Cannon.js vs Rapier
A technical comparison with interactive examples showing the real differences.
Cannon.js
Add realistic 3D physics — gravity, collisions, and constraints — to your web projects.
Rapier
High-performance 2D and 3D physics powered by Rust and WebAssembly.
⚡ Quick Verdict
Rapier is the modern choice — WASM-based, significantly faster with SIMD support, and actively maintained (v0.30.0 in 2025). For new projects, Rapier is usually the better pick. Cannon-es has more tutorials and a gentler learning curve.
Bundle Size Comparison
What ships to your users' browsers (gzipped)
GSAP's power comes with extra weight. Anime.js is leaner but lacks advanced plugins like ScrollTrigger.
Performance Stress Test
See how each library handles increasing element counts in real-time
Result: maintained FPS vs at FPS. achieved FPS vs at FPS. Both libraries performed similarly at FPS.
Technical Capabilities
| Capability | Cannon.js | Rapier |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline API | gsap.timeline() — advanced, chainable | anime.timeline() — functional, explicit |
| Stagger Syntax | Direct property: stagger: 0.1 | Function: delay: anime.stagger(100) |
| Duration Units | Seconds (1 = 1s) | Milliseconds (1000 = 1s) |
| From Animations | gsap.from() — animate FROM values | Array syntax: [from, to] |
| Easing | power1-4, elastic, bounce, custom | easeIn/Out/InOut variants |
| SVG Animation | Via plugins (MorphSVG, DrawSVG) | Built-in path morphing |
| Scroll Integration | ScrollTrigger plugin — powerful | Manual with Intersection Observer |
| Playback Control | play, pause, reverse, seek, timeScale | play, pause, reverse, seek |
Which Library Fits Your Project?
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🎯 Recommendation:
Bottom Line
Cannon.js is the go-to for complex, production-grade animations with its powerful timeline and plugin ecosystem. Rapier is ideal when you want a lightweight, straightforward approach with less boilerplate.
Both are excellent. Your choice depends on project complexity and bundle size constraints.