Framer - The Design Tool That Actually Builds Real Websites

Look, I've tried every website builder that promises to "bridge design and development." Most are trash. Framer almost died in 2019 when everyone was using Figma for prototypes, but they pivoted to website building just in time. Now it's actually good enough that I moved 15 client projects from Webflow without wanting to jump off a bridge.

The Pivot That Actually Worked

Framer started as a Mac app for designers who wanted to prototype with real code instead of fake interactions. Then Figma launched and everyone forgot prototyping tools existed. Smart move: they rebuilt the whole thing as a website builder in 2020.

What actually makes it different: You design like you would in Figma, but instead of handing off files to developers who will inevitably break your layout, you just hit publish. No more "can you make this animation work in CSS" conversations.

The hosting doesn't suck: Unlike most no-code tools that generate garbage code, Framer outputs actual React that loads fast. Plus you get hosting and CDN that doesn't shit the bed when you get traffic. Built on AWS infrastructure with proper edge caching.

Enterprise bullshit: They got SOC 2 compliance and ISO 27001 certification so you can sell to corporate clients who care about security theater.

Three Types of People Use Framer

Ex-Figma designers who are tired of their beautiful prototypes turning into ugly websites. Framer lets you design AND ship without losing your mind. Check the Framer Gallery to see what's actually possible.

Agencies sick of WordPress drama who need something faster than custom development but less awful than Squarespace. The animations actually work and clients can't break things. Read the agency program benefits.

Startups who can't afford developers but still want sites that don't look like they were built with website builder templates from 2015. See real startup examples using Framer.

The AI stuff: Wireframer is decent for basic layouts but generates garbage for anything complex. Workshop is their ChatGPT for content - works fine for placeholder text but don't expect miracles. Compare with other AI website builders.

Animations that don't suck: Unlike Webflow's interaction system that makes you want to delete your account, Framer's timeline animations actually work like you'd expect from After Effects. Built on Framer Motion for smooth performance.

The CMS is fine: 30 collections max sounds limiting until you realize most sites need like 5 content types. It's not WordPress but it's way less annoying to manage. Compare with headless CMS options.

The AI Features Everyone Talks About

I've spent months testing Framer's AI tools. Here's the real story:

Wireframer: The AI wireframe thing works for basic landing page layouts but generates the same Bootstrap-looking garbage for anything complex. Good for brainstorming, useless for real client work. Takes 30 seconds to generate, 3 hours to fix. Compare with other AI wireframe tools.

Workshop: Their content AI is decent for placeholder text but don't expect it to write your actual copy. It's basically ChatGPT with a Framer UI. Helps with translations if you're not picky about nuance.

Animations That Don't Make You Cry

This is where Framer actually shines. I've built 50+ animated sites and here's what works:

Timeline animations: Works exactly like After Effects. Drag keyframes, set easing curves, preview in real time. The only tool where I can design a complex animation and it actually works when published. Built on Framer Motion library. Took me 2 days to learn, now I can animate faster than explaining it to a developer.

Micro-interactions: Hover states and scroll triggers work perfectly out of the box. No more "can you make this button scale on hover" tickets. Check the interaction examples for inspiration.

Performance reality check: Animations look smooth on your MacBook Pro but can stutter on phones. Keep it simple or your Core Web Vitals will tank. I learned this the hard way when a client's site scored 23 on mobile PageSpeed. Read Framer's performance guide.

The Hosting That Doesn't Suck

Most no-code builders generate slow garbage. Framer's different:

Actually fast hosting: Sites load quickly because it's real React with proper code splitting. Images get optimized automatically, which saves you from clients uploading 5MB photos from their phone. Built on AWS CloudFront for global edge distribution.

Enterprise security theater: SOC 2 and ISO 27001 compliance so you can check boxes on enterprise RFPs. Costs extra but gets you past procurement. Compare with other enterprise website builders.

Uptime reality: Sites stay up. I've had one outage in 3 years that lasted 2 hours. Their status page actually tells you when things break instead of pretending everything's fine. Check uptime monitoring tools for your own tracking.

When You Need Real Code

React components: You can write actual React components if you know what you're doing. TypeScript works. Sharing components across projects is smooth. But if you need custom code, just hire a developer.

API integration: Fetch API works fine for pulling data from headless CMSs or payment processors. I've connected Stripe, Airtable, and custom APIs without major issues. Check the API integration examples.

Version history: You get 90-180 days of project history depending on your plan. Saved my ass twice when clients changed their minds after launch. Compare with Git workflows for proper version control.

Recent Updates That Actually Matter

Plugin improvements: Layout automation got better. Less manual positioning. Browse the marketplace plugins.

Text styling: You can highlight text with backgrounds and borders now. Basic but useful. Compare with CSS text decoration.

Analytics: Better event tracking and 404 monitoring. Still not Google Analytics but good enough for most projects. Consider privacy-focused analytics alternatives.

Icon library: 1000+ icons built in. Saves you from hunting down SVGs on every project. Alternative: Heroicons or Lucide.

Bottom line: Framer works for 80% of website projects. The other 20% still need custom development, but that's true for every no-code tool. Check the Framer showcase for realistic examples.