Getting started
What is shads.app?
shads.app is a visual theme builder for shadcn/ui. Every catalog theme is open for anyone to explore and customize; save a theme to your library to install it through the shadcn CLI, shads CLI, MCP, or an agent prompt.
Do I need an account to explore or customize themes?
No. You can browse, preview, and customize all 122 catalog themes across 34 design systems without an account. Three unmodified Free themes also install directly without signing in: Modern · Claret, Kids' Sketchbook · Original, and Neobrutalism · Original. Sign in and save any other theme to your library before installing it.
How do I install a theme into my project?
The three Free themes have public shadcn registry commands. For any other theme, sign in, save it to your library, then open Get theme and use its shadcn CLI, shads CLI, MCP, or agent-prompt instructions. The first install activates that saved theme.
What is a theme activation?
A saved theme uses one activation the first time you install it, through the web app, CLI, MCP, an agent prompt, or its keyless registry link. Free accounts get three lifetime activations. Once a theme is activated, you can install it any number of times without using another activation. Pro has unlimited activations.
What happens if I delete an activated theme?
Deleting a theme does not refund its activation. Free accounts have three lifetime activations, so deleting and saving another theme does not restore one.
Accounts and plans
What do Free and Pro include?
Free accounts get unlimited saved themes, three lifetime activations, three hosted AI generations per month, and ten editable share links per month that last 90 days. Pro ($8/month) adds unlimited activations, up to 500 AI generations per month, editing saved themes and version history, Export, the bookmarklet and Chrome extension, CSS import, unlimited permanent/view-only/private shares, and MCP write tools.
Why are saved themes final on Free?
You can explore and customize every theme, then save unlimited themes to your library. A saved theme is a stable install target, so editing it, saving a copy, and keeping version history are Pro features. You can still rename or delete a saved theme on Free.
Can I export on the Free plan?
No. Export is Pro for every theme, including the three Free-tagged catalog themes. Export includes copying CSS or JSON, ZIP downloads, tokens, and Export JSON in My themes or the presets panel. Free-tagged themes can still be installed unmodified with their public registry command.
What happens when I cancel Pro?
When your plan changes to Free, saved themes remain installable, including any already activated themes, and become final: you cannot edit their saved design or create new activations after using your three Free activations. Existing content is not deleted. New Free shares follow the 10-per-month, 90-day policy.
How do I upgrade to Pro?
Open the account menu → Upgrade to Pro, or Account Settings → Plan / Benefits. Pro is $8 per month and unlocks when payment is confirmed, usually within seconds.
Features
How does AI theme generation work?
Sign in and click the sparkles icon in the header. Free accounts get three hosted generations per month; Pro gets up to 500. Preview variations, apply one, then refine manually.
Is the bookmarklet or Chrome extension included on Free?
No. The bookmarklet and Chrome extension are Pro features. Exporting CSS for the bookmarklet is also Pro.
Can coding agents install themes?
Yes. MCP works without a key for browsing and installing the three Free themes. Add your single account API key to install saved themes and read your library; Pro adds MCP save, update, and AI-generation tools. A saved theme activates on its first install, then installs any number of times.
Billing and policies
How do I manage or cancel billing?
Open Account Settings → Manage Billing to update payment details or cancel. For help, email [email protected]. See refunds for the refund policy.
What data do you store?
Signed-in accounts store profile data and cloud-saved themes. See the Privacy Policy for details on collection and retention.