PixiJS vs three.js
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 JavaScript library for fast 2D graphics, animation and interactive content in the browser.
Open source · MIT
A JavaScript library for drawing and animating 3D scenes in web browsers.
The short answer
Choose PixiJS if you need…
- Web developers building interactive 2D graphics or animations
- Developers making browser-based 2D games
- Teams that need sprite, text, masking and filter effects on the web
- Developers who want a library with a large community and active releases
Choose three.js if you need…
- Web developers adding interactive 3D graphics to a website
- Developers building browser-based visualizations or simple 3D animations
- People who already know JavaScript and want to start with 3D on the web
Side-by-side
| PixiJS | three.js | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 48.6k | 117k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | JavaScript |
| Last code update | 6 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
PixiJS
PixiJS is an open-source JavaScript and TypeScript library for drawing 2D graphics, sprites, text and interactive content in a web browser. It uses WebGL and WebGPU so the browser's graphics hardware does the heavy work, which is why it is often used for browser games, animations and interactive visuals.
three.js
Three.js is a JavaScript library that lets developers create 3D scenes, cameras, and objects and display them in a web page. The README describes its aim as an easy-to-use, lightweight, cross-browser, general-purpose 3D library. It currently includes WebGL and WebGPU renderers, with SVG and CSS3D renderers available as addons.
Best for
PixiJS
- Web developers building interactive 2D graphics or animations
- Developers making browser-based 2D games
- Teams that need sprite, text, masking and filter effects on the web
- Developers who want a library with a large community and active releases
three.js
- Web developers adding interactive 3D graphics to a website
- Developers building browser-based visualizations or simple 3D animations
- People who already know JavaScript and want to start with 3D on the web
Strengths
PixiJS
- Supports both WebGL and WebGPU renderers, per the README
- Large, active community with a MIT license and about 48,000 GitHub stars
- Includes a built-in asset loader, touch support and a documented setup CLI
three.js
- The README presents it as a general-purpose, cross-browser 3D library
- Includes a documented usage example that creates a scene, camera, mesh, and renderer
- Has extensive official resources listed, including examples, docs, and a manual
Not ideal for
PixiJS
- People who want a finished app or game with no coding, since it is a library you write code against
- Projects needing 3D rendering, since the README describes it as a 2D renderer
- Anyone who needs a guaranteed WebGPU experience across every browser, as the README notes WebGPU support depends on the TypeScript setup and environment
three.js
- People who only need 2D graphics, since the library is focused on 3D scenes
- Anyone looking for a finished app rather than a code library to build with
- Beginners with no JavaScript experience, as the README code assumes familiarity with modules and the browser
Trade-offs
PixiJS
- Requires JavaScript or TypeScript knowledge to use, so it is not a no-code tool
- The README's TypeScript section describes version-dependent setup steps for WebGPU types
three.js
- The full git history is about 2 GB, so a shallow clone is recommended for most users
- The README does not describe install steps beyond the import example, so setup details must come from the docs
- Working in 3D requires understanding concepts like cameras, geometry, and materials
Getting started
PixiJS
Create a new project with the PixiJS CLI
npm create pixi.js@latestAdd PixiJS to an existing project
npm install pixi.jsthree.js
Shallow clone of the repository
git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/mrdoob/three.js.gitFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between PixiJS and three.js?
PixiJS: A JavaScript library for fast 2D graphics, animation and interactive content in the browser. three.js: A JavaScript library for drawing and animating 3D scenes in web browsers. PixiJS suits web developers building interactive 2d graphics or animations, while three.js suits web developers adding interactive 3d graphics to a website.
Are PixiJS and three.js free?
PixiJS: Free and open source. three.js: Free and open source.
Is PixiJS or three.js more popular?
three.js has more GitHub stars (117k) than PixiJS (48.6k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to PixiJS and three.js?
Other options people compare them with include Phaser, GPU.js, G2, react-three-fiber, react-pdf.
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.