25 Best Animation Software Apps In 2023 (Free & Paid)

Looking for an animation software app but are not sure whether it will help you achieve your goals and fit right into your lifestyle? Here are our top 25 picks for every type of animation you plan to create.

Since the creation of the world’s first animated film in 1908 by French cartoonist and animator Émile Cohl, the world of animation has come a long way.

Nowadays, animation is not only used in the entertainment industry. Various other industries, such as Advertisement, Marketing, Gaming, Retail, Architecture, and Engineering, use animation in multiple ways.

Animation is widely used in the education sector as well as for research purposes to create realistic scientific visualizations.

The history of computer animation began a few decades later. Even though people started experimenting with computer graphics as early as the 1940s, it was during the early 1960s that computer graphics rocketed.

During that time, digital computers had already become widely established and became mainstream in the 1970s, after the mass production of the microprocessor in 1971.

Fast forward to 2023, and anyone, whether they are a professional animation maker or not, can use computer-generated imagery (CGI) to create any type of animation.

In addition, a plethora of different animation software apps cater to every type of animation you need to create. The selection process can be tricky when exploring and choosing the best animation software app.

Additionally, looking at the sheer volume of products out there, you might be scratching your head and thinking to yourself, ‘Where do I even begin?’.

Don’t fret! You are one step closer to making your final decision. In this guide, we will explore the top 25 animation software apps in 2023. We will take a look at their prices, functionalities, and difficulty levels, as well as their pros and cons.

But before we start, we should mention that there are four different types of animation:

To make it easier for you to navigate through this article and select the powerful animation tools based on the type of animation you are interested in, we have separated them into four categories.

We will explore the best animation software apps for each type of animation in each category.

Important disclosure: we’re proud affiliates of some tools mentioned in this guide. If you click an affiliate link and subsequently make a purchase, we will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you (you pay nothing extra). For more information, read our affiliate disclosure.

A Quick Comparison Table🕵️‍♀️

*Please note: ratings may be skewed due to a lack of reviews

2D Animation 💪

What Is 2D Animation?

To better understand how vector-based 2D animation works, it is essential to mention that the first type of 2D animation was also called traditional animation or hand-drawing animation.

In the old days, animators drew the characters, backgrounds, and so on, frame by frame, to create movement in a two-dimensional space. Animators did these every two frames, animated on 12 frames per second (fps) and sometimes on 24fps for faster action.

Nowadays, creating 2D animation with the help of animation software apps is way easier, and you don’t necessarily have to be good at drawing.

Today, 2D animators still have the option of animating frame by frame. But if they want to make the animation process even faster, they can use a digital puppet, which is also called a character rig.

This option allows animators to only move the character’s body parts individually without having to draw the whole character all over again for every single movement.

Here Are The Best 2D Animation Software Apps In 2023

Image Source: Adobe Animate

Starting Price: $20.99 per month (billed annually)

Free Trial: Yes

Pros:

• Easy to use and intuitive
• The perfect software for beginners
• Includes 100GB of cloud storage
• Gets updated regularly

Cons:

• Not fit for producing professional animations
• Limited capabilities

The Adobe Animate CC is one of the world’s most popular 2D animation software apps. Developed by Adobe Inc., this vector-based 2D animation software was first launched in 1996 and was named “FutureSplash Animator.”

Later on, after it was acquired by Macromedia, the software app was named Macromedia Flash. Its current name, Adobe Animate, was first introduced in 2016 to reflect Adobe’s market position.  

You can use Adobe Animate to design vector animations and graphics for websites, TV series, web applications, game development, banner ads, and many other purposes.

This animation software app is packed with so many features. Yet, it is still very easy to use and is the perfect tool for beginners looking to create interactive animations. Adobe Animate is also perfect for kids who want to experiment and enter the world of animation at an early age.

It also automates the tweening process and offers support for raster graphics, audio, and video embedding, rich text, and more. It is available on Android, iOS, Windows Desktop, and macOS.

Besides offering 100GB of cloud storage, Adobe Animate CC also includes access to Adobe Portfolio, Adobe Fonts, and Creative Cloud Express.

Among the export options for your animations are HTML5 Canvas, WebGL, Flash/Adobe AIR, and SVG.

While this option is great for getting started and great for kids, it may not be the best pick if you need to create professional animation products since this software app has limited capabilities compared to some of its competitors.

Image Source: Adobe After Effects

Starting Price: $20.99 per month (billed annually)

Free Trial: Yes

Pros:

• Offers high Flexibility
• Simple and intuitive user interface
• Offers advanced features
• Full integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications

Cons:

• Steep learning curve
• Files may take up a lot of space
• It may face some lags at times
• Offers no tools to work with audio (you may need to use an additional software app for that)

Compared to Adobe Animate, Adobe After Effects is used for 2D animation, Motion Graphics, and to some extent, for 3D animation.

We say to some extent because the 3D capabilities of After Effects are pretty basic, and you will be better off with other ED software apps for more effective 3D results.

One of the great things about Adobe After Effects is its puppet tool, which many users find intuitive and convenient.

You can also use third-party plug-ins to add more capabilities to your Adobe After Effects software. For example, you can also use this compositing application to create explainer animations.

If you are looking for 2D animation software and are already used to other Adobe products such as Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe Character Animator, then you are in luck.

Once you start using Adobe After Effects or the Adobe Animate mentioned above, you will enjoy full integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications. You can also import files from Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator directly to Adobe After Effects and easily collaborate with others.

Before you decide to dip your toe in the water, keep in mind that Adobe After Effects is not recommended for beginners.

If you are just starting out and trying your 2D animation skills, it will take you some time to get used to this software app and learn how to use all of its tools.

If you are already used to other types of animator software apps or if you are a professional, then Adobe After Effects will be easy to grasp.

Image Source: Adobe Character Animator

Price: $52.99 per month (billed annually)

Free Trial: Yes

Pros:

• Can produce live and non-live animation
• Very fast and can save you lots of time
• Fun to use

Cons:

• It cannot be purchased individually
• More suitable for cartoons that feature dialog scenes instead of action or physical gags

Character Animator was initially code-named “Animal.”  This Emmy-award-winning animation software by Adobe combines live motion capture with a multi-track recording system.

This combination is then used to control layered 2D puppets drawn in Photoshop or Illustrator.

The greatest thing about Adobe Character Animator is that it allows you to input from your camera and microphone for real-time performance capture and automatically animate characters.

It may seem like a simple feature at first, but it can save you a lot of time. You can use Adobe Character Animator to animate characters in real-time by using your movements and facial expressions.

The animation happens so fast that you can go ahead and live stream to show your audience how you use the tool step by step.

Image Source: SVGator

Starting Price: $12 per month

Free Trial: Yes

Pros:

• Browser-based app with cloud rendering. No need to install anything
• Exports a single animated SVG file compatible with all major browsers
• Auto-selection in the timeline and intuitive tools make the workflow a breeze
• Multiple vector-based export options for the web and mobile apps: videos and animated image formats are also available

Cons:

• Only basic features for raster-based animation
• It’s difficult to work with long timelines

SVGator is an online SVG creator and 2D animation tool with an intuitive keyframe-based interface and advanced animators to create stunning animations.

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The learning curve is close to zero and the SVG files are ready to implement right after export.

You can use SVGator to create animated illustrations, icons, logos, and many more without any coding skills. You can also export to video, GIF, and mobile app animations.

One of the main advantages of this SVGator is that it supports interactivity so that the animations can start on click, on hover, or on scroll.

Furthermore, SVG files are infinitely scalable and lightweight, making them look good on any device. Thanks to the SVGator’s Player API you can get full programmatic control over your animations.

Image Source: Toon Boom Harmony

Starting Price: $25 per month (billed annually)

Free Trial: No

Freemium Version Available: No

Pros:

• Plenty of unique tools and features
• Easy to learn
• Offers different versions for different skill levels

Cons:

• It can be complicated
• Glitches may occur at times

Toon Boom Harmony is a 2D animation software that offers plenty of cool features. If you have never used it before, watching a couple of tutorials will help you immensely, making it easier for you to use.

It is available in three versions based on your skill level and your specific purposes:

Essentials

This version is the introductory level. It is perfect if you are a student or a beginner who wants to try 2D animation. This version of Toon Boom Harmony offers fundamental drawing, painting, and animation tools.

Advanced

The advanced edition is perfect for freelancers, experienced illustrators, graphic designers as well as studios. This version of Toon Boom Harmony is designed with traditional and paperless style animation in mind. You can also use this version for cut-out style animation.

Premium

The Premium version is perfect for studios, freelancers, small creative businesses, and schools that need to create advanced 2D animations. The premium version offers every advanced tool of Toon Boom Harmony.

You can use advanced tools to create sophisticated cut-out rigs and frame-by-frame animation. You can also create realistic character movements and can use unlimited special effects for various animation styles.

Toon Boom Harmony is one of the leading 2D animation software that offers users the ability to create a final product from start to finish using the same tool.

While Toon Boom Harmony is known as a vector-based animation tool,  its advanced version also offers a bitmap drawing option.

Image Source: Pencil2D

Price: Free (Open-Source)

Pros:

• Easy to use and intuitive
• Free to use
• It offers animation layout setups
• FreeBSD cross-platform capabilities
• It provides simple and advanced drawing tools and a timeline

Cons:

• Lacks advanced tools
• Not compatible with smartphones

Pencil2D is an open-source program used to create 2D hand-drawn animations using the application’s bitmap image or vector drawing tools. It runs on Mac OS, Windows, and Linux, but it is not compatible with smartphone devices.

However, this software has FreeBSD cross-platform capabilities so that you can continue your workflow at various locations.

Pencil2D is quite intuitive and perfect if you are a beginner and look forward to using minimalist software.  

Pencil2D is also well-known as animation software for kids. Kids can create simple animations with Pencil2D since it is very intuitive and easy to use.

To get the most out of your hand-drawn animations, we would recommend investing in acquiring a graphics tablet and a stylus.

Function-wise, Pencil2D switches between raster and vector workflows that happen seamlessly and quite naturally, enabling you to focus more on the task at hand.

Image Source: Pixel Studio

Starting Price: Free (With In-App purchasing options)

Pros:

• Offers autosave and backup functions
• Supports external drawing tools (Samsung S-Pen, Apple Pencil)
• Perfect software for beginners and professionals

Cons:

• Steep learning curve
• You need to buy the Pro version to get rid of ads

Pixel Studio for pixel art entails what it has been named after, plus so much more! Available on both Android and iOS, this fun and exciting application will put you in the front seat of pixel art and animation creation.

Created for both beginners and professionals, Pixel Studio allows you to create pixel animations. If it’s something you’ve never considered or tried before, this app makes the entire process super simple and intuitive.

With Pixel Studio, animation creation centers around the frame-by-frame method and the multiple-layer approach.

The app supports external drawing tools like the Samsung S-Pen and the Apple Pencil for iPad users. There are also autosave and backup functions in place so that you’ll never have to worry about losing any of your work.

Image Source: MotionBook

Starting Price: Free (With In-App purchasing options)

Pros:

• Secure to use
• Gets updated regularly
• Perfect software for beginners

Cons:

• Lacks advanced features
• Offers slow support at times
• Only available on iOS devices

This traditional frame-by-frame animation tool sets the stage for other advanced animation programs that exist today and is a great beginner tool for novice animation enthusiasts.

Available exclusively on iOS devices, MotionBook – Draw & Animate is an excellent tool for making unique cartoon-style flipbook animations.

This app comes packed with many features, and navigating through the UI is intuitive and straightforward.

Files that you’re working on can also be saved on iCloud and synced across your iPhone and iPad. You can also import real videos and use them as references to help you draw poses or gestures.

Image Source: RoughAnimator

Starting Price: $4.99 (one-time payment)

Free Trial: Yes

Pros:

• Offers timeline with unlimited layers
• Easily to adjust the exposure length of individual drawings
• Perfect software for beginners and professionals
• Easy to learn and use

Cons:

• The audio workflow needs improvement
• Steep learning curve
• Has many bugs

RoughAnimator is as straightforward as animation apps get, with both beginner and professional animators finding ways to utilize and enjoy it.

The process that goes into using RoughAnimator relies on the traditional hand-drawn frame-by-frame animations, so having a stylus is recommended for this app to shine brightest!

The learning curve isn’t the steepest, either. But, generally speaking, when doing frame-by-frame animations, patience is the key. It’s an artistic trade that plays the most pivotal role, rather than the actual ability to draw or be “good at art.”

When it comes to features, and there are plenty, it’s essential to know that you’ll primarily work with layers and within a timeline.

Such animation apps allow room for error since you’ll be working frame by frame; deleting and reworking certain parts of your animations won’t cause too much headache.

If you’re feeling inspired, this app should provide you with enough features and tools to make exciting, quality hand-drawn animations.

Image Source: OpenToonz

Price: Free (Open-Source Software)

Pros:

• Free and open source
• Offers many advanced tools
• Perfect for experienced users

Cons:

• Advanced tools are not very intuitive
• Steep learning curve

OpenToonz is an open-source 2D animation software program. Even though Open Toonz may seem very simple initially, the program has been used to produce some major cinema productions for film and TV.

Anastasia, SpongeBob SquarePants, Asterix in America, Titan A.E., and Futurama are some of them. It has also been used for video games such as Discworld 2 and Claw.

This free program offers essential drawing tools that can be used to create sequences frame by frame. It also offers plenty of advanced tools which you can use if you have some animation experience since they are not very intuitive.

Since this tool is open source, you can use its code and customize it as you wish. It is free to use both for commercial and non-commercial purposes.

However, you may need to have good programming knowledge in order to use and customize its code. OpenToonz is available on Linux, macOS, and Microsoft Windows operating systems.

Image Source: FlipaClip

Starting Price: Free (With In-App purchasing options)

Pros:

• Easy to use and learn
• Great customer support
• Updated regularly

Cons:

• It has a few bugs
• You need to upgrade to the pro version to disable ads
• Deleting a layer will delete it across all frames if you have not saved a copy of the project

FlipaClip is a cartoon animation video app that works on Android and iOS and is rated as one of the best frame-by-frame animation tools for portable devices.

You can use it to create animations by sketching and storyboarding (that can go beyond the familiar stick figures), all while having access to a wide range of features that are intuitive and simple to use.

Sharing options are deeply integrated into the app, so posting your work to platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook will only require pressing a button.

With FlipaClip, cartoon animators will also be able to create GIFs and save your work in MP4 format.

What’s even more exciting is that this app hosts contest events where you can win prizes and become a part of a community of animators that can help you get inspired and grow as an animator.

This app is a fun way to begin animating and learning as you go, with all of the available features and an incredible arsenal of tools to progress with as you get better!

Image source: Synfig Studio

Starting price: Free (Open-Source Software)

Pros:

• Free
• Clean and easy interface
• Quick loading times

Cons:

• Limited export formats
• Getting the right color is tricky

Synfig Studio is an open-source 2D animation software. It was developed as a powerful professional solution for producing high-quality animation using raster and vector graphics.

Synfig is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

It eliminates the requirement to create animation frames one by one, allowing you to produce high-quality 2D animation with fewer people and resources than with traditional methods. How? Keyboard shortcuts make drawing quick and effortless.

Synfig Studios has different features for vector tweening and artwork creation, bones, layers & filters, and advanced control via mathematical expressions (time to bust out that high-school maths knowledge).

One of the best things about Synfig Studio is that they offer multiple video tutorials in multiple different languages. So, even if you are an animation newbie, you’ll be able to get the most out of the software.

3D Animation 🔥

What Is 3D Animation?

3D animation, also called CGI or Computer Animation, is one of the most popular types of animation.

It is widely used for feature films, short films, and video games. 3D animation works completely differently than 2D animation or traditional animation. For starters, 3D animators need to have different technical skill sets to animate in 3D.

With computer animation, just like with vector-based 2D animations, you don’t have to be a great draftsman or have impeccable drawing skills.

More than drawing, your main task will be moving the character in a 3D program. You will be using special controls every time you need to move individual parts of the character and create and set different keyframes for each movement.

The rest is left to the 3D software to calculate the “journey” of the character’s movement between the keyframes that you have created. The animator will then refine the keyframes if needed.

Another difference between 3D and 2D animation is that the 3D animated character (all of their body parts) is always present no matter how you move the character. In 2D, the animator only has to animate (draw) the parts that can be seen in 2D.

For instance, if you see the profile of a 2D character (from the side), the other half of the body is not drawn or animated since it technically does not exist in a 2D setting.

In 3D, the entire body of a character is always there and always exists, no matter if we can or cannot see the other half of their body.

The frame rate in 3D animation is also different from 2D animation since the character’s motion is animated for every frame instead of every two frames, like it is in 2D.

Here Are The Best 3D Animation Software Apps In 2023

Image Source: Autodesk Maya

Starting Price: $215 per month (billed monthly)

Free Trial: Yes

Pros:

• It offers plenty of features
• Provides a complete 3D package
• Can convert complex geometry into proper topology
• Powerful and very customizable

Cons:

• Expensive
• It takes a lot of time to render
• Sometimes it may crash

Autodesk Maya is perfect for freelancers and small companies because it offers a complete 3D package, and users do not have to purchase any other tools. If you want to try it before buying, you can take advantage of their 30-day free trial.

If you are a student, you can also get a free license to explore and use this tool completely.

Autodesk Maya is one of the best to create high-quality and professional animations and complex characters.

It offers many features, as well as the option to add scripts and plug-ins.

You can use Autodesk Maya for 3D modeling, 3D animation, 3D rendering and shading, rigging, character creation, dynamics and realistic effects, motion graphics, and more!

This software animation app is not recommended for beginners as it is very complex and requires quite some animation knowledge.

Even for experienced graphic designers, this tool can be difficult at first. But the more you use it, the better you will get at it. Practice makes perfect, after all.

Image Source: Cinema 4D

Starting Price: $73.99 per month (billed annually)

Free Trial: Yes

Pros:

• Easy to learn and easy to use
• It is fast and powerful
• Works perfectly with After Effects
• Perfect for real-time 3D film production

Cons:

• It is expensive
• Modeling and designing complex models may become challenging

Cinema 4D is a professional 3D modeling, simulation rendering, and animation software app. If you are already using Adobe After Effects but are not happy with its 3D capabilities, you will be pleased to know that Cinema 4D works perfectly with After Effects.

Through Cinema 4D, you can work directly on After Effects without having to render anything in advance.

Whether you are working on your own or in a team, this 3D animation software app is a perfect choice. Not only is it flexible, but it also offers a stable toolset, and you can use it to produce stunning animations.

If you are a motion graphics artist, you can also use Cinema 4D for motion graphics since this versatile program was designed with motion graphics in mind.

Legend has it that the software was created with the fourth dimension in mind since it is called 4D instead of 3D, but it seems the world is not ready for the fourth dimension just yet.

Image Source: Blender

Price: Free (Open-Source)

Pros:

• Perfect for professionals
• Offers advanced tools (such as motion tracking and inverse kinematics)
• Offers CPU and GPU rendering
• Powerful visual effects and auto-tracking

Cons:

• Steep learning curve
• Hard to make image animations (since it is focused on 3D animation)
• Not available on smartphones

Blender is one of the most popular open-source 3D creation suits that’s been around for over two decades.

Although Blender isn’t available for smartphones, it happens to be cross-platform compatible for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

With Blender, you will have an incredible tool that will enable you to create high-quality 3D animations that will feel and look professional, as long as you put in the time and effort to take on the high learning curve.

Luckily, there are tons of tutorials available on the web to get you started.

So if you ever wanted to get serious about animation and 3D development, this program is your one-way-stop on that exact path. Make sure your computer is up to scratch and meets the minimum system requirements.

Image Source: Toontastic

Price: Free

Pros:

• User friendly
• Perfect for a variety of skill levels
• Highly motivating
• It is free to use and has no ads

Cons:

• Not available on some old devices
• Hard to record in groups
• Sound effects might overpower characters’ voices

Toontastic 3D is a wonderful app available for iOS and Android. Owned by Google, this storytelling app will bring out the joy of creating animated cartoons for children and adults.

With this creative platform, users will draw characters and scenes and give guidance and direction for how their stories unfold, from beginning, middle, and end.

There’s a handful of pre-made locations to choose from, and it becomes up to you what exactly happens in your story, so let your imagination run wild!

On the technical side of things, it’s one of the most straightforward applications to use that we’ve covered on the list. The entire process, from beginning to end, feels and intuitive as it is fun.

Just know that it’s not compatible with some older devices, so best ensure your gadget has what it takes before hitting the download button.

Stop Motion Animation 📹

What Is Stop Motion Animation?

Before the CGI animation world, Stop Motion animation was the type of animation used to give that “special effects” feeling.

However, the introduction of CGI has not meant the “end” of stop motion. Stop motion is the only type of animation that gives animators something “touchable” to work with since they use real objects.

Stop motion animation involves slight movements of real-life objects, which are photographed after every single move.

Like in traditional 2D animation, the illusion of movement is created when all the frames are shown in sequence.

Stop-motion animation involves the following types:

• Puppets
• Legos (or other action figures)
• Claymation
• Paper Cut-outs (cut-out animation)
• Silhouette (made out of cardboard or other flat materials)
• Pixelation (using real people and environments)

What makes this type of animation tricky is that if you make a mistake in any of the frames, it will be very hard to fix, and you will most likely have to recreate the entire thing from the beginning.

If patience is not your thing, we would recommend using other types of animations.

Here Are The Best Stop Motion Animation Software Apps In 2023

Image Source: Animation Desk

Starting Price: Free (With In-App purchasing options)

Pros:

• Advanced and powerful tools
• Various export options are available
• Easy to use and intuitive

Cons:

• Limited brushes available
• You need to upgrade to the pro version to disable ads

Animation Desk is a frame-to-frame-based animation app that beginners will acclimate to quickly, while advanced users will enjoy the high functionality and plenty of tools.

It is incredibly intuitive, with plenty of features that will enable its users to make anything from quick sketches to lengthy cartoons.

Many import and export options are available (Photoshop layers, PDF sheets, and even GIFs). Onion skinning is also one of the key features available on this app for 2D animation creation.

Animation Desk works on Windows, Mac, and Android without any hick-ups. However, this app shines brightest when used on the iPad alongside an Apple Pencil or any other compatible stylus for that matter.

You can also draw inspiration from the Animation Desk community, where aspiring animators such as yourself share their work and find creative ideas and tips for their future animations.

Image Source: Stop Motion Studio

Price:

• iOS and Android: $4.99 (One-time payment)
• Mac and Windows: $9.99 (One-time payment)

Free Trial: Yes

Pros:

• Offers advanced syncing capabilities across different devices
• Easy to use
• Friendly and simple interface

Cons:

• Sometimes it freezes
• The free version has many pop up ads
• Needs improvement in the customer support department

Available on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac, Stop Motion Studio is one of the best stop motion animation movie-making apps currently on the market.

With this app, you’ll be able to create amazing stop-action movies and have an incredible amount of features at your disposal.

If you happen to have multiple devices, you’ll be pleased to know that if you start a project on one device, you’ll be able to finish it on another, thanks to the advanced sync capabilities that are in place.

Stop Motion Studio will make even its most advanced users occupied and content from beginning to end regarding features.

At its core, this animation app is a full-featured movie editor, all while being easy to use with a simple interface.

You should primarily consider what type of camera you own when taking on this app.

Stop motion production relies on capturing images, and having a professional camera is highly recommended for advanced users (although, at the beginning, your phone’s camera should suffice).

Image Source: Dragonframe

Full Price: $295 (One-time payment)

Student Price: $195 (One-time payment)

Free Trial: No

Pros:

• Ability to use manual lenses
• Offers Onion skinning

Cons:

• Steep learning curve
• It slows down if you feed it a high volume of data

Initially released in March 2008, this stop motion animation software has been the go-to option for several full-length motion picture films such as ParaNorman, Frankenweenie, and Laika’s Coraline, The Boxtrolls.

Dragonframe has also been used to shoot stop-motion shorts and live-action movies such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems, Dragonframe is perfect for anyone who plans on making professional stop-motion videos.

The software also allows you to manipulate the camera and the scene and combine various frames into a sequence of animated frames.

Motion Graphics 👾

What Is Motion Graphics?

Motion graphics are used to animate logos, text, images, and video clips. While it can be both 2D and 3D, motion graphics do not necessarily follow a particular story or character.

This type of animation is widely used in TV commercials and promos, sports events, news editions, film opening titles, and so on.

To be a motion graphics designer, you will not have to have some 2D or 3D animation skillsets such as understanding acting and body mechanics or creating proper character animation.

However, you must understand animation and what good composition is, and follow most core principles that apply to 2D or 3D animation.

For example, one of the most common features or products that motion graphics animation software apps offer is whiteboard animation.

What Is Whiteboard Animation?

Whiteboard animation is the process of physically drawing an illustrated story on a physical whiteboard with marker pens or drawing on a digital whiteboard using a digital pen.

Some smart whiteboards with touch screens also give you the option to use a digital pen or draw with your fingers.

This whole process is recorded, and authors, more often than not, use time-lapse drawings to keep their engaging videos short.

Businesses and organizations use whiteboard animation videos mostly as explainer videos. They are creative and fun to watch.

If you use a traditional whiteboard, you do not have to break the bank to create a whiteboard animation.

If you decide to use a digital whiteboard or a Smart TV offering touch screens and whiteboards, the equipment might cost you a couple of thousands of dollars.

Here Are The Best Motion Graphics Animation Software Apps In 2023

Image Source: Adobe Creative Cloud Express

Starting Price: Free (you can upgrade to a paid Premium plan for $9.99 a month)

Free Trial: Yes

Pros:

• Easy to use and share preview links
• Provides royalty-free images and music
• Seamless sync between devices
• Perfect for creating professional and qualitative products

Cons:

• The limited stock music selection
• Not the best app for creating long videos

Previously called Adobe Spark, the Adobe Creative Cloud Express, besides offering the same features as Adobe Spark, includes new templates and intuitive features.

With Creative Cloud Express, you’ll be able to create social graphics and short video stories based on different video formats and themes on the go.

You can also use this tool to create flyers, web pages, logos, banners, Instagram stories, posters, business cards, YouTube thumbnails, and more!

Since it is available on the web and mobile, it is perfect for anyone that wants to continue projects across devices seamlessly. So it is excellent in portability.

While it’s not an animation-only app, Creative Cloud Express stands out in its simplicity of producing videos based on the use of templates.

It offers access to millions of templates, images, icons, and effects.

With Creative Cloud Express you can create creative video content for businesses, educational purposes, and personal use.

This product can improve your social media posts’ quality by adding a certain degree of professionalism and giving you options and features to personalize your video with animations.

The sharing options are also worth noting since Adobe makes it incredibly simple to get your work out there, making this a go-to platform for not only animations but for so much more.

Image Source: Animaker

Starting Price: $20 per month (billed monthly)

Free version: Yes

Pros:

• Perfect for individuals or startups
• Supports full HD and both horizontal and vertical layouts

Cons:

• Steep learning curve
• The free version lacks advanced features
• You need to upgrade to remove the watermark

Animaker is a nifty online tool that will enable you to create personalized animated videos with a click of a button.

Since it’s a browser-based platform, you won’t have to worry about accessibility as long as you’ve got an internet connection.

When it comes to using Animaker, beginners without a single second of background knowledge in animation will have no hard time mastering its video-making capabilities, creating animated GIFs, and so much more.

Animaker is a perfect tool for anyone who understands the importance of visual communication but doesn’t have the time or resources to create high-quality animations with robust professional programs.

Hence, the paid plans can become a viable option for many. Animaker offers users so many products and options when it comes to animation.

Among the products offered are: Video maker, 2D animation software, Whiteboard video maker, Infographic Video maker, Animaker voice, and Vertical Video maker. Let’s take a closer look at the Whiteboard video maker.

Whiteboard animation with Animaker

Animaker is one of the best whiteboard animation software out there. Not only does Animaker offer several pre-made whiteboard templates, but it also includes four new styles of “whiteboard” backgrounds besides the whiteboard one:

• Blackboard
• Notepad
• Stitchboard
• Glassboard

Making Whiteboard Videos with Animaker is fairly easy. You can start from scratch or choose a template that you like. Then you select one of their five types of boards.

After that, you select characters and props with the type of scribbling. You can also go a step further and edit text, add effects, and some music, and you are ready to go!

Image Source: Textro

Starting Price: Free (With In-App purchasing options)

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Perfect for beginners

Cons:

• Has no transparent background
• Has many ads
• Has a watermark (but it can be removed if you watch a 30-second ad)
• Not available for iOS users

When it comes to animated videos with text, Textro is excellent for doing just that. Unfortunately, this animated text video app is only available on Google Play and Microsoft Store (sorry iOS users, you can skip this one altogether).

This app is straightforward to use when it comes to usability and takes very little time to create a quality-looking animated text on the go.

You can use Textro to write text on Instagram Stories, make intros for your YouTube channel and let your imagination run wild when adding text to any video project of your liking.

Thanks to bright and colorful combinations that are easy to mix and match, you’ll have tons of cool features at your disposal that will get your videos noticed.

In the font department, your choices are far and wide when it comes to customization and style. Additionally, there is an option to add music to any project to make your work feel genuinely complete.

So if you are active on various social media platforms, it won’t hurt you to check out Textro and see if you can implement their text animations into your online content.

Image Source: Animoto

Price: Free (With In-App purchasing options)

Pros:

• Easy-to-use and intuitive UI
• Perfect for users who run multiple social media marketing platforms

Cons:

• Only available for iOS users (iPhone and iPod Touch)
• The free version is limited and lacks advanced features
• Limited amount of templates

Explicitly built with storytellers in mind, posting on social media (Instagram, Facebook, etc.) is a breeze.

Animoto is only available on iOS devices and is great for creating amazing vertical videos, digital marketing, and other video editing needs.

This animation maker is very intuitive and user-friendly and only takes minutes to figure out.

Even if you don’t have any animation background, you won’t have any trouble creating animated content that your followers will notice and appreciate.

With templates for video stories, uploading photos and video clips directly from your phone happens instantly. There are also collages and layouts, as well as fonts and animated text.

All this will give your videos a genuinely authentic feel without being and feeling too repetitive.

Additionally, you’ll be able to import music from your iTunes library; just don’t forget the copyright guidelines if you plan to share your videos online.

Most of the features become available with a premium subscription that comes at $9.99 per month. Still, if you’re a business running multiple social media marketing (SMM) platforms, this is worth considering if you’re trying to up your SMM game.

Image Source: Muvimi

Price: Free (With In-App purchasing options)

Pros:

• Fun to use
• Perfect for creating your own avatar
• Easy to edit and collaborate with friends

Cons:

• It has a few bugs
• Only available to iOS users
• Limited customization options

The next app that we’re going to look at is a fun one! Have you ever wanted to create an animation of yourself without actually animating anything? Well – here’s your chance!

Muvimi lets you create avatars of yourself and your friends (or any other characters). Once your avatars are ready, you can start directing the movie that comes with entirely customizable sets and voiceovers.

Once your scenes are ready to be spliced together, the editing process is pain-free and also fun.

Muvumi can also be used for fun and somewhat serious projects – it’s all up to you. Sharing to social media and collaborating with friends is also relatively easy.

Image Source: Powtoon

Starting Price: $19 per month (billed monthly)

Free version: Yes

Pros:

• User friendly
• Simple and intuitive interface
• Character diversity

Cons:

• The free version includes a watermark
• Character creation is not very customizable
• Limited background music

Founded in 2012, Powtoon is a web-based animation software. Its name comes from the combination of the word PowerPoint and Cartoon.

Similar to Animaker, this motion graphics animation software is mostly used to make cool presentations and animated explainer videos.

So far, it has over 30 million users worldwide. This British company estimates that it takes users about 20 minutes to create a Powtoon.

Even though Powtoon is easy to use, it still requires users to have some animation knowledge. In addition, if you need to make a video presentation, there are various image, audio, and background options you can choose from.  

Image Source: PicsArt

Price: Free (With In-App purchasing options)

Pros:

• Easy to use and learn
• Simple UI
• Allows you to turn animations into GIFs or videos
• Perfect for beginners and professionals

Cons:

• You cannot remove or edit the watermark
• Has a few bugs
• You will need a phone pen if you want to make the most of this app

Suppose you’re looking for an easy-to-use animation app with a high degree of functionality that will allow you to create cartoons, videos, or animated GIFs. In that case, PicsArt is that very app.

Available on both Android and iOS, this animation app will suit anyone, thanks to its almost non-existent learning curve and a high level of functionality.

PicsArt probably has the most significant appeal to social media users since you can take your selfies (or any pictures, for that matter) and simply bring them to life by drawing over them and sharing them once you feel proud of your creation.

How To Choose The Right Animation Software?😅

Choosing the best animation software for you becomes easier once you define what type of animations you would like to create, be it Motion Graphics, 2D, 3D, or Stop Motion animation.

If you would like to create several types of animations using the same platform, keep in mind that the tools will be limited one way or another.

For instance, if you want to create 2D animations and motion graphics, then Adobe After Effects is the right choice for you.

However, if you plan to use Adobe After Effects for 2D and 3D animations, you will most likely be disappointed, as 3D animation with After Effects is very basic. You will most likely need to use an additional software app to create more advanced 3D animations.

If you are already comfortable in the Adobe world and decide to go with Adobe After Effects, we would recommend using Cinema 4D for more advanced 3D capabilities. As mentioned earlier, Cinema 4D works directly on After Effects, and you will not have to render in advance.

One crucial factor to consider before you make the final decision is the difficulty level of the animation software app.

Are you a beginner?

The best animation software apps that can be easily grasped by beginners or anyone who is just starting out are:

Out of these tools, Adobe Animate CC and Pencil2D are perfect as animation software for kids.

Are you a professional?

If you are an experienced animator looking for advanced animation features, then your best picks will be:

Some basic animation software apps are perfect for both beginners and professionals, such as:

If you stick with only one type of animation but are unsure whether the animation software app will help you achieve your goals, read reviews and get as much information about the software in advance.

Remember that some of the best free animation software apps mentioned above are either completely free or offer a free trial, so you don’t have to invest in one of them right away.

You can always try first and see whether the software app will be an excellent fit for your lifestyle.

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