Overview

Rive is a interactive animation tool for creating state-based animations that run in real-time. It handles state machine, runtime, interactive, and web/mobile, and it's best suited for designers building interactive animations for apps and web. It has been around since 2020, giving it a 6-year head start in building out integrations and refining the product.

The free plan is free for 3 files — enough for most people to evaluate whether it fits. It's designed for small teams, striking a balance between simplicity and collaboration features.

Strengths

  • State machine visualization catches edge cases in complex UI flows
  • Includes Runtime as a core feature, purpose-built for design workflows
  • Free for 3 files — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done
  • Includes interactive alongside the core feature set — fewer separate tools needed

Weaknesses

  • Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
  • Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
  • Output quality depends on your design skills — templates only go so far
  • Limited team/admin features if your organization eventually scales up

Quick info

Category
Design
Starting price
Free
Free tier
Yes — Free for 3 files
Open source
No
Best for
Small teams
Founded
2020

Last updated 2026-04-12

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