# HTMX vs Tailwind CSS

**Leader by Vioscale score:** Tailwind CSS

| Attribute | HTMX | Tailwind CSS |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 52.5 (57% (medium)) | 72 (79% (high)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 1 | 34 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 348 | 1,049,673 |
| adoption.github_stars | 49,020 | 97,335 |
| adoption.package_downloads_weekly | 247,753 | 126,824,276 |
| description.long | HTMX extends HTML to support modern interactive features like WebSocket connections and AJAX requests using simple HTML attributes, allowing developers to build responsive interfaces while remaining within the HTML/hypertext paradigm. | A CSS framework providing a library of styling utilities you can apply directly to your HTML elements. It scans your code and generates only the CSS you actually use, with built-in support for responsive layouts, dark mode, and theme customization. |
| features.capabilities | `{"paradigm":"Attribute-driven HTML extension","bundle_size":"small","virtual_dom":false,"state_management":false}` | `{"paradigm":"Utility-first CSS framework","bundle_size":"tiny","ssr_support":true}` |
| integrations.count | - | 7 |
| integrations.list | - | `[{"name":"Laravel"},{"name":"SvelteKit"},{"name":"React Router"},{"name":"Nuxt"},{"name":"SolidJS"},{"name":"Vite"},{"name":"PostCSS"}]` |
| language.primary | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| license.spdx | 0BSD | MIT |
| platform.support | `{"web":true}` | `{"web":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"open_source","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://htmx.org/","retrievedAt":"2026-08-13T23:05:42.622Z"}` | `{"type":"open_source","sourceUrl":"https://tailwindcss.com","retrievedAt":"2026-08-14T15:24:55.725Z"}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | - |
| pricing.model | open_source | open_source |
| pricing.price_level | free | free |
| pricing.transparent | - | yes |
| release.cadence_days | 35 | 17 |
| release.history | `[{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v4.0.0-beta6","date":"2026-07-23T17:19:16Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v4.0.0-beta6"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v4.0.0-beta5","date":"2026-06-26T18:17:48Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.0.0-beta5"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v4.0.0-beta4","date":"2026-05-22T16:01:42Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.0.0-beta4"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v4.0.0-beta3","date":"2026-05-08T19:31:54Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.0.0-beta3"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v2.0.9","date":"2026-04-20T13:03:20Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.0.9"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v2.0.7","date":"2025-09-11T19:03:22Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.0.7"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v2.0.6","date":"2025-06-27T13:49:49Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.0.6"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v2.0.5","date":"2025-06-20T21:44:08Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.0.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v2.0.4","date":"2024-12-13T18:13:44Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.0.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v2.0.3","date":"2024-10-04T17:55:20Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.0.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v2.0.2","date":"2024-08-12T21:10:10Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.0.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v2.0.1","date":"2024-07-12T17:28:35Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.0.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v2.0.0","date":"2024-06-17T18:42:14Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.0.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v1.9.12","date":"2024-04-25T17:24:59Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.9.12"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v1.9.11","date":"2024-03-15T14:56:53Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.9.11"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v1.9.10","date":"2024-01-05T18:28:32Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.9.10"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v1.9.9","date":"2023-11-30T22:39:18Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.9.9"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v1.9.8","date":"2023-11-30T22:38:43Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.9.8"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v1.9.7","date":"2023-11-05T16:54:38Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.9.7"},{"url":"https://github.com/bigskysoftware/htmx/releases/tag/v1.9.6","date":"2023-09-24T00:10:04Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.9.6"}]` | `[{"url":"https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/releases/tag/v4.3.3","date":"2026-07-16T11:55:08Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.3.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/releases/tag/v4.3.2","date":"2026-06-29T14:21:45Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.3.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/releases/tag/v4.3.1","date":"2026-06-12T17:50:58Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.3.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/releases/tag/v4.3.0","date":"2026-05-08T20:17:25Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.3.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/releases/tag/v4.2.4","date":"2026-04-21T13:09:56Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.2.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/releases/tag/v4.2.3","date":"2026-04-20T20:46:46Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.2.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/releases/tag/v4.2.2","date":"2026-03-18T16:06:04Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.2.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/releases/tag/v4.2.1","date":"2026-02-23T12:51:32Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.2.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/releases/tag/v4.2.0","date":"2026-02-18T14:58:28Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.2.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/releases/tag/v4.1.18","date":"2025-12-11T16:31:46Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.1.18"},{"url":"https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/releases/tag/v3.4.19","date":"2025-12-10T18:39:41Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.4.19"},{"url":"https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/releases/tag/v4.1.17","date":"2025-11-06T15:34:59Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.1.17"},{"url":"https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/releases/tag/v4.1.16","date":"2025-10-23T10:55:20Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.1.16"},{"url":"https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/releases/tag/v4.1.15","date":"2025-10-20T13:17:31Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.1.15"},{"url":"https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/releases/tag/v4.1.14","date":"2025-10-01T16:00:08Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.1.14"},{"url":"https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/releases/tag/v3.4.18","date":"2025-10-01T15:29:54Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.4.18"},{"url":"https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/releases/tag/v4.1.13","date":"2025-09-04T17:29:16Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.1.13"},{"url":"https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/releases/tag/v4.1.12","date":"2025-08-14T12:48:21Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.1.12"},{"url":"https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/releases/tag/v4.1.11","date":"2025-06-26T10:52:42Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.1.11"},{"url":"https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/releases/tag/v4.1.10","date":"2025-06-11T20:37:12Z","type":"stable","version":"v4.1.10"}]` |
| security.scorecard | 5 | 6.7 |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=htmx.org&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=tailwindcss&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` |

## Capabilities (Frontend UI Frameworks)

| Capability | HTMX | Tailwind CSS |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Core** |  |  |
| Paradigm | Attribute-driven HTML extension | Utility-first CSS framework |
| Reusable component model | - | - |
| **Rendering** |  |  |
| Virtual DOM | ✗ | - |
| Signals / fine-grained reactivity | - | - |
| SSR support | - | ✓ |
| **DX** |  |  |
| First-class TypeScript | - | - |
| **State** |  |  |
| Built-in state management | ✗ | - |
| **Ecosystem** |  |  |
| Official router | - | - |
| **Performance** |  |  |
| Runtime size | Small (10–40kb) | Tiny (<10kb) |

*Source: Vioscale. Generated 2026-09-01T15:21:02.089Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*