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LottieFiles vs PhpStorm

LottieFiles logo

LottieFiles

Design

Authoring, hosting and delivery platform for Lottie vector animations

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit LottieFilesFull review
PhpStorm logo

PhpStorm

Developer Tools

JetBrains IDE for PHP web development

From
$24/month
Free plan
No
Visit PhpStormFull review

The short version

  • LottieFiles is free; PhpStorm starts at $24/mo.
  • Only LottieFiles lists lottie Creator; only PhpStorm lists PHP-aware coding assistance.
  • Where PhpStorm falls short: requires an ongoing paid subscription with no free tier for commercial use.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which LottieFiles and PhpStorm actually diverge.

Attributes where LottieFiles and PhpStorm differ
AttributeLottieFilesPhpStorm
Starting priceFree$24/month
Pricing modelPer user per monthSubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, AndroidWindows, macOS, Linux
CategoryDesignDeveloper Tools

Not yet recorded: founded for LottieFiles.

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 LottieFiles

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

Only in PhpStorm

  • PHP-aware coding assistance
  • Integrated debugger
  • Front-end tooling
  • Database tools
  • Version control integration
  • Docker and remote deployment

What people use each for

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

LottieFiles

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

PhpStorm

  • Building PHP web applications with Laravel or Symfonynot LottieFiles
  • Debugging PHP code with Xdebugnot LottieFiles
  • Working across PHP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in one projectnot LottieFiles
  • Managing databases alongside application codenot LottieFiles

Where each one falls short

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

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

PhpStorm

  • Requires an ongoing paid subscription with no free tier for commercial use
  • Heavier and slower to start than lightweight code editors
  • Some advanced framework-specific tooling requires additional configuration or plugins
  • Renewal pricing rises for lapsed subscriptions after the grace period

Pricing, plan by plan

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

PhpStorm

$24/month
  • Individual$24/mo
    • Personal use license
    • Access to PhpStorm
    • Free for students and open-source maintainers
  • Organization$34/mo
    • Business use license
    • Access to PhpStorm
    • Volume and renewal discounts

Which should you pick?

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

Choose PhpStorm if

  • You need php-aware coding assistance.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want integrated debugger.
PhpStorm review

Questions people ask

Is LottieFiles or PhpStorm better?
Neither clearly leads. LottieFiles starts at Free and PhpStorm at $24/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, LottieFiles or PhpStorm?
LottieFiles has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for LottieFiles and $24/month for PhpStorm.
Does LottieFiles or PhpStorm run on more platforms?
LottieFiles runs on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android. PhpStorm runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use LottieFiles for free?
Yes. LottieFiles has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PhpStorm starts at $24/month.
What is LottieFiles best used for?
LottieFiles is most often used for replacing a heavy gif or mp4 loading state with a vector animation that costs a few kilobytes, shipping the identical animated brand asset to a website, an ios app and an android app from one source file, handing motion work from a designer to engineers without exporting frames or writing animation code, auditing and version-controlling a library of micro-interactions across a design system. Of those, replacing a heavy gif or mp4 loading state with a vector animation that costs a few kilobytes and shipping the identical animated brand asset to a website, an ios app and an android app from one source file are not what PhpStorm is typically brought in for.
What can LottieFiles do that PhpStorm cannot?
LottieFiles covers Lottie Creator, After Effects plugin, Figma plugin, dotLottie. PhpStorm covers PHP-aware coding assistance, Integrated debugger, Front-end tooling, Database tools.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

PhpStorm: How much does PhpStorm cost?

PhpStorm is sold via JetBrains Toolbox subscription starting around $24/month for individuals and $34/month for organizations, with free licenses for students and open-source maintainers.

Source
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.

PhpStorm: Is there a free trial?

JetBrains offers a free trial of PhpStorm so developers can test it before subscribing.

Source
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.

PhpStorm: What platforms does PhpStorm support?

PhpStorm is a desktop IDE available on Windows, macOS, and Linux via JetBrains Toolbox.

Source
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