HeroUI alternatives for Next.js and Tailwind

HeroUI, formerly NextUI, is a free React library on React Aria and Tailwind CSS v4 that you build a whole app on. If you would rather own every component's code, try another full library, or add app screens with the motion already designed, these are the options worth a look.

What HeroUI does well

HeroUI gives you a complete, accessible component set for React and React Native: forms, date pickers, tables, modals, toasts and more, with typed APIs and polished defaults. Version 3 runs on React 19, Tailwind CSS v4 and React Aria Components, and its docs are built for coding agents too, with llms.txt indexes and an MCP server. It is open source under Apache-2.0.

Why people look at other options

  • You want the component code in your own repo, added with the shadcn CLI, instead of a package.
  • You are on HeroUI v2 or NextUI and are comparing options before a bigger upgrade.
  • You want a different look or a different styling approach for your design system.
  • Your app already has its basics and you want one screen, like the login or checkout, to move in a way people notice.

Also built on React Aria

  • Untitled UI ReactReact Aria and Tailwind CSS v4 too, with a matching Figma kit and free MIT components, plus starters for Next.js, v0 and Lovable.
    Free:
    The base components (buttons, inputs, text editors, tooltips and more) plus hundreds of application UI components and marketing sections, free for commercial use
    Licence:
    Open-source components under MIT (GitHub and the Untitled UI FAQ). PRO is a paid licence
    Stack:
    React, React Aria and Tailwind CSS v4. A CLI sets up a Next.js project with the components in place (npx untitledui@latest init --nextjs), and there are starter kits for Next.js, Vite, Bolt.new, Claude, v0 and Lovable
    Untitled UI React next to qodesign
  • React AriaThe accessible layer under HeroUI v3, unstyled, so you design every component yourself, Apache 2.0.
    Free:
    Over 50 unstyled components (react-aria-components 1.22.0 on GitHub, Oct 9 2026), copy-paste CSS and Tailwind examples, and Storybook starter kits
    Licence:
    Apache 2.0, as listed for adobe/react-spectrum on GitHub
    Stack:
    React with any styling (npm install react-aria-components). Examples come in vanilla CSS or Tailwind and can be added with the shadcn CLI (npx shadcn@latest add @react-aria/css). The docs list an MCP server, Agent Skills and llms.txt for AI agents
    React Aria next to qodesign

Code you own, added with the shadcn CLI

  • shadcn/uiThe free, MIT base most Next.js apps start from; the code lands in your project so you edit it freely.
    Free:
    Everything: all components, blocks and charts
    Licence:
    MIT (GitHub)
    Stack:
    Accessible components built with TypeScript, Tailwind CSS and Radix UI primitives. You add them with its CLI and the code lands in your project, so you own and edit it. It works with Next.js, Vite, Remix, Astro and more, and has a registry system so others can publish code for the same CLI. It ships an llms.txt and skills for AI assistants
    shadcn/ui next to qodesign
  • Kibo UILarger app pieces for shadcn/ui projects, free and MIT, with an MCP server for AI editors.
    Free:
    Everything: every component, block and pattern on the site
    Licence:
    MIT (GitHub)
    Stack:
    A custom shadcn/ui registry built with React, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, Lucide and Radix UI. You add pieces with its own CLI (npx kibo-ui add) or the shadcn CLI, and the code lands in your project. It needs shadcn/ui set up first and supports only its CSS Variables theming mode. It has an MCP server for AI editors
    Kibo UI next to qodesign
  • Animate UIAnimated versions of the menus, dialogs and tabs you already use, on Radix UI, Base UI or React Aria.
    Free:
    The animated primitives, plus backgrounds, animated icons and styled pieces like the Liquid, Flip and Theme Toggler buttons
    Licence:
    MIT with a Commons Clause condition (LICENSE.md on GitHub): free in your own apps and sites, commercial ones included, but the components themselves can't be sold or redistributed
    Stack:
    React, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS and Motion (npm install @animate-ui/react motion), on top of the primitive library you already use: Radix UI, Base UI or React Aria. Its CLI finds your shadcn/ui components through components.json and swaps their imports for animated ones. Docs include Skills for Claude Code, Cursor and Codex, and the shadcn MCP server
    Animate UI next to qodesign

Other complete React libraries

  • MantineA full MIT kit with 120+ components and hooks, its own CSS modules, Next.js templates and an MCP server.
    Free:
    Everything: the core library (they count 120+ components and 70 hooks, v9.7.3 on Oct 21 2026) and the 123 responsive Mantine UI components
    Licence:
    MIT, as listed for mantinedev/mantine on GitHub
    Stack:
    React with its own CSS modules and PostCSS preset (npm install @mantine/core @mantine/hooks, plus postcss-preset-mantine); official Next.js templates; llms.txt docs, an MCP server (npx -y @mantine/mcp-server) and agent skills for AI editors
    Mantine next to qodesign
  • Chakra UIA themeable MIT component system for whole SaaS apps, with docs and an MCP server for AI editors.
    Free:
    The whole component library (v3.37.0 on Oct 21 2026), charts, theming, a snippet CLI, plus llms.txt docs, an MCP server and AI skills
    Licence:
    MIT, as listed for chakra-ui/chakra-ui on GitHub; Pro blocks are under Chakra's own licence
    Stack:
    React with Emotion at runtime (npm i @chakra-ui/react @emotion/react, then npx @chakra-ui/cli snippet add), Node 20+. The Next.js App Router guide covers Next.js 15 and 16. Their docs say the long-term plan is a zero-runtime styling model inspired by Panda CSS
    Chakra UI next to qodesign
  • Material UI (MUI)Google's Material Design look and a big set of app components, strong for data-heavy admin screens.
    Free:
    The whole Material UI library (the Community plan lists 40+ free components), plus the MIT parts of MUI X such as the base data grid
    Licence:
    MIT for Material UI (GitHub). MUI X Pro and Premium packages are under a commercial licence
    Stack:
    React with Emotion for styles by default (npm install @mui/material @emotion/react @emotion/styled). React 17, 18 and 19 are supported, and a Next.js guide covers the App Router through @mui/material-nextjs. The docs also offer a Material UI + Next.js agent skill for AI coding assistants
    Material UI (MUI) next to qodesign

When qodesign is the better fit

Pick qodesign when HeroUI or any other library already covers your inputs and tables, and you want one screen with motion people remember: a login, an OTP gate, a checkout or a tab bar. Each piece is a whole interaction in React + TypeScript and Tailwind that sits on top of the library you already use, with an HTML version and a PROMPT.md you paste into Cursor, v0 or Lovable. You buy one piece at a time, and the free kit and the MIT repo on GitHub let you try them first.

Side by side with HeroUI: qodesign vs HeroUI.

Questions

Is HeroUI the same as NextUI?
Yes. HeroUI was called NextUI before. Version 3 runs on React 19, Tailwind CSS v4 and React Aria Components, and animates with CSS transitions instead of Framer Motion.
What is a good free alternative to HeroUI?
shadcn/ui, Mantine, Chakra UI and Untitled UI's open-source components are free and MIT. React Aria, the base HeroUI v3 builds on, is free under Apache 2.0. HeroUI's own library is free too.
HeroUI or shadcn/ui for a Next.js app built with Cursor, v0 or Lovable?
Both work. HeroUI is a package with typed APIs and docs your agent can read through llms.txt and an MCP server. shadcn/ui puts the code in your project through its CLI, which Cursor, v0 or Lovable can run for you.
Can I add animated screens on top of HeroUI?
Yes. qodesign pieces are React and Tailwind, so a login, checkout or tab bar can sit next to HeroUI components in the same app.

Facts about each library come from its own site and GitHub, checked October 21, 2026. Each comparison page links its sources. Libraries change, so check their site before you decide.

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