Think about the last time you browsed an app or website—how long did you stay? The amount of time users spend scrolling on your app shows whether users found your app interesting or not. Scrolling is no longer about going from top to bottom; it is today the most important design element and influences how we consume content, explore products, and engage with digital apps.
As we enter 2025-26, technology and digital experiences have evolved a lot, and so has scrolling too. From simple swipes (2010s) to never-ending feeds (2020s), now it's AI-driven scrolling (2025) that adapts content and speed to match how you browse!
Trends like intelligent scrolling, parallax effects, and gesture-based navigation are enhancing the user experience, engagement and overall interaction. But if you want to compete with top brands and stay ahead of others in the market, you must learn about the scrolling patterns users love using to retain your clients.
This article discusses about the top 10 Types of Creative App Scrolling Patterns that will give you amazing results in business. Let's explore all of them!
Top 10 Types of Creative App Scrolling Patterns
#1. Visual Storytelling and Scrollytelling
Storytelling is the best way to keep users engaged with the app because it will not bore users. In short, Scrollytelling is a combination of scroll + storytelling. Basically, here, the webpage interactive elements will be shown in narrative, story form to make the user understand better about brand. Most of the top brands use this dynamic method because it includes an infographic, animation, attractive written text, and other interactive elements to make the web content more engaging and immersive.
Scrollytelling is also related to cognitive science, and it is proven that users remember the brand more when the content is described using interactive visuals in story form. As of today, everyone is busy, and no one has time to read entire things on the app. Scrollytelling is the growing trend in 2025 to convey the business information with visuals and story in less time.
#2. Parallax Scrolling
Parallax scrolling has been used by many businesses for years, and it is still evergreen today. Do you know that top brands that you use, such as Nike, Apple, and many more, are also using the parallax effect for their websites and storytelling? It is the scrolling effect where the background moves slower than the foreground and creates a depth and 3D-like effect.
This Parallax scrolling effect is mostly used for web browsers and for e-commerce, gaming, etc, to have fluid and dynamic concepts together.
Pro tip: If you want to use parallax scrolling for your app, make sure you give a toggle on/off button to turn the effect off. Use the parallax scroll effect minimally because it should be used for engagement purposes, so it should not distract them.
#3. Scroll-Based Animations
Scroll-based animations refer to animation that occurs while the user scrolls. There are two types in that- scroll-triggered and scroll-linked. Whether it’s text fading in, images sliding, or other visuals and animations, elements move in sync with users' actions and, hence, techniques add life to the apps.
Scroll-triggered animations are like normal animations that get triggered when specific elements enter or leave the viewport. While scroll-linked animation needs motion values and uses a scroll hook() to progress the scrolling.
It is best if you want to showcase your products in apps, represent flows, and use interactive storytelling. Scroll animations provide high engagement because it allow you to respond to user input. Hence, your user feels involved throughout the browsing.
#4. Fixed or Sticky Elements
You might have seen many websites and apps where headers and menus stay fixed as it is while the content scrolls; this is fixed and sticky elements. This is a beneficial scrolling pattern because users can easily access important controls from headers and menus while exploring other content on the page.
E-commerce apps use this mostly with a sticky “ Buy Now” button because it increases the chances of buyers.
#5. Voice-Enabled Interfaces
If you have used Amazon FireTV or Alexa, then you might be aware of these voice-enabled interfaces. This is one of the famous trends in scrolling patterns, as it allows users to scroll using their voice. Even Apple devices have this feature. It scrolls down the page for you when you say, “Hey, Siri, scroll down, scroll left, etc”.
#6. Personalized Onboarding Experiences
This is not a built-in scrolling effect or feature. This is what most businesses follow to boost their engagement. It can also be said as personalized scrolling. Here, businesses understand the user needs and preferences and customize the scrolling pattern accordingly. This one is most effective as it is tailored to the target audience and users and gives high engagement.
This includes highlighting relevant features and guiding users so they can interact with your app in a better manner.
#7. Long Scrolling
Long scrolling includes a long page with more content to allow users access to the whole content in a single page. The long scrolling effect is mostly used in social media platforms, Pinterest etc. The best examples where long scrolls are used are news apps, blogs, and product catalogs where users prefer continuous exploration.
This is beneficial because users don't need to visit multiple pages hence, they can get the desired information on one page without any interruptions.
#8. Minimal Scrolling
In minimal scrolling, content is shown in a single screen so users don't have to scroll. This scrolling effect is useful when you want to convey short and straight information, like on a landing page. As the name itself says, minim scrolling, effect involves less scrolling and focuses on quick interaction. This type of effect is useful in productivity apps, dashboards, landing pages, etc, where users don't want to waste much time and just want meaningful interactions.
#9. Multi-directional Scrolling / Multi-directional Flow Scrolling
This allows users to scroll in multiple directions -left, right, up, and down. Flutter and React technologies have tools for multi-directional scrolling. This provides a totally unique experience to users because they have the freedom to scroll in multiple directions and easily access content from the entire page.
This scrolling technique is perfect for galleries, timelines, or data-heavy apps where users need flexibility in exploration. It gives the best results when it's designed by keeping the user’s purpose in mind.
#10. Infinite or Automatic Scrolling
It is a scrolling effect where the new content automatically loads when the user scrolls. You might have seen this infinite scrolling on social media feeds like Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. The benefits of this scroll technique are-
- Users don't have to click manually to go down to the page.
- Content can be continuously explored in the screen with engagement.
- Infinite scrolling is mobile-friendly; hence, it's natural and intuitive.
If you want to make the most out of this scrolling effect, you must implement it with the right strategies because scrolling too much can get hectic for users.
Bonus #11. Speed-Adaptive Scrolling
Speed-adaptive scrolling focuses on giving a comfortable navigation experience to users. It adjusts the speed according to user behaviour. If you scroll slowly, you will see enhanced detail visibility with micro-animations or highlights. This technique personalizes the experience and improves overall content consumption.
It adapts to the user's browsing speed and enhances the app's usability. Hence, it's neither too fast nor too slow.
Bonus #12. Gesture-Based Scrolling
We all are familiar with Gesture-based Scrolling. Every Android and iPhone has gesture-based scrolling. Dragging, swiping, pinch-zooming, double-clicking, etc., are gesture-based scrolling. This acts as a shortcut to the app to quickly access the suitable feature or functionality within seconds.
It is especially useful in mobile gaming, AR/VR experiences, and accessibility-focused apps. This keeps the user connected because it reduces the dependency on buttons and manual scrolling.
6 Factors For Choosing The Right Scrolling Pattern
Scrolling is a fundamental way users interact with an app. Hence, it can either make your users happy or irritated. It's important to choose the right scrolling pattern according to the business type and target audience to ensure that the user discovers the content easily and spends more time exploring the app.
Here are the crucial factors you must consider while choosing the scrolling pattern!
#1. Consider the Type of Content
Your scrolling pattern affects readability, engagement, navigation, user experience, impression, and everything. To give you a clear idea, we have made a list of which scroll patterns are best for which type of content so you don't get confused.
- Interactive Content/story (blogs, portfolios, and educational apps)→ Scrollytelling, Parallax Scrolling
- E-commerce & Product Listings → Infinite Scrolling, Long Scrolling
- News & Blogs → Long Scrolling, Minimal Scrolling
- Dashboards & Data-Heavy Apps → Fixed/Sticky Elements, Gesture-Based Scrolling
- Social Media & User-Generated Content → Infinite Scrolling, Speed-Adaptive Scrolling
- Onboarding & Tutorials → Personalized Onboarding, Scroll-Based Animations
#2. User Experience (UX) Goals
Heavy UX and designs can make scrolling slow and laggy. Consider your UI/UX requirements before choosing any scrolling pattern. Usually, most of the scroll works in mobile apps, but it's important to research or ask any UX professional who is experienced in this topic. Research websites and read forums to make the best decision.
#3. Check Device Compatibility
Scrolling patterns are made differently and might not work properly on certain devices. Like gesture-based scrolling is intuitive for mobile, but it may not suit desktop users. Multi-directional scrolling feels natural on touchscreens, but it is confusing with a mouse.
In this situation, you must follow a responsive approach and test the various scroll patterns on different devices.
#4. Performance Optimization
Consider performance optimization while you choose scroll effects because this can affect future maintenance. Heavy animations and parallax scroll effects may work on old models or devices. This can frustrate users, so prioritize performance-friendly scrolling.
#5. User Behavior & Interaction Trends
Obviously, social media has converted humans into infinite scrollers due to scrolling Instagram reels daily. But still, not every user prefers infinite scrolling. You can use analytics and research tools for this.
- Understand how your users scroll and analyze their patterns.
- Analyze data on scroll depth, engagement time, and user preferences.
Hence, according to your industry, you can know what type of scroll patterns are trending in your industry.
#6. Accessibility Concerns
Accessibility is the #1 point! Your app must be accessible to anyone, even those who are disabled. Don't use effects that require precise gestures or fast scrolling. For user-friendly navigation, Voice-enabled scrolling, sticky navigation, and speed-adaptive scrolling are the best options.
In the end, users must be able to use your app easily without trouble.
7 Useful Tips For Implementing A Scrolling Pattern
Below are some useful tips to help you implement the scrolling pattern in the right way!
#1. Prioritize Smooth Performance
In order to retain the user for a long time, you need to make sure your scroll effect is working smoothly. Optimize animations and transitions from time to time to avoid lagging. Use Lazy loading to load images and heavy content, this will not impact the speed.
Test effects on various devices to provide a consistent user experience on all devices.
#2. Keep User Control in Mind
Users should not feel they are being hijacked! For the best experience, the control should always be in the user’s hand. For example, if you are using auto-scrolling animations, provide pause or stop options. If using horizontal scrolling, provide clear navigation cues like arrows or indicators to guide the user.
If you have a well-structured pattern, users will explore more patiently and spend more time on your app to understand your business.
#3. Optimize for Mobile and Touch Devices
Today, most users use mobile to browse, so include more gestures like swiping, pinch-to-zoom, and drag-to-scroll. Consider thumb-friendly zones while you place any key elements to make sure every functionality is easy to reach.
Use adaptive scrolling speeds for better usability. Depending on your business type and audience, choose scroll methods that do not impact the accessibility and purpose of your brand.
#4. Test Different Scrolling Speeds
Scrolling speed has a direct relation with user engagement. If the scroll is very fast, users might miss important information related to your business. So adjust speeds according to your content type—slower for storytelling (scrollytelling) and faster for infinite feeds (social media apps).
#5. Ensure Accessibility & Inclusivity
You must offer shortcuts or navigation methods like keyboard shortcuts, voice commands, or scroll buttons in case the user wants to skip rather than go through the entire page.
Also, customize scrolling behavior for users with disabilities.
#6. Maintain Logical Content Flow
Your scrolling pattern must be logical and should display content in a sequence that is understood by users.
Pro tip: Break up long scrolls with sticky navigation or scroll-based animations to maintain engagement.
#7. Test with Real Users
Everything needs testing and refining. Only users know what works best, so test the scrolling patterns with real users. They interact according to their habit, flexibility, and preferences. Do the following things.
- Conduct A/B testing to compare scrolling experiences.
- Use heatmaps to analyze user behavior and identify friction points.
- Get regular feedback and refine the scrolling patterns accordingly.
Conclusion
Hope this article was useful and helped you to understand various types of creative scrolling patterns and their uses and impacts. Understanding users’ tastes and habits is important to make sure your app is balanced and welcoming. Once you match the right scrolling pattern with your user intent, your user will definitely have a smooth journey further. From parallax effects and scrollytelling to gesture-based and adaptive scrolling, every scrolling method decides how users interact with content.
Today, every part of technology uses AI in some manner. But apart from trends like AI-driven, speed-adaptive, and voice-enabled scrolling, you must understand the user’s psychology and focus on user accessibility and easy navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
#1. Are gesture-based scrolling patterns replacing traditional touch interactions?
No, gesture-based scrolling patterns are not completely replacing traditional interaction because there will always be a need for traditional scrolling at some point that can't be done with gestures or voice.
Hence, its actually an enhancement and evolving in a scrolling pattern and not a replacement for the traditional scrolling pattern.
#2. How will AR/VR scrolling change digital experiences?
AR/VR is already used by many businesses to showcase their product virtually that are not yet manufactured. AR/VR Scrolling helps businesses present their product virtually and helps users navigate through scrolling.
#3. What are Quantum Interfaces, and how will they affect scrolling?
Quantum interfaces are an important component in quantum computing that helps to interact the quantum system with the classical world. They help in instant navigation among heavy applications.
#4. How does AI influence scrolling patterns?
AI has always helped businesses improve applications and other technologies. Hence, it also helps to understand user journeys, predict navigation preferences, and optimize scrolling speed for better engagement.
#5. Is mixed reality scrolling the future of digital interfaces?
Yes, mixed-reality (MR) scrolling is likely to be a big part of future digital interfaces. It combines AR (Augmented Reality) and gesture-based interactions to allow users to scroll through content in 3D spaces.
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Jignen Pandya
CEO of Expert App Devs
A purpose-driven CEO, Jignen Pandya blends visionary leadership with humility and hands-on execution. Known for his ability to inspire teams, build trust, and drive business growth, he leads with a customer-first mindset while empowering people to achieve collective success. His leadership philosophy is built on empathy, collaboration, and turning challenges into opportunities — creating a culture where growth follows value creation.
