Aura UI vs WireUI
Two TALL-stack libraries — one fully free and form-focused, one with a commercial Pro layer.
WireUI is a well-loved, fully open-source (MIT) TALL-stack library with outstanding free form components. Aura UI overlaps on the free essentials, then extends into a commercial Pro tier, a full Filament theme, AI discoverability and own-the-code installs.
| Feature |
Aura UI
|
WireUI |
|---|---|---|
| Stack | PHP · Blade · Livewire 3 & 4 · Alpine.js · Tailwind 4 | TALL stack — Tailwind · Alpine.js · Livewire · Laravel |
| License & cost | Free tier (MIT) + commercial Pro | Fully free & open-source (MIT) |
| Distribution | Composer — plus own-the-code CLI (aura:add copies source into your app) | Composer (composer require wireui/wireui) |
| Free components | 60+ components across forms, overlays, navigation, data display | Strong free set, form-focused (inputs, selects, date/time pickers, toggles, phone) |
| Pro components | DataTable (sort/filter/bulk/export), charts, rich text editor, Scheduler, Kanban, Sidebar, Carousel, Tree View | No separate Pro tier (everything is free) |
| Filament integration | Full Filament theme + plugin (presets, configurator, branded auth, command palette, email theming) | Not a Filament theme |
| AI discoverability | llms.txt · /r/registry.json · public MCP server | Documentation-based |
| Own / edit the source | Yes — aura:add vendors a component's source into your project | Components live in the package |
| Theming | Tailwind 4 CSS variables · visual Theme Studio with exportable OKLCH palettes | Tailwind config + component customisation |
WireUI is entirely free and MIT-licensed, with particularly strong form inputs — date/time pickers, selects, phone input. If you only need free, form-first components, it is an excellent no-cost choice.
Which should you pick?
No wrong answer — it comes down to scope.
Choose Aura if you want heavier Pro components (DataTable, Scheduler, Kanban, charts), a Filament theme, AI-assisted installs, or the ability to own and edit component source.
Choose WireUI if you want a fully free, MIT-licensed, form-first TALL library and do not need a commercial Pro layer or Filament theming.
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