JSON Preview
Free Lottie JSON Preview & Debugging Tool
Stop debugging raw JSON manually. Use a free JSON preview tool to inspect and debug Lottie JSON, API data, and config files faster.
6 MIN READ
Drop your Lottie JSON file for preview
or click to browse
Supports standard .json Lottie files
What is Lottie JSON Preview?
Lottie JSON Preview is a powerful browser based tool that lets you instantly view and edit Lottie animation files without installing any software. Upload your JSON file and watch your animation play in real time. It is perfect for designers, developers, and anyone who works with motion graphics on a daily basis.
Lottie files are lightweight vector animations exported from Adobe After Effects using the Bodymovin plugin. They render beautifully on any screen size and are widely used in mobile apps, websites, and UI components. Our previewer gives you full control over these files right in your browser.
How to Use Lottie JSON Preview
Getting started takes less than 10 seconds. Follow these simple steps to preview and edit your animation:
- Click "Upload JSON" or drag and drop your Lottie file into the upload zone.
- Your animation will appear instantly in the live preview panel.
- Use the playback controls to play, pause, loop, or adjust speed.
- Open the color picker to customize fills and strokes in real time.
- Click "Download" to save your edited animation as a new JSON file.
Master Your Lottie Workflow with Our Advanced JSON Previewer
Previewing a Lottie animation should not require complex software setups or local development environments. Our Lottie JSON Previewer is designed to provide a seamless, high-fidelity experience for designers and developers alike. Whether you are debugging a complex animation exported from After Effects or simply checking a JSON file before handing it off to a developer, our tool gives you the granular control you need.
Why Use a Dedicated Lottie Viewer?
While many code editors can open JSON files, they cannot show you the motion. Our browser based previewer bridges that gap by providing a fully interactive playback environment. Here is what makes it stand out:
- Real-Time Rendering: See your changes instantly as you adjust playback speed or toggle loop settings. No page refreshes, no re-uploads.
- Frame-by-Frame Inspection: Scrub through the timeline with precision to identify glitchy transitions or timing issues in your keyframes.
- Color Customization: Change fill and stroke colors on the fly without re-exporting from After Effects, saving hours of iteration time.
- Environment Testing: Change the preview background to see how your animation looks on dark or light UI themes before shipping to production.
- Zero Installation: Everything runs in your browser using the official Lottie Web player. No plugins, no Node.js setup, no configuration required.
Essential Debugging for Developers
Implementation bugs often arise from unsupported features in platform-specific Lottie players. iOS, Android, and Web each have different levels of support. By using our Online Lottie Inspector, you can verify that core layers and shapes are rendering correctly in a web environment. If an animation looks broken in your native app but works perfectly here, you will immediately know the issue lies in your client-side implementation rather than the asset itself. This narrows debugging time significantly.
Did You Know?
Lottie files are essentially coded instructions for rendering vectors. This means they can be manipulated dynamically at runtime via JavaScript. Our color customization tool previews exactly how these dynamic shifts will appear in your live production environment, making it an ideal QA tool before every release.
A Designer-to-Developer Handoff Hub
One of the biggest friction points in UI/UX design is the handoff of motion assets between design and engineering teams. LotifyAI simplifies this by providing a neutral, shareable space where both parties can view the exact same render. No more "it looks different on my screen" conversations. Just pixel-perfect vector animations that behave consistently every time.
Supported Features and File Types
Our previewer is built on the official Lottie Web library and supports the full range of standard Lottie features. Below is a summary of what you can expect:
- Shape Layers: Rectangles, ellipses, polygons, stars, and free-form paths.
- Text Layers: Animated text with position, opacity, and scale keyframes.
- Precomps and Masks: Nested compositions and alpha matte masking.
- Gradient Fills: Linear and radial gradients with animated color stops.
- Image Assets: Embedded base64 images within the JSON structure.
- Trim Paths: Stroke-based path animations commonly used for loaders and progress rings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Lottie JSON preview tool and why do I need one?
It lets you visualize a Lottie animation directly from its JSON file — playback, layers, and structure — without opening After Effects or writing code to test it.
Can I preview Lottie JSON files without installing any software?
Yes. Everything runs in your browser. Drag and drop the .json file and it renders instantly.
Does the preview show individual layers and keyframes?
Yes. You can inspect how many layers exist, what type each one is, whether masks are applied, and how many keyframes each property has.
Is my JSON file uploaded to a server, or processed locally?
It is processed entirely locally in your browser. Your file is never uploaded to our servers, keeping your designs completely private.
Can I use this to preview non-Lottie JSON, like API responses?
Yes, the tree/structure view works for any well-formed JSON, not just Lottie animation files — useful for debugging API responses or config files.
Is there a file size limit for JSON preview?
There is no strict file size limit imposed by our tool, but very large files may be constrained by your browser's available memory.
Why is a specific layer missing from my animation preview?
This usually means the layer has zero opacity, is nested inside a hidden group, or was excluded during export from your design tool. The layer inspector will show you exactly which layers exist so you can find the discrepancy.
Can I adjust playback speed or loop the animation while previewing?
Yes, playback controls let you scrub, adjust speed, and toggle looping.
Does the preview tool work on mobile browsers?
Yes, it works smoothly on iOS Safari and Android Chrome.
What's the difference between JSON Preview and JSON Optimizer?
Preview is for inspecting and debugging a file as-is. Optimizer actually modifies the file to reduce its size. Use Preview first to understand what's inside the file, then Optimizer to clean it up.