Principle vs Spline
Detailed comparison to help you choose the right tool for your needs
P
Principle
Animated design for interactive interfaces
4.3
Editorial RatingQuick Comparison
Rating
4.3
vs4.5
Starting Price
$129
vsFree
Pricing Model
paid
vsfreemium
Feature
Principle
Spline
Animation Design
Interactive Prototyping
Auto-Animate
Driver-Based Animation
Component Reuse
Sketch and Figma Import
3D Modeling
Real-Time Collaboration
Web Export
Animations
Interactive Events
Physics Simulation
Principle Pros
- Best-in-class animation timeline editor
- One-time purchase with no subscription
- Auto-animate makes transitions effortless
- Drivers enable complex interactive prototypes
- Lightweight and fast performance
- Great for demonstrating micro-interactions
Principle Cons
- Mac only with no Windows or web version
- Limited collaboration features
- No design tools only prototyping
- Smaller community than Figma or Framer
- Updates have slowed over time
- Cannot create production-ready code exports
Spline Pros
- Makes 3D design accessible to non-3D designers
- Runs entirely in the browser
- Real-time collaboration like Figma but for 3D
- Easy web export with embed codes
- Interactive events without coding
- Generous free plan
Spline Cons
- 3D modeling is simpler than professional tools
- Performance can lag with complex scenes
- Limited material and lighting options
- Export formats are limited
- Not suitable for production 3D assets
- Smaller asset library than alternatives