# How to Animate a Figma Design in 2026 (5 Ways) > For motion inside the design file, use Figma Motion: animate the frames directly and export video or copy code. For a quick clip without learning Figma s timeline, import the frame into Jitter. For a fixed animation a developer will ship, export Lottie from After Effects. For interactive graphics with state machines, rebuild the design in Rive. For product UI that ships and reacts to data, use ExodeUI, which imports the Figma design and produces a runtime file. *We make ExodeUI, which is one of the five workflows here. If you need a quick video or a prototype for review, Jitter and Figma Motion are faster and we say so.* Updated November 2026. Source: https://www.exodeui.com/animate-figma-design/ You have a Figma design and you want it to move. The right method depends entirely on where the animation has to end up: a prototype for review, a video for a launch, a Lottie file for a developer, or a component that ships. Pick the destination first and the workflow becomes obvious. ## Quick picks - Animating inside Figma: **Figma Motion** - A quick video or social clip: **Jitter** - A Lottie file for developers: **After Effects and Lottie** - Interactive vector graphics: **Rive** - UI that ships and reacts to data: **ExodeUI** ## The 5 ways to animate a Figma design ### Figma Motion Best for: Animating the design where it already lives Platforms: Inside Figma Price: Included with Figma seats during beta; check current availability Output: MP4, GIF, SVG and WebM, plus CSS, JSON or React code from Dev Mode Figma Motion adds a timeline to the canvas. You keyframe the real layers, use easing or springs, and preview without exporting anything. It is the least disruptive way to animate a design, and it is still a design deliverable: a developer rebuilds the motion unless they copy the generated code. Pros: No import or export step; Springs and easing on the real layers; Copyable CSS, JSON or React code Cons: Beta, so behaviour may change; No state machine or runtime file More: [Figma Motion alternatives](https://www.exodeui.com/best-figma-motion-alternatives) ### Jitter Best for: A finished clip in under an hour Platforms: Browser Price: Free plan; paid plans for teams and higher-quality exports Output: Video, GIF and Lottie on supported plans Jitter imports Figma frames and gives you a simple timeline with presets. It is the fastest path to a video for a launch post or a product page, and the least intimidating if you have never animated before. It is not the tool for interactive UI. Pros: Imports Figma frames directly; Very quick to learn; No install Cons: Output is video, not a component; Limited for long sequences ### After Effects and Lottie Best for: A polished animation a developer will play with a Lottie player Platforms: Windows, macOS Price: Creative Cloud subscription; Lottie plugins are separate Output: Rendered video and Lottie JSON via plugins The classic workflow is still common: rebuild the design in After Effects, animate with full control, export Lottie with a plugin, and let the app play it. It produces high-quality motion, but it is a rebuild, and Lottie is playback only, so hover and data-driven states still need app code. Pros: The deepest motion toolset; Mature Lottie export workflow; Designers can work visually Cons: The design is rebuilt by hand; Lottie cannot react on its own More: [Lottie alternatives](https://www.exodeui.com/best-lottie-alternatives) ### Rive Best for: Interactive graphics, characters and game-style UI Platforms: Browser and desktop Price: Free plan; production exports need a paid plan Output: .riv file played by Rive runtimes Rive is a rebuild too, but the result is interactive: state machines, inputs and events inside the file, played by a runtime. For a mascot, an illustrated control or game UI, it is the best answer. For a standard product screen, it is a lot of work for something a UI-focused tool handles better. Pros: State machines and interactive inputs; Strong vector and character tools; Runs on web, mobile and game engines Cons: Full rebuild of the design; Steeper learning curve ### ExodeUI Best for: Product UI that ships with real states and data Platforms: Browser and desktop Price: Free Community plan; Professional $29/month Output: An open .exode file played by runtimes for web, iOS, Android and more ExodeUI imports from Figma and keeps layout, then adds states, springs and inputs. The file runs in the app, so the motion is not rebuilt after approval. It suits the case where the animation is part of the product rather than a video about the product. Pros: Figma import as a starting point; States and physics instead of one timeline; One file for web and mobile Cons: Not a video or prototype tool; Requires a runtime in the app More: [Import from Figma](https://www.exodeui.com/import/figma) ## Prepare the Figma file before you animate Name the layers you will animate, group what moves together, and replace detached copies with components. Animation exposes structure: a layer called Rectangle 47 will cost you time on every keyframe. If the file is messy, spend ten minutes tidying before you start, not after. ## Match the method to the output Video for a launch, prototype for a review, Lottie for a fixed playback animation, runtime file for a component that ships. Choosing the output first avoids the common mistake of building a beautiful timeline that cannot become the thing the team needs. ## Frequently asked questions ### Can you animate directly in Figma? Yes, with Figma Motion, which adds a timeline and springs to the Figma canvas. It exports video or lets developers copy CSS, JSON or React code. Prototype interactions with Smart Animate are a separate, simpler option. ### What is the easiest way to animate a Figma design? Import the frame into Jitter and use a preset, or use Figma Motion if you are already comfortable in Figma. Both get to a first result faster than rebuilding in After Effects. ### How do I turn a Figma design into a Lottie animation? Rebuild it in After Effects, animate it, and export with a Lottie plugin. Some Figma plugins offer direct export, but complex motion usually needs the After Effects pass. ### Can I animate a Figma design and ship it without a developer? Only if the tool produces something the app can play, such as an ExodeUI or Rive file. Otherwise a developer implements the motion, even when the design includes generated code. ### Do I need After Effects to animate UI? No. For most UI motion, a timeline in Figma or a runtime tool is faster. After Effects earns its cost for video, effects and complex motion graphics. ## Related - [Animation tools for Figma](https://www.exodeui.com/best-animation-tools-for-figma) - [Figma Motion alternatives](https://www.exodeui.com/best-figma-motion-alternatives) - [Figma to code animation tools](https://www.exodeui.com/best-figma-to-code-animation-tools) - [Import from Figma](https://www.exodeui.com/import/figma) - [Figma alternatives](https://www.exodeui.com/figma-alternatives)