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daisyUI — Tailwind CSS component library

A free, open-source Tailwind CSS plugin with semantic component classes, 35 built-in themes, and dark mode for faster UI development.

  • Tailwind CSS
  • Component Library
  • UI Themes
  • Open Source
Publisher
daisyUI
Type
Tailwind CSS Component Library
Pricing
Free
Reviewed
22 August 2026
Official site

Quick verdict

Use when

  • Tailwind component layer
  • Semantic classes & themes
  • Color tokens + dark mode
  • Free open-source UI

Skip when

  • JS behavior components out of box
  • Copy-paste page marketplace

daisyUI vs common alternatives

daisyUI vs common picks for tailwind css component library. Focus on stable factors—tiers, learning curve, output limits, privacy—then confirm on each official site.

Tap a dimension to focus

Pricing

  • daisyUIThis page
    • Free option
    • Paid plans
  • shadcn/ui
    • Free option
    • Free and open-source
    • Copy-paste components into your own codebase
  • Headless UI
    • Free option
    • Free and open-source component primitives
  1. daisyUI — official site
  2. shadcn/ui — official site
  3. Headless UI — official site

Preview of daisyUI - not the live app. Confirm details on the official site.

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Learn more

Details below the decision summary—features, workflow, and scope notes.

What is daisyUI?

A free, open-source Tailwind CSS plugin with semantic component classes, 35 built-in themes, and dark mode for faster UI development.

What it costs

Tier snapshot before you browse daisyui.com.
Free tier
Yes
Pricing summary
daisyUI is free and open-source. You install the plugin into your Tailwind project and use its component classes, color tokens, and themes at no cost—no account, no paid tiers. Confirm current installation and version details on the official site.

Reviewed on 22 August 2026 · daisyUI — official site

What daisyUI provides

Core capabilities of the Tailwind CSS component library.

  • Semantic component classes

    Use class names like btn, card, navbar, and input instead of composing the same utilities repeatedly.

  • 35 built-in themes

    Turn your whole app into a different look with data-theme—including light, dark, and brand palettes.

  • Color tokens

    Meaning-based colors—base, primary, secondary, accent, neutral, and status colors—powered by CSS variables.

  • Dark mode built in

    Switch themes with no extra class names; pair with prefers-color-scheme for automatic dark mode.

  • Open source and CDN friendly

    Free and community-built; usable from CDN with @tailwindcss/browser@4 for quick HTML prototypes.

How to use daisyUI

A practical flow for adding daisyUI to a Tailwind project.

  1. Install the plugin

    Install daisyUI into your project and add @plugin "daisyui" to your CSS per the current install guide.

  2. Pick your themes

    Configure enabled themes in the plugin block—set a default and a dark-mode theme (--prefersdark).

  3. Build with semantic classes

    Compose components with class names and use color tokens instead of hard-coded hex colors.

  4. Prototype with the CDN

    For quick HTML prototypes, load daisyUI from CDN and test themes without a build step.

Who daisyUI is for

Roles that get the most from a Tailwind component layer.

  • Front-end developers

    Ship consistent product UI—forms, dashboards, admin screens, navigation—faster with semantic classes.

  • Design engineers

    Bridge design and code with theme tokens and color variables instead of pixel plumbing.

  • Solo builders and prototypers

    Stand up a themed, dark-mode-ready UI quickly on top of Tailwind without a design system.

When daisyUI is the right pick

Choose daisyUI when you build UI with Tailwind CSS and want semantic components, color tokens, and built-in themes with dark mode without leaving your markup. Skip it when you need framework components with JavaScript behavior shipped out of the box or a copy-paste marketplace of full page sections.

Tech specs

Snapshot of the library behind the components.
Open-source Tailwind plugin
Adds CSS class names and color variables to your Tailwind project; version 5 installs via @plugin "daisyui".
Component families
61 component families covering common product UI patterns.
Themes and dark mode
35 built-in themes applied via the data-theme attribute, with dark-mode and nesting support.
Framework-agnostic
Ships CSS class names only—no React, Vue, or Svelte components—so your framework keeps control of state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers about this tool—open a question to read more.