# vanilla-extract, release history and use on real websites. Styles written in TypeScript (.css.ts) that are compiled to static CSS at build time. Type-safe themes and variables without runtime CSS-in-JS. - **Status:** Modern. Actively developed. - **Category:** [JS/CSS Frameworks](https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework) - **First release:** 2021 - **License:** MIT - **Latest version:** 1.21.3 (8 Oct 2026) - **Official website:** https://vanilla-extract.style - **Documentation:** https://vanilla-extract.style/documentation/getting-started/ - **GitHub:** https://github.com/vanilla-extract-css/vanilla-extract - **Page:** https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework/vanilla-extract ## vanilla-extract on audited websites 3 of the 16,845 websites audited by be1st run vanilla-extract (<1%). That ranks it #35 of the 35 technologies in JS/CSS Frameworks we have seen in audits. ### Most used in JS/CSS Frameworks 1. [Tailwind CSS](https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework/tailwind-css): 34% (5,653) 2. [jQuery](https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework/jquery): 29% (4,883) 3. [Next.js](https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework/next-js): 23% (3,836) 4. [React](https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework/react): 22% (3,626) 5. [Bootstrap](https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework/bootstrap): 13% (2,198) 6. [PHP](https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework/php): 3.0% (502) 7. [Lit](https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework/lit): 2.9% (487) 8. [Astro](https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework/astro): 2.4% (405) 9. [Vue.js](https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework/vue-js): 2.2% (373) 10. [Alpine.js](https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework/alpine-js): 2.0% (341) The number for React counts only websites where Tech Stack detects it directly, not websites built with Next.js, Gatsby, and Remix, which run it too. The number for Vue.js counts only websites where Tech Stack detects it directly, not websites built with Nuxt, which run it too. ## vanilla-extract versions and release history 2 release lines since 2021, as listed by the npm registry. The latest version is 1.21.3, released 8 Oct 2026. | Version | Released | Latest release | Releases | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | 28 May 2021 | 1.21.3 (8 Oct 2026) | 66 | | 0.x (before 1.0) | 26 Mar 2021 | 0.5.3 (28 May 2021) | 14 | Sources: [npm registry, package @vanilla-extract/css](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@vanilla-extract/css), checked 8 Nov 2026. ## Other technologies in JS/CSS Frameworks - [TanStack Start](https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework/tanstack-start): 1.9% of websites - [Nette](https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework/nette): 1.8% of websites - [Nuxt](https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework/nuxt): 1.5% of websites - [Angular](https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework/angular): 1.2% of websites - [Preact](https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework/preact): 1.2% of websites - [UnoCSS](https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework/unocss): 1.2% of websites - [Express](https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework/express): 1.1% of websites - [SvelteKit](https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework/sveltekit): 1.1% of websites - [ASP.NET](https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework/asp-net): 1.0% of websites - [Django](https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework/django): <1% of websites - [HTMX](https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework/htmx): <1% of websites - [Turbo (Hotwire)](https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework/turbo): <1% of websites [All 38 in JS/CSS Frameworks](https://be1st.ai/technologies/framework) ## Questions about vanilla-extract ### What is vanilla-extract? Styles written in TypeScript (.css.ts) that are compiled to static CSS at build time. Type-safe themes and variables without runtime CSS-in-JS. The be1st catalog lists vanilla-extract under JS/CSS Frameworks. License of vanilla-extract: MIT. ### What is the latest version of vanilla-extract? The latest version of vanilla-extract is 1.21.3, released 8 Oct 2026 (source: npm registry, package @vanilla-extract/css). ### How many websites use vanilla-extract? 3 of the 16,845 websites audited by be1st run vanilla-extract (<1%), as of 8 Nov 2026. ### When was vanilla-extract first released? vanilla-extract was first released in 2021. ### Is vanilla-extract still a modern choice? Yes. vanilla-extract counts as a modern technology. Actively developed. ### What are the alternatives to vanilla-extract? Technologies that do the same job as vanilla-extract include Panda CSS and StyleX. Numbers: latest audit of each of 16,845 websites audited by be1st, as of 8 Nov 2026.