animejs vs gsap

animation

animejs

gsap

Anime.js and GSAP (GreenSock Animation Platform) are two leading JavaScript animation libraries that take fundamentally different approaches to web animation. Anime.js positions itself as a lightweight, simple-to-use library with a minimal footprint (~15kb minified) and declarative API, making it accessible for developers who need quick UI effects without steep learning curves. GSAP is a comprehensive, enterprise-grade animation platform with a larger core (~30kb) but modular architecture, offering advanced features like ScrollTrigger, physics simulations, SVG morphing, and complex timeline sequencing.

This comparison matters because choosing the wrong library can lead to performance bottlenecks in complex projects or unnecessary bloat in simple ones. Anime.js appeals to frontend developers building lightweight sites, quick prototypes, or straightforward UI animations who prioritize bundle size and simplicity. GSAP targets professional animators, agencies, and teams building animation-heavy applications, interactive experiences, or production sites where performance under load, cross-browser consistency, and advanced control are non-negotiable.

Head-to-Head

Performance Under Load→ gsap wins

animejs

Good for moderate workloads but struggles with thousands of simultaneous animations. Lacks automatic GPU acceleration optimizations and debouncing strategies. Benchmarks show noticeable frame drops in stress tests with 1000+ elements compared to GSAP.

gsap

Industry-leading performance with automatic GPU acceleration, optimized render loops, and aggressive debouncing. Consistently maintains 60fps in benchmarks with thousands of animated elements. Built-in performance monitoring and browser-specific optimizations.

Bundle Size & Modularitytie

animejs

Smaller default bundle at ~15kb minified. Monolithic structure means you get everything in one import, which is efficient for simple use cases but cannot tree-shake unused features. No plugin system, so minimal footprint is guaranteed.

gsap

Larger core at ~30kb but fully modular. Import only what you need (gsap.core, ScrollTrigger, Draggable, etc.). Tree-shaking can reduce footprint below anime.js for basic tweens. Plugin architecture adds flexibility but requires careful bundle management.

API Complexity & Learning Curve→ animejs wins

animejs

Declarative, beginner-friendly syntax with intuitive property names. Simple object-based configuration for keyframes, easing, and stagger. Can build most UI animations in minutes without documentation. Limited control means fewer edge cases to learn.

gsap

Powerful but complex API with methods like gsap.timeline(), .to(), .from(), .fromTo(), and extensive options objects. Requires understanding sequencing, positioning parameters, and timeline hierarchies. Steeper initial curve but enables pixel-perfect control for professionals.

Advanced Features & Ecosystem→ gsap wins

animejs

Covers core tweening, keyframes, SVG path animations, and custom easing functions. No built-in scroll triggers, draggable interactions, physics engines, or morphing. Limited to what's in the core library with no plugin extension system.

gsap

Extensive plugin ecosystem including ScrollTrigger (scroll-linked animations), Draggable, MorphSVG, MotionPath, SplitText, physics simulations, and framework-specific helpers. Some premium plugins require paid license. Industry-standard tooling for complex interactive experiences.

TypeScript & Tooling Support→ gsap wins

animejs

Community-maintained TypeScript definitions available via DefinitelyTyped. Basic integration works but lacks official type safety guarantees. Minimal IDE autocomplete and inline documentation. Works with modern bundlers but no special optimizations.

gsap

Better community TypeScript support with more comprehensive definitions. Extensive JSDoc annotations provide good IDE autocomplete. Official framework integrations (@gsap/react) with typed hooks. Better debugging tools and performance profilers in documentation.

Community & Documentation Quality→ gsap wins

animejs

Active community with 66k GitHub stars and 319k weekly npm downloads. Documentation is clear but less comprehensive. Fewer tutorials, CodePen examples, and Stack Overflow answers. Limited enterprise support options. Smaller but enthusiastic user base.

gsap

Industry standard with massive community, extensive documentation, official forums with staff responses, and thousands of tutorials. 319k+ weekly downloads. Enterprise licensing includes professional support. Used by major brands, creating wealth of real-world examples and patterns.

Verdict

Choose anime.js when building lightweight sites, landing pages, or simple interactive UI components where bundle size matters and animations are straightforward tweens or keyframe sequences. It's the pragmatic choice for solo developers, startups optimizing initial load times, or projects where animation is a secondary feature. The simplicity means faster implementation and less code to maintain, making it ideal when your animation needs won't grow significantly over time.

Choose GSAP for any production site where animation is a core feature, complex interactive experiences, or projects requiring scroll-triggered animations, SVG morphing, or physics. If you're working on a team, building for enterprise clients, or need guaranteed 60fps performance across all browsers and devices, GSAP's maturity and optimization justify the larger footprint. The modular architecture means you can start small and scale up, while the professional ecosystem provides solutions for edge cases that would require custom code in anime.js. For agencies and animation-focused developers, GSAP's learning investment pays off through productivity gains and capabilities that anime.js simply cannot match.

When to Use Each

If you are building a marketing landing page with hover effects, scroll reveals, and button animations → use anime.js because the 15kb bundle won't impact page speed scores and the simple API lets you implement effects in minutes without documentation.

If you are building an interactive storytelling site with parallax scrolling, complex timeline sequences, and coordinated multi-element animations → use GSAP because ScrollTrigger and timeline features provide precise control that would require hundreds of lines of custom code in anime.js.

If you are prototyping a mobile app UI with card transitions and menu animations → use anime.js because rapid development with minimal setup lets you test interaction patterns quickly, and mobile bundle size is critical.

If you are creating a data visualization dashboard with animated charts, draggable elements, and real-time updates to thousands of DOM nodes → use GSAP because its performance optimizations prevent frame drops under load and the Draggable plugin eliminates custom event handling code.

Learn More

animejs →gsap →

Head-to-Head

Performance Under Load→ gsap wins

animejs

gsap

Bundle Size & Modularitytie

animejs

gsap

API Complexity & Learning Curve→ animejs wins

animejs

gsap

Advanced Features & Ecosystem→ gsap wins

animejs

gsap

TypeScript & Tooling Support→ gsap wins

animejs

gsap

Community & Documentation Quality→ gsap wins

animejs

gsap

Verdict

When to Use Each