Comparison
dotLottie vs Lottie JSON
Both come out of Lottie Max. .lottie is a compact, bundled package; .json is the universal, human-readable original.
| dotLottie (.lottie) | Lottie JSON (.json) | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Zipped package | Plain JSON text |
| File size | ~3× smaller | Larger |
| Bundling | Multiple animations + assets/themes | Single animation |
| Player support | Modern dotLottie players | Universal — every player |
| Editability | Archive (less hand-edit) | Human-readable |
| Quick paste | No | Yes (copy JSON) |
Which should you use?
Pick dotLottie (.lottie)
Ship .lottie to production when size matters and your player supports dotLottie.
Pick Lottie JSON (.json)
Use .json for maximum compatibility, quick copy-paste, or when you need to inspect/tweak by hand.
Make a Lottie, free
Design it in the studio and export .json or .lottie.
FAQ
- Which should I export from Lottie Max?
- Both are one click. Use .lottie for production size, .json for universal compatibility and quick embeds.
- Can every player read .lottie?
- Most modern players can, but plain .json is the safest bet for older or minimal runtimes.