emotion | ✅ | ✅ | ⚡ High | Dashboards, admin panels |
| NextUI | Stitches | ✅ | ✅ | ⚡ Medium | Design-led SaaS & landing pages |
| Radix UI | Unstyled | ✅ | 🔥 Excellent | 💯 Full | Custom systems, large platforms |
Final Thoughts
Choosing the top UI library for your Next.js project depends on your design needs, team structure, and performance goals. In 2025, it’s no longer just about drop-in buttons—modern UI frameworks are built for customization, accessibility, and speed.
- Use shadcn/ui or Radix UI for fully custom UI design.
- Go with Chakra UI or Mantine if you need fast, accessible components.
- Choose NextUI for sleek, pre-designed components with minimum setup.
Additional Resources: