What shads.app is
Design once. Agents build in your taste. shads.app is a visual theme builder for shadcn/ui — human taste in the studio, installable themes for MCP and the CLI.
- Explore and customize all 122 themes across 34 design systems.
- Install Modern · Claret, Kids' Sketchbook · Original, and Neobrutalism · Original without an account.
- Sign in and save any other theme to your library before installing it from Get theme.
- A saved theme activates on its first install; Free includes three lifetime activations, and activated themes install any number of times.
- Every catalog theme is open to explore and customize. The three Free themes — Modern · Claret, Kids' Sketchbook · Original, and Neobrutalism · Original — install without an account. Signed-in Free accounts get unlimited saved themes, 3 lifetime activations (activated themes install any number of times), 10 editable share links per month for 90 days, and 3 hosted AI generations per month.
- Pro is $8/month and adds unlimited activations, up to 500 hosted AI generations per month, editing saved themes and version history, all exports (CSS, JSON, ZIP, and tokens), the bookmarklet and Chrome extension, CSS import, unlimited permanent/view-only/private shares, and MCP write tools.
Quick start
Install the unmodified Claret theme without an account, or use the shads CLI:
npx shadcn@latest add https://shads.app/r/system-modern-default-theme.json
shads install system-modern-default-theme
For any other theme, sign in, save it to your library, then use the command shown in Get theme. The first install uses one activation.
Guides
| Guide | Use it when |
|---|---|
| CLI | You want to install a theme from a terminal |
| MCP | Cursor, Claude, or another agent should fetch themes for you |
| Registry | You already use npx shadcn@latest add |
| Export | You have Pro and need CSS, JSON, tokens, or a ZIP |
| Theme catalog | You want to explore or customize a theme |
Also useful: how shads compares, the in-app help, and pricing.
FAQ
Can I customize any theme?
Yes. All catalog themes are open to explore and customize. The three Free-tagged themes install unmodified without an account; sign in and save any other theme to your library before installing it.
What is an activation?
A saved theme uses one lifetime activation on its first install. After that, it installs any number of times. Free includes three activations; deleting a theme does not refund one. Pro has unlimited activations.
How do ChatGPT, Claude, or Cursor use shads.app?
Connect to the MCP server at https://mcp.shads.app. No key is needed to browse or install the three Free themes. Add your single account API key to install saved themes and read your library; Pro adds save, update, and AI-generation tools.
How much does shads.app cost?
Every catalog theme is open to explore and customize. The three Free themes — Modern · Claret, Kids' Sketchbook · Original, and Neobrutalism · Original — install without an account. Signed-in Free accounts get unlimited saved themes, 3 lifetime activations (activated themes install any number of times), 10 editable share links per month for 90 days, and 3 hosted AI generations per month. Pro is $8/month and adds unlimited activations, up to 500 hosted AI generations per month, editing saved themes and version history, all exports (CSS, JSON, ZIP, and tokens), the bookmarklet and Chrome extension, CSS import, unlimited permanent/view-only/private shares, and MCP write tools.