Framer is known for being the most design-friendly, no-code website builder on the market—but it’s also an incredibly powerful platform for developers. Whether you’re extending functionality, integrating APIs, automating workflows, or adding custom logic, Framer provides multiple ways to enhance your site without compromising on usability.

This comparison guide breaks down the five major developer features in Framer—Plugins, Fetch, Code Components, Code Overrides, and Custom Site Code—so you know exactly when to use which tool.

Framer Developer Features Overview

Framer offers a layered system of extensibility.
From no-code API usage to full React components, each layer serves a clear purpose:

• Plugins → Extend the editor itself

• Fetch → Pull API data into the canvas without code

• Code Components → Custom React components rendered in Framer

• Code Overrides → Modify layer behavior in the UI

• Custom Site Code → Global scripts, metadata, and tracking

Each method has its strengths. Think of them as building blocks that scale from “designer-friendly” to “developer-level power.”

1. Plugins

Extend the Editor. Automate Workflows. Build Internal Tools.

Plugins are mini apps that run inside the Framer Editor, allowing you to add capabilities that designers and marketers can use directly on the canvas.

What Plugins can do

• Insert SVGs, icons, images, or placeholder content

• Sync external data into the CMS (Notion, Airtable, Google Sheets, APIs)

• Batch modify layers

• Automate content or layout generation

• Trigger AI workflows

• Build internal utilities for your team

Why use Plugins

• They extend Framer’s workflow, not the published site

• Perfect for internal processes, productivity, asset pipelines, or content sync

• Can ship with UI panels, dialogs, inputs, etc.

Typical use cases

• A plugin that syncs new blog posts from Airtable → Framer CMS

• A plugin that generates image variants in bulk

• A plugin that inserts a design token or brand color library into the canvas

2. Fetch

Retrieve API data and use it in Framer—no code required.

Fetch allows designers to pull data from APIs directly into Framer’s visual components.

What Fetch can do

• Fetch JSON from any endpoint

• Bind API values to text, images, or properties

• Refresh data on load

• Display dynamic content without server-side code

Why use Fetch

• Perfect for non-technical teams

• Zero coding required

• Ideal for simple client-side API integrations

Typical use cases

• Live weather info

• Stock tickers

• Location-based content

• Pulling data from custom headless endpoints

• Live event schedules or dynamic pricing

3. Code Components

Full React components rendered inside Framer.

Code Components give you maximum control—they let you write React directly inside Framer and drop your component onto the canvas.

What Code Components can do

• Custom form fields

• Canvas-based UIs

• Custom logic, state machines, timers

• Display animated SVGs

• Render chart libraries

• Complex UI elements

If you need full control of rendering, behavior, or logic, choose Code Components.

Why use Code Components

• Most powerful extensibility layer

• Reusable across the project

• Designers can use them like any Framer component

• Perfect for enterprise-level functionality

Typical use cases

• A custom map

• An interactive product demo

• A React carousel or animation

• Multi-step form flows

• A WebGL or Three.js visual

4. Code Overrides

Apply logic to any existing Framer layer.

Overrides let you wrap a Framer layer with a React Higher Order Component to modify its behavior.

What Code Overrides can do

• Apply custom CSS

• Add attributes (data attributes, ARIA attributes, etc.)

• Trigger analytics events

• Modify layer props based on state

• Build hover, click, or scroll logic

Why use Overrides

• Great for light-touch enhancements

• Useful when you don’t need a full component

• Ideal for analytics, tracking, or one-off tweaks

Typical use cases

• Add data-tracking-id to a button

• Inject custom CSS rules into a layer

• Add a click event for third-party analytics like Mixpanel

• Change content based on scroll position

Note: Many older Override use cases can now be achieved using Fetch or Components, which is why Overrides are best used for lightweight logic.

5. Custom Site Code

Insert scripts, metadata, fonts, or global logic into your published site.

Custom Site Code lets you inject HTML or JS into the <head> or <body>—globally or per page.

What Custom Site Code can do

• Add analytics tools (GA4, GTM, Segment)

• Add JSON-LD structured data

• Inject custom scripts

• Add third-party services

• Insert favicon or metadata

• Add domain-level verification files

Why use Custom Code

• Required for integrations with marketing, analytics, or tracking

• Needed for advanced SEO

• Good for cookie consent, security tools, AB testing scripts

Typical use cases

• Adding Google Tag Manager

• Adding HubSpot forms

• Adding organization schema JSON-LD

• Custom cookie banner logic

• Loading a third-party chat widget

Which Should You Use? A Quick Decision Framework

You need to extend the Framer Editor → Use Plugins

For workflows inside the editor: automation, sync, bulk tasks.

You need live API data but no code → Use Fetch

For designers pulling API data visually.

You need custom-rendered UI → Use Code Components

For full React-powered interactivity.

You need small behavioral tweaks → Use Overrides

For analytics events, attributes, or one-off modifications.

You need scripts or metadata → Use Custom Site Code

For SEO, analytics, backend connections.

Comparison Table

Conclusion: Framer Gives Developers a Full Spectrum of Power

Whether you're:

• enhancing designer workflows

• integrating APIs

• shipping custom components

• optimizing tracking

• delivering enterprise-level UI

Framer provides a flexible, scalable model for mixing no-code simplicity with developer-grade control.

From Plugins to React Components, you can extend Framer exactly as much—or as little—as your project needs.