Rive is a real-time interactive animation tool used to create responsive, state-machine-driven animations for apps, games, and websites. Unlike Lottie (export-only, no interactivity), Rive animations respond to user inputs, game states, and data at runtime — making characters that walk when moving, buttons that animate on hover, or loading states that progress. Used by teams at Google, Twitter, and major gaming companies.
Interactive animation for apps and games
Best for: Developers and designers building interactive, state-driven animations for apps and games
- Free plan
4.6/5 ratingEditorial score 86/100rive.app
The editorial note
What to know about Rive
Is it right for you?
Who Rive suits
Choose it if
- Developers and designers building interactive, state-driven animations for apps and games
Look elsewhere if
- Simple one-shot animations (Lottie is simpler for those)
What you get
Key features
- State machine animations
- Real-time responses
- iOS/Android/Web SDKs
- Artboards
- Events API
- Figma import
- Nesting
Works with
Integrations6
The trade-off
Pros and cons
Pros
- State machine animations
- Real-time interactive
- Small file sizes
- Multi-platform SDKs
- Free tier
- Designer + dev workflow
Cons
- Steeper learning curve
- State machines complex for beginners
- Premium for team features
Quick read
At a glance
- Category
- Design & Creative
- Pricing model
- Freemium
- Free plan
- Available
- Free trial
- Not listed
- Website
- rive.app
The verdict
Our take on Rive
Best interactive animation tool for app developers. Rive's state machine model enables responsive animations that react to user input — impossible with static Lottie files.
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