20 Best Animation Softwares for Animators

Animated videos are gaining more and more popularity nowadays. We use animations for different purposes starting from running effective marketing campaigns to congratulating a friend with a creative animated video message. The question is where to find software or an online tool that can perfectly meet our needs.

Best Free 2d & 3d Animation Software Out There

Depending on your skills, you can choose from different types of software available both offline and online, for professionals and amateur users, 2D and 3D animation creators, etc.

Investigating which is the best animation software for beginners? Check out this selection of animation software including some of the most popular and preferred products on the market, as well as lesser-known but still very good animation tools available today.

Animation software platforms may integrate with drawing software, video editing software, or 3D modeling software. Artists and freelancers can use the best free video editing software and free animation software together to create their video animations on a budget.

Unity

Unity is a cross-platform game engine developed by Unity Technologies, which is primarily used to develop video games and simulations for computers, consoles, and mobile devices.

Unity is marketed to be an all-purpose engine, and as a result, supports both 2D and 3D graphics, drag and drop functionality, and scripting through its 3 custom languages.

Adobe Animate

If you need to create vector graphics and animation, Animate is the right tool for you. You can, later on, use your creation for websites, online videos, rich internet apps, video games, and television programs. The program also offers support for raster graphics, rich text, audio and video embedding, and ActionScript scripting

Pencil 2D

Pencil2D uses a bitmap/vector drawing interface to produce simple 2D graphics as well as animation. Pencil2D is an open-source and free 2D animation program. You can easily produce simple 2D drawings, and graphics, and create a hand-drawn animation by using the bitmap/vector drawing interface of the application.

Synfig Studio

Synfig Studio is an open-source, free timeline-based, and 2D vector graphics computer animation program. Synfig has basic features for syncing your animation with the soundtrack using Sound Layer. Linux users can get all the benefits of full-featured audio editors through the JACK integration.

Animaker

Animaker is an online tool for animation that offers plans for all kinds of users – from beginners to enterprises. Each version comes loaded with features and assets to help users create amazing animated videos in a diversity of styles.

CelAction2D

CelAction2D is a professional 2D animation software specialized in films, TV series, and commercials. Using vector graphics and bitmaps, character models and their movements can be edited.

Moho

Moho is a proprietary vector-based 2D animation software for animators. Moho has two different versions: Anime Studio Debut and Anime Studio Pro.

OpenToonz

Is an open-source 2D animation software. Toonz Premium is a professional product of the same family. This program has been used to create many different films and games, such as Futurama, Anastasia, and Asterix in America (in this movie the part of the sea storm was created by Toonz completely)

Blender

Blender is a cross-platform free 3D creation suite offering a powerful arsenal of tools. By using Blender, you can create animations, video games, renders, models, and more 3D-based projects. The software is open-source and developed by many contributors from around the world.

Powtoon

Animation software that’s free is Powtoon, meant for dynamic video presentations. It’s a great tool for beginners, with several professional-looking templates to choose from, including animated explainers and infographic-style videos, as well as templates built specifically for product promotion.

Moovly

A cool online tool for creating animated videos for different purposes: social media, advertising, explainer videos, whiteboard videos, presentations, and more. The tool is perfect for users of all levels, as well as big and small businesses

DigiCel FlipBook

DigiCel FlipBook is a 2D animation software. It was created with the intention of duplicating the animation process in its traditional form, much like Toon Boom Harmony and TVPaint.

Plastic Animation Paper

Plastic Animation Paper, from Krogh Mortensen Animation, is a software package for hand-drawn 2D animation. It allows animators to draw directly on the screen removing the need for line tests. The program is free and beginner-friendly.

Autodesk 3ds Max

Autodesk 3ds Max, formerly 3D Studio, then 3D Studio Max is a professional 3D animation software for making 3D animations, models, games, and images. It’s developed and produced by Autodesk Media and Entertainment. It has modeling capabilities and a flexible plugin architecture and can be used on the Microsoft Windows platform.

LightWave 3D

LightWave is a software package used for rendering 3D images, both animated and static. It includes a fast rendering engine that supports such advanced features as realistic reflection, radiosity, caustics, and 999 render nodes. The 3D modeling component supports both polygon modeling and subdivision surfaces.

Toontastic 3D

Toontastic 3D is a creative storytelling tool available for tablets, phones, and Chromebooks. It works both for iOS and Android. Toontastic allows you to draw, animate, and narrate your own animated cartoons.

Adobe After Effects

Adobe After Effects is a digital visual effects, motion graphics, and compositing application developed by Adobe Systems and used in the post-production process of filmmaking, video editing, and television production.

Brash Monkey

Brash Monkey Use your Spriter animation files directly in your games to benefit from silky smooth tweened animations that take a fraction of the memory. Suddenly customizable player characters and smoothly animated giant on-screen bosses are a breeze.

Character Animator

Character Animator uses your expressions and movements to animate characters in real-time. It’s so fast, that you can livestream while you work, to wow audiences every step of the way. Turn any art into an animated character with your webcam, powered by Adobe Sensei AI.

Stop Motion Studio

An app perfect for beginners in video making. Stop Motion Studio will help you create amazing 4K stop-motion animations that can easily be mixed with 2D-style drawings painted directly onto the image.