Hype is a Mac app for creating animated and interactive HTML5 content without writing code. You use a timeline and keyframe system (similar to video editing or After Effects) to animate elements, then export as HTML/CSS/JavaScript that runs in any modern browser. Designers use Hype for animated infographics, interactive tutorials, banner ads, and UI prototypes with complex motion. It fills the gap left by Flash, offering visual animation tools for the modern web.

Key Specs

Price	Standard $49.99; Professional $99.99 (14-day trial)
Platform	Mac only (macOS 10.10+, Apple Silicon supported)
Best for	Web animations, interactive content, HTML5 ads, infographics
Learning curve	1-2 hours for basics; days to master timeline and actions

How Designers Use Hype

For Animated Infographics and Explainers

Designers build step-by-step visual stories where elements animate in sequence. Use keyframes to move, scale, and fade elements. Add click actions to advance to the next scene. Hype exports lightweight HTML5 that works on any device, making it perfect for editorial content, landing pages, and presentations embedded in websites.

For Interactive Prototypes

Build clickable prototypes where buttons trigger animations, menus slide in, and modals overlay. Hype’s timeline system handles complex choreography that tools like Figma can’t do easily. Designers prototype micro-interactions (button hover states with spring physics) and flows with multiple screens. Export and share a URL for stakeholder review.

For HTML5 Banner Ads

Ad networks moved from Flash to HTML5 in the 2010s. Hype became a go-to tool for designers creating animated ads. Build the animation visually, optimize file size (Hype compresses assets), and export ad-network-ready HTML. Hype handles viewport sizing, clickthrough tracking, and responsive scaling automatically.

For Motion-Rich Portfolio Pieces

Designers create animated portfolio sections, interactive case studies, and visual experiments. Hype’s JavaScript API lets you integrate with custom code if needed. Combine Hype animations with scrolling triggers (using libraries like ScrollMagic) for immersive storytelling experiences.

Hype vs. Alternatives

Feature	Hype	Adobe Animate	Rive	Framer
Platform	Mac only	Mac/Windows	Web/all platforms	Web + Mac app
Pricing	$50-100 one-time	$22.99/month	Free + paid tiers	Free + $5-20/month
Output	HTML5/CSS/JS	Various formats	Runtime integration	React components
No-code animation	✅ Full visual editor	✅ Full visual editor	✅ Visual editor	⚠️ Some code helpful
Physics	✅ Built-in actions	⚠️ Limited	✅ Advanced	✅ Spring animations
Responsive design	✅ Breakpoints (Pro)	⚠️ Manual	✅ Constraints	✅ Auto-layout
Learning curve	Easy	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate

Choose Hype if: You’re on Mac, want a traditional timeline-based animation tool, and need standalone HTML5 exports for websites or ads. One-time purchase is attractive compared to Adobe’s subscriptions.

Choose Adobe Animate if: You need Windows support, character animation with frame-by-frame drawing, or tight integration with Illustrator and Photoshop.

Choose Rive if: You want animations that integrate into React, Flutter, or Unity apps. Rive’s runtime is tiny and animations are vector-based, scaling perfectly to any size.

Choose Framer if: You’re building modern web apps with React and want animation tools integrated with component design. Framer is more powerful than Hype for production web apps but has a steeper learning curve.

Getting Started with Hype

A quick 20-minute intro to making your first animation:

Step 1: Create a document and add elements

Open Hype and create a new document. Set the canvas size (e.g., 800x600 for an infographic). Drag a rectangle from the toolbar or press R. Style it with colors, borders, and corner radius in the inspector. Add text by pressing T and clicking on the canvas.

Step 2: Animate with keyframes or Record mode

Select an element. Move the timeline playhead to 1 second. Move the element to a new position. Hype creates keyframes automatically. Play the animation to see it move. Or use Record mode (red button): Hype watches everything you do and creates keyframes as you change properties. This is faster for complex animations with multiple property changes.

Step 3: Add interactivity with actions

Select an element (like a button). In the Actions panel, add a Mouse Click action. Choose “Start Timeline” and select the timeline you want to play. This creates an interactive button that triggers animations when clicked. For prototypes, create multiple scenes and link buttons between them to simulate app flows.

Hype in Your Design Workflow

Hype fits into workflows when you need animated or interactive elements beyond what static design tools offer.

• Before Hype: Design static layouts in Figma or Sketch, identify elements that need animation or interaction
• During animation: Import assets into Hype, animate with timelines, add click actions and logic
• After Hype: Export HTML, embed in website or prototype, test in browsers, optimize file size if needed

Common tool pairings:

• Hype + Figma for designing static layouts that you import into Hype for animation
• Hype + Principle for combining Hype’s web exports with Principle’s iOS prototypes (different tools for different platforms)
• Hype + CodePen for embedding Hype-generated HTML in CodePen demos or experiments
• Hype + Webflow for adding animated sections to Webflow sites (export Hype, embed custom code)

Common Problems (and How to Fix Them)

“My Hype export is too large for ad networks”

Hype compresses images, but raw assets add up. In Document Settings, enable image optimization at 80-85% quality (usually imperceptible). Use SVG for icons and shapes instead of PNGs. Avoid embedding web fonts; use system fonts when possible. Check the preview file size in Export settings. Most ad networks have 150KB limits.

“Hype animations don’t work on old browsers”

Hype requires modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari from 2015+). Internet Explorer 11 and older don’t support all HTML5 features Hype uses. Check the browser compatibility warning when exporting. For wide compatibility, avoid advanced features like filters and 3D transforms. Or accept that very old browsers won’t see animations.

“I can’t make my Hype animation responsive”

Hype Standard has fixed canvas sizes. Upgrade to Hype Professional ($99.99) to get responsive layouts. Pro lets you define breakpoints (mobile, tablet, desktop) with different layouts per breakpoint. Alternatively, use the “Scale” setting in Document Properties to make the whole animation scale proportionally, but this doesn’t reflow content like true responsive design.

“How do I integrate Hype with React or Next.js?”

Hype exports standalone HTML/CSS/JS, not React components. Embed it in an iframe or use Hype’s JavaScript API to control animations from your React code. This isn’t seamless. For native React animations, use Framer Motion or Rive instead. Hype is best for self-contained animated sections you drop into pages, not for component-level UI animations.

“Hype vs CSS animations: why use Hype?”

Hype is visual and faster for complex choreography. CSS animations require writing keyframes by hand, calculating timing, and managing classes. If you’re comfortable with code, CSS animations are lighter and more maintainable. But for non-coders or complex animations with many elements, Hype is much faster. Use CSS for simple hover states and Hype for elaborate sequences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Tumult actively maintains Hype with the current version being Hype 4 (released 2019, updated regularly). The app works on modern Macs including Apple Silicon. Hype Professional ($99.99) adds advanced features like responsive layouts and vector shape tools.

Choose Hype if you’re on Mac and want a clean, focused tool for web animations. Hype outputs modern HTML5/CSS without Flash baggage. Choose Adobe Animate if you need cross-platform (Windows), character animation tools, or integration with other Adobe apps. For web work, Hype is simpler and more affordable.

Sort of. Hype exports standalone HTML/CSS/JS that you can embed in any page. But it doesn’t integrate natively with React, Vue, or Angular component systems. For framework-specific animations, use Framer Motion (React) or Rive (cross-framework). Hype is best for self-contained animated elements you drop into existing sites.

No. Hype is Mac-only. Tumult has no plans for a Windows version. If you need cross-platform animation tools, consider Adobe Animate (Mac/Windows), Rive (browser-based), or CSS animation hand-coded in VS Code.

Yes. Hype’s timeline-based interface is familiar if you’ve used video editors or Keynote. You don’t need to write code. Record mode watches your changes and creates keyframes automatically. You can make simple animations in 10 minutes. Advanced features (JavaScript API, physics) have a learning curve but aren’t required for basic work.

Hype Standard ($49.99) includes core animation features. Hype Professional ($99.99) adds responsive layouts (different designs for mobile/desktop/tablet), advanced export options, physics actions, and vector drawing tools. For most designers, Professional is worth the extra $50 if you’re building responsive content.