Rive vs Lottie: Which animation format is right for you?
TL;DR Summary
Both support: Small optimized files, state machines, animation, and interactivity. The choice comes down to your workflow and specific needs.
Choose Rive if:
You need responsiveness, vector feathering, scripting capabilities, and a streamlined pipeline where you design and export from the same editor. Perfect for interactive UI elements that need runtime control and data binding.
Choose Lottie if:
You want access to a library of motion templates and prefer an After Effects-based pipeline. Great when your team already works in After Effects and needs quick exports.
Rive vs Lottie: Side-by-side comparison
Understanding the key differences between these two animation formats
Rive
- ✓Built-in interactivity: Responds to multi finger input and mouse events
- ✓Unique interactions: Scrolling and dragging support built-in
- ✓Luau scripting: Custom logic and behaviors with Luau scripting
- ✓Vector feathering: Optimized blurs & glows for better performance
- ✓Interactive character animations: Bones system for complex character rigging
- ✓Libraries for multiple animations: Scalable system for managing multiple animations
- •Learning curve: Requires learning an entire new tool
- •Newer: Smaller community compared to Lottie
Lottie
- ✓Huge library: Massive animation library and presets available
- ✓Advanced compositing: Powerful compositing tools like duplicator and masks
- ✓After Effects: Direct export from Adobe After Effects, Figma and more
- ✓Simple Figma exports: Easy workflow from Figma to production
- ✓Lightweight animations: Perfect for simple decorative animations
- •Larger files: JSON format can be heavier than Rive
Why use Rive or Lottie?
Common benefits that make both formats superior to traditional video for web animations
Lightweight & optimized
Both formats produce smaller animation file sizes compared to video, making them ideal for web and mobile applications. However, keep in mind that runtime packages add extra MBs to your client bundle, which should be factored into your total size considerations.
Scalable & resolution-independent
Vector graphics look crisp on any screen size, from mobile phones to 4K displays. No pixelation or blurry edges, unlike raster video formats. One file to rule them all.
Interactive capabilities
Unlike static videos, both formats support interactivity. Control playback, respond to user input, and create dynamic experiences that engage users beyond passive viewing.
Programmatic control
Integrate animations directly into your codebase. Control timing, states, and behavior programmatically, something impossible with traditional video files.
Designer-friendly workflows
Both formats bridge the gap between design and development. Designers can create animations in familiar tools, and developers can easily integrate them into applications.
Powerful state machines
Build independent layers of conditional logic with states, transitions, and triggers. These are things that are impossible with linear video playback and very time consuming to built in code.
Responsive & adaptive UI
Animations adapt seamlessly to all screen ratios. Create responsive experiences that look perfect from phones to ultra-wide displays. No need for multiple video files or complex media queries.
When to use each format
Choose the right tool for your specific use case
Choose Rive when:
You need interactive, state-driven animations that respond to user actions or data changes.
Interactive UI elements
Buttons, toggles, switches, and form elements that provide rich visual feedback.
Scalable Design System
Build for scale, by utlizing Rive's libraries and components system to manage multiple animations.
Bone-based animations
With Rive's bones system, you can create complex (character) animations with ease.
Choose Lottie when:
You need simple, decorative animations that play automatically without user interaction.
Quick adaption
Chooce Lottie if already are familiar with tools like After Effects and Figma amd want a few simple animations quickly.
Decorative animations
Background animations, loading spinners, and simple visual effects that enhance the UI.
After Effects & Figma exports
When your design team already works in After Effects and needs quick exports.
Related Articles
Back to Blog
Maxim Vellinga
Founder, Maximized Studio
Ready to turn your product into a daily habit?
Let's design experiences that users can't resist. Together, we'll build engagement systems that drive retention, increase lifetime value, and transform your product into something users genuinely look forward to using every single day.