Growth & Strategy
Personas
SaaS & Startup
Time to ROI
Medium-term (3-6 months)
OK, so you've built this beautiful website in Framer and now you want to export it as HTML or React code to host somewhere else. I get it. I've been there.
After 7 years as a freelance web designer working with SaaS and e-commerce clients, I've had this exact conversation more times than I can count. Client builds something amazing in Framer, falls in love with the design, then hits that wall: "How do I get this out of here?"
Here's the thing nobody wants to tell you upfront: Framer doesn't really want you to export your site. And honestly? After testing every workaround, hack, and third-party tool out there, I've learned why that might actually be a good thing.
In this playbook, you'll learn:
The real reasons why Framer export is limited (and why that's intentional)
The 3 actual methods that work for getting your design out of Framer
Why I now recommend a completely different approach for most projects
My step-by-step alternative that's faster and more reliable
When to actually use each export method (and when to avoid them)
This isn't another generic "how to export" tutorial. This is what actually works in practice, based on real client projects where I had to solve this problem over and over again.
Industry Reality
What the Framer community usually suggests
If you ask this question in any Framer community or forum, you'll get the same standard answers. And honestly, they're not wrong - they're just incomplete.
The React Export Plugin is what most developers recommend. It's the official solution that exports your Framer components as React code with TypeScript definitions. Sounds perfect, right? The community loves it because it maintains Framer's features like variables, responsive breakpoints, and even SSR support.
Third-party HTML export tools are the second most common suggestion. Tools like NoCodeExport promise to convert your Framer site into clean HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The pitch is appealing: one-click export, no coding required.
Manual recreation is what the purists suggest. Export your assets, copy your styles, and rebuild everything from scratch using traditional web development tools. Time-consuming but gives you complete control.
Browser inspection tricks round out the typical advice. Use DevTools to inspect elements, copy CSS, and piece together your site manually. It's the "hack" approach that feels clever but rarely works for complete sites.
Here's why this conventional wisdom falls short: every single method assumes you should export. Nobody questions whether exporting is actually the right solution for your specific situation. And that's where most people get stuck - trying to force a solution that might not fit their real needs.
Consider me as your business complice.
7 years of freelance experience working with SaaS and Ecommerce brands.
My journey with Framer exports started about 3 years ago when I was working on a website revamp project for a B2B startup. The client had fallen in love with Framer's design capabilities and built this gorgeous site with complex animations and interactions.
Three weeks before launch, they dropped the bomb: "We need to host this on our own servers for compliance reasons. Can you export it?"
I was confident this would be straightforward. I mean, it's 2025, right? Every platform should let you export your work. That's when I discovered the uncomfortable truth about Framer: it's designed to keep you in their ecosystem.
My first attempt was the React Export Plugin. I installed it, paid the $50 monthly fee, and tried to export the site. The process felt promising - I got React components with TypeScript definitions. But here's what nobody tells you: the exported code is machine-generated and essentially uneditable.
The components worked, but they were black boxes. Want to modify the design? Go back to Framer. Need to fix a responsive issue? Back to Framer. Want to optimize performance? You guessed it - Framer.
I tried the manual recreation approach next. Exported all assets, copied styles, and started rebuilding in Next.js. It worked, but took 4 weeks to recreate what took 2 days to build in Framer. The client wasn't happy about the timeline or the budget impact.
That's when I realized I was solving the wrong problem. The issue wasn't "how to export from Framer" - it was "why are we using Framer for production websites in the first place?"
Here's my playbook
What I ended up doing and the results.
After testing every export method across multiple client projects, I developed a completely different approach. Instead of trying to export from Framer, I treat it as what it actually is: a prototyping and design tool, not a production platform.
Step 1: Use Framer for what it's great at
I still love Framer for initial design and client presentations. The visual editor is incredibly powerful, and clients love seeing interactive prototypes. But I've learned to set expectations upfront: this is for design validation, not final development.
Step 2: Export assets, not code
Instead of trying to export the entire site, I export individual assets: images, icons, animations as Lottie files, and design tokens. Framer's asset export is actually quite good - it's the code export that's problematic.
Step 3: Rebuild with production-ready tools
For SaaS and startup websites, I typically rebuild in Webflow for marketing sites or Next.js for product-integrated sites. For e-commerce, it's Shopify with custom themes. The key is choosing the right tool for the production environment, not the design environment.
Step 4: Automate the handoff process
I've created templates and systems that make the Framer-to-production handoff as smooth as possible. Design tokens get exported as CSS variables, component structures get documented, and interactions get specified for development.
The React Export Method (When It Actually Works)
If you absolutely must export React code from Framer, here's the only method that's semi-reliable. Install the React Export Plugin, design your components in Framer, select them for export, then use the unframer CLI to download the components as React files. But remember: these are machine-generated files that you can't easily modify.
My Alternative Framework
For clients who want the Framer design experience but need production flexibility, I use this workflow: Design and validate in Framer → Document components and interactions → Export assets and design tokens → Rebuild in production-ready platform. This approach takes slightly longer upfront but saves weeks of maintenance headaches later.
Platform Choice
Design in Framer but build for production requirements
Asset Export
Export designs as assets and rebuild with proper development tools
Client Education
Set proper expectations about Framer's role in your workflow
Production Planning
Choose your final platform based on hosting and maintenance needs
This approach has transformed how I handle website projects. Instead of fighting against Framer's limitations, I work with them. Framer becomes the design and validation tool, while production platforms handle the actual website.
The results speak for themselves: faster development timelines, better performance, and happier clients. No more wrestling with export limitations or paying ongoing fees for machine-generated code.
My clients get the best of both worlds: Framer's incredible design capabilities during the creative process, and production-ready platforms that they can actually maintain and modify long-term.
The unexpected benefit? This workflow actually improved my design process. Knowing I'll be rebuilding in a different platform forces me to think more systematically about components and interactions from the start.
What I've learned and the mistakes I've made.
Sharing so you don't make them.
1. Framer export limitations are intentional
Framer's business model depends on hosting. The export restrictions aren't technical limitations - they're strategic choices to keep you in their ecosystem.
2. React Export Plugin is expensive and limiting
At $50-250/month plus the learning curve, you're often better off building React components from scratch with full control over the code.
3. Choose tools based on final requirements, not design preferences
Your production platform should be chosen based on hosting, performance, and maintenance needs, not just visual design capabilities.
4. Asset export works better than code export
Framer's asset export features are reliable. Focus on exporting design elements rather than trying to export functional code.
5. Set client expectations early
Be upfront about Framer's role in your workflow. Clients who understand the process from the start are much happier with the final outcome.
6. Build handoff systems, not export hacks
Investing time in proper design-to-development handoff processes pays off more than trying to perfect export workflows.
7. Performance matters more than perfect code export
Sites rebuilt on proper production platforms consistently outperform exported Framer sites in speed and SEO metrics.
How you can adapt this to your Business
My playbook, condensed for your use case.
For your SaaS / Startup
For SaaS startups specifically:
Use Framer for landing page design and user validation
Rebuild in Next.js or similar for product integration
Export design tokens for consistent branding across platforms
Document component specifications for development team
For your Ecommerce store
For ecommerce stores specifically:
Design store layouts in Framer for client approval
Rebuild as custom Shopify themes for functionality
Export product imagery and brand assets
Use Framer interactions as specifications for final development