gsap vs react-spring vs animate.css vs velocity-animate
Animation Libraries for Web Development
Search packages..
gsapreact-springanimate.cssvelocity-animateSimilar Packages:
Animation Libraries for Web Development

Animation libraries are essential tools in web development that enhance user experience by adding visual effects and transitions to web applications. These libraries provide pre-built animations and allow developers to create complex animations with ease, improving engagement and interactivity. They can be used to animate elements on the page, create smooth transitions, and provide feedback to user actions, making the web application feel more dynamic and responsive. Each library has its unique strengths, catering to different needs and preferences in animation design and implementation.

Npm Package Weekly Downloads Trend
3 Years
Github Stars Ranking
Stat Detail
Package
Downloads
Stars
Size
Issues
Publish
License
gsap1,201,37623,3676.11 MB127 months agoStandard 'no charge' license: https://gsap.com/standard-license.
react-spring761,83828,9878.36 kB1342 months agoMIT
animate.css430,43682,498-735 years agoMIT
velocity-animate293,52717,268-417 years agoMIT
Feature Comparison: gsap vs react-spring vs animate.css vs velocity-animate

Ease of Use

  • gsap:

    GSAP has a steeper learning curve due to its extensive API and capabilities, but it offers detailed documentation and examples. Once learned, it provides powerful tools for creating intricate animations with precision.

  • react-spring:

    React Spring is designed for React developers, making it intuitive to use within React applications. Its hooks-based API allows for straightforward integration and management of animations in functional components.

  • animate.css:

    Animate.css is extremely easy to use; it requires just a CSS class to apply animations to elements. Developers can quickly implement animations without any JavaScript knowledge, making it accessible for beginners.

  • velocity-animate:

    Velocity.js offers a familiar syntax for those who have used jQuery, making it easy to pick up. However, it may require some understanding of its unique features to fully leverage its capabilities.

Performance

  • gsap:

    GSAP is known for its exceptional performance, even with complex animations. It uses requestAnimationFrame for smooth animations and can handle a large number of animated elements without performance degradation.

  • react-spring:

    React Spring is optimized for performance in React applications, leveraging the React reconciliation process. It provides smooth animations that are responsive to state changes, making it ideal for interactive UIs.

  • animate.css:

    Animate.css relies on CSS animations, which are generally performant but may not handle complex animations as efficiently as JavaScript-based solutions. It is best for simple animations that do not require heavy computational resources.

  • velocity-animate:

    Velocity.js improves performance over jQuery animations by using CSS transitions where possible and optimizing animations for speed. It is suitable for projects that require a balance between ease of use and performance.

Animation Types

  • gsap:

    GSAP supports a vast array of animation types, including complex sequences, timelines, and even SVG animations. It allows for detailed control over every aspect of the animation, making it highly versatile.

  • react-spring:

    React Spring focuses on physics-based animations, providing a more natural feel to transitions. It allows for spring dynamics, which can create more lifelike animations compared to traditional easing functions.

  • animate.css:

    Animate.css provides a wide range of pre-defined animations such as fade, bounce, and slide effects. It is limited to these predefined options, which may not suit every unique animation need.

  • velocity-animate:

    Velocity.js supports a variety of animation types, including color and transform animations, and allows for custom easing functions. It combines the best of jQuery's animation capabilities with CSS performance.

Integration

  • gsap:

    GSAP can be integrated into any web project and works well with various frameworks, including React, Vue, and Angular. It is highly adaptable and can be used alongside other libraries for enhanced functionality.

  • react-spring:

    React Spring is specifically designed for React applications, making it the best choice for projects built with React. It leverages React's component lifecycle for optimal animation performance.

  • animate.css:

    Animate.css can be easily integrated into any web project without dependencies, making it highly versatile for any framework or library. It is purely CSS-based, so it works seamlessly with existing styles.

  • velocity-animate:

    Velocity.js can be integrated into projects that use jQuery or can be used standalone. It is a good option for projects that already utilize jQuery and want to enhance their animation capabilities.

Community and Support

  • gsap:

    GSAP has a strong community and extensive documentation, along with official support from GreenSock. This makes it a reliable choice for developers seeking help and resources.

  • react-spring:

    React Spring has a growing community and good documentation tailored for React developers. It is actively maintained, ensuring that users have access to the latest features and best practices.

  • animate.css:

    Animate.css has a large community and is widely used, which means there are numerous resources and examples available online. However, support is mostly community-driven rather than official.

  • velocity-animate:

    Velocity.js has a decent community but is less active than some of the other libraries. While there are resources available, they may not be as comprehensive or up-to-date as those for GSAP or React Spring.

How to Choose: gsap vs react-spring vs animate.css vs velocity-animate
  • gsap:

    Select GSAP (GreenSock Animation Platform) for high-performance, complex animations that require fine control over timing and sequencing. GSAP is perfect for projects that demand advanced animation features and smooth performance across all browsers.

  • react-spring:

    Opt for React Spring if you are working within a React application and want a physics-based animation library that integrates seamlessly with React's component model. It is suitable for creating fluid and natural animations that respond to user interactions.

  • animate.css:

    Choose Animate.css for simple, CSS-based animations that require minimal setup. It is ideal for projects where you want to quickly add animations without the need for JavaScript or complex configurations.

  • velocity-animate:

    Use Velocity.js for a jQuery-like syntax that offers powerful animations with better performance than jQuery's built-in animations. It's a good choice if you are looking for a library that combines the simplicity of jQuery with the speed of CSS transitions.

Similar Npm Packages to gsap

gsap (GreenSock Animation Platform) is a powerful JavaScript library for creating high-performance animations in web applications. It provides a robust API for animating HTML elements, SVGs, and even canvas elements, allowing developers to create complex animations with ease. GSAP is known for its speed, flexibility, and compatibility across various browsers, making it a popular choice for animators and developers alike. With features like timelines, easing functions, and robust control over animations, GSAP enables the creation of stunning visual effects that enhance user experience.

While GSAP is a leading choice for animation, there are several alternatives worth considering:

  • animejs is a lightweight JavaScript animation library that offers a simple and powerful API for creating animations. It supports CSS properties, SVG, DOM attributes, and JavaScript objects, making it versatile for various animation needs. Anime.js is particularly known for its ease of use and flexibility, allowing developers to create complex animations with minimal code. If you're looking for a straightforward library that can handle a wide range of animation types without the overhead of a larger framework, Anime.js is an excellent option.

  • velocity-animate is another animation library that combines the best of jQuery's animation capabilities with the performance of CSS transitions. It provides a simple API for creating animations and is designed to work seamlessly with jQuery. Velocity.js is particularly useful for developers who are already familiar with jQuery and want to enhance their animations without switching to a different library. It supports color animations, transforms, and various easing functions, making it a solid choice for projects that require smooth animations.

To see how GSAP compares with Anime.js and Velocity.js, check out the comparison: Comparing gsap vs animejs vs velocity-animate.

Similar Npm Packages to react-spring

react-spring is a powerful library for creating animations in React applications. It leverages the physics of spring dynamics to create smooth and natural animations, making it easier for developers to implement complex animations with minimal effort. With its declarative API, react-spring allows you to animate components based on their state, providing a seamless user experience. While react-spring is a popular choice for animations, there are several alternatives in the React ecosystem that offer different features and approaches to animation. Here are a few noteworthy alternatives:

  • framer-motion is a popular animation library that focuses on creating complex animations and transitions with ease. It provides a simple API and powerful features such as gesture support, layout animations, and shared layout transitions. framer-motion is particularly well-suited for designers and developers looking to create high-quality animations with minimal code. Its integration with the Framer design tool also makes it a great choice for teams that prioritize design and animation in their projects.

  • react-motion is another animation library that uses spring physics to create smooth animations. It provides a simple API for animating components based on their state and allows for fine-tuned control over the animation process. While react-motion is effective for creating fluid animations, it may require more boilerplate code compared to other libraries. It is a good choice for developers who appreciate the physics-based approach to animations and want to have more control over the animation parameters.

  • react-transition-group is a low-level animation library that provides simple transition effects for React components. It allows developers to manage the lifecycle of animations and transitions, making it easy to create enter and exit animations for components. While react-transition-group does not provide the same level of abstraction as react-spring or framer-motion, it is a lightweight option for developers who need basic transition effects without the overhead of a more complex animation library.

To see how these libraries compare, check out the comparison: Comparing framer-motion vs react-motion vs react-spring vs react-transition-group.

Similar Npm Packages to animate.css

animate.css is a popular library that provides a collection of cross-browser CSS animations. It allows developers to easily add animations to their web applications with minimal effort. By simply adding a class to an element, you can create various animations such as fades, slides, and bounces, enhancing the user experience without the need for complex JavaScript. While animate.css is a great option for simple animations, there are several alternatives that offer more advanced features and flexibility. Here are a few notable alternatives:

  • gsap (GreenSock Animation Platform) is a powerful JavaScript library for creating high-performance animations. It provides a robust API for animating HTML, CSS, SVG, and more. GSAP is known for its speed and flexibility, allowing developers to create complex animations with precise control over timing and sequencing. If you need advanced animation capabilities, such as timelines, easing functions, and the ability to animate multiple properties simultaneously, GSAP is an excellent choice.
  • react-spring is a spring-physics-based animation library for React applications. It provides a declarative way to create animations that feel natural and fluid. With react-spring, you can easily animate components based on their state, making it ideal for React developers who want to create interactive and dynamic user interfaces. If you're building a React application and want to incorporate smooth and responsive animations, react-spring is a great option.
  • velocity-animate is a fast and feature-rich animation engine that combines the best of jQuery and CSS transitions. It provides a simple API for creating animations and supports a wide range of effects, including color animations and transforms. Velocity is particularly useful for developers who want to create complex animations without relying on jQuery. If you're looking for a versatile animation library that balances performance and ease of use, velocity-animate is worth considering.

To see how animate.css compares with gsap, react-spring, and velocity-animate, check out the comparison: Comparing animate.css vs gsap vs react-spring vs velocity-animate.

Similar Npm Packages to velocity-animate

velocity-animate is a powerful animation engine that allows developers to create high-performance animations in web applications. It combines the best features of jQuery's animation capabilities with CSS transitions, providing a robust API for animating DOM elements. Velocity is particularly known for its speed and efficiency, making it a popular choice for developers looking to enhance user interfaces with smooth animations.

While Velocity Animate offers a solid solution for animations, there are several alternatives in the JavaScript ecosystem that also provide animation capabilities. Here are a few noteworthy options:

  • animejs is a lightweight JavaScript animation library that focuses on simplicity and flexibility. It allows developers to create complex animations with minimal code, supporting various properties, including CSS, SVG, and DOM attributes. Anime.js is particularly well-suited for creating intricate animations and transitions, making it a favorite among developers who prioritize creative control over their animations.

  • gsap (GreenSock Animation Platform) is a robust and professional-grade animation library that provides a comprehensive suite of tools for creating high-performance animations. GSAP is known for its speed, reliability, and extensive feature set, including timelines, easing functions, and advanced control over animations. It is widely used in the industry for creating complex animations in web applications, games, and interactive content.

  • jquery-ui is a popular library that extends jQuery with additional UI interactions, effects, and animations. While it is not as modern or lightweight as some of the other options, jQuery UI provides a straightforward way to add animations and interactions to web applications, especially for developers already familiar with jQuery. It includes various effects and widgets that can enhance user experience, making it a viable choice for legacy projects or simpler applications.

To see how velocity-animate compares with animejs, gsap, and jquery-ui, check out the comparison: Comparing animejs vs gsap vs jquery-ui vs velocity-animate.

README for gsap

GSAP (GreenSock Animation Platform)

GSAP - Animate anything

GSAP is a framework-agnostic JavaScript animation library that turns developers into animation superheroes. Build high-performance animations that work in every major browser. Animate CSS, SVG, canvas, React, Vue, WebGL, colors, strings, motion paths, generic objects...anything JavaScript can touch! GSAP's ScrollTrigger plugin delivers jaw-dropping scroll-based animations with minimal code. gsap.matchMedia() makes building responsive, accessibility-friendly animations a breeze.

No other library delivers such advanced sequencing, reliability, and tight control while solving real-world problems on over 12 million sites. GSAP works around countless browser inconsistencies; your animations just work. At its core, GSAP is a high-speed property manipulator, updating values over time with extreme accuracy. It's up to 20x faster than jQuery!

GSAP is completely flexible; sprinkle it wherever you want. Zero dependencies.

There are many optional plugins and easing functions for achieving advanced effects easily like scrolling, morphing, text splitting, animating along a motion path or FLIP animations. There's even a handy Observer for normalizing event detection across browsers/devices.

Get Started

Get Started with GSAP

Docs & Installation

View the full documentation here, including an installation guide.

CDN

<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/gsap@3.13/dist/gsap.min.js"></script>

See JSDelivr's dedicated GSAP page for quick CDN links to the core files/plugins. There are more installation instructions at gsap.com.

Every major ad network excludes GSAP from file size calculations and most have it on their own CDNs, so contact them for the appropriate URL(s).

NPM

See the guide to using GSAP via NPM here.

npm install gsap

GSAP's core can animate almost anything including CSS and attributes, plus it includes all of the utility methods like interpolate(), mapRange(), most of the eases, and it can do snapping and modifiers.

// typical import
import gsap from "gsap";

// get other plugins:
import ScrollTrigger from "gsap/ScrollTrigger";
import Flip from "gsap/Flip";
import Draggable from "gsap/Draggable";

// or all tools are exported from the "all" file (excluding members-only plugins):
import { gsap, ScrollTrigger, Draggable, MotionPathPlugin } from "gsap/all";

// don't forget to register plugins
gsap.registerPlugin(ScrollTrigger, Draggable, Flip, MotionPathPlugin);

The NPM files are ES modules, but there's also a /dist/ directory with UMD files for extra compatibility.

GSAP is FREE!

Thanks to Webflow, GSAP is now 100% FREE including ALL of the bonus plugins like SplitText, MorphSVG, and all the others that were exclusively available to Club GSAP members. That's right - the entire GSAP toolset is FREE, even for commercial use! 🤯 Read more here

ScrollTrigger & ScrollSmoother

If you're looking for scroll-driven animations, GSAP's ScrollTrigger plugin is the standard. There's a companion ScrollSmoother as well.

ScrollTrigger

Using React?

There's a @gsap/react package that exposes a useGSAP() hook which is a drop-in replacement for useEffect()/useLayoutEffect(), automating cleanup tasks. Please read the React guide for details.

Resources

Need help?

Ask in the friendly GSAP forums. Or share your knowledge and help someone else - it's a great way to sharpen your skills! Report any bugs there too (or file an issue here if you prefer).

License

GreenSock's standard "no charge" license can be viewed at https://gsap.com/standard-license.

Copyright (c) 2008-2025, GreenSock. All rights reserved.

npm-compare.com is an independent website designed to help developers choose the most suitable npm packages. We are not affiliated with npm, Inc, the official website for the npm registry. Note that npm is a registered trademark of npm, Inc. Please share your feedback via our GitHub repository. For more details, please refer to our Terms & Privacy.