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The Best AI Tools for CSS Code Generation, Based on Real Dev Tests

Written by: Zadhid Powell
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I used to spend 30 minutes tweaking one CSS section — adjusting margins, testing responsiveness, and fixing weird browser quirks. Half the time, I’d end up copy-pasting snippets from five different tabs just to make a layout look decent on both mobile and desktop.

Then, the AI hit the scene, and I started using AI tools to generate CSS stylesheets. I gave Claude one prompt and started getting fully responsive layouts, animations, and even cross-browser-compatible code in seconds.

In this post, I’ll explain exactly how I use AI for CSS. Then, I’ll test the top tools on the market and show you which ones are actually worth your time. I spent four years studying Computer Engineering and understand when AI is bluffing. Now, let’s put it to the test.

How AI Can Help You Write CSS

After a decade in coding, I‘ve seen that most professional devs don’t write their CSS from scratch. Instead, they copy-paste code snippets from libraries and platforms, including StackOverflow, GitHub, and Codepen.

Using AI for CSS removes the need to copy and paste again and again. And, I’m not the only one using AI coding tools.

According to Stack Overflow, of developers use AI tools in their work. Most of us already use AI tools to write, debug, and document code.

ai for css stats, 76% of developers use ai to write code. 80% of developers use ai to test code 77.1% of developers use ai to debug code. 81.2% of developers use ai to document code. 74% of developers use ai to learn about a codebase.

These AI code generators create complex layouts, responsive designs, and CSS animations in seconds. The end result saves you time. Here are other notable benefits.

key use cases of css ai tools

1. Quickly Generate Responsive CSS

Any CSS AI tool takes seconds (or less) to generate any CSS styling you want. Now, I don't need 15 minutes to design a landing page section — I can get it done in under a minute!

For example, instead of manually writing media queries for every screen size, you can ask a CSS AI tool to generate the responsive code. They also automatically adjust grid layouts or resize fonts. AI CSS stylesheet generators make spacing tweaks and fluid grid behavior easy with a short prompt, saving me time.

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    2. Sets Automatic Cross-Browser Compatibility

    Sometimes, a site looks slightly different on Chrome than Safari, and I need to go in and make tweaks. Today, AI code generators do extremely well in managing cross-browser support. AI helps you reduce the need to manually add vendor prefixes or browser-specific changes for every project.

    For example, if I use newer CSS features like flexboxes or transitions, an AI tool can generate code that is consistent across Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. Even if I need to make manual adjustments, I can instruct the tool what to do.

    3. Image-to-Code Conversion

    Gone are the days of manually inspecting colors, padding, shadows, or spacing! Converting Figma or Sketch mockup designs into CSS is now a breeze for developers. AI code generators can accurately translate your aesthetic designs into actual CSS without repetitive tasks, saving you a lot of time and effort. No more playing detective with the Figma color picker at 2 a.m.!

    4. Create CSS Animations and Effects

    Usually, creating an animation or effect with CSS requires you to go through an extensive trial-and-error coding phase. But CSS AI tools cut through that chaos by handling repetitive trial-and-error for you.

    If I want to implement subtle fade-in or hover animations quickly, I can use a CSS AI tool that can instantly suggest the right CSS properties or animation keyframes. That gives me a solid start, so I can focus on making adjustments instead of starting from scratch.

    5. Optimize CSS Styles and Files

    If I wanted to clean up my CSS code, I would call a friend. That had been my ritual for years. Now, I can use an AI-driven CSS tool to check my work. AI can analyze my stylesheet, remove redundant rules and unused classes, blend similar declarations, or eliminate unnecessary lines of code I never knew existed.

    What to Look for in an AI CSS Generator

    Before I start exploring AI coding tools, I want to set parameters for what a winning product looks like. I primarily develop landing pages, so I want a tool that makes creating these simple pages even easier.

    First, I want an AI tool that generates clean, accurate code. If I have to rewrite half the code, it‘s not saving me time. The CSS AI tool should also be able to handle debugging. I don’t want to spend hours correcting errors that AI should have caught in the first place.

    I work on projects that grow fast, and I need tools that can keep up. The world now is all about scalability. If an AI CSS generator slows down or starts struggling with larger codebases, I’m out. Nobody wants to switch platforms halfway through a build. It's disruptive and costly.

    I also care about security. LLM (large language model) tools usually have user data train their models. I want to make sure that the AI code generators aren't saving and giving away my polished code.

    With deal breakers out of the way, let’s talk about some other nice-to-haves. CSS developers mostly work with designers and interact with tools like VS Code, Sketch, and Figma. I want an AI CSS tool that fits into that workflow. At this moment, I am working with a designer who is designing a landing page on Figma, so ideally, the AI tool should connect with this platform.

    And finally, pricing. Like other tools, the CSS AI tool should be a worthwhile deal. Some of the best tools don‘t cost a cent, while plenty of paid ones aren’t worth it. I want proof of value before I spend a dime. A trial or a free version is the cherry on top.

    The 5 Best AI CSS Code Generators

    Most AI tools can deliver simple CSS code accurately. But, if I want to really challenge AI code generators, I have to give them something complex that requires creativity and coding ability. So, I created a complex CSS animation using the prompt below.

    "Create a responsive, visually appealing CSS animation of a solar system for a website landing page. The animation should be centrally positioned on the page, featuring the sun at the very center, surrounded by at least five orbiting planets.

    Each planet should have:

    • A distinct size, color, and orbit speed to differentiate clearly from the others.
    • Circular orbit paths around the sun.
    • Continuous rotation (orbit) without interruption.

    Ensure the animation:

    • Uses pure HTML and CSS (no JavaScript).
    • Is scalable and responsive across different screen sizes (desktop, tablet, mobile).
    • Is smoothly looped, fluid, and visually attractive, suitable as a captivating central hero element on the landing page.
    • Includes descriptive CSS comments clearly explaining the purpose of key animations and styles.
    • Output clean and efficient CSS and corresponding minimal HTML structure."

    I’ll review the replies and assess the code outputs for efficiency, correctness, visual appeal, responsiveness, and code cleanliness. Let’s get started.

    OpenAI GPT-4o

    I had to start with the biggest name in the AI industry, ChatGPT. The platform has become synonymous with generative AI, capturing of the total AI tool market share.

    For this test, I picked GPT-4o, which multiple sources suggest is the best version for coding-related work. After using it daily, I've found it more efficient than other GPT models. When I entered the prompt, it generated the code in just a few seconds.

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      ChatGPT-4o generated:

      • 180 lines of code
      • 7.00 KB file size

      Since ChatGPT doesn't have a built-in code editor for previews, I tested the CSS in the W3Schools Try CSS editor. The CSS code worked, and the animation appeared immediately. I saw an animated solar system of planets orbiting the sun. However, there were no lines showing the orbital path. It technically worked, but it fell short aesthetically.

      From my perspective, the code structure looks good, and GPT-4o has taken the right approach, though it couldn‘t finish it properly. This tool can create the proper structure for CSS animations but struggles with adding aesthetics. It has some great HTML generation ability, but the complex CSS doesn’t shake hands.

      What I Liked Most

      • Provides a very optimized CSS output with a clear class hierarchy (planet, orbit) to make the code easy to read.
      • Uses viewport responsive CSS style generator vmin and vh to scale elements.
      • Single keyframe animation (5 calls) makes it lightweight and fast.

      That's pretty good CSS code. But, it lacks plenty of planetary styling. Some more CSS styling could make it look more appealing. Here are a few limitations I noticed:

      • Only the Sun got the radial-gradient() effect, not for the planets.
      • Solid colors on all planets.
      • No media queries for dynamic scaling.
      • Uses hardcoded values, making it harder to modify.
      • 400px fixed width/height for .solar-system doesn't adapt to different screen sizes.

      Overall, I am disappointed. The leading AI tool should have performed better in terms of computing ability. I find that the GPT-4o is best suited for creating simple AI CSS stylesheets, such as those for buttons, website sections, and landing page sections. However, it struggles with complex animations that require polished design.

      Best For

      • Quick mockups and wireframes.
      • Lightweight, high-performance projects.
      • Rapid layout or animation testing.
      • Barebones scaffolds for devs to build on.
      • MVPs, prototypes, and early demos.

      Note: I tried refining the GPT-4o generated CSS with prompts like ‘Add more planetary gradients,’ but the result looked largely forced and unnatural.

      xAI Grok 3

      Grok 3 by xAI is a popular choice among programmers. This AI model enables complex text generation, image creation, and reasoning. I've been using Grok3 for a while, and I wanted to see how well it could handle CSS animations. I used our specific prompt, and here are the results.

      Grok 3 produced:

      • 160 lines of code
      • File size: 4.7 KB

      The CSS solar system animation is visually appealing. Though some planets are missing, I liked the results more than ChatGPT. Its minimalist aesthetic creates a sleek and modern design.

      There‘s a glowing sun and colorful planets with a dark background, just like space. The gradients and soft glow even make it look better. However, the orbital lines could have more weight. When I look closely, the lines are moving along with the planets; that shouldn’t be happening.

      What I Liked Most

      • Very clear and logical code structure.
      • Use CSS variables (--size) for better scalability and dynamic scaling using min().
      • Uses @keyframes orbit correctly for smooth planetary motion animation.
      • The radial-gradient for a realistic sun effect and subtle orbit styling work great together.
      • Implements @media queries for adaptive sizing on smaller screens.
      • box-shadow for a glow effect creates a realistic outcome.

      Though I liked it a lot, additional CSS styling could make it look more appealing. Here are a few limitations I noticed:

      • Uses hardcoded values, which isn't suitable for scaling.
      • Lacks advanced visual effects on the planets. Could use a box shadow for a glowing effect.
      • Visuals could be a CSS linear-gradient for planets rather than using solid colors.
      • Lacks realistic scaling between the planets, but that's more like a creativity issue than a tool issue.

      The planets are cute, but they look like candy buttons on black paper. Some depth wouldn’t hurt. I understand that AI tools aren‘t perfect, and I didn’t expect Grok 3 to create a flawless CSS animation using only one prompt. But, the tool showed great creativity and aspiration.

      Overall, it‘s a solid start that I could get within seconds, and it’s much better than the GPT-4o version that I had tested before. With some more tweaks, I can make the final animation with the Grok 3.

      Best For

      • Scalable, modular CSS foundations.
      • Responsive layouts without extra effects.
      • Easy-to-maintain components.
      • Modern CSS techniques (like min() and vmin).
      • Framework starters or coding education.

      Github Copilot

      Every developer trusts GitHub. I’ve pursued the platform for years. So, GitHub Copilot had some goodwill from the get-go, driving adoption among developers. Today, more than 1 million developers use the paid version. I find that the tool helps you generate code faster and assists you as an AI pair programmer.

      GitHub Copilot uses multiple AI models, including OpenAI, Claude, and Google. You can even choose the engine that powers your GitHub Copilot. For this test, I used GPT-4o to show how a dedicated AI-powered coding tool performs with a larger AI model in the background.

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        I initially tried using Google's Gemini AI as the engine, but the results were inefficient, with too many lines of code and a large file size. So, I made the switch to GPT-4o. Here’s how the AI tool approached my prompt.

        Github Copilot generated:

        • 193 lines of code
        • 5.05 KB size

        GitHub Copilot delivers a working CSS animation. The sun looks great with a proper size and a perfect glow effect. However, the orbital movement and the other planets need massive work.

        As you may have noticed, despite using the same GPT-4o model, GitHub Copilot generated a noticeably smoother CSS animation compared to our earlier results. Honestly, I didn’t expect GitHub to flex on OpenAI like that! It clearly shows the optimization that GitHub Copilot does.

        What I Liked Most

        • Lightweight CSS output keeps the file size small.
        • Comes with a proper structure — planet, orbit, and sun classes used.
        • Avoids heavy CSS properties such as box shadows, transitions, or layering to make it load fast.
        • Uses viewport units (vmin) to make it responsive.
        • Glow effect with box-shadow improves visual appeal of the Sun.
        • Uses rotate(-360deg) to keep planets upright during movement.

        GitHub Copilot generates useful CSS animation, but adding more CSS styling and tweaking would make it more appealing. Here are some limitations I noticed:

        • The orbit .orbit itself rotates instead of .orbit static.
        • No use of @media queries to adjust orbit and planet sizes for smaller devices.
        • No use of linear-gradient or radial-gradient. No shading makes it look flat.
        • Hardcoded orbital positioning (top: 50%; left: 50%), so the layout doesn't adjust to container sizes.
        • Not responsive to different screens as it uses fixed pixel values.
        • Hardcoded styles make it difficult to customize.
        • Lack of reusable styling increases code repetition.

        This AI tool creates a good starting point, but I would need to refine the results before putting it on a site. Since this is a tool from GitHub, I would expect more structural efficiency.

        GitHub Copilot is best for:

        Claude AI 3.7 Sonnet

        Claude AI (Anthropic’s AI assistant) is a well-trained AI model designed to generate code, debug issues, and coding ability in most programming languages. It strongly emphasizes safety, ethics, and transparency and performs any complex analysis very well. I use Claude AI assistant a lot, and I’m excited to see how it performs on this CSS project.

        Claude AI 3.7 Sonnet generated:

        • 282 lines of code
        • 8.74 KB size

        I‘m fascinated by the CSS animation created by Claude AI. It generated an incredible CSS animation on the first attempt. The ambiance, planet colors, and solar system structure are excellent. However, as with other CSS AI tools we’ve tested, the orbits continue to move alongside the planets.

        Claude even calculated the positions of the stars perfectly, matched their orbital speeds, and colored each planet according to its true color. It even featured the Saturn Ring in the animation! Very impressive!

        Honestly, I had to double-check the code to make sure it wasn’t secretly using JavaScript behind my back. It’s exactly the creative but code-efficient animations you hope for from a top-tier CSS stylesheet generator.

        What I Liked Most

        • Uses Highly optimized CSS code with no extra styling or repetition.
        • Wonderful CSS output using complex planetary motions, rings, and a pulsating sun only using CSS.
        • Highly structured code with logical CSS class names and modular design. Works great for easy modifications.
        • Impressive pseudo-elements (::before, ::after) create a realistic starry background.
        • Uses @keyframes animations for smooth transitions and planetary motion.
        • Uses viewport-based units (vmin, vw, vh) to scale properly across devices.
        • Impressive Radial gradients for sun (radial-gradient(circle, #ff9933 10%, #ff6600 60%, #ff3300)) and linear gradients for planets.

        Out of the 4 AI CSS generators I have tasted so far, Claude AI 3.7 Sonnet has generated the most impressive CSS animation. However, it also has some limitations that should be noticed and worked on. That includes the following.

        • The orbits are moving as well. They should stay static.
        • Uses many nested structures (planets are wrapped inside orbit containers). Adds depth but makes CSS harder to customize.
        • High-weight CSS stylesheets are used because of the box shadows, multiple animations, and detailed styling.
        • Uses star fields, layered gradients, and very complex and not newbie-friendly CSS animations.
        • Weak devices may experience slow performance.

        Overall, Claude made the best AI-generated CSS stylesheet so far. Claude AI 3.7 Sonnet is smart enough to understand both the creativity and coding requests for this project. Basically, if CSS had a GPU setting, Claude turned it all the way up.

        And yes, this code uses heavy and complex elements. Both can create complications for weaker devices and new developers. However, considering its excellent output, I will give Claude AI the benefit of the doubt.

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          Claude 3.7 Sonnet is best for:

          • Rich, animated UIs with depth and realistic elements.
          • Projects needing detailed CSS (gradients, shadows, etc.)
          • Designers and front-end devs focused on visuals.
          • Responsive, layered layouts for stories or learning.
          • Creative demos, showcases, or interactive designs.

          Sourcegraph

          Sourcegraph is a code intelligence platform that uses an extensive codebase and AI to help you write and understand code. Like many other AI coding platforms, Sourcegraph relies on LLMs to power its engine. You can choose between GPT-4o, Gemini 2.0 Flash, and Claude AI to power Sourcegraph.

          Sourcegraph generated:

          • 212 lines of code (73 HTML, 204 CSS)
          • 5.5 KB code size
          • 6.3ms execution time

          The Sourcegraph CSS animation uses the same base model as the Claude AI. Compared to the Claude AI version, it lacks details and looks flat. Details like space effects, stars, and Saturn's ring are also missing.

          Large LLMs typically perform well when run through precise software systems because they have highly tuned capabilities. But, Sourcegraph is different. I see the program wanted to keep its AI-generated CSS technically sound and clean.

          The CSS animations are very similar to the Claude AI. However, Souregraph kept the design solid and smooth despite reducing the heavy code from the Claude AI engine.

          What I Liked Most

          • Less complex CSS than Claude 3.7 Sonnet, but still beautiful.
          • Clear class hierarchy (planet, orbit) and optimized CSS output to make code easier to read.
          • Uses Viewport CSS like vmin and vh to scale CSS elements.
          • Includes sun radial-gradient effects but no planetary gradients.
          • Avoids excessive keyframe calls for lightweight and smooth execution.
          • Uses @media queries for screen adaptability on different screens.
          • Uses radial gradients, orbit outlines, and proper proportions for a clean, polished look.

          I think the Sourcegraph CSS is great, but there are some things that could be done better. That includes the following.

          • Like Claude, the orbits are moving as well. They should stay static.
          • Hardcoded vmin values limit flexibility for larger or custom screen sizes.
          • Additional planetary details like the Saturn ring and moon effects are missing.
          • Earth is a solid blue (background: #4b6cb7), but Claude 3.7 uses layered gradient shading.

          I mentioned at the start of this piece that testing AI CSS coding would be both a development and a creative issue. From my perspective, Sourcegraph takes it as a development problem, and Claude AI takes it as an open creative challenge.

          Thus, Claude AI gives you a highly creative output, while the Sourcegraph system makes it more polished for developers.

          Sourcegraph is best for:

          • Clean, production-ready CSS for dev teams.
          • Real-world codebases with consistent styles.
          • Fast refactoring and usable components.
          • Good balance of style and dev efficiency.
          • Dashboards, tools, and internal apps.

          The 5 Best AI CSS Code Generators Comparison Table

          If you‘ve followed along so far, you should understand the benefits and drawbacks of each tool. Because each portion had its own set of parts, I’ll provide you with an overall comparison table to help you compare them.

          Criteria

          Claude 3.7 Sonnet

          Sourcegraph

          Grok 3

          GPT-4o

          GitHub Copilot

          Code size

          282 lines

          212 lines

          160 lines

          180 lines

          193 lines

          Code weight

          8.74 KB

          5.50 KB

          4.70 KB

          7.0 KB

          5.05 KB

          Gradient usage

          Radial + Linear (rich)

          Radial-only (limited)

          Radial for sun only

          None

          None

          Animation depth

          Dual-axis, pulsate, 3D

          Single-axis, basic

          Orbit-only, simple

          Minimal

          Minimal

          Visual effects

          Shadows, pulsate, stars

          Subtle stars, glow only

          Basic effects

          None

          None

          Structure

          Modular, layered

          Medium modular

          Well structured

          Flat

          Flat

          Responsiveness

          Full media queries

          Basic scaling

          Uses min() & vmin

          Fixed pixels

          Fixed pixels

          Scalability

          Easy to extend

          Needs edits

          Dynamic sizing

          Manual updates

          Manual updates

          Modern CSS usage

          Perspective, 3D, shadows

          Only 2D transforms

          Basic transforms

          Lacks advanced features

          Lacks advanced features

          Design focus

          5 stars

          2 stars

          3 stars

          2 stars

          2 stars

          Developer focus

          4 stars

          4 stars

          5 stars

          2 stars

          2 stars

          Best for

          Advanced visuals

          Dev tweaks

          Clean layouts

          Lightweight builds

          Simple projects

          Price

          Free, Pro at $20/m

          Free, Pro at $19/m

          Free for X users

          Free, Pro at $20/m

          Free. Pro at $4/m

          Which AI CSS Code Generators Out-Perform the Rest

          In this experiment, each AI stylesheet CSS generator brought something different to the table. Some were excellent with visuals, and some were great for performance.

          As I tested them, I noticed a few standout observations:

          • Claude 3.7 Sonnet gave me the most flexibility and depth, especially with its support for modern CSS (3D, perspective, shadows).
          • Sourcegraph uses Claude, but it prefers more polished and developer-focused CSS over visual integrity.
          • Grok 3 struck a good balance between modularity and visual design without becoming overly heavy.
          • GitHub Copilot and GPT-4o were the simplest to use, but they felt too limited for complex or responsive layouts.

          I like the Claude 3.7 Sonnet most. It performs as a very creative designer and a reasonable developer in terms of execution. It's responsive, provides modular designs, and is great for visuals. Meanwhile, tools like GPT-4o and Copilot are much simpler, faster, and easier to execute lightweight CSS.

          Looking to find out for yourself? Run your own test and take notes before you commit to one platform permanently.

          Free Guide: 25 HTML & CSS Coding Hacks

          Tangible tips and coding templates from experts to help you code better and faster.

          • Coding to Convention
          • Being Browser-Friendly
          • Minimizing Bugs
          • Optimizing Performance

            Download Free

            All fields are required.

            You're all set!

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