Hupspot Guide to CSS Pulse Animation

CSS pulse animation is a simple effect you can add to buttons, icons, and calls-to-action to mimic the polished style seen on many Hubspot-inspired websites. In this guide, you will learn how to build a reusable pulse animation from scratch using clean, modern CSS.

The tutorial is based on the approach outlined in the original article at HubSpot’s CSS animation pulse guide, adapted into a step-by-step how-to that you can easily plug into your own projects.

Why Use a Hubspot-Style CSS Pulse Animation?

A subtle pulse effect can draw the eye to important interface elements without overwhelming the page. This is especially useful for:

• Primary call-to-action buttons
• Notification badges or alerts
• Feature icons in a product grid
• Interactive elements like chat launchers

By following a consistent pattern, you can recreate a professional Hubspot-like experience that is lightweight, accessible, and easy to maintain.

Core Concept Behind the Hubspot Pulse Effect

The pulse animation is powered by CSS @keyframes. The idea is simple:

• Start from the base state (scale 1, full opacity).
• Grow the element slightly and fade it out.
• Loop the effect at a smooth pace.

Because this logic lives in CSS, you do not need JavaScript for the visual effect, which keeps your site fast and user-friendly.

Step 1: Set Up the Base HTML

Begin with a simple HTML structure. You can apply the pulse to any element, but a button or link works well when following a Hubspot-style layout.

<button class="btn-pulse">Get Started</button>

Keep the HTML minimal. The animation will be handled entirely via CSS.

Step 2: Add Base Styles for the Hubspot-Like Button

Next, create the base button styling. This establishes color, spacing, and typography before adding the pulse.

.btn-pulse {
  background-color: #ff5c35; /* accent similar to HubSpot theme */
  color: #ffffff;
  border: none;
  padding: 0.75rem 1.5rem;
  border-radius: 999px;
  font-size: 1rem;
  cursor: pointer;
  position: relative;
  overflow: hidden;
}

Using rounded corners and a bold accent color helps you achieve a modern, marketing-focused aesthetic.

Step 3: Create the Keyframes for the Pulse Animation

The keyframes define the movement and fade effect. This is the heart of the pulse behavior seen on HubSpot and similar sites.

@keyframes pulse {
  0% {
    transform: scale(1);
    opacity: 1;
  }
  70% {
    transform: scale(1.15);
    opacity: 0;
  }
  100% {
    transform: scale(1.15);
    opacity: 0;
  }
}

This animation enlarges the element slightly, then fades it out, creating a soft ring-like effect.

Step 4: Apply the Pulse Animation With a Reusable Class

Instead of hard-coding animation into every element, follow a Hubspot-inspired pattern by using a separate utility class.

.pulse {
  animation: pulse 1.5s ease-out infinite;
}

Now apply this utility class to your element:

<button class="btn-pulse pulse">Get Started</button>

With this approach, you can attach the same pulse behavior to icons, cards, or any other elements simply by adding the pulse class.

Step 5: Create a Hubspot-Like Ring Using Pseudo-Elements

For a more polished effect, use a pseudo-element that pulses around the button while the button itself stays stable.

.btn-pulse {
  position: relative;
  z-index: 1;
}

.btn-pulse::after {
  content: "";
  position: absolute;
  inset: 0;
  border-radius: inherit;
  border: 2px solid rgba(255, 92, 53, 0.6);
  z-index: -1;
  animation: pulse 1.5s ease-out infinite;
}

This technique creates a halo around the button that expands and fades, very similar to the modern marketing patterns many Hubspot users prefer.

Step 6: Control Timing and Subtlety

To keep the pulse subtle and user-friendly, adjust the timing and easing:

• Duration: 1.5–2.5 seconds for a slow, calm effect.
• Easing: ease-out for a natural deceleration.
• Delay: Optional delay using animation-delay to stagger multiple elements.

For example:

.pulse-slow {
  animation: pulse 2.5s ease-out infinite;
}

This gives you flexible variants, much like component options in a Hubspot-style design system.

Hubspot-Inspired Accessibility Tips

Animations should support usability, not distract from it. Keep these best practices in mind:

• Ensure the interface is usable with animations disabled.
• Avoid extremely fast or flashing effects.
• Use prefers-reduced-motion to respect user preferences.

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  .pulse, .btn-pulse::after {
    animation: none !important;
  }
}

This snippet disables pulsing for users who have requested reduced motion, offering an experience closer to what you would expect from an enterprise platform like Hubspot.

Step 7: Applying the Pulse to Multiple Elements

You can reuse the same keyframes on different components, each styled uniquely but sharing the Hubspot-inspired pulse foundation.

.icon-pulse {
  display: inline-flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
  width: 40px;
  height: 40px;
  border-radius: 50%;
  background: #f5f8fa;
}

.icon-pulse::after {
  content: "";
  position: absolute;
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  border-radius: 50%;
  border: 2px solid rgba(255, 92, 53, 0.4);
  animation: pulse 1.8s ease-out infinite;
}

You can now attach this pattern to feature icons, help bubbles, or alert indicators.

Hubspot Design Consistency Checklist

When you deploy pulse effects across a site, maintain consistency by checking:

1. Color harmony: Match pulse borders and glows with your brand palette.
2. Scale consistency: Use similar scale() values for related components.
3. Limited usage: Reserve pulses for primary or critical UI elements.

This helps you avoid visual clutter while still achieving a look that feels refined and purpose-driven.

Further Learning and Optimization

To deepen your understanding of the pulse effect and additional animation techniques, review the original tutorial at HubSpot’s CSS pulse animation article. It expands on variations and practical use cases you can adapt to your own user interface.

If you want help integrating these animations into larger marketing funnels, CRO programs, or SEO-focused templates, you can find professional consulting support at Consultevo, which specializes in performance-driven digital strategy.

Conclusion: Bringing a Hubspot-Like Experience to Your UI

By combining keyframes, reusable classes, and accessible motion settings, you can implement a clean CSS pulse animation that feels similar to polished Hubspot experiences. Start with a single button, refine the timing and visual style, then carefully roll the effect out to other high-value elements in your layout.

With this approach, you gain a flexible, production-ready animation pattern that enhances focus, supports conversions, and keeps your front-end code simple and maintainable.

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