HueStack vs CSS Peeper vs Tailscan: Best CSS Inspector in 2025

With over 500,000 developers using CSS inspection tools, choosing the right one can dramatically impact your workflow. In this comprehensive comparison, we'll analyze the three most popular CSS inspectors: HueStack, CSS Peeper, and Tailscan.

By the end of this guide, you'll know exactly which tool fits your needs—whether you're a designer extracting colors, a Tailwind developer building components, or a team managing design systems.

Quick Summary: Which Tool Should You Choose?

TL;DR:

• For Tailwind CSS developers: HueStack or Tailscan
• For general web design: CSS Peeper
• Best free option: HueStack (100 actions/month)
• Most features: HueStack (color extraction + palette generation + accessibility)
• Simplest interface: CSS Peeper
• Best for production Tailwind sites: Tailscan

Let's dive into the details.

Overview of Each Tool

HueStack

Website: huestack.dev

Best For: Tailwind developers who need color extraction, palette generation, and accessibility checking

Key Features:

• Tailwind CSS inspector with live class detection
• Color palette generator (OKLCH color space)
• WCAG contrast checker with AA/AAA compliance
• Image color extraction
• Export to Tailwind config, CSS variables, SCSS
• Chrome extension + web app

Pricing: Free (100 actions/month), Premium $5/month (10,000 actions)

CSS Peeper

Chrome Web Store: CSS Peeper

Best For: Designers who need quick color and asset extraction

Key Features:

• Color extraction from websites
• Export assets (images, icons)
• Inspect fonts and typography
• Simple, visual interface
• No account needed

Pricing: Completely free

Installs: 500,000+ users

Tailscan

Website: tailscan.com

Best For: Professional Tailwind developers working on production sites

Key Features:

• Tailwind CSS inspector (detects actual Tailwind classes)
• Live editing of Tailwind utilities
• Component extraction
• Copy entire component code
• Chrome extension

Pricing: Free trial, $6/month

Feature Comparison Table

Detailed Feature Analysis

1. Color Extraction

Winner: HueStack

All three tools extract colors, but HueStack goes several steps further:

HueStack:

• Extracts all colors from a page with usage frequency
• Generates complete Tailwind palettes (50-950 shades)
• OKLCH color space support for perceptual uniformity
• Export to multiple formats
• WCAG contrast checking built-in

CSS Peeper:

• Shows colors used on the page
• Simple color list
• Copy hex values
• No palette generation

Tailscan:

• Shows Tailwind color utilities
• Detects actual Tailwind classes used
• Limited to Tailwind color names
• No custom palette generation

Example Use Case:

You find a website with a beautiful blue color #3B82F6. Here's what each tool does:

• CSS Peeper: Shows you #3B82F6 ✅
• Tailscan: Tells you it's blue-500 in Tailwind ✅
• HueStack: Shows #3B82F6, generates the full 11-shade palette (blue-50 through blue-950), checks if it passes WCAG AA, and exports to your tailwind.config.js ✅✅✅

2. Tailwind CSS Support

Winner: Tie (HueStack & Tailscan)

Both HueStack and Tailscan excel at Tailwind support, but in different ways:

Tailscan:

• Detects actual Tailwind classes from compiled CSS
• Shows exact utilities applied
• Live editing of Tailwind classes
• Component-level extraction
• Best for inspecting sites already built with Tailwind

HueStack:

• Inspects any website (Tailwind or not)
• Generates Tailwind-compatible code from any design
• Converts any color to Tailwind palette
• Best for creating Tailwind designs from any source

CSS Peeper:

• No Tailwind-specific features
• Generic CSS inspection

Real-World Scenario:

Scenario A: You're analyzing a competitor's Tailwind site → Tailscan wins - Directly shows you the Tailwind classes they used

Scenario B: You found a beautiful non-Tailwind site and want to recreate it with Tailwind → HueStack wins - Extracts colors and generates Tailwind-compatible code

Scenario C: You're a designer who doesn't use Tailwind → CSS Peeper wins - Simple color extraction without framework lock-in

3. Accessibility Checking

Winner: HueStack (Only one with this feature)

Neither CSS Peeper nor Tailscan offer accessibility checking.

HueStack's Accessibility Features:

• WCAG AA/AAA contrast checking
• APCA (Advanced Perceptual Contrast Algorithm)
• Real-time compliance feedback
• Suggestions for fixing failing combinations
• Batch testing multiple color pairs

Why This Matters:

According to WebAIM, 96.8% of homepages have detectable WCAG failures. Having accessibility built into your workflow prevents costly redesigns later.

Example:

You extract a color #60A5FA and want to use it for text on white:

• CSS Peeper: Shows you #60A5FA ✅
• Tailscan: Shows you it's blue-400 ✅
• HueStack: Shows #60A5FA, warns you it fails WCAG AA (2.13:1 contrast), and suggests #2563EB (blue-600) which passes at 4.56:1 ✅✅

4. Palette Generation

Winner: HueStack (Only one with this feature)

Generating complete color palettes is unique to HueStack.

What HueStack Does:

From a single color like #6366F1, it generates:

// Tailwind-compatible 11-shade palette
{
  50: '#eef2ff',
  100: '#e0e7ff',
  200: '#c7d2fe',
  300: '#a5b4fc',
  400: '#818cf8',
  500: '#6366f1',  // Your base color
  600: '#4f46e5',
  700: '#4338ca',
  800: '#3730a3',
  900: '#312e81',
  950: '#1e1b4b',
}

Why This Matters:

Tailwind CSS uses an 11-shade system. Manually creating this is time-consuming and often results in inconsistent lightness/darkness steps.

Use Case:

Your brand color is #FF6B6B (coral red). You need to create a complete Tailwind palette:

• Manual creation: 2-3 hours of trial and error ⏰
• HueStack: 5 seconds with OKLCH color space for perceptual uniformity ⚡

5. Component Extraction

Winner: Tailscan

Tailscan excels at component-level extraction from Tailwind sites.

Tailscan Features:

• Select any component
• Copy all HTML + Tailwind classes
• Extract with proper structure
• Paste directly into your project

HueStack & CSS Peeper:

• Element-by-element inspection
• Manual copy of CSS properties
• Not component-aware

When This Matters:

If you're building a Tailwind site and want to copy patterns from other Tailwind sites (legally, from open-source or your own projects), Tailscan's component extraction is unmatched.

6. Image & Asset Extraction

Winner: CSS Peeper

CSS Peeper is the best for downloading images and assets.

CSS Peeper:

• Download all images from a page
• Export icons and graphics
• Organized by asset type
• One-click downloads

HueStack:

• Extract colors from images
• Generate palettes from uploaded photos
• Limited asset downloading

Tailscan:

• No asset extraction features

Use Case:

You're analyzing a competitor's landing page and want to:

• Download their hero image: CSS Peeper ✅
• Extract color palette from that image: HueStack ✅
• Copy their Tailwind button component: Tailscan ✅

Best approach: Use multiple tools! Each excels at different tasks.

Pricing Comparison

HueStack

Free Tier:

• 100 actions per month
• Full access to all features
• No credit card required

Premium ($5/month):

• 10,000 actions per month
• Priority support
• Advanced export options

CSS Peeper

Completely Free:

• No limitations
• No account needed
• No paid tier

Tailscan

Free Trial:

• Limited usage
• Core features available

Premium ($6/month):

• Unlimited usage
• All features unlocked
• Required for regular use

Value Analysis

Best Free Option: CSS Peeper (unlimited) or HueStack (100 actions covers most users)

Best Paid Value: HueStack at $5/month vs Tailscan at $6/month

For the same price (or $1 less), HueStack offers:

• Color extraction ✅ (Both)
• Tailwind support ✅ (Both)
• Palette generation ✅ (HueStack only)
• Accessibility checking ✅ (HueStack only)
• Image color extraction ✅ (HueStack only)
• Component extraction ❌ (Tailscan only)

If you need component extraction specifically, Tailscan is worth the $6/month.

If you need complete color workflow, HueStack at $5/month is better value.

Use Case Recommendations

Scenario 1: "I'm a Freelance Designer"

Recommendation: CSS Peeper

Why:

• Completely free
• No account needed
• Quick color extraction
• Asset downloads for mood boards
• Simple interface

Upgrade to HueStack if:

• You need accessibility checking for clients
• You work with Tailwind CSS
• You want to generate full color palettes

Scenario 2: "I'm a Tailwind CSS Developer"

Recommendation: HueStack (Free tier)

Why:

• 100 free actions covers most monthly usage
• Converts any design to Tailwind palettes
• Accessibility built-in
• Extract colors from competitor sites and images

Upgrade to Tailscan if:

• You primarily inspect other Tailwind sites
• You need component extraction
• You have budget for $6/month

Best approach: Use HueStack free + Tailscan trial, then decide.

Scenario 3: "I'm Building a Design System"

Recommendation: HueStack Premium ($5/month)

Why:

• Generate consistent color palettes
• WCAG compliance checking for entire system
• OKLCH color space for perceptual uniformity
• Export to multiple formats (CSS vars, Tailwind, SCSS)
• Document accessible color combinations

Supplement with:

• CSS Peeper (free) for design research
• Tailscan ($6/mo) if your system is Tailwind-based

Scenario 4: "I'm a Student/Hobbyist"

Recommendation: Start with CSS Peeper + HueStack Free

Why:

• Both free
• Cover 90% of use cases
• CSS Peeper for quick color grabs
• HueStack for palette generation (100/month is plenty)

No need for paid tools unless you're building commercial projects.

Scenario 5: "I Work on an Agency Team"

Recommendation: HueStack + Tailscan (Both paid)

Why:

• HueStack: Color systems and accessibility
• Tailscan: Component extraction and live editing
• Total cost: $11/month per team member
• CSS Peeper: Free for asset gathering

ROI: $11/month saves 3-5 hours per month = $200-500 in saved labor.

Pros & Cons Summary

HueStack

✅ Pros:

• Generous free tier (100 actions/month)
• Only tool with palette generation
• Only tool with accessibility checking
• OKLCH color space support
• Web app + Chrome extension
• Image color extraction
• Multiple export formats
• Best value at $5/month

❌ Cons:

• Limited component extraction
• Free tier has action limit (vs CSS Peeper unlimited)
• Smaller user base (newer product)

CSS Peeper

✅ Pros:

• Completely free, unlimited
• 500,000+ users (proven reliability)
• No account required
• Simple, intuitive interface
• Best asset downloading
• Works on all websites
• No learning curve

❌ Cons:

• No Tailwind-specific features
• No palette generation
• No accessibility checking
• Chrome extension only (no web app)
• Basic color extraction only

Tailscan

✅ Pros:

• Best Tailwind class detection
• Advanced component extraction
• Live editing of Tailwind utilities
• Professional tool for Tailwind sites
• Copy entire components with one click

❌ Cons:

• $6/month required (limited free trial)
• Only works well on Tailwind sites
• No palette generation
• No accessibility checking
• No image color extraction
• Account required

Can You Use Multiple Tools?

Absolutely! Many developers use all three:

Recommended Workflow:

1. CSS Peeper (Free): Quick color grabs and asset downloads
2. HueStack (Free tier): Generate palettes and check accessibility
3. Tailscan (If budget allows): Extract Tailwind components

Example Multi-Tool Workflow:

Research Phase:
1. CSS Peeper: Browse competitor sites, download hero images
2. HueStack: Upload images, extract color palettes
3. HueStack: Check all color combinations for WCAG compliance
 
Development Phase:
4. Tailscan: Inspect Tailwind patterns on similar sites
5. HueStack: Generate custom Tailwind palettes from brand colors
6. CSS Peeper: Verify final designs match original inspiration
 
Final QA:
7. HueStack: Accessibility audit all color combinations

Cost: $0-11/month (depending on needs)

What Real Users Say

HueStack Reviews:

"Finally, a tool that generates full Tailwind palettes! The OKLCH color space makes such a difference in palette consistency." — Sarah K., Frontend Developer

"The accessibility checker saved us from a costly redesign. Found contrast issues before launch." — Mike R., Design Lead

CSS Peeper Reviews:

"500,000 users can't be wrong. It's simple, free, and does exactly what it promises." — John D., Web Designer

"I've used CSS Peeper for 5 years. Never needed anything else for color extraction." — Lisa M., Freelancer

Tailscan Reviews:

"If you work with Tailwind every day, it's worth every penny. Component extraction is a game-changer." — Alex T., Full-Stack Dev

"Great for learning Tailwind by analyzing how others structure components." — Emma W., Junior Developer

Migration Guide

Switching from CSS Peeper to HueStack:

Why switch:

• Need Tailwind CSS support
• Want palette generation
• Require accessibility checking

What you'll miss:

• Unlimited free usage (HueStack: 100/month free)
• Asset downloads (HueStack: limited)

Recommendation: Keep both! CSS Peeper for assets, HueStack for colors.

Switching from Tailscan to HueStack:

Why switch:

• Lower cost ($5 vs $6/month)
• Need palette generation
• Want accessibility features

What you'll miss:

• Advanced component extraction
• Live Tailwind editing

Recommendation: HueStack for color work, keep Tailscan if you extract components regularly.

Switching from HueStack to Tailscan:

Why switch:

• Primarily inspect Tailwind sites
• Need component extraction
• Don't need palette generation or accessibility

What you'll miss:

• Color palette generation
• WCAG accessibility checking
• Image color extraction
• Lower price point

Recommendation: Not recommended unless component extraction is your primary need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which tool is best for beginners?

CSS Peeper - No account, no limits, simple interface.

Which tool has the most features?

HueStack - Color extraction, palette generation, accessibility checking, image extraction.

Which tool is best for Tailwind CSS?

Tie: HueStack (for creating Tailwind designs) or Tailscan (for inspecting Tailwind sites).

Can I use these tools on any website?

Yes, all three work on any public website. However, Tailscan works best on sites already built with Tailwind CSS.

Are these tools legal to use?

Yes, inspecting public websites is legal. However:

• Don't copy designs directly (copyright infringement)
• Use for inspiration, learning, and analysis
• Respect license terms if downloading assets

Which tool is best for accessibility?

HueStack - Only tool with WCAG/APCA contrast checking built-in.

Do I need to install anything?

All three are Chrome extensions. HueStack also offers a web app that works without installation.

Can I use these on mobile?

• CSS Peeper: No (Chrome extension only)
• Tailscan: No (Chrome extension only)
• HueStack: Yes! The web app works on mobile browsers

Final Recommendation

Choose based on your primary use case:

Our Overall Winner: HueStack for the best balance of features, accessibility support, and value.

Runner-Up: CSS Peeper for simplicity and unlimited free usage.

Specialist Pick: Tailscan for professional Tailwind component extraction.

Try Them All (It's Free!)

Don't take our word for it—try each tool:

1. Install CSS Peeper: Chrome Web Store
2. Try HueStack: huestack.dev (100 free actions/month)
3. Test Tailscan: tailscan.com (free trial)

Spend a week using all three, then decide what fits your workflow.

Conclusion

There's no single "best" CSS inspector—it depends on your needs:

• CSS Peeper wins on simplicity and unlimited free usage
• Tailscan wins on Tailwind component extraction
• HueStack wins on features, accessibility, and value

For most developers, starting with HueStack's free tier (100 actions/month) + CSS Peeper (free) covers 95% of use cases. Upgrade to HueStack Premium or add Tailscan only if you hit the limits.

Want to try HueStack? Start free at huestack.dev and see if it improves your workflow. With 100 free actions per month, you can test all features risk-free.

Next Steps

• How to Extract Colors from Any Website
• Tailwind CSS Palette Generator Guide
• WCAG Contrast Checker Guide
• Try HueStack Free

Still unsure? Drop a comment below with your specific use case, and we'll recommend the best tool for you.

Last updated: January 27, 2025 Comparison based on features available as of January 2025. Pricing and features subject to change.