Vimeo’s Big Move: What It Means for Freelance Motion Designers
If you’re a freelance motion designer who relies on Vimeo to showcase your work, send review links, and keep your portfolio sharp and professional, then this bit of news might've hit your radar: Vimeo’s been acquired by Milan-based tech company Bending Spoons in an all-cash deal worth around $1.38 billion.
What Just Happened?
On 10 September 2025, Vimeo announced it had been acquired by Bending Spoons, the same folks behind other creative tools like Evernote and Splice. Once the deal closes (expected by Q4 2025), Vimeo will be taken private.
But Simon, what does that mean in practice?
It means changes are coming. Some will be good. Some… well, not so good.
Why This Actually Matters to Freelance Motion Designers
If you’re like me, you’ve probably been using Vimeo for years! In fact, I signed up way back in my uni days in the early 2000’s. It was really handy, and over the years I’ve used it to:
Embed reels into my site
Deliver password-protected review links to clients
Host HD/4K videos without noisy watermarks
Showcase my freelance motion design portfolio with a clean, professional player
It’s baked into my workflow. But with new ownership comes questions:
Will Vimeo still behave well when embedded on portfolio sites?
Are we going to see changes in terms of service or licensing?
Will the pricing tiers shift again?
And the big one, will our content be used for AI training?
These questions matter, especially when you’ve built your freelance reputation around reliability, quality delivery, and smooth presentation. And when clients expect the same.
The Upside: New Features, More Stability, Potential Upgrades
Let’s start with the good stuff
1. Investment = Better Tools?
Bending Spoons has said they’re planning “ambitious investments” into Vimeo’s platform. That could mean:
Smoother playback and better encoding
Improved performance on mobile and across browsers
More reliable infrastructure (which is music to our ears when clients hit ‘play’ on a reel)
As a remote motion designer, anything that improves the way my After Effects animation looks and plays across the world is a big win.
2. AI-Enhanced Workflows
Now, this is still speculative, but if Vimeo integrates useful AI features (say, for auto-captioning, compression, or frame previews), it could actually speed up some of the delivery side of our process.
Imagine quicker uploads, smarter encoding, or better preview scrubbing for clients. That’d be a welcome upgrade.
3. Renewed Focus on Creators (Hopefully)
Vimeo has lost some of its creator focus in recent years, pivoting more toward enterprise video hosting. But if Bending Spoons sees value in rebuilding that creative community, it could open up fresh visibility for us freelancers, more discoverability, more job opportunities, and maybe even community-driven updates.
We’ll see. But cautiously optimistic on that one going by their previous form.
The Worry List: Pricing, Priorities, and Platform Risk
Now let’s talk about the other side of the coin. Because we’ve seen this before.
1. Cost-Cutting and Tier Changes
Bending Spoons has a bit of a reputation here. With past acquisitions like Evernote and WeTransfer, some users saw:
Free tiers capped
Staff layoffs
Fewer features for entry-level users
If Vimeo starts pushing more features into the higher-priced tiers, that could affect how many videos you can upload, how embeds work, or whether review tools are paywalled.
As someone paying for Vimeo Pro to support my freelance animation showreel, I’ll be keeping an eye on any pricing shifts.
2. Platform Focus Might Shift
Vimeo’s current focus leans toward enterprise streaming, things like OTT, live events, webinars, and B2B hosting.
If that becomes even more dominant, we freelance motion designers might find ourselves as a lower-priority user group. This could mean fewer updates that support motion graphics portfolios or animated brand content for small agencies.
3. AI Content Usage: Who Owns What?
A big concern floating around creative circles: will the new Vimeo terms allow for user-generated content (i.e. our animations) to be used in AI training?
So far, there’s no official word. But with AI being a big part of the new parent company’s toolkit, it's a fair question to ask. If you're delivering confidential explainer video animation or client review work, this is the kind of detail you can’t afford to miss.
My Personal Take: What I’m Doing About It
This isn't about jumping ship. Vimeo still works great, and until it doesn’t, I’m not pulling the plug. But I am making a few moves now to future-proof my business.
Here’s What I Recommend (and What I’m Doing Myself):
1. Audit Your Vimeo Usage
List out exactly how you use Vimeo today. For me, it’s:
Embedded reels on simontibbs.co.uk
Client reviews (private links with password protection)
Hosting full-res versions of 2D motion graphics projects
Knowing what features matter to you helps in case pricing or access shifts.
2. Backup & Diversify Your Portfolio Hosting
I’m currently creating backups of all my client-facing videos. I’m also testing:
Wistia for polished B2B presentations
Frame.io for review workflows (already using it in tandem)
Just in case Vimeo ever becomes unstable, I won’t be scrambling to migrate last minute.
3. Monitor Your Subscription Closely
Check what you’re paying for, when your renewal hits, and what cancellation options exist. If pricing jumps or features shift, you want to be ready to pivot, or negotiate but good luck with that one.
4. Test Embeds on Your Site
If you’re using custom embeds on a site like Squarespace or Webflow (I use custom CSS pills on simontibbs.co.uk), make sure your embeds still play nicely and don’t rely on deprecated code. Responsive design is a must, especially for mobile previews.
A Few FAQs from Fellow Freelancers
Will I need to leave Vimeo soon?
Probably not. But be ready to move if needed. Keep backups and test alternative hosts.
Is Vimeo still the best platform for portfolios?
It’s still one of the cleanest, ad-free options for freelance motion designers, but it depends on what Bending Spoons does next. Watch this space.
Will the pricing change?
We don’t know yet. But based on history, it’s a real possibility. Keep your subscription details handy.
Can I still trust Vimeo for client work?
Yes, for now. But if you’re working on sensitive brand content, make sure to read the T&Cs and maybe host critical projects elsewhere just to be safe.
Final Thoughts
As a UK-based freelance motion designer who’s been doing this for 15+ years, I’ve seen plenty of platforms rise, fall, pivot, and evolve. Vimeo’s acquisition isn’t the end of the world, but it’s also not something to ignore.
You’ve worked too hard on your motion design portfolio to let platform changes trip you up. So here’s my two-pence:
Don’t panic. Don’t stay passive either.
Stay informed
Keep your portfolio flexible
Communicate with clients
And always have a Plan B
At the end of the day, we’re not just animators. We’re problem-solvers. Adaptability is part of the gig, and if you’ve built your freelance career with intention, trust that you’ve got the tools to weather any shift.
Catch you on the next frame.
—
Simon Tibbs
Freelance motion designer, London
Specialist in 2D motion graphics, character animation, and story-driven brand content
