Ever tapped on a food app and saw a little bike zooming by while your order loads? Or visited a website where the logo subtly moves, and you’re like, “Damn, that’s smooth.” That’s animation. And whether you notice it or not, it’s shaping your entire experience.

Now,  if you’re building a website or app, you’ll eventually hit this point: Should I use a video here? Or should I go for a Lottie animation?

Both look cool.
Both do the job.
But under the hood, they’re very, very different.

One can make your site heavy and slow. The other keeps things light but might be tricky to create or control.

In this blog, we’re breaking it all down for you in simple terms.
👉 What’s a Lottie animation?
👉 How’s it different from a regular video?
👉 Which one loads faster, looks better, and works best for what you’re building?
👉 And most importantly,  how to choose the right one without messing things up.

What Are Lottie Animations?

Okay, imagine this: you know those clean little animations on apps that feel super smooth? Like a checkmark ticking when your payment goes through, or a rocket launching when you hit “Send”? Chances are, that’s Lottie doing the magic behind the scenes.

In simple words, Lottie animations are lightweight, high-quality animations that are made using code. They’re not videos. They’re not GIFs. They’re more like smart SVGs that can move, and your website or app can control them just like any other part of the design.

Where are they used?

• Mobile apps (onboarding animations, success ticks, fun UI moments)
• Websites (hero sections, scroll-based animations, loading screens)
• Dashboards (micro-interactions, tooltips, etc.)

In short, if you’re looking for clean, fast, and interactive animations that enhance user experience without compromising performance, Lottie is a smart choice.

👉 Fact: Lottie animations can be up to 600% smaller than GIF files, making them far better for performance without sacrificing quality.

What Is Video Animation?

Okay, picture this: You’re watching a slick explainer video on a website, characters moving, text flying in, maybe voiceover or background music. That’s video animation.

In simple terms, video animation is motion content that’s pre-rendered into a video file format like MP4, MOV, or occasionally GIF. Unlike Lottie animations, video doesn’t respond to clicks or scrolls; it plays from start to finish like a movie clip.

These animations are created in tools such as Adobe After Effects, Blender, or even Canva, and are exported as video files that can be used across websites, social media, and presentations.

That makes them:

• Visually rich (you can add sound, voiceovers, and complex visuals)
• Great for storytelling or building brand identity
• Easy to distribute across platforms like YouTube, social media, or landing pages

Where are they used?

• Explainer videos (think: “How this app works”)
• Ads and marketing visuals (social media reels, promo clips)
• Website hero banners and background videos
• Training content and presentations

In short, if your goal is to tell a story or deliver a visually intense experience, video animation is your go-to, even though it’s heavier in size and may affect site speed.

👉 Stat: According to recent marketing research, video content generates 1,200% more shares than text-only content, making it one of the most engaging content types online

Lottie Animation vs. Video Animation: What’s the Difference?

If you’re wondering which one to use, Lottie or video, here’s a side-by-side comparison to make your decision easier:

Feature	Lottie Animation	Video Animation
File Type	JSON	MP4, MOV, GIF
File Size	Very lightweight (up to 600% smaller than GIFs). That means if you have a video of 100 MB, the Lottie equivalent might be only 800 KB to 2 MB.	Larger and heavier
Scalability	Fully scalable (no pixelation on any screen size)	Limited (can pixelate on larger screens)
Interactivity	Fully controllable via code (loop, reverse, trigger events)	Not interactive, plays like a traditional video
Performance	Great for web/app speed	Can slow down website/app loading
Best For	Micro-interactions, icons, onboarding, scroll effects	Explainers, hero banners, video ads, storytelling content
Sound Support	No (but can be synced externally with dev effort)	Yes (voiceovers, music, etc.)
Editing Flexibility	Easy to edit in animation tools like After Effects with the Bodymovin plugin	Requires rendering every time you edit

In short:

• Use Lottie when you want smooth, interactive animations without slowing down your site or app.
• Use video animation when you need storytelling, sound, or cinematic visuals.

When to Use Lottie & When to Use Video Animation

Choosing between Lottie and video animation isn’t about which one is “better.” It’s about what your project needs. Here’s how to decide:

Use Lottie Animations when:

• You’re building a website or app and want things to feel interactive.
• You need animations that are lightweight, quick to load, and code-controllable.
• You want your animation to respond to things like clicks, scrolls, or hovers.
• You’re adding micro-interactions (like tick marks, loaders, swipe prompts).
• You care about performance and want to keep things fast on all devices.

 Example: A loading spinner that adapts to dark/light mode on your app? That’s a Lottie job.

Use Video Animations when:

• You’re telling a story, showing a process, or creating a visual brand intro.
• You want to include voiceovers, music, or sound effects.
• You’re designing something for YouTube, social media, or an ad campaign.
• Your animation doesn’t need to react to the user; it just plays from start to end.

Example: A 45-second animated explainer video about how your SaaS works? Go with video animation.

So, how to decide?

Think of it like this:
👉 If you’re animating part of the UI – go Lottie.
👉 If you’re creating a complete narrative or promo – go Video.

Simple as that.

Tools to Create Lottie & Video Animations

Lottie Animation Tools

1. Adobe After Effects + Bodymovin Plugin

This is the most popular combo for creating Lottie animations. Designers use Adobe After Effects to create animations. Then, using the Bodymovin plugin, they export the animation as a Lottie-compatible .json file.

 

Why it’s used:

• Professional-level control over animation
• Supports complex motion design
• Works seamlessly with Bodymovin for Lottie export

2. LottieFiles Editor

LottieFiles Editor is a web-based editor that allows you to preview, edit, and test Lottie animations without using After Effects.

 

Why it’s used:

• No software needed, runs in your browser
• Let’s you tweak Lottie files without touching code
• Ideal for developers and designers collaborating

3. Haiku Animator

Haiku Animator is a tool specifically designed for creating interactive animations that work with code. It helps bridge the gap between design and development.

 

Why it’s used:

• Built for UI animation
• Exports code-friendly formats
• Good alternative to After Effects for interactive use

4. Figma + Lottie Plugins

Figma is a UI design tool, and plugins like Lottie Export or Figmotion allow basic animation inside Figma.

 

Why it’s used:

• Simple animations within Figma itself
• Designers can create and export assets for Lottie

Saves time for design-dev handoff

5. Rive

Rive is a real-time interactive animation tool built for designers and developers. It allows you to create animations that respond to user input.

Why it’s used:

• Real-time animation playback and control
• Ideal for interactive UI states and micro-interactions
• Exports lightweight, code-friendly files

6. ProtoPie

ProtoPie is an advanced prototyping tool that supports creating interactive motion designs without coding.

Why it’s used:

• High-fidelity prototyping with animations
• Works well for testing user flows before development
• Supports importing assets from Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD

Video Animation Tools

1. Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is a professional video editing software for creating polished animated videos, combining footage, effects, music, and motion graphics.

 

Why it’s used:

• Great for marketing, ads, promos
• Supports detailed edits and layering
• Often used alongside After Effects

2. Final Cut Pro (Mac)

Final Cut Pro is Apple’s professional video editing software for Mac users. Popular among creators and YouTubers.

 

Why it’s used:

• Smooth performance on Mac
• High-quality exports
• Easy-to-use timeline and tools

3. DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve is a professional video editing and color grading suite with an integrated motion graphics workspace (Fusion).

 

Why they’re used:

• Advanced color correction tools
• Professional editing and compositing in one app
• Free and paid versions available

4. Krita

Krita is an open-source 2D animation and illustration tool perfect for hand-drawn or frame-by-frame animation.

Why they’re used:

• Great for traditional animation styles
• Free and community-supported
• Powerful drawing tools and brushes

5. Blender

Blender is a free, open-source 3D creation suite for modeling, animation, rendering, and compositing.

Why they’re used:

• Full 3D animation pipeline in one tool
• Free yet professional-grade features
• Works for both stylized and photorealistic animations

How to Implement Lottie & Video Animations the Right Way (For Developers & Designers)

So you’ve picked your format, now what?
Choosing between Lottie and video is just the first step. The real magic happens when you implement them the right way.

Here are some key tips:

Lottie Animation Implementation Tips:

• Use the right libraries like lottie-web (for websites) or Lottie for iOS/Android for apps.
• Lazy load your Lottie animations to avoid blocking page load speed.
• Control via code – tie animations to scrolls, clicks, or page loads for interactive magic.
• Optimize your JSON files – remove unnecessary layers and effects before exporting.

Video Animation Implementation Tips:

• Compress video files using tools like HandBrake before uploading to your site.
• Use video in the right formats (MP4 for widest support).
• Avoid autoplay with sound – mute by default and add user controls.
• Host smartly – use CDNs or embed from platforms like Vimeo for better performance.

Bonus Tip: For WordPress users, plugins like Elementor and WP Rocket can help optimize both Lottie and video integrations seamlessly.

💡 From Our Experience
We’ve worked with both Lottie and video animations on many high-traffic websites. What really matters isn’t just which format you choose, it’s how you use it.

At Code and Core, we usually use Lottie for smooth, in-app interactions and video for big storytelling moments like explainers or brand intros. This simple split helps us design better and keep websites fast and user-friendly.

Need help choosing the right format for your project?
Reach out at hello@codeandcore.com  or visit codeandcore.com 

Final Thoughts: Which One Should You Use?

At the end of the day, it’s not about which is better; it’s about what fits your goal, platform, and user experience best.

• If you want fast, interactive, modern animations that feel part of the product, go with Lottie.
• If you’re telling a story, launching a campaign, or making something cinematic, stick with video.

Most high-performing websites today actually use both. Lottie brings the UI to life, while video tells the brand story.

Pro tip: Combine them smartly. Use Lottie for subtle UI touches and video for wow moments. That balance creates a user experience that feels seamless, engaging, and professional.