The CSS environment includes various style sheets that developers and designers can use immediately to work with the project. They are immediately ready for standard web design functionality:
Style sheets can often be extended with SASS and JavaScript. CSS frameworks provide practically a ready-made solution, you just need to code the HTML with the exact classes, structure and identifiers to make the page settings.
Benefits of using CSS frameworks
Developers can use CSS frameworks to implement different types of functions, extend existing tools and add visual effects to the site in the form of buttons, forms, panels, etc.
Using CSS gives a simplified model for website development, there is compatibility with different browsers and their versions, which reduces the possibility of errors in cross-browser testing.
As a result of having ready-made tables and styles, working with frameworks helps to speed up and simplify web development. There is no need for a deep dive into the code. Developers themselves can quickly create a beautiful and user-friendly user interface that can be changed as the project progresses. To keep up with the times and enjoy the best solutions on the market, it is important to know and understand what are the best CSS frameworks for 2024.
Top best CSS frameworks for developers and designers
The ranking of the best frameworks selects only current options for 2024 with ready-to-use classes. They will help to use predefined rules to HTML and have cards, menus, buttons. Applying such solutions, it is possible to save time and focus on more important tasks of the project.
Bootstrap
A product from the staff of Twitter, which is needed to ensure consistency of internal tools. The platform is open source and has templates based on CSS and JavaScript. Development in 2011, but constant development, adding new features for better performance make the framework popular today.
Popularity came at the expense of adaptive design. Bootstrap promoted the mobile-first model by providing the necessary tools for implementation. The idea was realized with the introduction of the grid.
With the framework, engineers won't need to create separate projects to customize for a small device display.
The main advantages are:
- Large ecosystem. The ecosystem is unmatched in the market, there is a large library of layouts, themes and details for the interface. Developers and designers can choose and implement all this on their own.
- Great community and Twitter support. Users can be confident that the framework will not go anywhere and will get more and more trust among people.
- Fast prototyping. Developers can write their own HTML code, adding the right CSS classes, than get an improved responsiveness of the site. The need to configure browser compatibility is automatically eliminated.
- Supports SASS and LESS. The latter is almost never used by developers, but some projects rely on this type of support. SASS is a highly desirable addition.
- There are solutions to almost any problem. The framework has collected a large number of free templates, premium options are also available.
Among the disadvantages are unusual platform design, all the tools are based on jQuery, makes compatibility with other frameworks difficult.
Bulma
A framework based on Flexbox. It is characterized by a very large number of built-in features. They also help simplify the interface, developers need to use a minimum of manual coding. Page layouts through Bulma are smooth, it is possible to import only those parts that will be applicable to the project, which also simplifies
the development process.
Bulma is a good replacement for Bootstrap, it has a modern code, its own aesthetic. A simple syntax and a number of other features make pages bright and attractive, not traditionally boring. The source code is available for free, so developers can add functionality at their discretion. The methodology is based solely on CSS (no JavaScript).
The main pluses are:
- Easy to use. With the modular approach and wide settings the platform is popular among designers, developers. The templates are adaptive and reduce the burden on the design staff, there is a large catalog of elements. The framework comes with ready-made templates, tutorials.
- A robust and large community.
- Ease of learning. With Bulma, you can solve almost any problem that is common when working with projects on the part of developers. The framework is designed in such a way that it is convenient and easy to navigate, which simplifies the understanding of the principles of work.
- No dependence on browsers. Sites on Bulma work with any browser, which simplifies testing, especially in the case of cross-browser tests.
- Reliable updates. Bulma regularly adds functionality, with updates helping to eliminate bugs that already exist.
Sites developed through Bulma can be monotonous and similar to each other, so the framework needs to be diluted. To the disadvantages we can add accessibility, functionality for the enterprise level, in this case the libraries are not the best.
UIKit
Framework with a modular structure. Gives the ability to transfer only the necessary functions, differs from the others in a simple API and clean design. For professionals there is a separate page that includes thematic elements for WordPress and Joomla along with a page builder.
The main advantages are considered to be:
- The presence of dozens of elements to create complex layouts of the appearance. Additionally there is access to advanced features, among them navigation, sidebars, etc.
- Easy customization and expansion with LESS or SASS.
- There's a web-based real-time design tool to work with.
This option is not suitable for developers with little experience, as you need a deep understanding of the processes of creating the external interface.
Tailwind CSS
A utilitarian CSS environment with classes for UI design at once in the user's layout. There is a convenient implementation of styles, which helps to make a great interface without having to work with CSS code. With this framework it is possible to create a unique, personal style quickly,
supplementing projects with powerful functionality.
For web design, Tailwind CSS offers a number of significant advantages:
- Great options in configurations. There are standard configurations that can be overridden through the tailwind.config.js file. This approach simplifies the configuration of themes and styles, palettes, etc. The framework utilities simplify the management of any project.
- The presence of a service template. Developers can shorten the names of a large number of classes. The framework is provided with generic service templates for classic needs. This simplifies the creation of custom elements, instead of constant coding.
- PurgeCSS optimization. With it, the file size is reduced by removing classes that are not used and scanning the HTML. As the project scales, the size of CSS files grows as well, but PurgeCSS cleans up unnecessary elements, which ensures manageability. A particularly important aspect before deployment.
- Mobile-oriented. A framework with a simple responsiveness, every class in it can be used in a way that simplifies the creation of complex adaptive layouts. As a result, designers have no problem creating adaptive interfaces.
- Easy interaction with the community.
- No pre-made elements. Developers don't need to redefine styles that are already there when creating an unusual design.
- Ability to develop your own customizable components with re-application.
- Powerful PostCSS/SASS integration.
As for the disadvantages - the lack of ready-made elements, which complicates the work of inexperienced designers.
Spectre CSS
Spectre CSS is a CSS framework that Yang Zhu created and first introduced in March 2016. Spectre includes only modern basic styles, responsive layout systems, CSS components, and utilities. Using Spectre CSS is completely free of charge.
Spectre CSS Features:
- Lightweight. All module sets are packaged in files less than 10kb in size.
- Responsiveness. It provides basic elements and typographic styles, as well as a responsive layout system based on flexbox functionality.
- Minimalistic design. The framework provides a clean and unobtrusive default style that can be customized according to different project requirements.
- Icons. Spectre CSS includes a set of icon classes based on icons from the Font Awesome library.
Spectre CSS has 11.2k stars on GitHub, is constantly updated, and supports the latest versions of web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. If you're on the lookout for the best CSS framework in 2024, Spectre CSS could be a great option.
Foundation
Is considered to be the best and most advanced structure. It is adaptive, presents a grid and user interface components of HTML, SASS and CSS. There are additional features and capabilities with JavaScript extensions.
The open-source platform, provides convenient work on projects that focus on smartphones and other mobile devices. The framework will be especially effective when developing large applications that need a host.
Foundation is ideal for experienced users who want freedom of action. All development tools can be used together and independently of each other.
The advantages of the framework include:
- Broad base of tools. Their set is more than needed for the CSS framework, which allows you to solve many problems of interface developers. For example, there are components for websites and letters, command line menu is available.
- Flexibility. Developers get full control over interfaces, there is no need to work with one particular language or style, which makes it preferable for a wide range of people.
- Availability of user interface elements. In addition to the classic set in the framework there is an adaptive system of pictures, price tables, convenient integration elements, forms and other features that allow developers to experiment when creating a project.
- Different training methods. The platform provides training opportunities, there are several ways to consult, which is important for corporations that want to work on large projects.
The abundance of features - this is good, but at the same time makes it difficult to learn the framework and with the library Zepto, which is used by the Foundation, not many developers are familiar with.
Milligram
This framework is made to increase performance and productivity. The community is small but friendly. With the platform you can start working quickly and conveniently on styling new projects.
Among the advantages we will highlight:
- Ease of setup and operation. Despite the powerful functionality that helps improve performance, in a compressed form the file will only take up 2Kb.
- No default style saves time for developers, no need to reset or redefine properties.
- Ability to learn quickly due to simplicity. Some developers learn it in 1 day. A quick read of the official documentation is enough to get started.
Among the disadvantages note the lack of templates and blanks, as well as a small community, which will make it difficult to find support at the right time.
Semantic UI
Semantic UI is a framework for creating intuitive user interfaces using CSS, jQuery, and HTML. Semantic UI overlays on top of React components and provides themes as a CSS stylesheet.
Reasons for Semantic UI's popularity:
- Community support
- Ability to install themes as well as CSS, JavaScript files, and fonts
- Provides a lightweight user interface
With Semantic UI, web application development happens without having to re-create components. You can also use your own templates to simplify your work.
React's Semantic UI library has more than 50 components. They are grouped into categories such as:
- Elements: buttons, containers, separators, lists, images, icons, loaders, inputs, and headers
- Collections: forms, menus, grids, and tables
- Views: comments, cards, feeds, announcements, and statistics
- Modules: popups, search, sidebars, modals, progress bars and ratings
CSS frameworks in 2024, like Semantic UI, make it easy to create attractive and functional web applications. It's a valuable tool for developers and designers looking to make the design process more efficient.
Material-UI
Material-UI is a popular CSS framework and component library for creating user interfaces in React-based web applications. It implements the Material Design principles created by Google.
Material Design System Icons. Source.
Material-UI provides a set of ready-made UI components, styles, and tools. They make it easy to create responsive and aesthetically pleasing user interfaces.
Features and characteristics of Material-UI:
- Material Design compliance. Material-UI adheres to Material Design principles that focus on elements such as maps, shadows, animations, and visual effects.
- React Integration. Material-UI is built specifically for React, one of the most popular JavaScript libraries.
- Creating Themes and Styles. You can design your own themes and styles for Material-UI components using the built-in theming capabilities.
Material-UI continues to evolve to maintain its place on the list of best CSS frameworks in 2024. It is suitable for various web and mobile development projects, such as e-commerce platforms and educational websites.
Skeleton
This is not a full-fledged framework, but rather a very simple but user-friendly and responsive template. Full minimalism includes only 400 lines of source code. The tool is easy to work with, suitable for many displays, including mobile devices. It has all the classic elements to create an adaptive design. The syntax is quick to implement, so creating a design won't be a difficult task.
The main reasons for choosing Skeleton and getting it to the top:
- Ease, its just simple to store, manage and handle the framework.
- Designed with a focus on smartphones - a perfect choice for beginners.
- Having only basic HTML elements and components (with Grid support).
- Easy to learn and implement.
Skeleton is best suited for small projects or startups.
Evaluation criteria for CSS frameworks
Before choosing a particular framework, developers and designers need to compare and evaluate each one based on the project objectives, specific requirements.
When evaluating CSS frameworks for 2024, several criteria will help to choose the best option:
- Components and functionality. It is necessary to evaluate the selected framework in terms of preliminary components, grid system, typography and other interface elements. It is important to find a complete list of functions and features for a specific project.
- Customizability. Flexibility should be evaluated with ease of customization. The platform should allow you to change style, color, layouts quickly and easily, without sacrificing maintenance.
- Responsiveness. Support platforms are better to choose a reliable, which will allow you to develop an adaptive web-design without problems. It is recommended to find features that simplify the creation of layouts.
- Performance. Evaluate the impact of the framework on the performance of the entire software or site. Find options that favor optimized CSS with a small file size to increase loading speed, improve the interaction with the site's customers.
- Compatibility. Frameworks should support the most popular browsers, regardless of their version. In some cases, compatibility with older browsers is important if the target audience requires it.
CSS grid frameworks are essential in web developers' and designers' toolkits. For any project to work smoothly, developers must choose an environment that they are comfortable working with and that is equipped with all the features to meet the requirements of the project. Naturally, researching and comparing different leading frameworks is paramount before making a choice.
With any choice, all sites should be tested through real browsers and devices. In the case of simulations, there is no way to get the full user experience in which the software is supposed to function. This can cause the results of any test to be inaccurate. It is possible to consider software or site testing conditions in the real cloud in either manual or automated mode.
There are many browsers and devices in the cloud for on-demand snapshot tests. In addition, a grid of automated jobs is provided to speed up parallel testing. You can also get integration with a variety of popular tools in the cloud, among them CI/CD.
