Pico.css vs shadcn/ui:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, shadcn/ui had more branded searches than Pico.css among CSS frameworks worldwide. shadcn/ui had about 135,000 branded searches, while Pico.css had 5,400. shadcn/ui made up 34% of all CSS framework searches we track, and Pico.css accounted for 1.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about CSS frameworks, Pico.css appeared in three of the five answers and shadcn/ui in two. Pico.css was mentioned before shadcn/ui in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
shadcn/ui, about 25 searches for every 1 for Pico.css
Who does AI mention more?
Pico.css, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, shadcn/ui in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
Pico.css, named ahead of shadcn/ui in 3 of 3 answers
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Top CSS frameworks in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Pico.css was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. shadcn/ui was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Pico.css was listed before shadcn/ui in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Tailwind CSS1st
Bootstrap2nd
Bulma3rd- Pico.css4th
- shadcn/ui5th
Materialize6th
Starship Foundation–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Tailwind CSS5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Bootstrap5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Bulma4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Pico.css3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- shadcn/ui2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Materialize1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Starship Foundation0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about CSS frameworks
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which CSS framework should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best CSS frameworks?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best CSS framework for a website team?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“css frameworks”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“frontend framework”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.
Is Pico.css or shadcn/ui more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Pico.css and shadcn/ui by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven CSS frameworks we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for shadcn/ui, Pico.css. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Tailwind CSS | shadcn/ui | Bootstrap | Pico.css | Bulma | Starship Foundation | Materialize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 66.3% | 29.6% | 1.8% | 0.97% | 1.2% | 0.13% | 0.01% |
| Nov 2025 | 70.2% | 25.7% | 1.9% | 1% | 1% | 0.16% | <0.01% |
| Dec 2025 | 66.2% | 29.7% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.97% | 0.16% | <0.01% |
| Jan 2026 | 66.5% | 29.7% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0.98% | 0.13% | 0.01% |
| Feb 2026 | 57% | 38.2% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 0.23% | 0.01% |
| Mar 2026 | 57.4% | 38.3% | 1.3% | 1.5% | 1.3% | 0.19% | 0.01% |
| Apr 2026 | 57.1% | 38.3% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.3% | 0.2% | <0.01% |
| May 2026 | 57.2% | 38.4% | 1.3% | 1.5% | 1.3% | 0.3% | <0.01% |
| Jun 2026 | 65.6% | 29.4% | 2.6% | 1.2% | 0.96% | 0.19% | <0.01% |
| Jul 2026 | 57.1% | 38.4% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.3% | 0.2% | <0.01% |
| Aug 2026 | 56.1% | 37.7% | 3.4% | 1.5% | 1% | 0.25% | <0.01% |
| Sep 2026 | 62% | 34% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.1% | 0.18% | <0.01% |
How has the Pico.css and shadcn/ui comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- shadcn/ui was ahead of Pico.css in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pico.css’ share of searches among CSS frameworks worldwide moved from 0.97% to 1.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 6.6K to 5.4K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, shadcn/ui’s share of searches among CSS frameworks worldwide moved from 29.6% to 34%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 201K to 135K.
How did search popularity change for CSS frameworks worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, shadcn/ui lost share of searches among CSS frameworks worldwide, from 37.7% to 34%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Pico.css worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 6.6K to 5.4K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Pico.css’ and shadcn/ui’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among CSS frameworks
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