Dev tools · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Carbon Design System from IBM

IBM's Open Source Design System and Component Library

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Carbon Design System from IBM launched in 2017; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Carbon Design System▲6

   IBM’s open-source design system for products and experiences

   2019 · carbondesignsystem.com · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Carbide▲164

   A new kind of programming environment

   2016 · alpha.trycarbide.com · its alternatives →

3. 3
   I've been building an ERP for manufacturing for the last 3 years▲322

   Carbon is an open source ERP, MES and QMS for manufacturing. Perfect for complex assembly, contract manufacturing, high volume, and configure to order manufacturing. - crbnos/carbon

   2025 · github.com · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Material Colors▲133

   A tool for material design colors

   2016 · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Cycles▲179

   Visual feedback and approvals for web development

   2016 · cycleshq.com · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Hue▲191

   Unlimited design for startups to enterprises

   2017 · designjoy.co · its alternatives →

7. 7
   The Interface▲66

   IBM and the transformation of corporate design

   2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Getting Started with Design Systems▲239

   A free book that's simple in structure, human in explanation

   2019 · marvelapp.com · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Open Design SDK▲139

   Read and display data from designs, using code

   2021 · opendesign.dev · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Find Guidelines▲174

    A repository of products' design guidelines

    2014 · findguidelin.es · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Materialette▲177

    A material design color palette on macOS / Windows / Linux

    2016 · mike-schultz.github.io · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Agile Designers▲164

    Best Resources for Designers and Developers

    2014 · agiledesigners.com · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Open Design▲139

    Dev toolkit to read, change & display data from design files

    2021 · avocode.com · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Designspiration▲135

    Discover and share design inspiration

    2014 · designspiration.com · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Beautiful Open▲132

    Beautiful sites for Open Source projects

    2014 · beautifulopen.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Carbon▲9

    Create and share beautiful images of your source code.

    2019 · carbon.now.sh · its alternatives →

17. 17
    PaintCode 2▲89

    The missing bridge between developers and graphic designers

    2014 · paintcodeapp.com · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Studio▲17

    Next generation design tool for digital products

    2017 · studio.design · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Monograph▲81

    Business dashboard for architects and engineers

    2015 · monograph.com · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Software Design Decoded: 66 Ways Experts Think▲62

    Little book of big ideas

    2017 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

21. 21
    Design Library 2.0▲37

    Studying for free

    2022 · design-library.super.site · its alternatives →

22. 22
    Panda▲76

    Keeping designers inspired and informed

    2014 · usepanda.com · its alternatives →

23. 23
    Atomic Design▲77

    Create design systems, not pages

    2016 · shop.bradfrost.com · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Paperhouses▲67

    Open-source architecture

    2014 · paperhouses.co · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →