Framer Review - Features, Pricing & Deals

Framer is a web design and prototyping platform that helps users create interactive websites without needing to code. It brings together the tools designers need to build functional, responsive sites that work across all devices.

At its core, the platform offers a visual canvas where users can design and arrange elements just like they would in familiar design software. You'll find a rich library of components, from basic buttons to complex navigation systems, that you can customize to match your vision.

The tool shines in its ability to handle both simple and complex projects. Whether you're building a personal portfolio or creating a full business website, you can add interactions, animations, and dynamic content. It works well with other popular design tools too, letting you import projects from Figma or Sketch.

Teams can work together in real-time, making it easier to collaborate on projects. There's also a built-in system for sharing prototypes and gathering feedback, which helps streamline the design process. For those interested in e-commerce, Framer includes basic store features and connects with common payment systems.

The platform offers several pricing options, starting with a free plan for basic projects. Paid plans begin at $20 monthly and add features like custom domains and team collaboration tools. While the free version works well for learning and personal projects, businesses typically opt for paid plans to access the full feature set.

• Design Canvas: Create interactive prototypes directly on a design canvas with a Figma-like experience that transforms designs into functional websites without rebuilding.
• Advanced Customization: Leverage reusable components, custom variants, and interactive animations to build immersive user experiences with flexible design options.
• Seamless Tool Integration: Import and modify designs from Figma, Sketch, and Photoshop effortlessly, enabling smooth workflow transitions between design platforms.
• Real-Time Collaboration: Work simultaneously with team members, share prototypes instantly, and manage project access through role-based controls and version tracking.
• E-commerce and CMS Tools: Build basic online stores, integrate content management systems, and dynamically update website content without altering design structures.
• SEO and Marketing Features: Optimize websites with mobile-responsive designs, custom meta tags, and integrated marketing tool connections like Mailchimp.
• AI-Powered Design Assistance: Utilize artificial intelligence to streamline content generation, accelerate design processes, and enhance overall website development efficiency.

• Free Plan offers basic features ideal for non-commercial use, including access to 10 CMS collections, 1,000 pages, 5MB file uploads, and hosting on a Framer subdomain with Framer branding.
• Paid Plans start at $5/month (annually) with Mini Plan, offering custom domain, Framer branding removal, and 1,000 monthly visitors.
• Pro Plan costs $25/month (annually) and provides 100,000 monthly visitors, 100GB bandwidth, and support for up to 10,000 CMS items.
• Business and Enterprise Plans offer custom pricing with tailored solutions for larger teams, requiring direct contact with Framer for specific quotes and requirements.

You can build complete, functional websites, landing pages, portfolios, and mobile app prototypes without writing any code. Framer includes pre-made components like navigation menus, contact forms, image galleries, and animated elements that you can simply drag and drop. You can also create interactive elements like hover effects, page transitions, and scrolling animations using Framer's visual interface. While knowing some HTML/CSS helps for advanced customization, it's not required for creating professional-looking sites.

Framer sits between Webflow and Wix in terms of flexibility and ease of use. Compared to Wix, Framer offers more design freedom and better performance but might take longer to learn. Unlike Webflow's steeper learning curve, Framer is more approachable for beginners while still providing advanced capabilities. Framer excels at animations and interactions, making it ideal for designers who want to create highly visual sites. However, it has fewer built-in business features than both competitors, so it's best for creative projects rather than complex business sites.

Yes, you can connect a custom domain to your Framer site, but not on the free plan. You'll need at least the Mini plan ($5/month billed annually or $10/month billed monthly) to use your own domain name. The process is straightforward – purchase your domain from any provider like GoDaddy or Namecheap, then add it to your Framer project settings and follow the DNS setup instructions. Framer also provides free SSL certificates for all custom domains to keep your site secure.

Framer works for basic e-commerce sites but has several limitations. It supports payment integrations with Stripe, PayPal, and Gumroad, but lacks built-in inventory management, order tracking, and abandoned cart recovery features. Product variants and complex shipping options are also limited. For small stores selling a few products, Framer can work well, especially when paired with third-party services. However, if you're planning to sell more than 10-15 products or need detailed analytics, you might want to use a dedicated e-commerce platform like Shopify instead.

If you already know Figma, you'll pick up Framer quickly since both share similar design principles and interface elements. Many Figma users can get comfortable with Framer basics in just a few hours. The main learning curve involves understanding how Framer handles interactions and animations, which are more robust than Figma's prototyping features. You can even import your Figma designs directly into Framer to get started. The transition feels natural since both tools focus on visual design first, but Framer takes your designs further by making them fully functional as real websites.