animation software for app design

Want to get right to my favorite list of animation software right now? My top picks are Adobe Animate and Maya.

Emile Cohl, a French cartoonist, and animator created the world's first animated film ' Fantasmagorie ' in 1908. Ever since telling animated stories has fascinated and captivated people's imaginations.

From cartoons like The Lion King and Spirited Away in the 1990s and early 2000s to modern Netflix anthology series like Love, Death, and Robots, animated stories have attained more than just cult status – they're persistent in our culture.

And by 2022, over 80% of internet traffic will be video, making web-based video creation an increasingly important endeavor.

With the help of online animation software, even an amateur can create advanced animations like CGI, 2D vectoring, stop-motion animation, typography and motion graphics, and more.

Being skilled in animation is a lucrative field whether you're looking to launch your career, get started with video editing, make money online, or monetize a YouTube channel.

This guide will help you choose the best animation software to use, whether you're a professional looking for advanced 3D modeling or a business owner wanting a simple animated explainer video.

To help you choose the best animation software, I've curated a list of some of the best 2D animation software, best free animation software, and 3D animation software options this year.

Disclosure: I may receive affiliate compensation for some of the links below at no cost to you if you decide to purchase a paid plan. You can read our affiliate disclosure in our privacy policy.

What is Animation Software?

Animation software is used by animators to create motion graphics on a single-frame basis. Individual frames are combined to create motion graphics used for video games and animated movies.

Computer animation first started in the 1940s and 50s, but it was in 1988 with a product called Softimage that modern animation began. For the first time, animation, modeling, and rendering were combined into one tool, which has now been used to create hundreds of feature films and video games.

Animation is prevalent in nearly everything we do. From sending GIFs and creating presentations to creating video games and feature films, animation software is at the heart of it all. Making an animation involves a series of images that you manipulate over a set of keyframes.

You can either create professional animations yourself with software or hire someone to do it for you.

If you're ready to download and use a tool yourself, this article ranks and reviews the best animation software to try this year.

Let's get started.

Disclaimer: I may receive affiliate compensation for some of the links below if you decide to purchase at no cost to you. However, these are the best tools I have used and tested that I believe are most effective for creating animations. You can read my full affiliate disclosure in my privacy policy.

What is the Best Animation Software?

Here are my picks for the best animation software for animators and businesses.

1. Adobe Animate.

Adobe Animate is a vector and 2d animation software that's designed for web and mobile app development.

You can animate vector graphics, create interactive content, add effects, and more. This software also has built-in templates that you can customize to your liking.

Best for:

Adobe Animate is designed for people who want to either animate vector graphics, create interactive content, add effects, and more. This software also has built-in templates that can be customized to your liking. Adobe Animate is best for people who want to create animations or interactive web pages.

Advanced Features:

Use Adobe Animate to animate vector graphics.
Create interactive content with Adobe Animate's features.
Create content with simple drag-and-drop actions.
Add effects to your animations with Adobe Animate's built-in templates, such as the color and tone effects, the temporal effect for video, and more.

Pros:

Extensive support for animation of vector graphics
Built-in templates for simple customizations and interactive content
Color and tone effects, temporal effect on video, and more.

Pricing:

Here is a simple breakdown of Adobe Animate's pricing:

Adobe Animate costs $20.99 per month for the personal version.

If you want to get access to all of Adobe's products you can pay $79.99 per month and get access to all of their tools.

Either way Adobe Animate offers a free trial that you can try 100% risk-free.

Get started with Adobe Animate today.

2. Maya.

Initially established in 1998, Maya is an Academy Award-winning (2003) 3D computer graphics and animation software. Currently owned by Autodesk, it is especially useful for the creation of interactive 3D applications like motion pictures, video games, TV series, special effects, and more.

It is, without any doubt, one of the best software tools on the market providing 3D animation, and has been acclaimed for its use in notable films like 'Lord of the Rings,' 'Spiderman,' 'Star Wars,' and 'Ice Age.'

The best part is that it is compatible with all operating systems including Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Best for:

Maya is one of the best animation software tools for creating animation pictures, video games, and adding 3D effects in motion pictures. If you require high-quality visual effects, then Maya has you covered.

Advanced Features:

Clip matching feature
Bifrost liquid creation feature that creates simulations of photorealistic movies
Excellent Adobe character animator
Allows deep adaptive liquid simulations
In-built accelerated modeling workflows
Paint effect feature that allows you to make 3D shapes by freehand drawing tools and drawing software
Enhanced viewport 2.0 and DX11Shader rendering engine (blur refFlections, shader effects, imparting translucency)
Free-form approach to 3D modeling that allows you to add as many layers as you want
Arnold integration – this RenderView feature can be used to view scene changes in real-time
Create your own scripts and plugins for better customization (in Maya-embedded Language or python scripting)
Voice-o-matic provides lip-syncing technology, motion capture, and walk cycles

Pros:

Complex hand-made animation tasks made extremely easy
Efficient color management (useful Boolean operations on polygon geometry)
Create realistic effects including explosions and cloth simulations
Excellent rendering technology even for the most advanced projects
Comes with a 30-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee which are great to take it for a test drive

Pricing:

Maya is easily the best 3D animation software on the market and comes in at a reasonable cost of $1,700/year (or pay $215/month). They also offer a 30-day free trial so you can test the software before making the purchase.

Maya is one of the best on the market and my #2 pick this year.

You can test out Maya for free with a 30-day free trial or purchase a yearly plan and save 34%.

3. Renderforest.

Renderforest is an all-in-one online video, animation, logo, and website maker. This tool is great for web designers, business owners, and those who aren't necessarily looking for advanced 3D modeling.

If you aren't a design expert but need to create a logo, animated video, music visualization, or professional intro, Renderforest is the obvious choice.

Renderforest is Best for:

Business owners that don't want to hire an animator but can follow easy online instructions will benefit from joining Renderforest. If you don't know how to code but want professional animations at one monthly price, this software is for you.

Best Features:

Machine learning and AI deliver the best logo design options with just a few clicks
Over 50,000 unique artwork files to choose from
Professional mockups and uploadable brand guidelines
100+ pre-made mobile-friendly website design templates
Hundreds of animated video templates to suit your needs including slideshows, intros, explainer videos, logo reveals, corporate presentations, and animated infographics,
Ready-made animated blocks
One-click web page animations

Pros:

A super-intuitive user interface make it easy when creating animated videos in a few clicks
Their advanced AI does truly understand how to provide you high-quality logo and graphics
Simple monthly pricing depending on how many videos you need

Pricing:

Plans range from free to $49.99/month depending on how many animated videos you need. I recommend their popular $19.99/month plan, which is made for businesses that create a lot of videos.

Sign up for Renderforest for free today to test it out.

4. Pencil2D.

Pencil2D is a simple and intuitive tool that helps you create 2D hand-drawn animations.

Open-source, and entirely free of cost, it is open to use by anyone, even for commercial purposes. On top of that, it is decidedly user-friendly, making it an ideal animation software for beginners who want to hand draw character designs.

Best for:

This tool is tailor-made for traditional artists trying to learn about and master digital art. Pencil2D is also an easy-to-use platform for beginner digital artists with very basic requirements.

Key Features:

Very lightweight and easy-to-use
Seamlessly switch between workflows (Raster and Vector), which allows you to streamline and speed-up your work
Cross-platform software (runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux)
Unique 'Timeline' feature that will enable you to choose the pace at which the animation moves

Pros:

One of the cheapest tools on the market
User-friendly and intuitive user interface
Comes with in-depth tutorials to help you get started
Minimal designing that lets you focus on the job at hand (animation) and paper drawings
Website continually updates you with the latest news and information regarding the software
Free access to a community of users to discuss problems, developments, and for brainstorming sessions

Cons:

Must use separate layers for every image (similar to PhotoShop, Anime Studio, Adobe Animate, Adobe After Effects, Disney products, and Toon Boom Harmony)
Not yet available for 3D animation
Importing and exporting feature needs to be better

Pricing:

Pencil2D is entirely free of cost since it is an open-source software tool. You can access and download it online easily. Pencil 2D is the best free animation software for anyone just starting their animation journey.

5. Animaker.

Launched in 2014, Animaker is a do it yourself (DIY) 2d animation software and video editor. It offers a wide range of services, including aiding users to create animated videos using in-built videos and infographics.

In 2017, it launched a vertical video creator tool (animated), the first animation company to do so.

Best for:

The in-built templates are extremely self-sufficient for basic animation work, including educational tutorials and classroom teaching.

Key Features:

It is a cloud-based animation and video maker for GIF, short video, and live video editing
Uses HTML and Adobe Flash
Can directly upload animated videos to platforms like Facebook and YouTube (videos can also be downloaded as mp4 extension)
Offers Google Chrome extension
Has one of the largest collections of animated characters, properties, icons, charts, and maps
Offers video creation in six different, unique styles and video layouts
Offers video infographics
Allows you to edit and customize explainer videos (text-to-speech, background music tracks, more than 100 sound effects)

Pros:

Pro-level features (record, multi-movie, camera, curve, transition effects, enter, and exit effects)
Animaker deck (pools all the features of animated videos and convenience of powerpoint on the same platform)
Audio features include voice over and auto lip sync for characters
Text support for more than 50languages (custom font support)
Export video in full HD (1080 p)

Cons:

At times, previewing can make the video lag
Sometimes there are errors in case of video upload
The free version does not offer HD animation

Pricing:

For starters, it offers a freemium version with basic and limited functionalities.

After that, Animaker offers three paid plans, including:

The 'Basic' plan is $10 per month (payable annually).
The 'Starter' plan costs $19 per month (payable annually).
The 'Pro' plan is priced at $49 per month (payable annually).
The Enterprise price which is customized based on your specific needs

6. OpenTooz.

Initially released in 2016, OpenToonz is a free animation software program. Since it is an open-source software tool, any developer can edit and modify its code to make it better and customize it to suit their needs.

Its main aim is to link academic research and animation to facilitate ideas and research.

Best for:

OpenToonz is perfect for developers and animation artists who are looking for a high level of customizability. It is also suitable for small and medium businesses and creating education tutorials.

Key Features:

Offers GTS scanning tool that you can use for sequence scanning (only available for Windows)
Compatible with TWAIN (and an animation program interface)
Comes with an impressive variety of animation effects, including changing picture styles, affected incident light, and more
Offers a wide range of keyboard shortcuts so that you don't have to use the mouse all the time
It is compatible with four types of scanning (black and white, colored and with or without binarization)
Creates efficient and seamless cutout animation
Offers FX schematic feature
It can develop wavy distortions and change picture styles
Offers in-built particles effect feature (create rain, snow, sparkles, smoke, and much more)

Pros:

Supported on a large number of platforms like Windows, Mac, and Linux
Open-source software (can be edited at the source for high customizability)
Free for use
Trustworthy and endorsed by major animation studios (Studio Ghibli)
Comes with starting manual for first-time users (comes in English and Japanese)
User-friendly, intuitive interface

Cons:

Needs an enormous RAM size to work seamlessly (otherwise, it may crash)
New frame by frame animation and frame creation requires drawing (it is not an automatic feature)
Provides only 2d animation but provides onion skinning

Pricing:

OpenToonz is a free animation tool. It can be accessed online and can be used for both commercial and non-commercial purposes.

7. Synfig.

Also known as Synfig Studio, Synfig is one of the newest animation tools on the market. It is a free animation software for 2D animation and character animation. Moreover, it specializes in vector graphics solutions.

Best for:

Synfig is beneficial for creating cartoons for television, publicity campaigns, or a marketing initiative. You can use it for educational purposes as well.

Key Features:

Supported on Mac, Windows, and Linux
Provides two versions with different attributes for a different set of people (stable version and development version)
Provides vector tweening and thus eliminates the need for manual tweening
Offers a plethora of layers and filters to choose from (over 50 layers to create artwork and animation)
Stores its own files in XML file format
Supports animated graphic formats like GIF and MNG
Provides advanced controls (link parameters of various layers either directly or mathematically)
Incorporates HDRI (High Dynamic Range Imaging)

Pros:

Free and open-source
Free video training for an in-depth understanding of the software in four languages, including English, French, and Dutch
Animation features include a bone system for cut-out animation using bitmap images or control vector artwork and a Skeleton Distortion Layer for bitmap artwork

Cons:

Difficult to grasp at first
Takes a lot of time to wrap your head around its functionings
The user-interface is not very intuitive
There have been complaints regarding the bugs in the software in the past

Pricing:

Synfig Studio is open-source, free, and open to use by anyone. It mainly relies on donations from patrons to provide quality solutions.

8. KeyShot.

KeyShot is a stand-alone, ray tracing, and global illumination animation program. It is specifically used to create high-quality 2D and 3D animations. With KeyShot, you don't even need to place an additional graphics card in your PC.

Furthermore, it supports more than 30 file types for rendering 3D animation and is laced with attributes, including interactive labeling, texture mapping, and physical lighting.

Best for:

This software is especially useful for concept modeling, where the benefits of 3D are needed. You can also use it for jewelry designing, toy designing, and automobile designing.

Key Features:

Provides real-time 3D image rendering workflow
Native support for over 30 3D-file formats
Includes more than 750 preset materials to help you differently style your videos
Core strength lies in its speed and flexibility
Animation and VR available
HDRI lighting enables you to adjust and light your scene as per your requirement
KeyShot XR allows us to create interactive, touch-enabled visuals for mobile and web
Real-time ray tracing (progressive global illumination with dynamic lightning)
Can provide still image animations, interactive web content, and mobile content
Scattering media feature (adds particle scattering)

Pros:

Unrivaled detailing, accuracy, and realism in visualization
Compatible with both Windows and Mac
User-friendly, intuitive interface (for those with experience)
Imports and exports a variety of model formats

Cons:

Comes with a hefty price tag
3D animation can be difficult to grasp for a novice
Framing, sizing, and re-sizing the window might get difficult at times

Pricing:

KeyShot offers three pricing plans:

The 'KeyShot HD' is priced at $995.
The 'KeyShot Pro' is $1995.
The 'KeyShot Pro Floating' costs $2995.
The 'Keyshot Enterprise' costs $3995.

All the pricing plans come with a 15-day free trial period.

9. K-3D.

K-3D is another incredible 3D animation and modeling software on this list. Packed with flexible plugins, it is a potent tool for designers and artists. On top of that, it has been described to be intuitive, easy-to-use, and easy-to-learn.

Compatible with both Mac and Windows, it also offers a vast range of additional possibilities as compared to traditional modifier stacks for visualization. It also provides 2D animation for the basic user requirements. It is, however, not a free software tool.

Best for:

It is best suited for professional artists, web designers, and animation specialists. It is also perfect for creating films and documentaries, designing jewelry and toys, and more.

Key Features:

Very flexible and comes with the power of a node-based visualization pipeline
Creates multiple combinations of your choice
Advanced undo/redo system
Can combine flexible plugins to provide you with numerous solutions (robust, object-oriented plugin architecture)
Designed to provide motion-picture quality animation from the ground-up (render engines)
Procedural and parametric workflows
Modification of start of a workflow propagates to the end (intuitive)

Pros:

User-friendly and intuitive interface
Free software and can be used for commercial and non-commercial purposes
Can offer users both 2D animation and 3D animation
Can be useful for low-budget animation artists
Complex workflows are easy to create, understand, and decipher

Cons:

Lacks proper tutorials about how to animate and use the product
Can be difficult for beginners to use without appropriate guidance

Pricing:

It is entirely free of cost and is open to use by any person. All you need is an internet connection.

10. Blender.

Blender is one of the most popular free animation tools used to create 3D animation. Initially released in 1998, it is widely used across a variety of industries. It is most suitable for animating most films, 3D printed models, motion graphics, and cinematographic visual effects.

Best for:

Blender is perfect for a student animator. Although it is not very frequently used in a professional setting, it can be pretty useful for educational videos in smart classrooms that are VFX, and 3D enabled. Owing to its 'game engine' feature, you can use it to create games as well.

It is best for individuals and small studios and agencies whose requirements are not very demanding. It also works well for those with Apple iPhone and Android devices, people with OSX, or those using integrations with Cinema 4D, Moho, Stop Motion Studio, Flipbook, or Crazytalk Animator.

Key Features:

Performs rendering and creates renders using high-end production path tracers
Performs modeling; offers extensive toolset to perform activities like sculpting, retopology, and modeling
Robust simulation using industry-standard libraries like Bullet and MantaFlow
Offers efficient in-built video editor
Its new 'game engine' feature supports game creation
Offers modifiers to apply a non-destructive effect
'Grease Pencil' tool for 2D concept designing and 3D modeling
Supports a wide range of geometric primitives like metaballs, icospheres, and Bezier curves

Pros:

Very user-friendly and intuitive interface
Offers high customizability
Award-winning animation and bone rigging features
Integration with multiple pipeline tools, including Collada, Alembic, and more
It is compatible with Windows, Linux, and MacOS
In-depth tutorials to help you understand the working of the software

Cons:

A bit difficult for beginners to use
Steep learning curve

Pricing:

It is a free animation software tool.

11. PowToon.

Founded in 2012, PowToon creates and sells SaaS software to create animations. It is a web-based animation software that offers a wide range of services, specializing in 2D.

From creating educational tutorials to personal interaction – PowToon comes in handy for everything related to animation.

Best for:

PowToon provides lots of templates and royalty-free images. Plus, it is great for professionals who deal extensively with presentations.

Key Features:

No watermarks
Downloadable as mp4
Full HD video (1080 p)
You have complete control over the privacy of your account
Directly export to various social media sites like YouTube
Detailed videos walkthroughs and tutorials available to help you get started
Multiple character animations and cartoons to choose from

Pros:

Animations are clever and well-detailed
24/7 priority customer support
Has a free plan but with limited qualities

Cons:

Can sometimes become slow (while editing)
No offline editing options
A bit expensive
Does not offer 3D animation

Pricing:

PowToon comes with four pricing plans:

The 'Pro' plan is $19 per month.
The 'Pro+' plan also costs $19 per month right now.
The 'Agency' plan is priced at $29 per month and is offered only on an annual subscription.

12. Animation Paper.

Animation Paper is one of the best animation software on the market right now and offers a variety of 2D animations for multiple uses. Compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac, this software is useful for pro-animators, film-makers, students, and game developers.

Moreover, its ease of use and speed of working are huge differentiators in ensuring patronage. It is extensively used for hand-drawn animations and character creation. The best part is that it comes with a freemium plan.

Best for:

Animation Paper is best suited for big studios, web-designers, and individual animators. That said, it can also be used in case of small and medium enterprises. You can also use it as an educational tool in smart classrooms.

Key Features:

High-quality lines (you don't have to worry about resolution getting degraded upon transformation)
'Light table' feature
Customizable toolbar
Color-coded layering in animation
Efficiency in coloring and performing post-paint changes
It offers a free version called 'Plastic Animation Paper' (can be used for commercial and non-commercial purposes)
Many alternative ways of flipping, like keys, wheel, return flip, among others
Offers smooth real-time rotation and zooming
Can play video scenes in sequence to check continuity

Pros:

Intuitive and user-friendly interface
Super-fast responsiveness while drawing and flipping
Lasso (ease of rotation, repositioning and scaling drawings)
Easy import of video animations or frame stacks
Real-time full-frame reference on the second monitor
Lightweight, simple, and efficient

Cons:

3D animation is not available
The free version has limited functionalities

Pricing:

It has a free version called 'Plastic Animation Paper.' However, the paid version will cost $79 per month and will be available in the future.

Animation and 2d Animation Software FAQ.

Which animation software is best?

Adobe Animate is the best animation software for web and mobile app development. Why? You can animate vector graphics, create interactive content, add effects, and more with Adobe.

What is a good animation software for beginners free?

Good free 2d animation software for beginners is Animate CC which comes with pre-made templates and effects. Having a decent amount of animation tools available also means you won't have to rely on 3rd party plugins for additional functionality.

Is Adobe Animate free?

No Adobe Animate is not free. It is either $20.99 per month for the standalone product or $52.99 per month for the entire Adobe bundle.

Conclusion

The market is full of different types of animation software. However, every business is different, and every individual has different requirements. So you need to establish the exact nature and objective of your work when choosing your software. Simply put, you need to determine what you aim to achieve with your animation.

For instance, if you are looking to create complex, top-notch animations for your professional reel, you might want to go for software like Maya or Animation Paper. However, if you need some basic animations for your website or online business, you can go with any of the free software tools.

If you want advanced 3D modeling for video games and movies, go with Maya.

If you're looking for business animations like logos and explainer videos, I'd go with Renderforest.

Finally, you may also want to take into account other things, like the price, complexity, ease of use, and customer support you require.

Is there any tools that you like not included on this list? Let me know in the comments.

Read More on AdamEnfroy.com: If you're looking for more software reviews, you can check out my guides to the best whiteboard animation software, the best video editing software and photo editing software to use this year.