Aceternity UI: Animated React and Tailwind CSS Components for Next.js
Aceternity UI is a React component library that helps you build animated, modern websites without writing motion code from scratch. It pairs Tailwind CSS for styling with Framer Motion for animation, so the buttons, cards, and backgrounds you copy in already move the way you want. If you build portfolios, landing pages, or SaaS dashboards with Next.js, it cuts the time between an idea and a working interface. For a quick product overview, UICentral keeps a detailed Aceternity UI page you can scan in about a minute.
Quick Highlights
- More than 70 animated components built with React, Next.js, Tailwind CSS, and Framer Motion.
- Add any component by copying the code or running a Shadcn CLI command. Free and Pro tiers are both available.
- Popular for portfolios, marketing pages, and SaaS apps because it removes most of the design and animation work.
- Backed by an active community and tutorials from creators like Fireship, Josh Tried Coding, and JavaScript Mastery.
What Is Aceternity UI?
Aceternity UI is a collection of ready-made interface pieces for React and Next.js projects. Each component arrives styled with Tailwind CSS and animated with Framer Motion, which means a card already tilts on hover and a background already shifts on its own. You do not install a heavy dependency or configure an animation system. You copy the code into your project, adjust a few props, and ship.
The library focuses on motion because that is where most teams lose hours. Writing smooth, accessible animation by hand is slow. Aceternity UI hands you the finished version so you can spend your time on content and layout instead.
Components Inside Aceternity UI
The library covers everything from plain buttons to layered 3D effects. Here is a sample from the components page:
| Component | What it does |
|---|---|
| Macbook Scroll | An image reveals as you scroll, inspired by Fey.com |
| 3D Card Effect | Cards lift and tilt on hover for a sense of depth |
| Animated Testimonials | Testimonial blocks that transition with smooth motion |
| Apple Cards Carousel | A carousel styled after Apple product pages |
| Background Beams | Animated background light effects for hero sections |
With more than 70 components in total, you get buttons, marquees, parallax sections, and grid layouts in one place. The animation-first approach matches what most modern marketing sites and product pages aim for right now.
How to Install Aceternity UI Components
Setup takes a few minutes. You need a React or Next.js project with Tailwind CSS already configured. Then follow four steps:
- Open the Aceternity UI components page and pick a component.
- Copy the code, or run the Shadcn CLI command listed on the component (for example,
npx shadcn@latest addfollowed by the component path). - Paste it into your components folder and import it where you need it.
- Adjust the props to fit your design. The 3D Card Effect, for instance, exposes values like
translateZso you can control how far elements lift.
Because the components ship as plain React and Tailwind code, you can read and edit every line. Nothing is hidden behind a build step.
What Developers Build With Aceternity UI
Browse the aceternity-ui topic on GitHub and you will see the same use cases repeat:
- Portfolios: Developers use the animations to make personal sites stand out to recruiters and clients.
- SaaS apps: Dashboards and landing pages use the motion to hold attention and explain features.
- E-commerce: Animated product cards and carousels make storefronts feel more finished.
The range runs from single-page Next.js portfolios to full template repositories you can fork.
Why Developers Choose Aceternity UI
Feedback across the community is consistent. The main site collects quotes about how fast the components are to drop in. On X, developers such as Teddarific and rh_rahat_dev have pointed to the animations and the simple setup. On Reddit, a member of r/developersIndia shared a portfolio built with the library and got design feedback and bug reports in return, which shows people use it on real projects.
Video tutorials add to the reach. Jeff from Fireship, Josh from Josh Tried Coding, and the JavaScript Mastery channel have all covered it, so you can learn by watching. For a structured summary of its strengths, UICentral keeps a breakdown of Aceternity UI.
Aceternity UI Free vs Pro
The core library is free, and most projects can ship on the free tier alone. If you want more, Aceternity UI Pro adds extra component packs, full page templates, and lifetime updates. It targets developers and teams who want ready-made sections rather than building each page from parts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aceternity UI free to use? Yes. The main component library is free. A paid Pro tier adds templates, extra components, and lifetime updates.
What tech stack does Aceternity UI use? It is built with React, Next.js, Tailwind CSS, and Framer Motion. You need a React or Next.js project with Tailwind CSS to use it.
Do I need the Shadcn CLI? No. You can copy and paste any component by hand. The Shadcn CLI is an optional shortcut for adding components faster.
Is Aceternity UI good for portfolios? Yes. Portfolios are one of the most common uses because the animations help a personal site stand out without extra design work.
Final Thoughts
Aceternity UI is a practical choice when you want a modern, animated site and do not want to write the motion code yourself. The copy-paste workflow, the library of more than 70 components, and the fit with React, Next.js, Tailwind CSS, and Framer Motion make it useful for portfolios, SaaS products, and online stores alike. The community is active, the tutorials are easy to find, and resources like the UICentral Aceternity UI page explain where it fits in your stack.
