barba.js vs FoldingCell
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 JavaScript library that adds smooth page transitions to websites without full reloads.
Open source · MIT
An iOS UI component: table cells that expand and fold open with a paper-card style animation.
The short answer
Choose barba.js if you need…
- Developers adding animated transitions to an existing multi-page website
- Front-end developers who want to reduce page-load delay without rebuilding as a full single-page app
- Designers working with developers on motion-heavy marketing or portfolio sites
- Developers who want custom code that runs on specific pages through its View system
Choose FoldingCell if you need…
- iOS developers building list screens with expandable items
- Developers who want a ready-made folding animation instead of writing their own
- Teams adding a Material-style expanding card pattern to a table view
Side-by-side
| barba.js | FoldingCell | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 13k | 10.2k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | Swift |
| Last code update | 23 months ago | 3 years ago |
What each one is
barba.js
Barba.js is a small library (about 7kb minified and compressed, per its README) that makes moving between pages on a website feel smooth, with animated transitions. It makes a multi-page site behave somewhat like a single-page application, which the README says can reduce delays between pages and cut repeated browser requests. It is written in TypeScript and works with Promises.
FoldingCell
FoldingCell is a Swift library for iOS apps that provides a table view cell which unfolds to reveal more content, with an animation inspired by folding paper cards. Developers use it to show a compact summary that opens into a detailed view when tapped. The README describes it as a single file you can drop into a project, or install through a package manager.
Best for
barba.js
- Developers adding animated transitions to an existing multi-page website
- Front-end developers who want to reduce page-load delay without rebuilding as a full single-page app
- Designers working with developers on motion-heavy marketing or portfolio sites
- Developers who want custom code that runs on specific pages through its View system
FoldingCell
- iOS developers building list screens with expandable items
- Developers who want a ready-made folding animation instead of writing their own
- Teams adding a Material-style expanding card pattern to a table view
Strengths
barba.js
- Small footprint, which the README states as about 7kb minified and compressed
- Clear documentation site with user guide, API reference, and examples
- Uses MIT license and has a large star count and an active release (v2.10.3)
FoldingCell
- Simple to add: the README says you can drop in one Swift file or use CocoaPods, Carthage, or Swift Package Manager
- Configurable animation timing per fold through an overridable method
- MIT licensed and widely starred on GitHub
Not ideal for
barba.js
- People who need a full application framework; the README positions Barba as a transition library, not a complete app framework
- Beginners with no HTML, CSS, or JavaScript experience, since the README says it assumes intermediate knowledge
- Projects that cannot use ES6+ syntax, because the README says all code examples use it, and a legacy example is provided separately
FoldingCell
- Developers targeting Android or the web, since this is an iOS-only Swift library
- Projects needing a current, actively documented setup, since the README lists Xcode 10.2 and iOS 8.0+ and the code samples use older Swift syntax
- Anyone wanting a no-code tool, since integration requires writing table view and cell code
Trade-offs
barba.js
- Last push date in the metadata is December 2024, so check current maintenance status before relying on it
- The README is truncated and says little about browser support details beyond linking to the docs
FoldingCell
- The README's code samples use outdated Swift syntax and APIs, so they will need adapting to current Xcode and Swift versions
- The README lists iOS 8.0+ and Xcode 10.2 as requirements, which may be out of date; no newer compatibility is stated
- The README does not describe testing status beyond a Travis badge, and the last push date is April 2024
Getting started
barba.js
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/barbajs/barbaFoldingCell
CocoaPods (Podfile)
pod 'FoldingCell'Swift Package Manager (Package.swift)
dependencies: [ .package(url: "https://github.com/Ramotion/folding-cell.git", from: "5.0.2") ]Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between barba.js and FoldingCell?
barba.js: A small JavaScript library that adds smooth page transitions to websites without full reloads. FoldingCell: An iOS UI component: table cells that expand and fold open with a paper-card style animation. barba.js suits developers adding animated transitions to an existing multi-page website, while FoldingCell suits ios developers building list screens with expandable items.
Are barba.js and FoldingCell free?
barba.js: Free and open source. FoldingCell: Free and open source.
Is barba.js or FoldingCell more popular?
barba.js has more GitHub stars (13k) than FoldingCell (10.2k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to barba.js and FoldingCell?
Other options people compare them with include mo · js, RAMAnimatedTabBarController, Anime.js, Lenis, Material.
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.