{"id":38481,"date":"2023-01-04T07:00:18","date_gmt":"2023-01-04T15:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhblog.dream.press\/blog\/?p=38481"},"modified":"2026-08-07T16:24:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:24:27","slug":"add-lottie-animations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/add-lottie-animations\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Add Lottie Animations to Your Site"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There are three simple ways to add Lottie animations to your WordPress site: paste an animation\u2019s oEmbed URL into an Embed block, use the free LottieFiles plugin<\/a> for Gutenberg, or embed one manually with HTML and JavaScript. The first two take just a few minutes and require no code at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lottie animations work well for loading indicators, interface feedback, and small illustrations. They\u2019re usually far lighter than GIFs, but too many looping animations can distract visitors and increase rendering work. LottieFiles<\/a> provides a free library of animations you can add to your website<\/a> in minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post, we\u2019ll explain what a Lottie animation is and when it\u2019s worth using. Then, we\u2019ll walk through all three methods step by step, plus where to host your Lottie files and how to create your own animations. Let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a Lottie animation?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A Lottie animation is a lightweight, JSON-based vector animation format. Instead of storing video frames, a Lottie file describes shapes and motion as data, so it stays crisp at any size and is far smaller than a comparable GIF or video. A small JavaScript player renders the animation directly in the browser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lottie files come in two formats. A Lottie JSON<\/strong> file (.json) is the original, plain-text version. A dotLottie<\/strong> file (.lottie) is a newer, compressed container that bundles one or more animations and their assets into a single, smaller file, per LottieFiles\u2019 dotLottie player documentation<\/a>. The LottieFiles WordPress plugin and LottieFiles\u2019 current web player both accept either format, so the methods below work with whichever file you download.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The benefits of adding Lottie animations to your site<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While videos and images can make your website more engaging, they\u2019re seen all over the internet. A well-placed animation, like a loading state or an animated icon, is rarer and does the same job with less weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Lottie animations<\/a> are an excellent choice, largely due to their small file sizes:<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"LottieFiles<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Per LottieFiles<\/a>, a Lottie animation is 600% smaller than a GIF (roughly one-sixth the size), so you can add one to your site without weighing anything down. Just remember that the player still uses CPU and memory to render each animation, so keep the number of looping animations per page modest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Better yet, Lottie animations can be completely customized to suit your brand identity<\/a>. It\u2019s an affordable solution, too: LottieFiles offers over 50,000 free animations (including UI elements, characters, and illustrations) per its WordPress plugin listing<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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