Vue.js has become one of the most popular JavaScript frameworks for building user interfaces. Its component-based architecture, approachable learning curve, and versatile ecosystem have attracted millions of developers worldwide.
When starting a new Vue project, developers can leverage UI component libraries and frameworks to kickstart development and build UIs faster. These libraries provide pre-built Vue components, plugins, design resources, and tools to scaffold complete apps quickly.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the top 14 VueJS UI libraries and frameworks that can help speed up app development significantly.
Why Use Vue JS UI Component Libraries?
Here are some of the main benefits of using VueJS component libraries:
1. Faster Development With Pre-built Components
Vue UI libraries provide dozens of ready-made, customizable components like buttons, cards, modals, tables, etc. Developers can use these components instead of coding everything from scratch. This accelerates development time.
2. Consistent Look and Feel
Most libraries comply with popular design systems like Material Design, Ant Design, Bootstrap, etc. This ensures a consistent user experience.
3. Responsive Components
Components from popular Vue libraries are optimized for responsive designs. They adapt seamlessly across device sizes.
4. Extensive Customization Options
Developers can customize components extensively as per their branding and UX needs – change styles, add functionality with slots and scoped styles, etc.
5. Large Ecosystem of Plugins and Tools
Many Vue UI kits come with additional plugins (data tables, calendars, etc.), design assets, CLI tools to scaffold apps and more. These further simplify app development.
6. Huge Community Support
Popular Vue UI libraries have thriving communities that can help developers through forums, Slack channels, Discord servers and more.
Top 14 Vue JS Component Libraries and Frameworks
Based on popularity, customizability, responsiveness and other factors, here are the best VueJS UI libraries and component frameworks:
1. Vuetify
Vuetify is one of the most popular Vue JS component libraries. It offers over 100 responsive material components like buttons, cards, tabs, date pickers, data tables, dialogs, etc.
Key Features:
- Components based on Material Design system
- Extensive customization system
- Theming support
- Component playground to test code
- Additional components via community plugins
Vuetify simplifies creating professional-looking interfaces rapidly. Its vast collection of customizable components speeds up development significantly.
2. Element Plus
Element Plus is a comprehensive Vue 3 component library with over 60 high-quality components for layout, navigation, feedback, data entry and more.
Key Features:
- Lightweight at just 21kb gzipped
- Mobile-first responsive design
- Support for custom themes
- Abundant components for diverse use cases
- Vibrant community
Element Plus can help developers build beautiful, responsive apps with minimal effort. Its focus on Vue 3, light weight and custom theme support makes it a great choice.
3. Buefy
Buefy is a lightweight Vue JS component library based on Bulma CSS framework and design. It offers easy styling and theming.
Key Features:
- Very lightweight at 16kb gzipped
- Easy styling powered by Bulma
- Responsive design for all devices
- Customizable themes using Sass
- Popular community
For developers who want lightweight components without sacrificing on quality, Buefy is a great option. Its integration with Bulma enables creating stylish, responsive UIs faster.
4. Quasar
Quasar is an open-source VueJS framework for responsive websites, PWAs, hybrid mobile apps and SPA desktop apps. It offers 130+ responsive components covering UX, templates, animations etc.
Key Features:
- Huge library of UI components
- Build all types of apps using same codebase
- Extensive theming capabilities
- CLI for starting new projects rapidly
- Vibrant community
For versatility across platforms and need for advanced component sandboxing, Quasar is a great framework. Its "code once, run everywhere" approach simplifies development.
5. Vuesax
Vuesax offers unique, aesthetically pleasing VueJS components. With 60+ UI components, multiple themes and easy customization, it helps build beautiful interfaces rapidly.
Key Features:
- Unique, visually refreshing components
- Customizable based on app needs
- Multiple premade themes
- Detailed documentation
- Lightweight at 17kb gzipped
For UIs that stand out from the usual Material Design based interfaces, Vuesax offers a great library of unique components to try out.
6. Ant Design Vue
Ant Design Vue offers dozens of enterprise-level UI components based on Ant Design framework. It ensures consistent, beautiful UIs.
Key Features:
- Components based on Ant Design system
- Customizable themes
- Common templates
- Detailed documentation
- Abundant components for complex interfaces
For corporate apps needing complex, data-dense UIs, Ant Design Vue provides the necessary components. Its theming and customization simplify styling apps.
7. Vuetify Material Dashboard
Vuetify Material Dashboard is a popular admin dashboard template built using Vuetify components. It contains numerous responsive pages and components for launching fully-functional admin portals rapidly.
Key Features:
- 7 individual dashboard variations
- 200+ components based on Vuetify
- 6 example pages
- Responsive design
- Easy customization
For developers looking to build admin portals and internal tools quickly, this premium dashboard template delivers everything needed. Its abundant examples simplify understanding and extending it.
8. PrimeVue
PrimeVue is an ever-growing collection of flexible Vue UI components. With over 90 components, dozens of templates and easy theming, it powers feature-rich apps.
Key Features:
- 90+ flexible UI components
- Dozens of templates
- Theme designer tool
- Lightweight and fast
- Vibrant community
For apps where performance matters, PrimeVue delivers blazing fast yet functional components. Its continuous growth makes it a stable choice for long-term projects.
9. Chakra UI Vue
Charka UI Vue integrates the popular Chakra UI component library with Vue JS. It contains accessibile, reusable components that can be composed to build complex interfaces.
Key Features:
- Accessible components
- Composable component design
- Theming support
- Lightweight integration
- Detailed documentation
For developers prioritizing accessibility needs, Chakra UI Vue makes it easy to build inclusive apps quickly in VueJS.
10. Vue Material
Vue Material offers Vue components that implement Google‘s Material Design specifications with some custom enhancements. It helps build beautiful UIs rapidly.
Key Features:
- Huge collection of components
- Customizable through SCSS
- Variety of prebuilt templates
- Detailed documentation
- Custom component playground
Vue Material brings the strengths of Material Design to VueJS through its vast collection of responsive, customizable components.
11. Bootstrap Vue
BootstrapVue integrates Bootstrap v4 CSS framework components and grids with VueJS to offer extensive UI components. With 1200+ icons and 6+ plugins, it helps build responsive interfaces rapidly.
Key Features:
- Integrates strengths of Bootstrap v4 and VueJS
- 1200+ icons integrated
- Detailed documentation
- Responsive components
- Multiple plugins for added functionality
For leveraging the powerful Grid and Flexbox capabilities Bootstrap in VueJS applications, BootstrapVue is the best choice.
12. Core UI Vue
CoreUI Vue offers dozens of responsive VueJS components derived from Bootstrap to create interactive interfaces. It also offers VueJS admin templates.
Key Features:
- Components derived from Bootstrap
- Detailed documentation
- Premium Vue admin templates
- Customization friendly
- Sample pages and applications
For developers looking to start with Vue admin templates instead of individual components, CoreUI Vue offers some great options to quickly build dashboards and internal tools.
13. Keen UI
Keen UI is an elegant, Material Design inspired VueJS component library for building beautiful interfaces. With 35+ customizable components, it accelerates development.
Key Features:
- Beautiful components inspired by Material Design
- Detailed documentation
- Customizable based on needs
- Lightweight
- Free and open source
For smaller apps that need essential components with minimum fuss, Keen UI delivers clean, customizable components to create great experiences.
14. Semantic UI Vue
Semantic UI Vue integrates the popular Semantic UI CSS framework elegantly with VueJS. It helps build responsive, themable apps rapidly.
Key Features:
- Official Vue integration for Semantic UI
- Single SCSS file for theming apps
- Detailed documentation
- Customizable based on needs
- Responsive components
For leveraging the strengths of Semantic UI within VueJS applications, this library delivers the official components. The theming system accelerates styling apps.
Summing Up
VueJS offers an extensive ecosystem of UI libraries and component frameworks. They enable developers to scaffold full-fledged apps rapidly with minimal effort. Certain things to evaluate when selecting a library are:
- Components needed
- Design system/specs followed
- Customization capabilities
- Responsiveness
- Performance
- Documentation quality
- Community support
The collections covered above represent some of the best VueJS UI libraries for quickly building beautiful, responsive interfaces. Each has its own strengths and use cases.
I hope this guide gives you a great starting point to pick the right solution for your next VueJS application! Let me know in the comments if you have any other favorite Vue component libraries to consider.
