Overview

Framer is a no-code website builder for people and teams who want visual control over a site without building it from scratch in code. It is strongest for design-led sites that need shared editing, CMS content and managed hosting; it is a weaker fit for shops or anyone who needs to export a finished site as code.

Its AI agent can create editable pages and site content, while custom components and code-based extensions let teams go beyond the built-in design workflow. The Canvas requires an internet connection, and a custom domain requires a paid plan.

Key features

Design, content and publishing

Framer combines responsive visual design with CMS collections, SEO tools and included hosting, making it possible to create and publish a site in one workflow. Its AI agent generates editable pages, sections, copy and visuals inside a project, so the output remains available for further design work. Blogging is supported, and search engines can crawl and index published sites unless a page is set to noindex.

Analytics, selling tools and video hosting are supported, but there is no e-commerce. That distinction matters: Framer can support sites with selling-related tools, but it is not the choice for a store that needs built-in commerce. Custom components, integrations and code extensions add flexibility, and Framer components can be reused in other React environments. However, projects cannot be exported as code, so teams should not treat Framer as a route to a portable coded site.

Team workflows and security

Real-time collaboration, branching, staging and previews give teams ways to coordinate changes before publication. The free workspace limit of three editors is suitable for a small group evaluating the workflow, but larger teams need a subscription. Integration guides cover services including Meta Pixel, Typeform, webhooks, Clay, Loom, Trustpilot, Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager; third-party plugins add content generation, asset management, integrations and automation.

Framer says it complies with ISO 27001, has completed a SOC 2 Type 2 audit, and is committed to GDPR and CCPA compliance. It requires TLS 1.2 or higher, uses HSTS, conducts penetration tests and applies code review and security scanning. Product guidance is available through its support team.

Pricing

Framer has a free plan and paid plans. The free tier is useful for trying design and publishing, but the included Framer domain cannot be replaced with a custom domain, and a workspace without a subscription supports up to three editors.

Plan	Price	What it includes
Free	0.00 USD per free	500 AI credits to try, a free Framer domain, 1 GB bandwidth, design pages, 10 CMS collections, 1,000 pages, 5 MB file uploads and 1 free locale.
Basic	10.00 USD per month, billed per month	A free custom domain, 2 CMS collections, 50 GB bandwidth, built-in SEO and a localization add-on.
Pro	30.00 USD per month, billed per month	A free custom domain, 10 CMS collections, 100 GB bandwidth, site redirects, a staging environment and branching with previews.
Enterprise	Custom pricing	Custom limits.

Basic is the paid entry point for a custom domain and built-in SEO, but its two CMS collections are a substantial constraint for sites organized around multiple content types. Pro costs more while raising the collection and bandwidth allowances and adding redirects, staging and branching with previews, which makes it the more capable choice for active team publishing. Enterprise is for buyers who need custom limits.

Platforms

The Framer Canvas runs in a recent Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Edge browser on Windows, macOS, Linux or ChromeOS and requires an internet connection. Desktop apps are available for macOS and Windows. Published sites support macOS, Windows, Linux, Android and iOS, subject to supported browser versions. Framer also lists Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web and Windows as platforms.

Who it's for

Framer suits designers, content teams and agencies building polished, responsive sites that benefit from shared editing, CMS publishing and managed hosting. Its AI-generated editable starting points and integrations can help teams move from page creation into ongoing site management. The free plan offers room to try the workflow, but its domain restriction and editor cap make it less suitable as a permanent setup for a larger team or a branded business site.

Look elsewhere if you need built-in e-commerce, offline Canvas work or code export. Teams that need more CMS capacity or pre-publication controls should also weigh the Pro plan against Basic rather than assuming the lowest paid tier will cover a growing site.

Pros and cons

Pros: Visual site design, responsive layouts, CMS, SEO tools and hosting are brought together, reducing the need to assemble separate site-building and publishing workflows.
Pros: AI-generated pages and content remain editable in the project, and components can be reused in React environments.
Pros: Real-time collaboration, staging, branching and previews support teams coordinating site changes.
Cons: Free workspaces are limited to three editors, and a custom domain requires a paid plan.
Cons: Basic has only two CMS collections; sites with broader content structures may need Pro.
Cons: No e-commerce and no code export rule it out for stores needing built-in commerce or projects that must leave Framer as code.
Cons: The Canvas requires an internet connection, so it is not suited to offline editing.

Alternatives

For product and interface collaboration rather than a website-building workflow, consider Mockplus, whose free plan includes 10 users, 10 active projects and unlimited designs. Pixso may suit teams looking for design and whiteboard files, with its free tier offering three of each plus unlimited viewer seats and draft files. UXPin is another option for prototype-focused work; its limited free plan follows a 14-day trial and includes two prototypes and 50 AI credits.

FigJam is worth considering for collaborative whiteboarding, with three editable files and unlimited collaborators on its free Starter plan. Marvel offers a free plan limited to one user and one project. Milanote is an alternative for shared boards, with a free tier capped at 100 notes, images or links and 10 file uploads. Miro offers a free plan with three editable boards, 7,000+ templates and 250+ integrations. MURAL has a free plan with unlimited murals, three editable at a time, unlimited members and one workspace.

Verdict

Choose Framer if you want a design-led website workflow that joins visual building, CMS, team collaboration and managed hosting, with an AI agent that produces editable work rather than a fixed mockup. The main reasons to look elsewhere are equally clear: there is no e-commerce or code export, the Canvas is online-only, and a custom domain starts with a paid plan.

	Framer	Squarespace
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	Yes	No
Paid from	$10/mo	—
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Web, Windows	—
Free plan	Yes	No
Paid from	$10/mo	$19/mo
Custom domain on free	No	No
E-commerce	none	full
AI site builder	Yes	Yes
Blogging	Yes	Yes
Code export	No	No
Hosting included	Yes	Yes

Framer vs Squarespace

Framer

Squarespace