10 Best Particle Systems/Effects In JavaScript (2026 Update)
Particles System made easy!
Working with scale, different shapes, and colors in today’s websites is a common method of drawing the viewer’s attention to certain parts. Particles are an entertaining visual that can be utilized to emphasize your message and make it stand out amongst other competing content.
There are so many libraries that can help you create amazing particles. However, it can be challenging to find the right library for your project.
Here is a collection of 10 best jQuery plugins and Vanilla JavaScript libraries that make it easier to create customizable, interactive particles for the particles background or particle animation effects in your next modern web design. Have fun.
Originally Published Jan 20, updated Jan 08 2026
Table of contents:
Best jQuery Particle Plugins:
Polygonal Particles Background With jQuery And Canvas - polygonizr
A jQuery plugin which uses JavaScript and HTML5 canvas to draw an animated, customizable, polygonal particles system on the webpage.
jQuery Plugin For Particle System Background with Parallax Effect - Particleground
Particleground is a fancy jQuery plugin to create an animated 'Particle System' background with an interactive parallax effect that responds to mouse movement.
Create Performant Falling Particles With The Sparticles
A lightweight and performant library for creating falling particles using JavaScript, requestAnimationFrame, and HTML5 canvas.
Compatible with Vanilla JavaScript, jQuery, Svelte.js and ESM. Ideal for creating falling sparkles, snowflakes, stars, and any shapes as the background of your webpage.
Create A Particles Background With jQuery - Buoyant
A tiny (2kb minified) jQuery plugin to create animated particles from any CSS shapes or images that move randomly across the background of your webpage when activated.
Basic Moving Particle System With jQuery And CSS - flying-circles
Yet another particle system written in jQuery and CSS that helps you create highly customizable, randomly animated particles in the background.
More features:
- Random size, opacity, and color.
- Configurable animation speed.
- Custom color, size, and density.
Vanilla JS Particle Libraries
Create A Background Particles System With JavaScript And Canvas – nodes.js
The nodes.js JavaScript library lets you create a particles system with animated nodes and connecting lines for the background.
Creating An Animated Particle System Using Particles.js
A standalone JavaScript library helps you create an animated & interactive Particle System that reacts to viewer’s cursor. Based on Html5 canvas element.
Convert Image Into Interactive Particles – particle-image
A JavaScript library for converting images into customizable particles that interact with mouse and touch events.
Interactive Quantum Particle Animation in JavaScript
A quantum particle simulation that creates responsive, interactive, high-performance particle systems using HTML5 Canvas.
It enables you to integrate real-time particle physics with engaging animations, ideal for creative coding projects, educational demonstrations, or dynamic background visuals.
You gain access to a diverse set of quantum-inspired effects such as Vortex, Color Wave, Tornado, Black Hole, and Explosion. Each effect modifies the particle behavior that helps you generate unique visual experiences.
Create Interactive Particle Backgrounds with Pure JavaScript – DotWave.js
A lightweight JavaScript library that creates interactive dot backgrounds for web containers.
It generates canvas-based particle systems that react to cursor movements with smooth transitions and parallax depth effects.
Features:
- Responsive particle backgrounds that adapt to any container size
- Particles that react smoothly to cursor movements with physics-based behavior
- Fully customizable appearance including colors, sizes, and opacity
- Lightweight implementation with zero dependencies (just 7KB minified)
- Fine-grained control over physics parameters like influence radius and friction
- Mobile-friendly with automatic resizing
- Depth perception with parallax effect (closer dots move faster)
More Resources:
Looking for more jQuery plugins or JavaScript libraries to create awesome Particles on the web & mobile? See jQuery Particle and JavaScript Particle System sections for more details.
