Polotno SDK and Remotion both enable creating and rendering videos in web environments, but they approach the problem from opposite directions. Polotno SDK is a ready-to-embed visual editor with automation support through an open schema. Remotion is a React-based video framework that generates videos from code, with optional interactive components for building your own editor. Both can support automated and programmatic workflows — Polotno combines visual editing with JSON-based automation, while Remotion is fully programmable at the code level.

Core philosophy

Polotno SDK focuses on user-facing creativity. It provides a web editor that developers can embed directly into SaaS platforms, marketing tools, or automation products. Users can upload, edit, animate, and export video or image projects, while developers can control the experience, inject automation, or modify templates through JSON schemas.

Remotion treats video generation as a development process. It uses React components to define every scene, transition, and element, which are rendered through Node.js and ffmpeg. Developers write videos as code — no UI by default — but Remotion allows embedding interactive components and even building custom editors around its core framework.

In short, Polotno is a visual-first editor with automation hooks, while Remotion is a code-first framework that can be extended into an editor.

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Architecture and interaction model

Polotno SDK runs fully client-side in the browser or self-hosted web apps. It’s built for interactive design — users drag, resize, animate, and export content visually. Developers can also generate or modify these projects programmatically through JSON definitions or API automation.

Remotion operates as a Node.js-based rendering framework, using React for composition and ffmpeg for output. There’s no built-in drag-and-drop editor like Polotno, but developers can use the Remotion Player to preview and interact with compositions in a web app, or build their own timeline and control panels around it.

Polotno offers a complete UI out of the box. Remotion offers the engine for building one.

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Automation and customization

Both platforms support automation but differ in control layers.

Polotno’s automation is schema-driven — every property (layers, timing, text, video source, animation) is represented as JSON. Developers can pre-build templates, generate variations, or fully assemble projects without user input. This makes it ideal for hybrid setups where automation coexists with user editing.

Remotion’s automation is code-driven — everything in a video can be controlled through props, data fetching, or React state. Developers can generate thousands of videos from APIs, AI models, or datasets with complete precision. However, it lacks a standardized visual schema for reuse or templating.

In summary:

• Polotno = automation + user editing via JSON schema.

• Remotion = full automation via code, with optional interactivity.

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Rendering and performance

Polotno can render both locally (in-browser or self-hosted) and remotely via the Polotno Cloud Render API. This supports batch or high-volume rendering while maintaining schema consistency across environments.

Remotion renders through Node-based ffmpeg pipelines. It’s optimized for high-performance video generation, capable of rendering complex animations or dynamic compositions from code. Developers can also use Remotion Lambda for distributed cloud rendering.

Polotno prioritizes simplicity and flexibility; Remotion prioritizes rendering precision and scale.

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Editor capabilities

Polotno includes a complete visual editor out of the box. Developers can customize its UI, add or remove tools, connect custom asset libraries, and control user access.

Remotion, by contrast, provides building blocks for creating an editor, not a ready-made one. Using the Remotion Player, developers can embed live video previews in web apps, expose controls for parameters, or construct a timeline UI — effectively building a custom editor from scratch.

So, while both can support editing interfaces, only Polotno ships with one. Remotion makes it possible to build one if you have the engineering capacity.

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Pricing and licensing

Polotno offers transparent SaaS pricing with published monthly tiers, instant activation, and predictable costs. There are no sales calls or custom quotes.

Remotion is open-source for personal and limited use, with commercial and enterprise licenses for production and cloud rendering. Its pricing depends on usage and scale rather than fixed tiers.

Polotno favors speed and simplicity; Remotion favors flexibility and custom scalability.

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Feature comparison

When to use each

Choose Polotno SDK if you:

• Need an embeddable design editor for users to create or customize video and image content.

• Want to mix manual editing and programmatic generation.

• Prefer predictable pricing and minimal setup.

• Focus primarily on web-based creative workflows.

Choose Remotion if you:

• Want to generate videos entirely through code logic.

• Need to integrate video rendering into AI or backend systems.

• Plan to build your own custom editor or player experience.

• Require advanced rendering control and scalable infrastructure.

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Conclusion

Polotno SDK and Remotion both enable web-based video creation but target different levels of interaction and control.

Polotno offers a ready, customizable visual editor combined with schema-based automation — ideal for SaaS platforms and creative tools that blend user interaction with backend generation.

Remotion provides the video rendering engine itself — code-driven, flexible, and powerful for developers who want to build fully programmatic video systems or custom editing interfaces.

Polotno emphasizes accessibility and speed; Remotion emphasizes power and extensibility.

The difference is simple: Polotno gives you an editor today — Remotion gives you the tools to build your own.