User interface animation is no longer just an enhancement—it’s an essential part of modern design.

Over the years, I’ve experimented with more animation tools than I can count. Some impressed me with their features, while others barely made a dent in my workflow. But in the sea of options, five tools have truly stood out and I’m confident they'll dominate in 2025. Let’s go straight to it. 🚀

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1. Rive: The Future of Interactive Animation

If you’ve ever hoped to create code-free and code based interactive UI animations that feel alive, Rive is your tool. Imagine a tool that speaks both designer and developer languages fluently. 

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It’s perfect for hover effects, micro-interactions, animated icons, transitions and even animations on websites and mobile apps that seamlessly interact with code. 

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It runs anywhere with open-source runtimes - No code or full code, you choose. Its real-time collaboration feature ensures your animations look just as good in action as they do in your head. Try it out and tell me what you think.

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2. After Effects: The Industry Powerhouse

No list of animation tools is complete without Adobe After Effects. It’s the gold standard 🎖️ for creating high-quality 2d animation, motion graphics and UI animations. From subtle micro-interactions to complex motion sequences, After Effects can handle it all.

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I’ll admit—it’s not the easiest tool to master. The learning curve can feel steep, but the countless tutorials and resources available make it easier to master. The creative possibilities are absolutely limitless. Personally, After Effects remains my go-to for projects requiring precision and polish user interface animation. 

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Honestly, if you’re serious about UI animation, dedicating time to learning After Effects is one of the best investments you can make.

3. Jitter: Quick, Simple, and Free

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Jitter is my go-to tool when I need polished, simple animations. It enables designers, with or without prior motion graphics knowledge, to create with ease and speed. This web-based tool allows you to effortlessly animate UI elements, designs, and logos. You can export your creations in multiple formats, including GIF, MP4, and Lottie.

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However, what I love most is its accessibility. You don’t need a subscription or a motion design background to get started. Jitter’s user-friendly interface makes it an excellent choice for designers at any skill level.

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Plus, if you’re a Figma fan like me, you’ll appreciate how seamlessly Jitter integrates with it. Import your frames, add motion, and you’re done ✅. It’s fast, free, and ridiculously effective—a no-brainer for quick animation needs.

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4. Lottie Editor: Tweak, Customize, and Perfect

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Lottie Editor is a lifesaver for anyone working with Lottie animations. It’s a no-code tool that makes it easy to tweak colors, update designs, and personalize JSON and Lottiefiles.

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As someone who has contributed to the LottieFiles community, I can’t overstate how intuitive this tool is. It’s perfect for designers who want to make quick adjustments without diving into complex coding.

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The seamless integration with other tools in your workflow is the icing on the cake. If you’re handling Lottie assets, this editor should be in your toolkit.

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5. Figma: More Than Just a Design Tool

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I’ve used Figma for everything; from product design, visual design, storyboarding, animation, motion graphics - designing assets, creating brand identity designs, digital note taking and more. It’s a vital toolkit every UI designer and animator needs. 

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Universally, what sets Figma apart is its community. The plugins alone are worth exploring. Need to export designs in a different format? Want to bring animations to life with minimal effort? There’s always a plugin for it.

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Figma’s versatility and constant evolution make it indispensable for UI Animation for designers. It's just an ecosystem that keeps growing with you.

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More tools to explore

We're not saying these are the only tools out there pushing UI animation forward. (Looking at you 👀, Phase, Framer, ProtoPie, Principle - they also offer incredible features worth exploring) But these five? They're the ones that'll make your UI animation and interaction sing loud in 2025 with the best balance of power, ease, and versatility.

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Your Move, Design Pioneers!

Which tool are you most excited to explore? Remember, the best tool is the one that unleashes your creativity and makes your design process feel like pure magic. 🌟

Keep pushing boundaries, keep creating, and most importantly – keep having fun with design!

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Stay Inspired! Connect with Oyinloluwa on LinkedIn for more insights on UI animation, product design, and motion graphics.

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