98.css vs daisyUI
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A CSS stylesheet that makes plain HTML look like Windows 98 interface elements.
Open source · MIT
A free component library of ready-made UI pieces for Tailwind CSS.
The short answer
Choose 98.css if you need…
- Web developers making a retro or nostalgic website
- Designers who want Windows 98-style mockups in HTML
- Developers who want a stylesheet with no JavaScript dependency
- Anyone building a novelty or joke app in an old Windows look
Choose daisyUI if you need…
- Developers already using Tailwind CSS who want prebuilt components
- Solo builders or small teams prototyping a web interface quickly
- People who want a consistent look with simple class names
- Projects that want MIT-licensed, free UI building blocks
Side-by-side
| 98.css | daisyUI | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 11.6k | 42.7k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | CSS | JavaScript |
| Last code update | 14 months ago | 6 days ago |
What each one is
98.css
98.css is a CSS file that styles standard HTML elements so they resemble the classic Windows 98 user interface. It contains no JavaScript, so it can be used alongside any frontend framework. People use it to build retro-styled windows, dialogs, and buttons for websites or design projects.
daisyUI
daisyUI is an open-source component library for Tailwind CSS, a popular utility-class styling tool. It provides ready-made interface pieces such as buttons and other common components, so builders can assemble web pages faster without writing every style from scratch. The README is short and mostly links to the official website and documentation for details.
Best for
98.css
- Web developers making a retro or nostalgic website
- Designers who want Windows 98-style mockups in HTML
- Developers who want a stylesheet with no JavaScript dependency
- Anyone building a novelty or joke app in an old Windows look
daisyUI
- Developers already using Tailwind CSS who want prebuilt components
- Solo builders or small teams prototyping a web interface quickly
- People who want a consistent look with simple class names
- Projects that want MIT-licensed, free UI building blocks
Strengths
98.css
- Single CSS file with no JavaScript, so it fits into any frontend stack
- Available via unpkg, npm, and GitHub releases
- MIT licensed
daisyUI
- Free and MIT-licensed, with a large public following (about 42,700 GitHub stars)
- Built on Tailwind CSS, so it fits existing utility-class workflows
- Active project with a recent push and published releases
Not ideal for
98.css
- Projects needing a modern, general-purpose UI kit, since it only mimics the Windows 98 look
- Teams that need accessibility guarantees, since the README does not discuss accessibility
daisyUI
- Projects not using Tailwind CSS, since daisyUI is built on top of it
- Teams that need a fully custom visual identity with no shared styling defaults
- Non-developers looking for a no-code website builder
Trade-offs
98.css
- Only covers the Windows 98 visual style, not general layout or components beyond what it styles
- The README is brief on component details and points to an external documentation site for those
daisyUI
- Depends on Tailwind CSS; you must understand Tailwind to use it well
- The README gives little detail on specific components, so the official docs are needed for specifics
Getting started
daisyUI
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/saadeghi/daisyuiFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between 98.css and daisyUI?
98.css: A CSS stylesheet that makes plain HTML look like Windows 98 interface elements. daisyUI: A free component library of ready-made UI pieces for Tailwind CSS. 98.css suits web developers making a retro or nostalgic website, while daisyUI suits developers already using tailwind css who want prebuilt components.
Are 98.css and daisyUI free?
98.css: Free and open source. daisyUI: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, 98.css or daisyUI?
98.css is easier to get started with (rated beginner); daisyUI is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is 98.css or daisyUI more popular?
daisyUI has more GitHub stars (42.7k) than 98.css (11.6k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to 98.css and daisyUI?
Other options people compare them with include Primer CSS, HyperUI, TW Elements, Ant Design, UI Kitten.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.