BootstrapVue vs Element
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
Old Bootstrap component library for Vue 2; project has moved to bootstrap-vue-next.
Open source · MIT
A Vue 2 component library of ready-made UI pieces for building web apps.
The short answer
Choose BootstrapVue if you need…
- Developers maintaining an existing Vue 2 app that already uses BootstrapVue
- Teams looking for the history of this project before moving to bootstrap-vue-next
Choose Element if you need…
- Developers maintaining an existing Vue 2.x web application
- Teams building internal admin or back-office interfaces with Vue 2
- Developers who want prebuilt components with a documented API and themes
- Projects that need to support Internet Explorer 10+ alongside modern browsers
Side-by-side
| BootstrapVue | Element | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 14.4k | 54k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Beginner |
| How you get it | See the README | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | JavaScript | Vue |
| Last code update | 7 months ago | 2 years ago |
What each one is
BootstrapVue
BootstrapVue was a component library that added Bootstrap-styled UI components, such as forms, tables and modals, to Vue.js apps. The README here only says the project has moved to a new repository, bootstrap-vue-next, so this page does not describe current features. Developers who want the maintained version should go to that repository.
Element
Element is a UI toolkit for Vue.js 2.0 that provides a set of prebuilt interface components such as buttons, selects and other common web controls. Developers use it to build consistent web pages and admin-style interfaces without designing every component from scratch. The README says it will stay on Vue 2.x and points Vue 3 users to Element Plus.
Best for
BootstrapVue
- Developers maintaining an existing Vue 2 app that already uses BootstrapVue
- Teams looking for the history of this project before moving to bootstrap-vue-next
Element
- Developers maintaining an existing Vue 2.x web application
- Teams building internal admin or back-office interfaces with Vue 2
- Developers who want prebuilt components with a documented API and themes
- Projects that need to support Internet Explorer 10+ alongside modern browsers
Strengths
BootstrapVue
- MIT license, so it can be reused under permissive terms
- The project's topics include accessibility and ARIA, which shows it was aimed at accessible components
Element
- Large, established project with 54,002 stars and an MIT license
- Documentation is available in English, Chinese, Spanish and French
- Supports both full-library and per-component imports
Not ideal for
BootstrapVue
- New projects: the README points users to bootstrap-vue-next instead of this repository
- Anyone needing current Vue 3 support, since this README does not mention it
Element
- New projects on Vue 3, because the README recommends Element Plus for Vue 3 instead
- Mini-program development, because the README recommends MorJS for that
- Designers looking for a visual tool rather than code components
Trade-offs
BootstrapVue
- The README provided is only a notice that the project moved, so most features cannot be verified here
- The repository itself points elsewhere, which suggests it is no longer the primary place for development
Element
- Locked to Vue 2.x; the README directs Vue 3 users elsewhere
- Latest release is v2.15.14 and the last push shown is from August 2024, so check current maintenance status before adopting
Getting started
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between BootstrapVue and Element?
BootstrapVue: Old Bootstrap component library for Vue 2; project has moved to bootstrap-vue-next. Element: A Vue 2 component library of ready-made UI pieces for building web apps. BootstrapVue suits developers maintaining an existing vue 2 app that already uses bootstrapvue, while Element suits developers maintaining an existing vue 2.x web application.
Are BootstrapVue and Element free?
BootstrapVue: Free and open source. Element: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, BootstrapVue or Element?
Element is easier to get started with (rated beginner); BootstrapVue is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is BootstrapVue or Element more popular?
Element has more GitHub stars (54k) than BootstrapVue (14.4k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to BootstrapVue and Element?
Other options people compare them with include Headless UI, Chakra UI, Base UI, shadcn-vue, SweetAlert2.
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.