Whether you are a CSS expert or a front-end beginner, using the correct CSS framework is critical to your daily tasks.Many frameworks have the same ultimate goal: to help developers locate multiple screens in the simplest way.
This is why Bootstrap is by far the most popular framework on the market.All developers have heard of Bootstrap, and more than 80% of them said they would like to use it.
But this does not mean that if you are willing to shop around, there are no good choices.Bootstrap will not always lead, and there are many new lightweight and powerful CSS frameworks.
If you are tired of coding with Bootstrap and Foundation and of using complex CSS rules, this list is for you.
There is no omission from the pure CSS approach to the minimalist framework with fully customizable themes.Let's get started
1. Bulma
BulmaIt is one of the most popular alternatives to Bootstrap and Foundation.It is a completely free open source CSS framework, without a steep learning curve.No CSS knowledge is required to use Bulma.
When you add all the colors, responsiveness and clean flexbox based grids it provides, it's no wonder that Bulma is becoming more and more popular every day.Bulma is a well documented framework, and you should definitely try it.
If you are looking for a lightweight but powerful CSS framework that can connect with HTML and JS, Ulkit is for you.It fully supports right to left languages and has one of the best icon libraries.
Remember, Ulkit is also easy to use.In summary, Ulkit is an excellent alternative to Bootstrap, which is very suitable for designing Web layouts for desktop and mobile screens.
Although Bootstrap is relatively easy to learn, it is not just a front-end template.What if you need a fully compatible JavaScript, CSS3 and HTML5 template?In this case, HTML5 Boilerplate is a good choice.
Of course, since it is a template, the framework does not include layout and component modules.However, if you need a reliable CSS template that provides a large number of documents, HTML5 Boilerplate is a good solution.
Metro UI is one of the most flexible CSS frameworks on the market.This front-end framework can be easily combined with Angular, React and other JavaScript based frameworks.
In our testing process, we found that Metro UI is an excellent open source CSS framework and an excellent alternative to Foundation.
As a two in one solution, Skeleton will soon appear in our list.This is both a template file and a comprehensive CSS framework.During the test, we like to customize its 12 column grid, and we found that it has almost no learning curve.
Automatic width resizing is like a charm, and the syntax is fully responsive.This is why we think Skeleton is an excellent alternative to Bootstrap.
If you are looking for a way to quickly create Web applications, Bootflat is the framework you need.Bootplat components are built with CSS3 and HTML5. The framework provides a comprehensive color scheme panel for you to choose from.
The appearance and behavior of Bootstrap is similar to the simplified version of Bootstrap.However, this does not mean that the CSS framework does not have scalability and robustness.Instead, you have complete control over the size and performance of the web design you create.
If you exclude the fact that the Semantic UI does not have utility classes provided by Bootstrap, you should try it as a comprehensive CSS framework.The best semantic features allow you to write HTML code without using BEM methods.
Therefore, if you need a framework that can help you write readable code in a few minutes, Semantic is your best choice.
We know that most developers now use flexbox and native CSS grids.However, if you need a grid system that supports older browsers, nothing is better than Susy.Although Susy is no longer maintained, it is one of the most flexible old grid systems.
Like most CSS frameworks in this list, Materialize is built using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
It is specifically designed to help you develop faster using standard templates and customizable components.As the name implies, Materialize is based on the basic principles of Material Design.
If you need a lightweight alternative to Bootstrap, Kickstart is the CSS library for you.One of the advantages of Kickstart is that it does not need jQuery, which makes it very small.
Of course, like the Lite Bootstrap, this CSS framework is not so robust.However, this is a good choice for those who need a UI framework and a comprehensive template library.
With its fast modeling process and the ultimate degree of freedom it provides, Tailwind is very popular among some developers.This is a utility first front-end framework with full responsiveness and stability.
Unfortunately, Tailwind CSS takes some time to learn, and it is not the most flexible choice when modifying CSS rules.
PowertoCSS appears in this list for good reason.This is a CSS framework for final response. You can use it to create grids and extend Web applications on any platform.
PowertoCSS is based on modular architecture and extensibility in design.
Unlike other CSS frameworks, PowertoCSS is very lightweight, friendly to beginners, and comes with detailed documentation.
The coding process is very simple, and we find that the learning curve is very shallow.
Our final suggestion is Primer, a great open source CSS framework.
To be precise, Primer is more like a design system, allowing you to use the BEM CSS framework and create projects quickly and efficiently.
Therefore, even if Primer is not strictly a CSS framework, it will help you use React and Figma components, icons and advanced documents to unify all these.
Choosing the right CSS framework is not easy.It all depends on your personal needs and preferences as a front-end developer.
Although Bootstrap and Foundation are still the most popular frameworks, there are good reasons why many of the alternatives described above will continue to be popular.
