Intro
A lot of people assume that because Framer makes it easy and fast to build websites, the final site will automatically be lightning-fast too. While Framer does take care of a lot behind the scenes, there are still important steps you should take to make sure your site loads quickly and runs smoothly.
Whether you're working on a personal portfolio, a client project, or a startup landing page, performance is key. A slow website can hurt user experience, reduce conversions, and even affect your search rankings.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through some simple and effective ways to optimize your Framer website for speed and better performance.
1. Optimize Your Images
Framer does handle a bit of image optimization in the background, but it’s not fully automatic. You still need to compress and prep your images properly to keep your site fast.
Uploading large, raw images directly from your device or stock library will slow down your site. Here's how to fix that:
Use WebP format when possible. It offers smaller file sizes without compromising quality.
Resize appropriately based on how the image will be used. Avoid uploading a 3000px image if it’s only shown in a small card or thumbnail.
Taking these steps will significantly reduce load times and improve performance across devices.
2. Don’t Overuse Animations
Framer makes it incredibly easy to add scroll effects, hover states, and page transitions. But when it comes to performance, too much motion can work against you.
Limit the number of animations on a single page.
Use "while in view" triggers instead of everything firing on page load.
Focus on animations that add clarity or delight rather than just visual flair.
A little movement can enhance your site. Too much of it can cause delays and overwhelm users, especially on mobile.
3. Clean Up Your Components
When you're working quickly or iterating fast, it's common to duplicate elements or create deeply nested frames. Over time, that clutter adds up.
To keep your site lean:
Reuse components with overrides instead of duplicating.
Remove hidden layers or unused elements.
Organize your layers panel so you can manage everything efficiently.
A clean structure not only improves performance but also makes your project easier to maintain and hand off.
4. Remove Unused Assets
Old images, test icons, and extra fonts may not be visible on your live site, but they still get loaded in the background if left in your project.
Here’s how to stay on top of it:
Go to the Assets panel and delete anything that isn’t being used.
Limit your project to 2 or 3 font families to reduce weight and keep your design consistent.
Regular cleanups help you avoid performance bottlenecks and give your site a more polished feel.
5. Test on Real Mobile Devices
It’s easy to forget that most users will visit your site on their phones. Desktop preview alone isn't enough.
Be sure to:
Open your site on an actual phone and test scrolling, animations, and interactions.
Check how quickly it loads on mobile networks, not just Wi-Fi.
Simplify content for smaller screens by removing heavy visuals or animations where necessary.
Framer's responsive tools make layout adjustments easy, but real-device testing helps you catch issues that the preview won't show.
6. Use Performance Testing Tools
Even if your site feels fast, it's worth running tests to get real performance data. Here are a few reliable tools:
Google PageSpeed Insights gives detailed performance scores and optimization tips.
GTmetrix shows what assets are slowing your page down.
Lighthouse (Chrome DevTools) provides insights on speed, accessibility, and SEO.
These tools can identify oversized images, unused code, or render-blocking resources, helping you fine-tune your site.
7. Don’t Rely on the Preview Link
Framer’s editor preview can sometimes feel slower than the actual published site. That’s normal and nothing to worry about.
When you're testing performance or sharing your site with others, always use the live published link. This gives a more accurate picture of how fast your site actually is.
Need Help?
If your Framer site feels slow or you're not sure what’s holding it back, I’d be happy to take a look. Whether it’s cleaning up assets, improving responsiveness, or doing a full performance review, I can help you optimize it for a better user experience.
Email: iakanshasoni@gmail.com
X (Twitter): @iakanshasoni
