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Developer Tools · head to head

Prettier vs Rive

Prettier logo

Prettier

Developer Tools

Opinionated code formatter

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit PrettierFull review
Rive logo

Rive

Design

Create interactive animations for any platform

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit RiveFull review

The short version

  • Prettier is an opinionated code formatter; Rive is a real-time interactive design and animation tool.
  • Prettier is free; Rive starts at $9/mo.
  • Where Prettier falls short: inflexible style rules that cannot be customized significantly, forcing teams to accept opinionated defaults.
  • Where Rive falls short: limited ecosystem of plugins and third-party templates compared to established tools like After Effects.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Prettier and Rive actually diverge.

Attributes where Prettier and Rive differ
AttributePrettierRive
PlatformsAPI, Editor Plugins, Build ToolsWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Game engines
CategoryDeveloper ToolsDesign
Founded20162019

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

Not yet recorded: pricing model for Rive.

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 Prettier

Nothing recorded that Rive does not also cover.

Only in Rive

  • Vector animation
  • State machines
  • Skeletal animation
  • Code export
  • Real-time preview
  • Flutter
  • React
  • iOS SDK

What people use each for

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

Prettier

  • Automatically formatting TypeScript files to project style standardsnot Rive
  • Enforcing consistent HTML indentation across component filesnot Rive
  • Removing style-related comments from pull request reviewsnot Rive
  • Formatting GraphQL queries with consistent indentationnot Rive

Rive

  • UI animationsnot Prettier
  • Interactive graphicsnot Prettier
  • Game animationsnot Prettier
  • Micro-interactionsnot Prettier

Where each one falls short

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

Prettier

  • Inflexible style rules that cannot be customized significantly, forcing teams to accept opinionated defaults
  • Developers must format entire files rather than selective line ranges in some contexts
  • Limited language support compared to some alternatives, though it covers major languages

Rive

  • Limited ecosystem of plugins and third-party templates compared to established tools like After Effects
  • Not ideal for simple looping animations or static graphics that do not require interactivity
  • Production use can expose bugs and rough edges in the editor and runtime
  • No support for 3D animations; limited to 2D vector-based graphics

Pricing, plan by plan

Prettier

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Prettier review.

Rive

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Design and animate
    • Team collaboration
    • Cannot export or ship
  • Cadet$9/mo
    • Export and ship animations
    • Up to 1 team member seat
  • Voyager$32/mo
    • Multiple team member seats
    • Advanced features
    • Priority support
  • Enterprise$120/mo
    • Custom solutions
    • Dedicated support

Which should you pick?

Choose Prettier if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on API, Editor Plugins, Build Tools.
Prettier review

Choose Rive if

  • You need vector animation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Game engines.
  • You also want state machines.
Rive review

Questions people ask

Is Prettier or Rive better?
Neither clearly leads. Prettier starts at Free and Rive at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Prettier or Rive?
Prettier starts at Free and Rive at Free.
Does Prettier or Rive run on more platforms?
Prettier runs on API, Editor Plugins, Build Tools. Rive runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Game engines.
Can I use Prettier for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Prettier best used for?
Prettier is most often used for automatically formatting typescript files to project style standards, enforcing consistent html indentation across component files, removing style-related comments from pull request reviews, formatting graphql queries with consistent indentation. Of those, automatically formatting typescript files to project style standards and enforcing consistent html indentation across component files are not what Rive is typically brought in for.
What can Prettier do that Rive cannot?
Rive covers Vector animation, State machines, Skeletal animation, Code export.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Prettier: Is Prettier free and open source?

Yes, Prettier is completely free and open source, available as an npm package with no licensing costs or subscriptions.

Source
Rive: Does Rive replace Adobe After Effects?

No. After Effects creates video files ideal for broadcast, explainers, and YouTube content. Rive creates interactive runtime files that respond to user input in real-time. Use After Effects for video production and Rive for app UI, micro-interactions, and responsive animations in web and mobile products.

Source
Prettier: Can Prettier be integrated with ESLint?

Yes, Prettier integrates with ESLint by disabling ESLint formatting rules via eslint-config-prettier, allowing both tools to work together with Prettier handling formatting and ESLint handling code quality.

Source
Rive: What platforms can I export Rive animations to?

Rive exports to Web, iOS, Android, macOS, and game engines (Unity, Unreal, Defold). It also integrates with frameworks like React, React Native, Flutter, and no-code builders like Framer, Webflow, and Wix Studio.

Source
Prettier: Does Prettier support configuration customization?

Prettier is intentionally opinionated with limited configuration options to enforce consistency. You can create a .prettierrc file for basic customization, but Prettier does not support extensive rule customization like ESLint.

Source
Rive: Is Rive free to use?

Yes, Rive offers a free plan that allows you to design, animate, and collaborate for free. Paid plans (Cadet $9/mo, Voyager $32/mo, Enterprise $120/mo) are required to export animations and ship them to production environments.

Source
Rive: Does Rive work with React, Vue, and other web frameworks?

Yes. Rive provides official runtimes and libraries for React, React Native, and Flutter. The Rive Renderer is GPU-accelerated and runs at 120fps with MIT-licensed runtimes you can contribute to and modify.

Source
Rive: Can I create 3D animations with Rive?

Rive is a 2D vector animation tool focused on interactive vector graphics. For 3D design and animation, consider Spline or Blender. Rive excels at UI animations, micro-interactions, and responsive 2D graphics.

Source
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