SVG Animation Tools Compared — CSS vs GSAP vs Lottie
CSS animations handle simple SVG animations. GSAP gives full control for complex timelines. Lottie plays After Effects exports. Here's how to choose.
CSS SVG Animations — Best for Simple Cases
CSS can animate SVG path attributes (fill, stroke-dashoffset, transform) without JavaScript. Great for simple hover effects and loading spinners.
- CSS transitions: hover color change, scale, opacity
- CSS keyframes: path drawing with stroke-dashoffset animation
- No JavaScript needed: performant, simple, declarative
- Limitation: complex path morphing and timeline control need GSAP
GSAP — Most Powerful SVG Animation Library
GSAP (GreenSock Animation Platform) is the gold standard for complex SVG animations. Timeline control, physics, path morphing, and scroll-triggered animations.
- GSAP core: free for most uses (license required for some plugins)
- SVG morphing: MorphSVGPlugin — animate between two SVG path shapes
- DrawSVG plugin: smooth line drawing animations
- ScrollTrigger: pin and animate SVG on scroll
- Performance: runs at 60fps even on mobile
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the easiest way to animate an SVG for a website?
CSS animations for simple effects (hover, spin, fade). For more complex animations without JavaScript, use CSS keyframes on SVG elements. GSAP for any professional-level animation work.
What is Lottie animation?
Lottie is a JSON-based animation format exported from After Effects via the Bodymovin plugin. The Lottie player renders it in browsers. Excellent for icon animations and loader animations.
Is GSAP free for commercial projects?
GSAP core and ScrollTrigger are free for commercial use. Some premium plugins (MorphSVG, SplitText, Flip) require a GSAP Club membership ($99–$199/year).
Can I animate SVG files exported from imagetosvg.com?
Yes — imagetosvg.com SVG output is standard SVG. Apply CSS animations, GSAP, or any SVG animation library. The paths are clean and ready for animation.
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