CSS Framework: Tailwind vs Bootstrap, which one to choose?

Presentation of the Frameworks

Bootstrap
Created by Twitter, Bootstrap is a CSS framework based on ready-to-use components. It is widely used to quickly create responsive websites.

• Current version: Bootstrap 5

• Philosophy: Simplify development with predefined styles and components.

Tailwind CSS
Tailwind CSS, on the other hand, offers a utility-first approach where each class corresponds to a specific CSS rule. It emphasizes customization and flexibility.

• Current version: Tailwind CSS 3

• Philosophy: Build designs directly in your HTML using utility classes.

Ease of Use

Bootstrap: Simplicity and Speed
Bootstrap is ideal for beginner developers thanks to its predefined components like buttons, cards, navbars, etc. With Bootstrap, you can quickly achieve a professional design without much customization.

Tailwind CSS: Freedom and Learning Curve
Tailwind requires a bit more learning at first, but it offers great freedom. You build your designs from scratch using utility classes like bg-blue-500 or text-xl, which can seem intimidating to novices.

Customization

Bootstrap: Limited Components
Although Bootstrap allows customization through Sass variables, it is still based on generic styles. Deeply modifying components can be difficult without rewriting styles.

Tailwind CSS: Maximum Flexibility
Tailwind offers almost infinite customization thanks to its utility-first approach. You can adjust your styles directly in the HTML and configure options in the tailwind.config.js file.