Playbook by MediaBistro | Tools & Software for Creative Professionals
Rive specializes in lightweight, interactive 2D animations built for apps and games, with powerful state machines that respond to user input. Spline focuses on 3D design and animation for the web, letting you create and export spatial experiences directly in the browser. Your choice depends on whether you need responsive 2D animations or 3D web content.
Rive built its platform specifically for creating interactive animations that adapt to user behavior in real time. The tool centers on state machines, which let designers define how animations respond to triggers, inputs, and conditions without writing code. This approach makes it particularly valuable for product designers and game developers who need animations that feel alive and reactive.
The animations Rive produces are notably lightweight, often measuring in kilobytes rather than megabytes. This efficiency comes from Rive's vector-based rendering engine and custom runtime, which means your animations load fast and run smoothly across devices. The tool integrates directly into development workflows through native runtimes for iOS, Android, Web, and game engines like Unity and Unreal.
Spline brings 3D design capabilities to the browser, removing the traditional barriers of complex desktop software and lengthy export processes. You can model, animate, and texture 3D objects directly in your browser, then immediately preview how they'll look and behave on the web. The tool includes physics, particle effects, and interactive events that let you create experiences beyond static 3D models.
The platform emphasizes collaboration and web integration. Multiple team members can work on the same 3D scene simultaneously, and you can export your work as code components for React, embed it directly via iframe, or download in standard 3D formats. Spline targets web designers expanding into 3D, product teams adding depth to their interfaces, and anyone who wants to create spatial experiences without the complexity of professional 3D software.
2D vector animations with bones and constraints
Full 3D modeling, animation, and environments
State machines with inputs, listeners, and conditional logic
Click events, hover states, and physics interactions
Kilobyte-scale files with custom runtime engine
Larger files typical of 3D content, WebGL rendering
Desktop app (Mac, Windows) with browser preview
Fully browser-based design and editing
Native runtimes for iOS, Android, Web, Unity, Unreal
Web embed, React components, glTF, USDZ export
File sharing and version history
Real-time multiplayer editing
Spline costs significantly less at the Pro tier, making it easier to justify for freelancers and small studios. Rive's higher price point reflects its specialized runtime technology and production-grade performance. Both free tiers are generous enough for learning and personal projects.
These tools solve different problems despite both creating animations. Rive excels when you need animations that think and respond, changing behavior based on conditions and user actions. The state machine approach and tiny file sizes make it the clear choice for app developers and game designers who need performant, interactive motion. Spline wins when your project lives in three dimensions and needs to work on the web. The browser-based workflow and real-time collaboration make it ideal for web teams adding spatial elements to their projects.
Your decision comes down to dimensionality and deployment target. Choose Rive if you're building 2D animations for apps, games, or interfaces where responsiveness and file size matter. Pick Spline if you're creating 3D content for websites, need to collaborate in real time, or want to explore spatial design without learning traditional 3D software. Some teams will eventually use both: Rive for UI animations and Spline for 3D marketing content.
