Top React Native Libraries Worth Checking Out In 2021

While you’re building an app or a website, animations are the one element that you need to incorporate for impressive page transitions, scroll events, and attention-grabbing events. That being said, creating animations is a tedious job.

With the help of the pre-built React Native library, the developers can make animation tasks much easier. Such libraries are huge time-savers and improve the final output for sure. So let’s have a look at the top 13 React Native libraries that you can use for your animation products and be easily integrated quickly to create attractive and amazing web pages.

#1 – React Spring

This React Native animation library is easy to use, packed with amazing physical-based animation, and is super supportive. Members of the Github community are going ga-ga over its commendable features. No wonder why it has been starred on Github more than 19 thousand times – you can use it as a cross-platform, React Native, React Native Web, and various other platforms without a glitch.

Its API is available in the form of plug-n-play React Hooks. If you’re wondering what that means, such APIs can easily import the Hook from the library and define the animation with Hook’s help. So we are sure that this library won’t disappoint you at all.

#2 – Pose

It is React Native’s built-in Animated API and is written from scratch. Despite that, it is an ideal pick for creating gesture-based interaction with complete flexibility.

The through native support is terrific, and its ability to perform the animation on the native thread directly is laudable. In addition, it deserves a shout-out for backward compatibility. Because of this facility, the developer doesn’t have to change a massive chunk of code while you’re migrating from Animated API.

#3 – React Native Reanimated

It is React Native’s built-in Animated API and is written from scratch. Despite that, it is an ideal pick for creating gesture-based interaction with complete flexibility.

The through native support is terrific, and its ability to perform the animation on the native thread directly is laudable. In addition, it deserves a shout-out for backward compatibility. Because of this facility, the developer doesn’t have to change a massive chunk of code while you’re migrating from Animated API.

#4 – Framer Motion 

This React Native animation is quite famous in the developer community because it has simplified animation creation. Its straightforward animation API boasts to curb the complexities of animation creation and addition. The server-side rendering support and CSS variables make it an even better choice. In addition, it comes with built-in components for animation.

#5 – Fluid Transitions 

You can use this React Native animation library to create multiple kinds of transitions. Transitions generated by this library will be automatically run while navigating between screens. The best thing about this library is that it can be integrated easily with redux and existing navigation set-ups. So, hassle-free operations are a sure thing.

#6 – Reanimated-arc

This one is what you will need to create assorted UI elements featuring arcs capable of animating the rendered arc. In addition, it allows you to use a high-level wrapper to animate.

#7 – React Motion 

React Motion is what you need to reference while creating realistic animation with fewer possible hassles are your goals. It is a physics-based animation library that is famed for creating natural-looking animation for Reactjs elements.

Speaking of its popularity, it is very famous as it has grabbed 19.2k starts on Github. On NPM, it has been downloaded 603,199 times.

#8 – React Move 

Our next pick is React Move which has gained tremendous popularity for helping developers to generate beautiful animations on React Native. Initially, it was created to support TypeScript and customer tweening functions. But, slowly, it came into the mainstream as a powerful animation library. On Github, it has been starred 6.2K times. It features lifecycle events in transition and allows you to pass customer tween in the animation.

#9 – React Native Animatable  

We are die-hard fans of this animation library because it grants declarative wrappers that can be used to animate the elements in React Native. As it comes with a link-free API, you can start using it without any hassles and hurdles. In addition, there are multiple props in this library to simplify the animation generation process. Because of this, you will be able to gain full control over the animation. 

Along with the animation, it allows you to generate a simple yet impressive transition of your own. The style property, font, and other properties can be picked as you please.  

#10 – React Typist 

So, you need something to create a type of animation? Well, try using React Typist once, and we know you’ll never think creating type animation is a tedious job. All you need to do is wrap Typist around your text, or any element tree and animated text will be created. It is easy to style and configure. Its v2.0.5 is the latest and was released in June 2019. Till now, 5.1K Github members have used this library.

#11 – React Transition Group

This is a power-packed tool that can be used by deducting the boilerplate code’s need. This one is different from the rest of the libraries because it brings simple components for defining animations.

This library doesn’t define styles on its own. Instead, it manipulates the DOM to simplify the transition and animation much more comfortably. As it has a simple approach for animations, using it is a piece of cake. On NPM, there are around 6.2k weekly downloads of this library that shows how famous it is amongst the community.

#12 – Lottie 

Created by Airbnb, this React Native library is the favorite of many. It parses the After Effect animation into a JSON file which can be easily exported in the app.  

As it can be used easily on iOS, Windows, Web, and React Native, more and more people are using it. It can be at your service after the installation Lottie-react-native wrapper. Don’t worry. The wrapper is a simple element and will be available easily. 

#13 – React Flip Toolkit 

This one has won our hearts because it is a super lightweight magic move library used widely for configurable layout transitions. Till now, there have been 188 version releases of this library. The current version, v7.0.13 was released in November 2020.

It is super effective and feature-packed. However, we must admit that the latest version release is highly advanced as many features are absent in other libraries. For instance, it allows you to use FLIP instead of cloning & crossfading. This facility is not present in many other libraries, including react-overdrive.

It also lets you use springs for animation and provide full-fledged support for spring-based stagger effects. A wide range of transition props and animation props are present. It would be best if you gave it a try.

Concluding Notes 

All these React Native animation libraries have been tried, tested, and appreciated by a huge number of React Native developers across the world. So, feel free to try them for your future animation projects.

Don’t forget to share your experience! 

Guest article written by: Chandresh Patel is a CEO, Agile coach and founder of Bacancy Technology. His truly entrepreneurial spirit, skillful expertise and extensive knowledge in the Agile software development services has helped the organisation to achieve new heights of success. Chandresh is fronting the organisation into global markets in a systematic, innovative and collaborative way to fulfill custom software development needs and provide optimum quality services.