AutoAnimate vs react-spring
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A small drop-in library that adds smooth animations when elements are added, removed, or moved.
Open source · MIT
A React animation library built on spring physics for smooth, natural motion.
The short answer
Choose AutoAnimate if you need…
- Frontend developers who want polished list or menu transitions without writing animation code
- Teams using Vue or React who want a quick UI improvement
- Projects that need simple motion rather than complex custom animation sequences
Choose react-spring if you need…
- React developers who want fluid, physics-based animations
- Developers building interactive UIs that respond to user input
- Projects that need animations in both web (react-dom) and react-three-fiber 3D scenes
- Developers who prefer declarative animation code but sometimes need imperative control
Side-by-side
| AutoAnimate | react-spring | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 14k | 29.3k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 4 months ago | 5 days ago |
What each one is
AutoAnimate
AutoAnimate is a JavaScript utility that adds motion to web interfaces with little setup. You attach it to a parent element and its children animate smoothly as they are added, removed, or reordered. The README says it works with Vue, React, Solid, or any other JavaScript app.
react-spring
react-spring is a JavaScript library for adding animations to React user interfaces. Instead of fixed durations, it mainly uses spring physics, so elements move in a fluid, natural way. Developers use it to animate things like fading or sliding elements in response to state changes.
Best for
AutoAnimate
- Frontend developers who want polished list or menu transitions without writing animation code
- Teams using Vue or React who want a quick UI improvement
- Projects that need simple motion rather than complex custom animation sequences
react-spring
- React developers who want fluid, physics-based animations
- Developers building interactive UIs that respond to user input
- Projects that need animations in both web (react-dom) and react-three-fiber 3D scenes
- Developers who prefer declarative animation code but sometimes need imperative control
Strengths
AutoAnimate
- Very little code is needed to get started, per the README's one-line claim
- Works across several frameworks, including Vue, React, and Solid
- Permissively licensed under MIT and actively maintained
react-spring
- Spring physics is the default, giving motion a natural feel
- Supports both web (react-dom) and react-three-fiber targets
- Offers both declarative and imperative APIs
Not ideal for
AutoAnimate
- Developers who need fine-grained control over timing and keyframes, since the README presents it as a zero-config tool
- Projects that cannot add a JavaScript dependency to the frontend
react-spring
- Non-React projects, since the library is built specifically for React
- People who only need simple CSS transitions, which may be easier to write directly
- Beginners with no React experience, since the examples assume working knowledge of React hooks
Trade-offs
AutoAnimate
- The README is short on details, so specific behavior and customization depend on the external docs site
- Being zero-config means less control over animation specifics
react-spring
- Its README is brief, so deeper usage relies on the external documentation site
- Requires familiarity with React hooks to use effectively
Getting started
AutoAnimate
npm
npm install @formkit/auto-animateyarn
yarn add @formkit/auto-animatereact-spring
Install for web (react-dom)
npm install @react-spring/webInstall for react-three-fiber
npm install @react-spring/threeFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between AutoAnimate and react-spring?
AutoAnimate: A small drop-in library that adds smooth animations when elements are added, removed, or moved. react-spring: A React animation library built on spring physics for smooth, natural motion. AutoAnimate suits frontend developers who want polished list or menu transitions without writing animation code, while react-spring suits react developers who want fluid, physics-based animations.
Are AutoAnimate and react-spring free?
AutoAnimate: Free and open source. react-spring: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, AutoAnimate or react-spring?
AutoAnimate is easier to get started with (rated beginner); react-spring is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is AutoAnimate or react-spring more popular?
react-spring has more GitHub stars (29.3k) than AutoAnimate (14k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to AutoAnimate and react-spring?
Other options people compare them with include RAMAnimatedTabBarController, FoldingCell, reactstrap, Tiptap, MDX.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.