How to use Lottie animations

I love it when an interface feels alive! Like when a playful hover effect reacts or fun little icon animation in apps. That’s where Lottie animations come in. They let you add smooth, scalable motion to websites, apps, videos, and more, without being limited by the larger file sizes of GIFs or videos.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to use Lottie animations like a pro, even if you’re starting from scratch. We’ll cover where they work best, how to integrate them smoothly, and tips for keeping animations subtle and effective. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to make your projects feel more dynamic and polished with zero extra bloat.

What you’ll learn in this article

You can add Lottie animations to all sorts of things, like a website, mobile app, or video project, but it really matters where and how they are applied. Topics we cover will include:

What is a Lottie animation file? Learn the ins and outs of what Lottie is and what makes it tick.
Where Lottie animations work best: Websites, apps, UI prototypes, videos, etc. You name it, Lottie can add motion without worrying about file size.
How to integrate them smoothly: The smartest ways to add Lottie animations to your projects without slowing things down.
Tips for using animations effectively: Subtle motion enhances design, but too much can make your project look messy.
Where to find free Lottiefiles animations: There are plenty of great resources for high-quality, ready-to-use animations.
We’ll show you the best Lottie animations and templates.

Fan of video tutorials? Then check out this video from the Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel to follow along:

1. What is a Lottie animation file?

Lotties are super lightweight, high-quality animations that work everywhere (websites, apps, etc.) without killing load times or pixelating when resized. They’re kind of like GIFs, but better. So what is a Lottie animation exactly?

They are vector-based and use JSON (which basically means code-based), making them scalable, interactive, and ridiculously efficient. So unlike GIFs and SVG animations, they don’t sacrifice quality for performance.

2. Why use Lottie animations?

Lightweight and fast

Lottie animations are vector-based and stored as JSON files, making them much smaller than GIFs or video files. This means they load almost instantly, keeping your websites and apps running smoothly, without slowing things down.

Scalable without losing quality

Because Lottie uses vectors, animations stay crisp at any size. For example, if you’re using them for a tiny UI icon or a full-screen animation, you’ll get no pixelation, no quality loss—just smooth motion.

Works across multiple platforms

You can find them everywhere nowadays! Creatives are using Lottie animations in mobile apps, UI design tools, video editing software, and even social media content.

Supports interactivity

Lottie animations can react to the actions of the user, such as scrolling, clicking, or hovering. Unlike videos or GIFs, they enhance UI elements and make them feel more alive and engaging.

3. Where and how to use Lottie animations

1. Websites & web apps

using lottie files in websites and web apps

A well-placed animation can make a website feel polished and dynamic, but too much movement can be distracting. Lottie animations (for a ‘coming soon’ website, for example) are perfect for adding subtle motion without affecting performance.

Examples

Micro-interactions: Animated buttons, hover effects, loading spinners.
Hero animations: Eye-catching visuals for landing pages.
Scroll-based effects: Animations that appear as users scroll.
Data visualization: Animated charts or infographics.

How to use them effectively

Keep it subtle: A smooth hover effect is great, but too much animation can feel overwhelming.
Optimize for performance: Use Lottie’s lightweight format, but test it across devices to ensure smooth playback.
Make it interactive: Use JavaScript to trigger animations based on user actions like clicks or scrolling.

2. Mobile apps (iOS & Android)

Animations in mobile apps can make interactions feel smoother and more intuitive. Lottie lets you add motion without the performance issues of GIFs or video files, making it a favorite among app designers and developers.

Examples

Onboarding animations: Animated tutorials or welcome screens.
Loading indicators: A fun alternative to the classic spinning wheel.
Success/error states: Animated checkmarks or warnings.
UI feedback: Smooth transitions between screens.

How to use them effectively

Keep animations short: Quick, engaging animations make an app feel responsive, but long animations can slow things down.
Use Lottie’s mobile SDKs: Implement animations natively in iOS (Swift) and Android (Kotlin/Java) without impacting performance.
Trigger animations based on user input: Make animations part of the experience, not just decoration.

3. Social media & digital marketing

Social media moves fast, and animations can help grab attention in an endless scroll of static images. Lottie makes it easy to create lightweight, high-quality motion graphics for marketing and social media content.

Examples

Animated Instagram Stories & Reels: Motion graphics that stand out.
Interactive banner ads: Engaging HTML5 animations.
GIF-style animations: Shareable motion graphics.

How to use them effectively

Use tools like LottieFiles: Easily add Lottie animations to social media posts.
Convert Lottie files to GIF or MP4: Make animations easy to share on any platform.
Keep it mobile-friendly: Social animations should be fast, lightweight, and loop seamlessly.

4. Video editing & motion graphics

If you create videos, you probably know how heavy animation files can get. Lottie offers a lightweight solution for adding motion graphics to video projects without unnecessary bloat.

Examples

Animated lower thirds: Titles and captions for videos.
Logo animations: Clean, lightweight motion graphics.
Engaging call to action: Eye-catching prompts for likes, shares, and subscriptions.

How to use them effectively

Use Lottie in After Effects or Premiere Pro: Integrate animations directly into motion graphics projects.
Overlay Lottie animations on footage: Add seamless motion graphics without rendering heavy effects.
Optimize for different platforms: Keep animations simple for fast-loading social media clips.

5. UI/UX design animation prototypes

creating ui/ux prototypes with lottie files

UX design animation prototypes are all about bringing ideas to life, and Lotties helps designers create realistic interactions without coding. Whether you’re testing a hover effect or demonstrating a page transition, Lottie animations make your prototypes feel more polished.

Examples

Animated UI elements: Buttons, icons, and menus that react to touch.
Transitions: Simulating movement between app screens.
Micro-interactions: Testing hover and click effects in prototypes.

How to use them effectively

Use Lottie in design tools: Drag and drop animations into Figma or Sketch.
Test user reactions: Use animations to guide user flows and improve usability.
Keep it consistent: Make sure animations match the brand’s motion style.

6. Games

Lottie animations can also be used in game UI design, adding smooth, scalable animations without impacting performance. They work well for HUDs (heads-up displays), menus, and interactive elements.

Examples

HUD animations: Animated health bars, experience points, and in-game notifications.
Reward animations: Confetti bursts, achievement unlocks, or in-game currency animations.
UI transitions: Smooth effects for menus, popups, and loading screens.

How to use them effectively

Integrate with game engines: Lotties can be implemented in some game engines (like Unity) using third-party plugins.
Optimize for performance: Test animations across different platforms to ensure smooth playback.
Enhance UX without distraction: Keep animations smooth and subtle so they don’t interrupt gameplay.

7. Presentations & pitch decks

presentations and pitch decks using lottie files

Lottie animations can make slides more engaging, helping you tell a story visually without overwhelming your audience. Unlike GIFs or video files, Lottie animations keep file sizes small, making presentations smoother and easier to share.

Examples

Data visualizations: Animated charts, graphs, and infographics.
Emphasizing key points: Animated icons or highlights that reinforce important concepts.
Animated slide transitions: Subtle movements between slides for a more dynamic feel.

How to use them effectively

Use animations to guide focus, not distract: Keep movements minimal and purposeful.
Keep it professional: Avoid excessive movement that could look gimmicky in a formal setting.

8. E-learning platforms & educational apps

using lottie files with educational apps like Duolingo

Lottie animations make online learning more engaging by adding dynamic visuals and characters to explain concepts, provide feedback, and guide users through lessons. You’ll see some great Lottie animation examples in apps such as Duolingo.

Examples

Concept explanations: Animated diagrams and step-by-step guides.
Course progress indicators: Engaging visuals that show completion status.
Interactive quizzes: Animated feedback for correct or incorrect answers.

How to use them effectively

Use animations to clarify, not complicate: Keep educational visuals simple and easy to follow.
Optimize for mobile learning: Ensure smooth playback on mobile devices and tablets.

4. Best practices for using Lottie animations effectively

Keep it subtle and purposeful

Not every button needs to bounce, and not every page transition needs a dramatic fade. A good animation should complement and not overshadow the actual user experience. Good Lottie animation examples can include loading animations that let users know the system is processing, or an animated success checkmark that confirms their action. If the animation doesn’t add value to the experience, it’s better left out.

Optimize for performance

Lottie animations are lightweight, but poor implementation can still cause slow load times or choppy playback. To counter this, try to compress and optimize your Lottie files by reducing unnecessary keyframes. And always test your animations on different devices and screen sizes to make sure they run smoothly.

Maintain a consistent motion style

Animations should feel like a natural part of your brand, not an afterthought. Good Lottie animation examples for a site with a smooth, minimalist UI should have subtle, elegant motion, while a playful brand might use bouncier, more energetic animations.

Test animations in context

Testing out how the animations feel in the context is essential when dealing with Lotties. Just because an animation looks good on its own doesn’t mean it will work seamlessly within a web page or app. Test how it goes along with other items on the page, ensuring that it doesn’t draw too much attention from the key content.

Keep file management organized

If you’re using multiple Lottie animations in a project, staying organized is key. You should name your files correctly (no one wants to dig through a folder full of “animation_final_v3.json.”). If you’re working in a team, use version control or cloud storage to prevent lost files and ensure everyone is working with the latest version.

5. Where to find Lottie animations

Envato (Unlimited downloads for a subscription fee)

You can get the best, high-quality, professionally designed animations right here using Envato. There are premium Lottie animations which are perfect for commercial projects, UI/UX designs animations, and motion graphics. And the best part? Unlimited downloads for a single subscription!

LottieFiles (The best all-in-one platform)

LottieFiles is also a great place to find, download, and customize Lottiefiles animations. If you need something quickly, just search for free animations, and you can even tweak them in the LottieFiles animation Editor. Plus, it integrates with tools like Figma, Canva, Webflow, and After Effects, making it easy to add animations to your workflow.

IconScout (A mix of free and premium animations)

IconScout is another solid source for Lottie animations, offering a mix of free and paid options. It also offers a whole bunch of other creative assets that are useful, such as 3D illustrations, vector icons, and AI tools.

Icons8 Lottie (High-quality animated icons)

Icons8 is another great source, especially if you need animated icons for UI/UX design animations. It offers sleek, modern designs which are perfect for websites, apps, and digital products.

6. Conclusion

Lottie animations are a simple way to bring motion to websites, applications, gaming, and films, without heavy coding or slowing things down. With thousands of free animations available, it’s easy to enhance engagement, improve the user experience, and create more polished designs, with zero animation skills required.

The trick is to use them intentionally. A subtle but well-placed animation can elevate an otherwise plain design, while too much moving around can feel annoying. Keep your animations light, relevant, and accessible, and you’ll get just the right touch of movement to make your projects really stand out.

Post date April 7, 2025

This content originally appeared on Envato Tuts+ Tutorials and was authored by Jonathan Lam

What you'll learn in this article

You can add Lottie animations to all sorts of things, like a website, mobile app, or video project, but it really matters where and how they are applied. Topics we cover will include:

What is a Lottie animation file? Learn the ins and outs of what Lottie is and what makes it tick.
Where Lottie animations work best: Websites, apps, UI prototypes, videos, etc. You name it, Lottie can add motion without worrying about file size.
How to integrate them smoothly: The smartest ways to add Lottie animations to your projects without slowing things down.
Tips for using animations effectively: Subtle motion enhances design, but too much can make your project look messy.
Where to find free Lottiefiles animations: There are plenty of great resources for high-quality, ready-to-use animations.
We'll show you the best Lottie animations and templates.

Fan of video tutorials? Then check out this video from the Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel to follow along:

1. What is a Lottie animation file?

Lotties are super lightweight, high-quality animations that work everywhere (websites, apps, etc.) without killing load times or pixelating when resized. They're kind of like GIFs, but better. So what is a Lottie animation exactly?