Softwr

Developer Tools · head to head

Helm vs LottieFiles

H

Helm

Developer Tools

The package manager for Kubernetes

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit HelmFull review
LottieFiles logo

LottieFiles

Design

Authoring, hosting and delivery platform for Lottie vector animations

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit LottieFilesFull review

The short version

  • Helm is a Kubernetes package manager, licensed Apache 2.
  • Both are free.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Helm and LottieFiles actually diverge.

Attributes where Helm and LottieFiles differ
AttributeHelmLottieFiles
Pricing modelOpen-sourcePer user per month
PlatformsWebWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
CategoryDeveloper ToolsDesign

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Helm

Nothing recorded that LottieFiles does not also cover.

Only in LottieFiles

  • Lottie Creator
  • After Effects plugin
  • Figma plugin
  • dotLottie
  • Hosted delivery
  • Player SDKs

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Helm

  • Kubernetes package manager and deployment toolnot LottieFiles

LottieFiles

  • Replacing a heavy GIF or MP4 loading state with a vector animation that costs a few kilobytesnot Helm
  • Shipping the identical animated brand asset to a website, an iOS app and an Android app from one source filenot Helm
  • Handing motion work from a designer to engineers without exporting frames or writing animation codenot Helm
  • Auditing and version-controlling a library of micro-interactions across a design systemnot Helm

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Helm

  • Contributors must sign commits under the Developer Certificate of Origin to have them accepted, per helm.sh, a process requirement not all Kubernetes tools impose

LottieFiles

  • Lottie only renders the After Effects features the player libraries implement, so expressions, most effects, layer styles and merge paths behave inconsistently or fail outright, and you must test every animation on web, iOS and Android before shipping
  • Runtime cost scales with path and keyframe count, so a detailed illustration animated at 60fps can consume more CPU on a low-end Android handset than the video it was meant to replace
  • The free plan caps private files and collaborators, so once a team standardises on the platform for handoff the seat count grows with reviewers and stakeholders, not just with animators
  • Using the hosted CDN puts a third-party request in your page or app load path; self-hosting removes that dependency but also removes the versioning and analytics that justified the subscription
  • The browser editor still does not replace After Effects for character work or complex effects, so most studios keep an Adobe subscription running alongside it and pay for both

Pricing, plan by plan

Helm

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Helm review.

LottieFiles

Free
  • FreeOn request
    • Public and limited private files
    • Basic editor access
    • Open-source players and SDKs
  • ProOn request
    • Private workspaces
    • Version history
    • Team review and handoff
  • EnterpriseOn request
    • SSO
    • Admin controls
    • Volume seat management

Which should you pick?

Choose Helm if

  • You want to start without paying.
Helm review

Choose LottieFiles if

  • You need lottie creator.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android.
  • You also want after effects plugin.
LottieFiles review

Questions people ask

Is Helm or LottieFiles better?
Neither clearly leads. Helm starts at Free and LottieFiles at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Helm or LottieFiles?
Helm starts at Free and LottieFiles at Free.
Does Helm or LottieFiles run on more platforms?
Helm runs on Web. LottieFiles runs on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android.
Can I use Helm for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Helm best used for?
Helm is most often used for kubernetes package manager and deployment tool. Of those, kubernetes package manager and deployment tool is not what LottieFiles is typically brought in for.
What can Helm do that LottieFiles cannot?
LottieFiles covers Lottie Creator, After Effects plugin, Figma plugin, dotLottie.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Helm: How much does Helm cost?

Helm is free and open-source. It is a graduated project in the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) with no commercial pricing model.

Source
LottieFiles: Do I need After Effects to produce Lottie files?

No. Lottie Creator and the Figma plugin both output Lottie directly. Character animation and anything using complex effects still goes through After Effects.

LottieFiles: Is the format proprietary?

No. The Lottie JSON schema and the player libraries are open source under permissive licences and dotLottie is an open container, so files keep working after you stop paying.

LottieFiles: Why does the same file look different on Android?

Each platform ships its own renderer with its own level of feature support. Test the exact file on every target rather than trusting the After Effects preview.

Share

Related pages

More on Helm

More on LottieFiles

Keep looking

Other head to heads