Ever wondered how to make those eye-catching chat bubbles you see on modern websites? CSS speech bubbles are essential frontend design elements that can transform your web chat interfaces from boring to brilliant.
Speech bubbles aren’t just for comics anymore. In the world of CSS3 and HTML5, these versatile UI components have become standard features in everything from chat applications like WhatsApp interface to comment sections resembling Twitter comment bubbles.
This guide showcases practical CSS speech bubble examples using techniques like pseudo-elements and CSS transforms for bubbles. You’ll learn how to:
- Create basic chat bubble styling with clean CSS bubble borders
- Add directional triangle pointers using pure CSS
- Implement responsive speech bubbles that work across devices
- Customize with shadows, gradients, and animations
Whether you’re building a messaging platform or simply want to enhance your site’s visual communication elements, these CSS tooltip design alternatives will elevate your frontend development skills.
CSS Speech Bubble Examples To Check Out
Pure CSS Speech Bubble by ChonnyChu
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pure css speech bubble by ChonnyChu (@chonny)
on CodePen.
Hey! This one? It’s all about a neat and tidy CSS speech bubble magic, crafted using just HTML and CSS.
Alternating Speech Bubbles by Kevin Østerkilde
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Alternating speech bubbles by Kevin Østerkilde (@Kosai106)
on CodePen.
This ain’t your typical speech bubble. Kevin spun it around, giving it a dash of mystery. Seriously, you gotta check it out.
Speech Bubble by skoupidia12000
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speech bubble by Panos (@skoupidia12000)
on CodePen.
Mad props to skoupidia12000. They whipped up this snazzy script and turned it into a bubble of brilliance.
Clean CSS Speech Bubble by projectxmatt
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Clean CSS Speech Bubble. by projectxmatt (@projectxmatt)
on CodePen.
Yo, shout out to projectxmatt. He served up this sleek CSS speech bubble, whipped up using just HTML and CSS.
Speech Bubble Caret by grayghostvisuals
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Speech Bubble Caret by GRAY GHOST (@grayghostvisuals)
on CodePen.
Got an online store? Need a sleek way for peeps to drop comments? This pen’s got you. That dark blue? Pops against the light blue speech bubble.
Pure CSS Speech Bubble with a Shadow by Ron
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Pure CSS Speech Bubble with a Shadow by Ron (@keith0305)
on CodePen.
Ron’s on the scene with this one. It’s pure, it’s CSS, and it’s rocking a subtle shadow. All done with HTML and CSS.
Speech Bubble Testimonial by Symbolic
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Speech bubble testimonial by Symbolic (@symbolicx)
on CodePen.
Online sellers, where you at? Symbolic’s got this bubble that’s just perfect for showcasing customer love.
Animated Speech Bubble (Bouncy) by KhaledAhmedYounes
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Animated Speech Bubble (Bouncy) by Khaled Ahmed Younes (@KhaledAhmedYounes)
on CodePen.
KhaledAhmedYounes has this bubble bouncing around using some jQuery and CSS magic. It’s alive!
Speech Bubble Outline by Florian Geierstanger
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CSS Speech Bubble Outline (svg data uri) by Florian Geierstanger (@fgeierst)
on CodePen.
Florian’s got the game on lock with this outlined gem. Sleek, stylish and popping with just HTML and CSS.
Animated Speech Bubble Nav
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Animated Speech Bubble Nav by schadeck (@schadeck)
on CodePen.
Online merchants, want something quirky? This speech bubble animation is all the rage right now.
Speech Bubble Wow by bchiang7
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Speech Bubble wow by Brittany Chiang (@bchiang7)
on CodePen.
bchiang7 jumped in and said “Wow!” with this jaw-dropping script.
Circular Speech Bubbles
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circular speech bubbles by rajeshdn (@RajRajeshDn)
on CodePen.
RajRajeshDn’s circular masterpieces? A game changer. Boost sales, delight customers.
Speech Bubbles 3 by cool_lazyboy
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speech bubbles 3 by rajeshdn (@RajRajeshDn)
on CodePen.
cool_lazyboy’s in the house! This script? Pure gold.
Speech Bubble Slider by Marc
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Speech Bubble Slider by Marc (@mburgess0899)
on CodePen.
Slide into Marc’s world with this slider speech bubble. A work of art for online shops.
Shakespearean Insult Generator by Kris Bocz
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Shakespearean Insult Generator – CodePen challenge by Kris Bocz (@kbocz)
on CodePen.
A bit off-topic but, Kris Bocz went all Shakespeare on us with this one. Respect!
Flat Responsive Speech Bubbles by Faunk
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Flat Responsive Speech Bubbles by Fabian Fink (@Faunk)
on CodePen.
Faunk’s doing things right. Simple, yet oh-so effective speech bubbles for client testimonials.
Responsive Speech Bubble by Peros
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responsive speech bubble by peros (@perossing)
on CodePen.
Peros’ creation? It’s easy on the eyes. Super useful, super stylish speech bubbles.
Chat Bubbles by Dave Alger
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chat bubbles by Dave Alger (@run-time)
on CodePen.
Chat it up with Dave’s creation. Chat bubbles made simple with HTML and CSS.
CSS Speech Bubble by Rm.satrya
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CSS Speech Bubble by Ga Satrya 🇮🇩 (@satrya)
on CodePen.
Need something snappy? Rm.satrya’s got the answer. This CSS speech bubble? Minimal, yet so effective. The color play? Spot on!
Pure CSS Speech And Thought Bubbles by Joe Hastings
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Pure CSS speech and thought bubbles by Joe Hastings (@JoeHastings)
on CodePen.
Alright, so, Joe nailed it with this one. A speech bubble that’s just straight up different from the rest. Fresh, neat and super user-friendly.
Speech Bubble W/ Drop Shadow by Syahrasi
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CSS speech bubble w/ dropshadow by Syahrasi (@syahrasi)
on CodePen.
Whoa! A speech bubble with some sweet shadow action going on? Yep, that’s right. Stylin’ with just some good ol’ HTML and CSS.
Rik Schennink’s Speech Bubble
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Speech bubble by Rik Schennink (@rikschennink)
on CodePen.
Picture this: A background that’s smooth with shades of grey and white. And then, BAM! That super lit white box in the middle. Super eye-catching and definitely does wonders for any conversation.
Skew’d Bubble Dink by Jase
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Skew’d Bubble Dink (CSS) by Jase (@jasesmith)
on CodePen.
So Jase went all out and decided, “Why stay inside the box?” This design? Completely breaks it. It’s got that edgy skew thing going on. Funky, right?
SVG Speech Bubble by Timothy Miller
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SVG speech bubble by Timothy Miller (@webinspect)
on CodePen.
Timothy dropped this bomb design. Straight up masterpiece.
Comic Book Speech Bubbles with Dudley Storey
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Comic Book Speech Bubbles with SVG by Dudley Storey (@dudleystorey)
on CodePen.
For real, if you’re into popping designs, Dudley’s got you covered. It’s like a trip straight into a comic book. Super nostalgic.
Hello, World by kirsten allen
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Hello, World by kirsten allen (@kirstenallen)
on CodePen.
kirsten brought this to the table. It’s sleek. It’s simple. It just works.
Black Lives Matter Dialog Boxes by Rio Jos
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Black Lives Matter Dialog Boxes by Rio Jos (@riojosdev)
on CodePen.
Rio came through with a design that’s more than just a style. It’s a statement. Crafted beautifully with HTML and CSS.
CSS Stacked Chat Bubbles by J.M. CIery
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CSS stacked chat bubbles (Messenger style) by J.M. CIery (@jmpp)
on CodePen.
Okay, here’s a thing by J.M. – Stacked chat bubbles that are so on point, they remind you of those messenger chats. Love it!
Dustin Dowell’s Pure CSS iOS Chat Bubbles Sass Mixin
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Pure CSS iOS Chat Bubbles Sass Mixin by Dustin Dowell (@dustindowell)
on CodePen.
Dustin decided to sprinkle some of his magic on the iOS style. And guess what? It’s all CSS. Mind = blown.
Ana Tudor’s Speech Bubble
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Speech bubble by Ana Tudor (@thebabydino)
on CodePen.
Ana’s creation? Off the charts! It’s got a dark backdrop, a popping square bubble, and the word “Hello” packed right in. It’s like 3D but better.
Pure CSS WhatsApp Desktop Speech Bubble by Benni
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Pure CSS WhatsApp Desktop Speech Bubble by Benni (@8eni)
on CodePen.
And lastly, Benni served us with a speech bubble that screams WhatsApp Desktop vibes. And guess what? No extra stuff, just CSS.
CSS Chat Bubbles by Andrew
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CSS Chat Bubbles by Andrew (@andrewerrico)
on CodePen.
Okay, you know those super engaging full-page chat convos? Andrew’s got you. This theme? Perfect to show off those back-and-forths. Whether you’re building a chat app or adding some chat vibes to your site, this one’s a keeper.
Sassy Right Triangles? Katherine G Shaw’s Speech Bubble Blockquote
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Speech Bubble Blockquote with Sassy Right Triangles by Katherine G Shaw (@KatherineGShaw)
on CodePen.
Katherine’s come up with something slick. It’s not just a project, it’s the project.
Mrbnsn’s Clip-Path Magic: Speech Bubble W/ Hover Effects
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Clip-path speech bubble w/ hover effects by Michael Robinson (@mrbnsn)
on CodePen.
If you want your online shop visitors to stick around, mrbnsn’s got the trick. Simplicity + a splash of hover effects? Sold!
Just the Speech Bubble by Fivera
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Speech bubble by Fivera (@fivera)
on CodePen.
Clean. Simple. Done right with HTML and CSS. It’s not just any bubble; it’s Fivera’s vision.
Jamesbarnett’s Take on CSS Speech Bubble
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CSS speech bubble by James Barnett (@jamesbarnett)
on CodePen.
James dropped this super cool script. No biggie, just some stellar speech bubble action.
Convo Boxes Galore with Carles Codony
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speech bubbles by Carles Codony (@bitblitter)
on CodePen.
Talk about leveling up stores with speech bubbles! Carles’ technique is killer. Grey boxes, a pop of green and red, and a design that feels like a list but looks a hundred times cooler.
Depthdev’s Callouts & Speech Bubbles
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CSS Callouts/Speech Bubbles by Adam (@depthdev)
on CodePen.
Depthdev’s doing things differently. Four directions, one element, all CSS. It’s kind of the Swiss Army knife of speech bubbles.
Chat Bubbles on an iPhone by Stephen Zuniga
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Chat bubbles in iPhone by Stephen Zuniga (@stezu)
on CodePen.
If you’re after that iPhone look but with a speech bubble twist, Stephen’s got your back. For those perfect two-party chats.
Grant’s Pure CSS Thought Bubbles
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Pure CSS Thought Bubbles by Grant (@quadbaup)
on CodePen.
Thought bubbles? With just HTML and CSS? Yep, Grant went there and crushed it.
Apple iMessage Vibes by Matt Smith
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Apple iMessage in CSS by Matt Smith (@AllThingsSmitty)
on CodePen.
Imagine the sleekness of Apple’s iMessage, but made by Matt. Done with HTML and CSS. Super chic.
Patrick Kleckner’s 8-Bit Balloon
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8-Bit by Patrick Kleckner (@pkleckner)
on CodePen.
Patrick’s hitting us with some nostalgic vibes. An 8-bit speech balloon? Count us in.
Argyleink’s Animated Comic Director Splash
See the Pen
Comic Director Splash Animation by Adam Argyle (@argyleink)
on CodePen.
It’s comic. It’s splashy. It’s animated. Argyleink’s mixing things up with HTML and CSS for this super fun piece.
Wanna jazz up your site or app? Dive into these CSS speech bubbles. Different vibes for different tribes!
FAQ on CSS Speech Bubble Examples
How do I create a basic CSS speech bubble?
Use a div with border-radius for the bubble shape and a pseudo-element like :after with CSS transforms for bubbles to create the pointer. Position it using position: relative and adjust the pointer with CSS bubble positioning. Pure CSS speech bubbles require no images or JavaScript.
Can I make speech bubbles responsive?
Yes. Use percentage-based widths and media queries to adapt your responsive speech bubbles across devices. Implement mobile chat bubbles with flexible sizing and ensure your directional indicators CSS scales proportionally. Embrace mobile-first design principles for optimal results.
How do I add different colored speech bubbles for different users?
Create CSS classes for each user type (e.g., .user-bubble, .admin-bubble) with different background colors. Use CSS chat bubbles with varying CSS bubble gradients to visually distinguish roles. This approach is common in chat application styling and social media style bubbles.
What’s the best way to add a tail/pointer to my speech bubble?
Use the ::before or ::after pseudo-elements with border techniques or CSS shape manipulation. Create a CSS bubble triangle by setting specific borders transparent while coloring one. This creates the CSS bubble with tail effect used in most web messaging components.
How can I animate my speech bubbles?
Implement speech bubble animation using @keyframes and the animation property. Common effects include fade-in, pop-up, or typing animations. Use CSS bubble hover effects for interactive elements. CSS3 animations enhance user interface bubbles with minimal code.
Do I need JavaScript for CSS speech bubbles?
No! While JavaScript can add functionality, beautiful HTML speech bubbles can be created with CSS alone. Frontend frameworks like React components might handle dynamic content, but the styling remains pure CSS. This keeps your web design patterns lightweight.
How do I ensure my speech bubbles are accessible?
Follow web accessibility guidelines by providing appropriate contrast ratios between text and bubble backgrounds. Use semantic HTML like <blockquote> or <figure> for quote bubbles. Consider Material Design patterns that include accessibility considerations for visual feedback elements.
Can I create different speech bubble shapes?
Absolutely! Beyond the basic rounded rectangle, you can create CSS bubble shapes like clouds, ovals, or hearts using border-radius with varying values. SVG can help with more complex shapes. CSS comic speech bubbles often use jagged edges for dramatic effect.
How do I handle overflow text in speech bubbles?
Use overflow: auto to add scrollbars when content exceeds the bubble size. Alternatively, implement text-overflow: ellipsis with overflow: hidden for truncation. This is crucial for chat UI components and CSS notification bubbles where space is limited.
What’s the difference between tooltips and speech bubbles?
Tooltips (created with CSS tooltip design) typically appear on hover and provide additional information, while CSS dialog boxes and speech bubbles are permanent UI elements. Tooltips are usually smaller and have briefer content than CSS conversation bubbles used in messaging.
Conclusion
Mastering CSS speech bubble examples transforms ordinary web conversations into engaging visual experiences. With the right techniques, these CSS callout examples become powerful tools in your frontend development arsenal.
The versatility of CSS bubble layouts extends far beyond basic chat interfaces. From subtle CSS quote bubbles to animated text balloon styling, the applications are endless. Remember:
- CSS comment bubbles enhance user feedback systems
- Custom speech bubble design strengthens brand identity
- Interactive UI elements boost engagement metrics
- CSS popup messages improve information hierarchy
As browsers evolve, so do the possibilities for creating more sophisticated CSS thought bubbles and message bubble styling. Experiment with Flexbox and CSS Grid for complex layouts, and don’t forget to test across browsers for cross-browser compatibility.
Whether you’re building the next Facebook Messenger design or simply adding visual cues to your portfolio, these techniques will set your work apart in the competitive landscape of web design patterns.
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