Best Front-End Frameworks as a Bootstrap alternative
Developers can count on Frameworks to build websites that are well-organized and that can be maintained and upgraded without hassle. Thanks to this Front-end solution, developers can save time since there are many elements that can be used. There are many frameworks available and one of the most prominent options is Bootstrap from Twitter. If you are looking for an alternative, you can consider any of the frameworks that we have included in the list. They support unique features that will suit different needs.
Foundation
For many, Foundation is the strongest competitor for Bootstrap. It features extensive documentation and it stands out for its flexibility and stability. This open source front-end framework comes with many practical tools that allow you to create websites that are responsive, in less time. It works with neatly every website available, with the exception of IE7. Most developers use Foundation for HTML and CSS Online, but you can also port it with Sass and Rails.
Skeleton
Skeleton stands out by using a 12-column grid system and it is a good option for those who are looking for a simple and lightweight CSS framework. It includes essential components like lists, table, button and forms.
Bootflat
This open source CSS solution is built using Bootstrap 3, a powerful solution that grants many advantages to this framework. Bootflat can create a remarkable flat web design with faster, easier and more fluid performance. A such, its UI Kit features an amazing PSD user interface pack that can be used on your website or mobile app.
Pure
With Pure from Yahoo, it is possible to build a web application that is compatible with desktop and mobile. It is available as a pure CSS framework only and it works better on mobile devices than Bootstrap. Pure is lightweight and is built on top of Normalize.css.
HTML Boilerplate
As the name suggests, HTML5 Boilerplate offers an HTML5 ready template that has been optimized to suit even the most standard of HTML new features. When you use this template, you can create a fast, responsive and solid website that can work on any browser, including Internet Explorer.
UI Kit
Dveloped with LESS, this free, lighweight and modular front-end framework offers a grid system that is responsive and flexible. Its code can be expanded and maintained and it allows you to build navigation, buttons, modals, dropdown and more. Thanks to the detailed documentation available, you will be able to get started with UI Kit without issues.
Groundwork
Created and maintained by Gary Hepting, Groundwork is a lightweight and flexible front-end framework that is built on top of Sass and Compass. It offers a fantastic grid system that is flexible and fluid, enabling you to build any type of layout that fits any screen size.
MontageJS
This front-end framework focuses on being a solution to create modern Single-Page Applications (SPA). It uses the foundation of many proven framework applications, simplifying the development process as the expressive HTML codes can still be maintained. With MontageJS, you can synchronize the DOM updates to improve the user experience. It is a free and open source solution.
Materialize
Materialize is based on Google’s Material Design principles and it is ideal for anyone who wants to add Material Design appearance to their website in an easy way. This front-end framework is modern and responsive. It offers card design, Sass mixin, drag out mobile menu, ripple effect animation and more.
960 Grid System
This front-end framework allows you to streamline your web development workflow based on 960px wide container. This container then can be divided into 12, 16 or 24 columns to facilitate the process or laying out content.
Susy
This automated grid system allows you to build a web layout in any type of column desired. Susy lets you build design with freedom and flexibility. It can support designs with 5, 12, 24, 48, or unequal columns.
Jeet
This is one of the fastest, most flexible and advanced grid systems that you can get. It allows you to build grids in a fast, intuitive and clean manner. Almost all modern and old browsers are supported.
Metro UI
This 12-grid based framework is based on the Windows 8 Metro style interface. It is easy to use and it comprises a combination of common elements such as tile, menu, button, date picker and more. It also features a News Portal template to get started without issues.
HTML KickStart
Based on Twitter Bootstrap, HTML KickStart is an ultra-lean HTML, CSS and Javacript boilerplate supports faster web development. It has icon support for Font Awesome and it offers a great selection of elements like tables, buttons, ready menu, list and grid system. You can save the process of your web project creation for 10 hours and more.
Simple Grid
Unlike other frameworks that come with frills and advanced menu, table, button and other elements, Simple Grid is true to its name and it focuses on offering a pure grid. It is super light and responsive. The grid feature is based on 1140 px screen size and has 12 columns that can be customized to obtain the best layout.
TopCoat
This solid front-end framework created by Adobe enables the development of web applications that are very fast. TopCoat is designed with performance and optimization in mind. In addition, it features practical solutions such as open source font, customizable theme and PSD UI Kit that can be used with your project. It is an efficient solution that also offers a good alternative to Bootstrap.
Inuit.css
Inuit.css is in beta, but it is another convenient CSS framework focused on Mobile First approach, that leaves all the design in your hands. Unlike other frameworks that include their own built in design CSS, Inuit.css doesn’t. It works in OOCSS (Object Oriented CSS) manner, making it a fast, scalable and easy to maintain solution to write reusable CSS.