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Design · head to head

Rive vs Subframe

Rive logo

Rive

Design

Create interactive animations for any platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Subframe logo

Subframe

Design

The AI-native design tool built for code

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Rive limited ecosystem of plugins and third-party templates compared to established tools like After Effects; Subframe free plan limited to 1 project and 10 pages
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Rive and Subframe actually diverge.

Attributes where Rive and Subframe differ
AttributeRiveSubframe
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Game enginesWeb
Founded2019Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Design).

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 Rive

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

Only in Subframe

Nothing recorded that Rive does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Rive

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

Subframe

  • Creating production-ready interfaces without static mockupsnot Rive
  • Syncing design components with code as single source of truthnot Rive
  • Building responsive designs with auto layoutnot Rive
  • Real-time multiplayer collaboration with layer commentingnot Rive
  • Exporting Radix UI and Tailwind CSS code via CLInot Rive

Where each one falls short

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

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

Subframe

  • Free plan limited to 1 project and 10 pages
  • Free plan includes limited AI features compared to Pro
  • Pro plan billed per editor, not per team

Pricing, plan by plan

Rive

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

Subframe

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 project
    • Up to 10 pages
    • 2 prototypes
  • Pro$29/month
    • Unlimited projects
    • Unlimited pages
    • Unlimited prototypes

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Subframe if

  • You want to start without paying.
Subframe review

Questions people ask

Is Rive or Subframe better?
Neither clearly leads. Rive starts at Free and Subframe at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Rive or Subframe?
Rive starts at Free and Subframe at Free.
Does Rive or Subframe run on more platforms?
Rive runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Game engines. Subframe runs on Web.
Can I use Rive for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Rive best used for?
Rive is most often used for ui animations, interactive graphics, game animations, micro-interactions. Of those, ui animations and interactive graphics are not what Subframe is typically brought in for.
What can Rive do that Subframe cannot?
Rive covers Vector animation, State machines, Skeletal animation, Code export.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Subframe: Is there a free version of Subframe?

Yes, Subframe offers a free plan with 1 project, up to 10 pages, 2 prototypes, unlimited team members, and limited AI features.

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
Subframe: How is the Pro plan priced?

Subframe Pro costs $29 per editor per month, with unlimited projects, pages, prototypes, and AI usage.

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
Subframe: Are viewer seats free?

Yes, Subframe offers free viewer seats across all pricing plans, allowing team members to view without an editor license.

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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