Tailwind vs Bootstrap vs Custom CSS
Choosing the right styling method can significantly impact your workflow, performance, and maintainability. Let's break down how Tailwind CSS compares to Bootstrap and traditional Custom CSS.
1. Design Philosophy
Tailwind: Utility-first – build your UI by composing small utility classes.
Bootstrap: Component-based – use pre-built components and override as needed.
Custom CSS: You define all rules from scratch – full control but more setup.
2. Code Comparison Example
Here’s how you would build the same button:
Tailwind
<button class="bg-blue-500 text-white py-2 px-4 rounded hover:bg-blue-600">
Click Me
</button>
Bootstrap
<button class="btn btn-primary">
Click Me
</button>
Custom CSS
<button class="custom-btn">
Click Me
</button>
/* CSS */
.custom-btn {
background: #3490dc;
color: white;
padding: 0.5rem 1rem;
border-radius: 0.25rem;
}
3. Pros and Cons
Tailwind
- Highly customizable
- Fast prototyping
- Requires no context switching
- Steeper initial learning curve
Bootstrap
- Quick to start
- Well-documented
- Opinionated design system
- Harder to customize deeply
Custom CSS
- Maximum control
- Reusable class names
- Time-consuming to set up
- Easy to get inconsistent
4. Which One Should You Use?
- Use Tailwind if you prefer flexibility and fast iteration, especially in component-based frameworks.
- Use Bootstrap for quick prototyping or when a pre-built system is needed.
- Use Custom CSS when you need total control and performance isn’t your biggest constraint.
Conclusion
Tailwind, Bootstrap, and Custom CSS all have their place. The best choice depends on your project goals, team experience, and how much customization and scalability you need.