A List Apart
Depends
Confidence: High
This is a free web-design magazine, not software . there is nothing to buy, deploy, or administer.
Comparison
A List Apart vs CSS-Tricks
A List Apart lands on Depends, and CSS-Tricks lands on Worth it.
CSS-Tricks
Worth it
Confidence: Medium
Free to use, so there is no purchase risk . worth bookmarking as a CSS learning and reference resource.
| Compare | A List Apart | CSS-Tricks |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Depends | Worth it |
| Best for | Web designers and front-end developers | Self-taught front-end devs |
| Who it's not for | Anyone shopping for software . it is a magazine, not a tool | Teams shopping for software . this is a blog, not a tool |
| Privacy | No known public vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.⁴ | No known public vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed. |
| Support quality | No evidence . publication, no support desk | Content site; no support evidence |
| Public sentiment | Readers praise its classic pieces on typography and standards, though its redesigns have split opinion.⁵ | Long treated as a go-to CSS learning reference, recent community discussion centers on its quietness and uncertain future after the DigitalOcean acquisition.11 |
| Biggest gotcha | Classic articles may describe outdated techniques; verify publish dates before applying advice. | Content freshness is the real risk . recent coverage is about the site going quiet, not new guides11 |
Pick A List Apart when
- Web designers and front-end developers
- UX and content strategists
- Writers pitching web-industry articles
- Teams learning accessibility and standards
When A List Apart is not a fit
- Anyone shopping for software . it is a magazine, not a tool
- Teams needing project management, CRM, or anything deployable
- Buyers wanting admin features, integrations, or SLAs
- People needing only current techniques . much of the archive is dated
Pick CSS-Tricks when
- Self-taught front-end devs
- CSS beginners
- Devs needing a snippet or Almanac reference
When CSS-Tricks is not a fit
- Teams shopping for software . this is a blog, not a tool
- Anyone needing actively updated content right now
- Learners wanting structured courses with support
- Buyers needing vendor support, SLAs, or guarantees
Sources
- A List Apart homepagealistapart.comofficial
- A List Apart . Wikipediaen.wikipedia.orgnews
- A List Apart membership on Patreonpatreon.comofficial
- A List Apart security pagealistapart.comsecurity
- Reddit: On Web Typography praisereddit.comreview
- Ars Technica thread criticizing ALA 3.0 redesignarstechnica.comnews
- Hongkiat: sites that pay writershongkiat.comreview
- Cardiff Met library resource listlibrary.cardiffmet.ac.uknews
- CSS-Trickscss-tricks.comofficial
- Where I'm at on the whole CSS-Tricks thing . Chris Coyierchriscoyier.netnews
review
- CSS-Tricks in Limbo . Hacker Newsnews.ycombinator.comnews
- HN: CSS-Tricks was a big blunder on DigitalOcean's sidenews.ycombinator.comnews
- CSS-Tricks Reviews . Trustpilottrustpilot.comreview
- CSS Tricks . Pricing, Reviews & Alternativesneura.marketreview
- CSS Tricks . Tracxn company profiletracxn.comnews