Top 8 Next.js UI frameworks to use in 2026

As of late 2025, the trends for Next.js UI development point toward highly customizable, performant, and accessible component libraries that integrate seamlessly with Tailwind CSS. This shift demands a sophisticated skill set, highlighting why businesses are increasingly looking to hire Next.js developers who are proficient with modern, modular frameworks.

Here are the top 8 Next.js UI frameworks to use in 2026, combining comprehensive component libraries, foundational styling frameworks, and accessible headless solutions.

1. shadcn/ui

This approach, which integrates Radix UI with Tailwind CSS, has become a standard for modern Next.js development.

• Strengths: You get the full code for every component, allowing for complete control over styling. It's built on Radix UI for accessibility and offers a beautiful, minimalist design.
• Trade-off: Unlike a traditional npm package, you manage the component code yourself. This offers ultimate customization but requires more developer effort for updates.
• Best for: Developers who want to build a truly custom design system from excellent, accessible foundations. ## 2. NextUI

Built and optimized specifically for Next.js, NextUI offers a polished, out-of-the-box design system.

• Strengths: Provides clean, modern, and visually appealing components that integrate easily with the Next.js App Router and Server Components. It is also designed for performance with Tailwind CSS support.
• Trade-off: The design system is more opinionated than shadcn/ui, giving you less low-level control.
• Best for: Developers who prioritize speed-to-market with a stylish and professional-looking component library. ## 3. Mantine

Known for its extensive features and powerful developer experience, Mantine is one of the most complete UI libraries available for React and Next.js.

• Strengths: Offers over 100 components, a large collection of custom hooks, built-in styling, and excellent documentation. It is highly customizable and accessible.
• Trade-off: The larger bundle size might be overkill for smaller projects, though it has been optimized since switching to CSS Modules.

• Best for: Larger, complex applications that need a full suite of polished components and customization features.

  4. Tailwind CSS (foundational)

  While not a component library, Tailwind CSS is the foundational framework for many modern Next.js design systems.

• Strengths: Provides complete design control with a utility-first approach. It's lean, efficient, and lets you build custom designs without writing new CSS from scratch.

• Trade-off: Steep learning curve and can be verbose in the JSX, though tools like the Tailwind CSS extension for Visual Studio Code improve the developer experience.

• Best for: Any project where a highly custom design is important, often used in combination with other headless or component libraries.

  5. Radix UI (headless)

As the engine powering shadcn/ui, Radix provides unstyled, accessible UI primitives for building custom component libraries.

• Strengths: It is a headless library, meaning it provides the core functionality and accessibility logic without any default styling. This gives you maximum flexibility to apply your own styles with Tailwind CSS or any other styling solution.
• Trade-off: Not a beginner-friendly, all-in-one solution. You must build your own styles for every component.
• Best for: Advanced teams who want to build a completely custom, accessible, and high-performance design system from the ground up. ## 6. Material UI (MUI)

Following Google's Material Design principles, MUI is a mature and comprehensive component library.

• Strengths: Backed by a large community, it offers a vast set of components and follows an established design language. Ideal for rapid development and for enterprise applications.
• Trade-off: Can feel less modern than newer, Tailwind-centric alternatives. The distinctive Material Design can also be a turn-off for teams wanting a unique look.
• Best for: Corporate or large-scale applications where a consistent, familiar design is a priority. ## 7. Chakra UI

This modular and accessible component library is popular for its simplicity and developer-friendly approach.

• Strengths: Provides composable and accessible components with a powerful style props system. It's a great choice for beginners looking for an easy setup.
• Trade-off: The CSS-in-JS approach can have a slight performance cost compared to CSS Modules or Tailwind. It has a less extensive component set than Mantine or MUI.
• Best for: Small to medium-sized projects where developer experience and accessibility are key priorities. ## 8. DaisyUI

Built as a plugin for Tailwind CSS, DaisyUI accelerates development by providing pre-styled components without leaving the Tailwind ecosystem.

• Strengths: It's extremely easy to get started with if you already use Tailwind. Adds ready-made components like modals, cards, and buttons, speeding up the styling process.
• Trade-off: Offers less fine-grained customization than a fully custom Tailwind setup and relies on a specific theme system.
• Best for: Tailwind users who want to speed up their workflow with pre-built component classes. ## Conclusion

For any professional front end development agency in 2026, the choice of a Next.js UI framework depends on the project's specific needs. For ultimate design control and scalability, the combination of shadcn/ui, Radix UI, and Tailwind CSS is a powerful standard. For faster development with a modern, out-of-the-box aesthetic, NextUI and Mantine offer robust and feature-rich alternatives. Ultimately, the best choice balances a team's need for speed, customizability, and a robust feature set to deliver the highest quality results.