6 JavaScript Scroll Libraries to Use in 2019

JavaScript scroll libraries make it easy to create effects that are tied to the user scrolling the page, such as Parallax or animating elements into place when they’re in view. A robust, performant scroll library is critical when it comes to creating visually arresting yet smooth scroll based effects. Not all scroll libraries are created equal, and even some that were once considered favorites have fallen by the wayside due to author neglect. In this article, we handpick 6 of the best, relevant JavaScript Scroll Libraries that you should use in 2019.

#1 AOS- Animate On Scroll

AOS is a modern, CSS3 driven scroll animation library that offloads all of the animations to CSS, using JavaScript only for the logic of adding and removing CSS classes to elements so CSS can do the rest. The result is a buttery smooth, easy to modify and extend via CSS scroll library.

AOS supports bi-directional scrolling animation, both down and upwards. When you scroll up, elements will animate to their previous state and are ready to animate again.

#2 ScrollReveal.js

Another excellent Scroll Library, ScollReveal.js is lightweight (3.3kb minified and gzipped), and also free of any dependencies. Its greatest asset is support for chained and sequential animations on scroll, so elements that come into view can be animated one after another. 3D rotation of elements is also supported out of the box. And last but not least, ScrollReveal.js makes it easy to disable any scroll effects on mobile devices.

#3 ScrollMagic

ScrollMagic is kind of a Jack Of All Trades when it comes to a scroll library. It lets you animate, pin, or toggle CSS classes on the desired elements based on scrollbar position. You can also synchronize the movement of elements to the scrollbar, like in a playback scrub control. Parallax and Infinite Scrolling is also part of its acclaimed repertoire. ScrollMagic can function as an independent script, though it can hook up to other animation libraries such as Greensock or Velocity for implementing more complicated animations.

Due to the myriad of features ScrollMagic has taken on, there’s a bit of a learning curve to using ScrollMagic, and is recommended for more advanced users with some JavaScript experience under their belt. But this is the script to consider if you cannot get the desired results with the other solutions listed here.

#4 Waypoints

Waypoints is a simple library that makes it easy to execute a function whenever you scroll to an element. It comes with different builds that either works as an independant script or alongside jQuery or Zepto. Three first class extensions (requires the jQuery Build)- Infinite Scrolling, Sticky Elements, and Inview Detection- help differentiate this library from the others if you need one of those functionalities in a snap. Waypoints also comes with extensive documentation for those frustrated with some libraries’ lack thereof.

#5 Animate-Scroll

Animate-Scroll is a mobile friendly scroll library that monitors the viewport and uses Greensock Animation Library to animate elements into view. Those familiar with Greensock know the power of this library in rendering jaw dropping animations with equally impressive efficiency to match. It’s extremely easy to set up, with each element’s animation simply set inline inside the element’s tag as a series of name:value pairs. There are no CSS files required, as all animations are handled by Greensock. In that sense its approach is the complete opposite of the first library we’ve listed, AOS. The downside of a totally JavaScript based, built in animation set up is that you cannot easily expand beyond the preset list of animation options, using CSS for example. The tradeoff is ease of set up. Animate-Scroll is also rather hefty in size, requiring both jQuery and Greensock to work.

#6 jQuery AniView

For the Animate.css fans, AniView provides an easy way to utilize one of Animate.css’s many built in CSS effects to animate an element into view when it’s within the viewport. As its name suggests, it requires jQuery,and piggybacks on Animate.css, but if you’re already using these two libraries on your site, this is an easy way to also inject scroll based effects to the mix.