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Best Highway Alternatives ranked by AI · updated Aug 2026
Highway is an open-source JavaScript library for building smooth transitions between pages on multi-page websites. It provides a router-like navigation layer and lifecycle hooks for developers who want to connect custom animations to page changes.
Top 6 Highway alternatives
Swup is an open-source JavaScript library for adding animated page transitions to traditional multi-page websites. It targets frontend developers who want SPA-like...
Pros
- Framework-agnostic and works with standard server-rendered websites
- Provides lifecycle hooks and plugins for transitions, scripts, accessibility, and preloading
- Adds SPA-like navigation without requiring a full application rewrite
Cons
- Requires careful handling of scripts and page-specific initialization
- Needs additional accessibility work for focus management and reduced-motion preferences
- Less suitable than Turbo or Unpoly for server-driven application behavior
Free, open source
3
PJAX is a jQuery plugin that uses AJAX and pushState to deliver a fast browsing experience.
Pros
- Fast page loading
- Easy to implement
Cons
- Limited browser support for pushState
4
Barba.js is a small, flexible JavaScript library that helps you create fluid and smooth transitions between your website's pages.
Pros
- Smooth transitions
- Customizable animations
Cons
- Requires some learning curve
5
Unpoly
Unpoly GmbH
Unpoly is an open-source JavaScript framework for progressively enhancing server-rendered web applications. It updates fragments, manages navigation history, handles overlays, and supports...
Pros
- Combines fragment updates, overlays, forms, caching, and navigation in one system
- Supports server-rendered applications with less frontend code than a typical SPA
- Provides stronger built-in conventions for history and fragment management than Swup
Cons
- Larger conceptual and runtime footprint than Swup's focused transition model
- Requires server responses to follow Unpoly fragment conventions
- Less appropriate for applications built primarily around client-side state
Free, open source
6
htmx
Big Sky Software
htmx is an open-source JavaScript library that lets HTML trigger AJAX requests, server-rendered fragment swaps, browser history updates, and WebSocket interactions. It...
Pros
- Uses HTML attributes to add navigation and partial updates with minimal JavaScript
- Works with almost any server-side language or framework
- Has a smaller conceptual footprint than a full SPA framework
Cons
- Does not provide Swup's dedicated transition-focused plugin model
- Complex client-side state and interactions require additional tools
- Server responses and swap behavior need careful endpoint design
Free, open source
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