Framer for Designers: No-Code Website Builder with Design Tools

Framer is a no-code website builder that lets designers create production websites using visual tools similar to Figma. Design directly in the browser, add interactions and animations, connect a domain, and publish. Designers use Framer for portfolios, landing pages, and marketing sites where they want full creative control without writing code or managing hosting.

Key Specs

How Designers Use Framer

Framer bridges design and live websites for designer-owned projects.

For Designer Portfolios

Build a portfolio that looks exactly how you designed it, without developer involvement. Framer’s visual editor works like Figma: frames, auto-layout, and direct manipulation. Add case study pages, smooth page transitions, and hover interactions. Publish and share the link.

For Marketing Landing Pages

Create landing pages for product launches, campaigns, or startups. Framer handles responsive design automatically (adjust breakpoints visually). Add forms, embed analytics, and connect custom domains. Faster than coordinating with developers for simple pages.

For Startup and Product Sites

Early-stage startups use Framer for their marketing site while developers focus on the product. Designers own the website end-to-end. Update copy, swap images, and add pages without touching code or waiting on engineering.

For Interactive Design Showcases

Add micro-interactions, scroll-based animations, and page transitions that would be complex to code. Framer’s animation tools let you prototype and ship in the same place. Show, don’t just tell, what your designs can do.

Framer vs. Alternatives

Choose Framer if: You’re a designer who wants to publish sites quickly with Figma-like controls, smooth animations, and no code. Great for portfolios and landing pages.

Choose Webflow if: You need complex CMS, e-commerce, code export, or are building sites for clients who need handoff. More power, steeper learning curve.

Choose Squarespace if: You want the easiest path to a decent-looking site and don’t need custom design control. Templates over flexibility.

Choose Figma if: You’re only designing, not publishing. Figma doesn’t build live sites.

Getting Started with Framer

Launch your first Framer site in an afternoon.

Step 1: Start with a template or blank canvas

Sign up at framer.com and create a new project. Choose a template for faster start or blank canvas for full control. Templates are fully editable, so pick one close to your vision and customize.

Step 2: Design your pages

Use the visual editor (similar to Figma). Create frames, add text and images, use auto-layout for responsive spacing. Design at desktop, tablet, and mobile breakpoints. Everything you build is the actual website, not just a mockup.

Step 3: Add interactions and publish

Select elements and add interactions (hover effects, page transitions, scroll animations). Preview your site at any time. When ready, click Publish. Use the free framer.site domain or connect your own. Your site is live.

Framer in Your Design Workflow

Framer collapses design and development for designer-owned sites.

• Before Framer: Sketch ideas on paper, design in Figma, gather assets
• During Framer: Design and build the site simultaneously; no handoff needed
• After Framer: Publish, iterate based on feedback, update content directly

Common tool pairings:

• Framer + Figma for initial design exploration in Figma, then build in Framer
• Framer + Google Analytics/Plausible for tracking site performance
• Framer + custom domains via Namecheap, Google Domains, etc.
• Framer + Notion for linking to additional documentation or resources

Common Problems (and How to Fix Them)

“My Figma import doesn’t look right”

Framer’s Figma import handles basic layouts but complex auto-layout, variants, and effects may not convert perfectly. Simplify your Figma file before importing, or rebuild key sections in Framer. Import is a starting point, not a perfect conversion.

“Responsive design is confusing”

Framer uses breakpoints (desktop, tablet, mobile). Design desktop first, then adjust at smaller breakpoints. Use relative units and auto-layout for flexible sizing. If something breaks at mobile, check its constraints at that breakpoint specifically.

“My site loads slowly”

Large images slow sites down. Compress images before uploading. Use Framer’s lazy loading for below-fold content. Remove unused components and pages. Test performance with Chrome DevTools or web.dev.

“I need features Framer doesn’t have”

Framer is simpler than Webflow by design. If you need complex CMS structures, e-commerce, or membership features, Framer may not be enough. Evaluate Webflow, or use Framer for marketing pages while handling complex features with code.

“I want to export the code and self-host”

You can’t. Framer sites are hosted on Framer’s infrastructure. For code ownership, use Webflow (exports HTML/CSS) or build with a framework like Next.js. Framer trades code access for simplicity.