CreateJS
CreateJS: A free web animation library suite for developers, not a visual animation editor. Ranked #90 of 106 in Animation Software by our editors (3.0/10); pricing: Free plan; best for developers building HTML5 animations.
At a glance
- Editor score3.0 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forDevelopers building HTML5 animations
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Facts checked22 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Hierarchical 2D display lists support structured Canvas scenes
- Animation tools cover tweens, timelines, easing, loops, and motion guides
- npm, CDN, audio, loading, graphics, and sprites support web projects
Where it doesn't
- It is a development library rather than a visual animation application
- The published positioning does not include verified export workflows
- The official CDN lists combined 1.0.0 libraries dated 2017-10-12
Our verdict on CreateJS
CreateJS is a suite of open-source JavaScript libraries for building interactive content in web browsers. It is aimed at developers creating HTML5 Canvas experiences such as browser-based games, advertisements, data visualizations, and other rich interactive projects. EaselJS handles 2D graphics and interaction, TweenJS provides property and CSS animation, SoundJS supports browser audio playback, and PreloadJS manages asset loading. The libraries can be used independently or together, and the project is released under the MIT license.
Its main strength is the breadth of web-focused building blocks in one development-oriented suite. Hierarchical 2D display lists organize Canvas content, while vector graphics, shapes, text, bitmaps, sprites, and frame-based animation cover common visual needs. Tween-based animation includes timelines, easing, loops, and motion guides. PreloadJS adds queues, manifests, progress, and completion events for asset loading, while SoundJS supports Web Audio and HTML5 Audio plugins. For teams that want modular JavaScript components rather than a single editor, this scope is practical.
CreateJS is free and open source, with combined and modular builds distributed through npm and an official CDN. That makes it a fit for web projects that can incorporate JavaScript libraries directly. The trade-off is its development-library model: it is not a full visual animation application, so teams seeking an editor-led workflow should choose another tool. Version context also matters: the official CDN page lists combined 1.0.0 libraries dated 2017-10-12, while the official GitHub combined repository identifies a 2.0 beta build. Pick CreateJS for browser-based HTML5 animation infrastructure; avoid it when verified export workflows or a visual authoring environment are central requirements.
Your product? Our editors can test CreateJS in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
CreateJS pricing
CreateJS fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| 2D animation tools | Yes |
| 3D modeling | Not verified |
| Character rigging | Not verified |
| Motion graphics | Not verified |
| Cloud collaboration | Not verified |
| Supported platforms | web |
| Export formats | Not verified |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | createjs.com |
| Facts checked | 22 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to CreateJS
- Toon Boom HarmonyA focused 2D suite for hand-drawn, rigged, composited, and effects-driven animation.9.3
- BlenderA broad 3D suite for professional animation without software licensing costs.9.2
- Cinema 4DA broad desktop toolkit for motion design, 3D production, simulation, and rendering.9.1
See all CreateJS alternatives →
Used CreateJS? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used CreateJS for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
CreateJS is listed in our Animation Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/createjs/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/createjs.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update