Scroll animations can take your website to the next level, but with so many animation libraries out there, which one should you choose? If you’re looking for performance, ease of use, and flexibility, Trig.js, AOS.js, and GSAP ScrollTrigger are three of the most popular options.

As the developer of Trig.js, I’ve tested these libraries extensively. In this post, I’ll compare them head-to-head so you can decide which AOS alternative is best for your project.


📊 Quick Comparison Table

Feature Trig.js 🏆 AOS.js ScrollTrigger (GSAP)
Lightweight (~4KB) ❌ (~6KB) ❌ (100KB+)
CSS-based (Fastest) ❌ (JS-heavy)
Easy Setup ❌ (Complex)
Predefined Animations
Full Scroll Control

🔥 What Makes Trig.js Different?

1. Performance – The Fastest AOS Alternative

Most scroll animation libraries rely heavily on JavaScript for animation logic. This can lead to janky animations, dropped frames, and slowdowns—especially on mobile devices.

Trig.js takes a different approach by being CSS-powered, allowing the browser to handle animations natively using hardware acceleration. This results in smoother, faster animations without unnecessary JavaScript overhead.

🚀 Winner: Trig.js


2. File Size – Keeping It Lightweight

If you’re building a modern website, performance matters. The last thing you want is to bloat your page with unnecessary JavaScript.

  • Trig.js → ~4KB (super lightweight)
  • AOS.js → ~6KB (not bad, but slower execution)
  • GSAP ScrollTrigger → 100KB+ (powerful, but heavy)

With Trig.js, you get ultra-lightweight scroll animations without sacrificing performance.

Winner: Trig.js


3. Ease of Use – The Simplest Setup

Setting up scroll animations shouldn’t be complicated. Trig.js is as simple as adding data attributes and classes to your HTML.

class="trig-parallax-up enable-trig trig-target" data-trig-var="true">
Welcome to Trig.js

Compare that to GSAP ScrollTrigger, which requires JavaScript code for every animation:

gsap.registerPlugin(ScrollTrigger);
gsap.to("h1", {
  scrollTrigger: {
    trigger: "h1",
    start: "top 80%",
    end: "bottom 20%",
    scrub: true
  },
  opacity: 1,
});

If you want a plug-and-play solution, Trig.js is the easiest to use.

Winner: Trig.js


4. Animation Control – Do You Need Advanced Features?

While GSAP ScrollTrigger is powerful, it’s often overkill for simple animations. However, if you need precise timeline control, GSAP might be the right choice.

That said, Trig.js supports full scroll-based animations, including:

  • Fade-ins & fade-outs
  • Slide & zoom effects
  • Dynamic scroll animations

If you want full scroll control with minimal effort, Trig.js is the best AOS alternative.

🏆 Winner: Depends on your needs (Trig.js for scroll animations, GSAP for other animations too)


📌 Conclusion – Which Library Should You Use?

Best For Recommended Library
Fastest Performance 🚀 Trig.js
Easiest to Use 🏆 Trig.js
Simple AOS Animations ✅ Trig.js / AOS.js
Advanced Scroll Effects ✅ Trig.js / GSAP ScrollTrigger

My Verdict?

If you want fast, lightweight, and easy-to-use scroll animations, Trig.js is the best AOS alternative in 2025. It’s optimized for performance, super simple to set up, and gives you all the animations you need—without the complexity.

🔗 GitHub Repo | Docs & Setup | Live Demos