Builder.io vs Framer: Which One is Better in 2025?
Choosing between Builder.io and Framer? Dive into our detailed analysis to make an informed decision for your design and frontend needs.
Irvin Zhan
•
2025-01-13
When it comes to web design, Builder.io and Framer are two prominent tools that often come up. Both offer unique features and cater to different needs. In this article, we'll compare their key features, pricing, limitations, and user reviews to help you make an informed decision.
Builder.io: Overview and Key Features
Builder.io is a flexible web design tool known for its user-friendly interface and powerful customization options.
Visual Editor: Builder.io offers a drag-and-drop visual editor, allowing users to design web pages without coding. This feature is ideal for those who want to create professional websites quickly.
Custom Plugins: Users can extend functionality with custom plugins. Examples include analytics plugins for tracking user behavior and marketing plugins for integrating email campaigns.
SEO Optimization: Builder.io includes tools for SEO, such as meta tag customization, URL management, and integration with Google Analytics. These features help improve search engine rankings.
Content Management System (CMS): The integrated CMS allows users to manage dynamic content easily. This is particularly useful for blogs, news sites, and portfolios.
Responsive Design: Builder.io ensures that websites are mobile-friendly. Users can preview and adjust designs for different screen sizes within the editor.
Collaboration Tools: Builder.io supports team collaboration with features like version control and real-time editing. This makes it easier for teams to work together on projects.
Hosting and Performance: Builder.io provides reliable hosting with built-in security features and fast load times. It leverages cloud infrastructure to ensure high performance.
Integration Capabilities: Builder.io integrates with various third-party services, including e-commerce platforms, CRM systems, and social media. This enhances the functionality of the websites built on the platform.
Builder.io's Reviews
Overall, users find Builder.io to be a flexible and user-friendly tool, though some have noted issues with customer support and onboarding.
G2: 4.8/5
Rating: 4.0/5
Reviewer: Sam K., Small-Business
Comment: "Paid for Pro - Still stuck on the Free plan... Seems like it would be a great product...so I purchased and subscribed to the pro plan. However, it still says I'm stuck on the same free plan - and support is not helpful."
Rating: 4.5/5
Reviewer: Colin T., Mid-Market
Comment: "Force Multiplier. Builder allows our engineers and business organizations to move faster. We were able to migrate to builder and start building in only 20 days. The ability for our business to work without engineers has been invaluable."
Rating: 5.0/5
Reviewer: Reinaldo A., Small-Business
Comment: "Excellent product. I really enjoy having a visual editor and the flexibility to deploy on my infrastructure and the option for multicloud alternatives."
Rating: 5.0/5
Reviewer: Julien C., Mid-Market
Comment: "Great product and team. Builder.io is an incredible tool, and the team behind it has truly made a difference. The product's constant evolution with updates every 2-4 weeks keeps it fresh and cutting-edge."
Rating: 5.0/5
Reviewer: Tim D., Mid-Market
Comment: "Innovative company backed by industry leaders. The platform suits both small teams for rapid prototyping with low-code editing capabilities and can scale nicely to enterprise use cases with their extendable platform."
Builder.io is highly rated for its ease of use, flexibility, and powerful visual editor. Users appreciate the ability to deploy on various infrastructures and the regular updates provided by the responsive support team. However, some users have faced issues with customer support, subscription management, and the initial onboarding process.
Positive Aspects:
Ease of use and flexibility
Visual editor and AI-powered design-to-code tool
Ability to deploy on various infrastructures and multicloud alternatives
Positive impact on productivity by allowing non-technical users to create and manage content
Regular updates and responsive support team
Common Concerns:
Issues with customer support and subscription management
Initial onboarding process can be challenging
Occasional stability issues and editor crashes
Lack of documentation around certain features
Framer: Overview and Key Features
Framer is a powerful design tool known for its advanced prototyping capabilities and interactive design features.
Interactive Prototyping: Framer allows users to create highly interactive prototypes with advanced animations and transitions. This feature helps in visualizing user interactions and refining user experience.
Design Systems: Framer supports the creation of design systems, enabling teams to maintain consistency across projects. Users can define reusable components, styles, and assets.
Code Components: Framer integrates with React, allowing users to build and use custom code components. This feature is ideal for developers who want to extend the functionality of their designs.
Collaboration Tools: Framer offers real-time collaboration, version control, and commenting features. These tools facilitate teamwork and streamline the design review process.
Responsive Design: Framer includes tools for designing responsive layouts. Users can create designs that adapt to different screen sizes and devices, ensuring a consistent user experience.
Third-Party Integrations: Framer integrates with various third-party services like Slack, Jira, and GitHub. These integrations enhance workflow and project management capabilities.
Asset Management: Framer provides a centralized asset management system, allowing users to organize and access design assets easily. This feature improves efficiency and keeps projects organized.
Framer's Reviews
Framer receives mixed reviews from users, highlighting its ease of use and advanced features while noting concerns about pricing and support.
G2: 4.4/5
Rating: 5.0/5
Reviewer: Anonymous
Comment: "Web Design and Development brought to a new level - Also friendly for non-tech people."
Rating: 3.0/5
Reviewer: Anonymous
Comment: "Steep pricing after lock-in."
Rating: 4.0/5
Reviewer: Anonymous
Comment: "New to Framer but created a website with more animation."
Rating: 5.0/5
Reviewer: Anonymous
Comment: "Design and Publish Websites in minutes! And for Free!"
Rating: 2.0/5
Reviewer: Anonymous
Comment: "No support, DO NOT use for anything that resembles a serious project."
Positive Aspects:
Ease of use and intuitive interface
Ability to design and publish websites without coding
Integration with other design tools like Figma
Fast setup and good default designs
Advanced interactions and animations
Common Concerns:
High pricing, especially for additional features and localization
Steep learning curve for advanced features
Issues with support and stability
Limited customization and missing features
Feature Comparison: Builder.io vs. Framer
Similarities
Despite targeting different user bases, Builder.io and Framer share several important features:
Visual Editors: Both platforms offer drag-and-drop visual editors, making it easy for users to design web pages without coding.
Responsive Design: Each tool includes features to ensure websites are mobile-friendly and adapt to different screen sizes.
Collaboration Tools: Both support real-time collaboration and version control, facilitating teamwork on projects.
Third-Party Integrations: They integrate with various third-party services, enhancing functionality and workflow.
SEO Optimization: Both platforms provide tools to improve search engine rankings and manage metadata.
Hosting Solutions: Each offers integrated hosting options, ensuring secure and optimized performance for websites.
Differences
Critical differences between Builder.io and Framer will likely influence your choice.
AI-Powered Tools: Builder.io offers AI-powered design-to-code capabilities, allowing users to convert Figma designs into clean code. Framer does not provide this feature.
Enterprise CMS: Builder.io includes an enterprise-level content management system, enabling users to manage dynamic content efficiently. Framer lacks a comparable CMS.
Advanced Prototyping: Framer excels in creating interactive prototypes with advanced animations and transitions. Builder.io does not focus on advanced prototyping features.
Design Systems: Framer supports the creation of design systems, allowing teams to maintain consistency across projects. Builder.io does not offer a dedicated design system feature.
Code Components: Framer integrates with React for building custom code components, ideal for developers. Builder.io does not have this level of code component integration.
Pricing Comparison: Builder.io vs. Framer
Builder.io Pricing
Builder.io offers a range of pricing plans to cater to different user needs, from individuals to large enterprises.
Framer's pricing is structured to accommodate different business needs, from startups to large enterprises:
Startup Plan: $75 per month (billed yearly)
15,000 pages
200 GB bandwidth
20 CMS collections
6 editors max ($40 per editor)
90-day version history
Project permissions
50GB storage
250 redirects
50MB file uploads
5,000 form entries
UTM form tracking
Staging environment
Global CDN
Custom proxy ($350)
99.99% uptime SLA
SSO for sites
5 locales max ($40 per locale)
Unlimited words
AI batch translations
Custom regions
Community support
Slack channel
Product specialists
Team training
Automated billing
SSO for editors
Custom MSA
Access controls
SOC type 2
ISO 27001
Scaleup Plan: $200 per month (billed yearly)
30,000 pages
500 GB bandwidth
30 CMS collections
6 editors max ($40 per editor)
120-day version history
Project permissions
100GB storage
500 redirects
100MB file uploads
10,000 form entries
UTM form tracking
Staging environment
Global CDN
Custom proxy (included)
99.99% uptime SLA
SSO for sites
5 locales max ($40 per locale)
Unlimited words
AI batch translations
Custom regions
Premium support
Slack channel
Product specialists
Team training
Automated billing
SSO for editors
Custom MSA
Access controls
SOC type 2
ISO 27001
Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing
Custom limits
Custom security
Slack support
Custom storage
Custom bandwidth
Unlimited redirects
150MB file uploads
Custom form entries
UTM form tracking
Staging environment
Premium CDN
Custom proxy (included)
99.99% uptime SLA
SSO for sites
Custom locales
Unlimited words
AI batch translations
Custom regions
Priority support
Slack channel
Product specialists
Team training
Custom billing
SSO for editors
Custom MSA
Access controls
SOC type 2
ISO 27001
Subframe, a Better Alternative to Builder.io and Framer
Subframe is a visual UI design tool that syncs seamlessly with code. We combine a drag-and-drop editor with real, component-based design, giving you precise control for pixel-perfect, responsive layouts. Our platform instantly translates designs into clean, production-ready React and Tailwind code, eliminating the need for handoff and speeding up your workflow.
Subframe's Features
Subframe is the UI design tool for the AI era, offering a seamless blend of design and code.
Component-Based Design: Subframe allows the creation of user interfaces with real, reusable components, ensuring precise, production-ready layouts.
Pre-Built UI Templates: The platform offers a library of customizable templates inspired by established design patterns, built with reusable components to speed up the design process.
Code Export: Subframe generates clean, production-quality React and Tailwind code, which can be directly integrated into your codebase, reducing time spent on handoff and manual CSS adjustments.
Free to Get Started: Subframe provides free access to its visual design tools with no credit card required, making it easy to start designing immediately.
AI-Powered Design: The tool leverages AI to quickly transform ideas into interfaces, offering features like prompt to UI, real prototypes, and adaptive design.
Subframe's Pricing
Subframe pricing is designed to cater to different user needs:
Free: $0 per user/month
1 project
Up to 3 page designs
Up to 3 team members
100s of UI templates
Limited AI features
Pro: $29 per user/month
Up to 3 projects
Unlimited page designs
Unlimited team members
Custom components
100s of UI templates
Full AI beta access
Custom: Pricing upon contact
Unlimited projects
Unlimited page designs
Integrate your components
Dedicated Slack support
Figma plugin
Unlimited AI
For more details, visit the Subframe Pricing page. Book a demo with us to see how Subframe can transform your design workflow.
Subframe's Reviews
Users have shared positive feedback about Subframe, noting its user-friendly interface, time-saving tools, and the quality of the UI designs it produces. The platform has earned a 5/5 rating on Product Hunt. Customers especially value the visual editor, drag-and-drop functionality, and AI features that help refine designs based on user input.
"Without Subframe, the frontend build of this tool would've taken a lot longer and a lot more financial resources." - Erin Kim
"Subframe helped us make a super clean UI for our console without designers." - Carl Peterson
"Loved this product! The visual editor saves loads of time and is really a cool feature." - Raunak Shaw
Builder.io, Framer or Subframe? Which is The Best Tool For You
Builder.io is ideal for those who need a robust content management system and AI-powered design-to-code capabilities. It excels in providing a comprehensive platform for managing dynamic content and integrating with various third-party services. Framer stands out for its advanced prototyping and interactive design features, making it a great choice for designers who want to create highly interactive and visually rich websites without extensive coding.
However, if you are looking for a tool that seamlessly integrates design and code, Subframe is the optimal solution. It combines a drag-and-drop editor with real, component-based design, allowing you to generate production-ready React and Tailwind code effortlessly. Subframe is perfect for those who want both design flexibility and efficient code generation in one platform.
Get started on Subframe for free to see how it can streamline your workflow and elevate your design projects to the next level.
Join thousands of happy builders.
Subframe lets you build stunning UI with beautifully crafted components and a drag-and-drop visual editor.
