Having the right visual content is extremely vital to ensure that your targeted audience is noticing your work and retaining that information. This is why more and more businesses depend on animations to make their visual content look more engaging and attractive. Content with static images can also grab attention; however, they are not as effective as the ones that include animations. Though animation has been around since the late 1800s, it became truly popular in 199 when the first 3D, computer-animated, feature-length film, Toy Story was released.
Many people find animation to be a difficult task, but with the help of the right software, you can easily create beautiful, engaging, and visually stunning creatives with great ease and comfort. With the help of 2D and 3D animation software, you can create anything from a basic introduction/instructional video to full-fledged videos and films. Considering how important and beneficial animation has become, it is not surprising to see several animation software available in the market today. Whether you are looking for free animation software or paid ones, there is no dearth of choices. Hence, you need to take various factors into consideration before deciding on the best animation software.
To make it easier for you, we have created a list of the 10 best free animation apps which include 2D animation software as well as free 3D animation software. Read on to find out more about this software, its features, pros and cons, and pricing plans. Before that, let’s take a look at what exactly is animation software and what are some of the benefits it offers.
Table of Contents
What is Animation Software?
An Animation Software helps the users to use visual files to create moving graphics. Using the software, users can arrange the graphics in a sequential order to create an illusion of movement. It is one of the best ways to enhance your multimedia presentations and videos. You can use animation software to create 2D as well as 3D animations for cartoons, videos, presentations, website media, TV shows, commercials, etc.
Benefits of using Animation Software
There are several benefits of using animation software. Some of these include:
- Reduction in bounce rate as it keeps the visitors engaged, allowing them to stay longer on your website.
- By using animations in your videos, you can increase the chances of getting more quality leads.
- Animations are a great way to increase the quality of your content which in turn helps in boosting the credibility of your websites.
- With the help of animation software, you can make complex information easier to understand and retain.
10 Best Free Animation Software
Here is our list of the 10 best free animation software to use in 2022.
Vyond
Vyond is considered one of the best animation apps for creating professional animated videos by people of all skill levels. It is widely used animation software across various industries, such as marketing, eLearning, training, etc. This tool offers several features and functionalities which makes it really simple to use even for beginners. Using the features offered, users can quickly create any type of video content that best suits their business needs.
Features
- 2D animation
- 3D video editing
- 3D animation
- White-board animation
- Text animation
- Asset library
- 3D modeling
- Pre-built templates
- Drag and drop
- Royalty-free music
- Multi-channel distribution
Pros
- With the pre-built templates, users can create animated videos within a couple of minutes.
- It has a very easy-to-use user interface.
Cons
- The media library (images, music, etc.) offered by Vyond needs to be more robust with more options available.
- The tool does not allow the users to start a scene in the middle of the video. They will need to go through each scene to make any adjustments.
Pricing Plan
Vyond offers a free trial period of 14 days.
Animaker
Whether you are a professional, beginner, or even a non-designer, Animaker allows you to create beautiful and engaging animated videos. This 2D animation software is free for use and is best suited for entrepreneurs, HR professionals, content marketers, classroom storytellers, etc. From creating whiteboard videos to YouTube thumbnails to GIFs to vertical videos, there is a lot that you can create with Animaker. Overall, it is quite an easy-to-use tool for creating animated content within a couple of minutes.
Features
- Asset library
- 2D animation
- Text animation
- Model library
- White-board animation
- Audio capture
- Video editing
- Drag and drop
- Character customization
- Templates
Pros
- One of the key advantages of Animaker is its ease of use, which works in the favor of those who have no experience in this field.
- Compared to some of the best animation apps, Animaker is more affordable.
Cons
- Though Animaker offers several options in terms of images, music, etc., they need to be better organized.
- This animation software can be used only on the browser which makes its usage limited.
Pricing Plan
Animaker offers a free version that includes several of the required features and functionalities.
Powtoon
Powtoon is a free 3D animation software that enables animators to create animated content for various platforms, such as advertisements, video guides, tutorials, presentations, information videos, and more. Its user-friendly interface combined with its vast features and functionalities makes it easier for users to create, save, and share their animated content. This all-in-one tool can be used by people of varying skill levels to create their desired professional animated content.
Features
- Pre-built templates
- 3D objects
- Drag and drop
- Content library
- Voice-over
- Animation
- Collaboration tools
- Media library
Pros
- It is an easy-to-use tool with several features and tools.
- Powtoon is quite affordable.
Cons
- The customer service of Powtoon is not very robust.
- The user interface can be improved to make it more user-friendly.
Pricing Plan
Powtoon offers a free plan along with some paid subscription plans.
Harmony
Harmony is a 2D animation software that is suitable for use by people from different industries, such as professional artists, animators, freelancers, students, etc. This animation software specializes in shading, lighting, special effects, etc., and also offers several advanced features like cut-out rigging, 2D/3D integration, brush engines, etc. With this animation tool, users can increase the efficiency of their visual content, upgrade the performance of their content, and take advantage of several other benefits. The software also helps in improving drawing accuracy by offering drawing rulers and the 3,4,5 curvilinear guides.
Features
- 3D modeling
- 2D animation
- White-board animation
- Character rigging
- Text animation
- Asset library
- Export media
- Model library
Pros
- It offers a vast collection of OpenFX effects.
- Apart from offering some of the best and most advanced tools and features, Harmony also offers a server wherein teams and other members can collaborate efficiently.
Cons
- Harmony cannot be used for creating interactive animation.
- The learning curve is really hard, and users need more documentation to better understand the tool.
Pricing Plan
Harmony offers a 21-day free trial period.
Adobe Character Animator
Adobe Character Animator is an animation software that enables users to create intuitive 2D animation, live animation, character sharing, and more. It uses your expressions and movements and animates the characters in real-time. You can either use the built-in character templates or import them from Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Using this animation software, you can even Livestream your characters. Though used by professionals, this is also considered one of the best animation apps for beginners who are new to animation.
Features
- Character skinning
- Text animation
- 3D animation
- 2D animation
- Asset library
- 3D modeling
- 3D video editing
- Export media
Pros
- One of the top advantages of Adobe Character Animator is that you can animate and Livestream your characters in real-time.
- You can easily integrate this animation app with other Adobe products.
Cons
- Adobe Character Animator offers limited use cases.
- It also does not offer any drawing tools.
Pricing Plan
You can try their free trial before purchasing the software.
Cinema 4D
If you are looking for one of the best free 3D animation software, you must check out Cinema 4D! It offers all the basic features of animation software along with some advanced features as well. Using this software, you can create life-like characters, dynamic relationships between objects, keyframe animation, flexible rig building, and more. There are several in-built features that help the users to create attractive animation without putting in too much effort. Overall, Cinema 4D is one of the best animation apps to optimize your 3D models on the go.
Features
- 2D drawing
- 3D modeling
- Drag and drop
- Rendering
- Media import
- Templates
- Digital library
- Image tracing
- Video content
Pros
- One of the key advantages of Cinema 4D is its extensive collection of 3D models and animation presets.
- This animation app offers top-quality rendering.
Cons
- The user interface of Cinema 4D is not very user-friendly, especially for beginners.
- This animation software is not suitable for creating interactive animations.
Pricing Plan
Cinema 4D offers a 14-day trial period.
Blender
Next in our list of top 10 free animation software for use in 2022 is Blender, an open-source animation software that allows you to create amazing animations within minutes! This software can be used by people from various industries, such as video game developers, studio artists, scientists, educators, etc. This free 3D animation software is loaded with several top features and functionalities like realistic simulation tools, customizable user interface, advanced rigging and animation tools, motion tracking, masking and compositing, and more. It works across all major platforms and is suitable for use by people with varying skill levels.
Features
- Rendering
- Modeling
- Sculpting
- Animation and rigging
- Story artist
- VFX
- Simulation
- Video effects
- Audio capture
- Speed adjustment
- Split / Merge
Pros
- Blender is a free animation software that offers a wide range of features and animation toolset.
- Users have access to several tutorials on how to use the software.
Cons
- The blender comes with a steep learning curve and may not seem very user-friendly for beginners in the initial phase.
- Performance-wise Blender still has a long way to go when compared to some of the other top animation software.
Pricing Plan
Blender is completely free animation software.
Adobe Animate
Adobe Animate is a free 2D animation software using which you can create interactive animations for games, advertisements, videos, television, etc. Designed for animators, artists, and designers, this animation software is equipped with all the required features and functionalities. Along with creating your desired animations, you can also quickly share your work on multiple platforms in various formats. It also allows the users to share their animations as augmented reality experiences. Whether you need to create visual content for the web or mobile apps, Adobe Animate is one of the best options.
Features
- Asset library
- Model library
- 3D animation
- Character rigging
- Character skinning
- 3D modeling
- Drag and drop
- Prebuilt templates
- Text overlay
- Design management
- Media import
Pros
- One of the advantages of using Adobe Animate is that the users have an extensive options when it comes to exporting and sharing their work on any platform.
- It offers a user-friendly interface, making it easier for the users to navigate and use the platform.
Cons
- Adobe Animate has a steep learning curve and may be tedious, especially for beginners.
- The motion graphics option needs to be more advanced and robust.
Pricing Plan
Adobe animate offers a free trial period which users can try out before purchasing the software.
Synfig Studio
Synfig Studio is one of the best free 2D animation software available for use in 2022. This feature-rich software allows you to create high-quality animations within no time. Considered to be a far more robust tool than some of the other open-source animation software, Synfig Studio also offers several advanced features like linking parameters for various layers, more than 50 layers and filters that can be used to create complex animations, built-in features to enhance the animation output, etc. This animation software is suitable for use across various platforms.
Features
- 2D drawing
- Rendering
- Animation
- Skeleton distortion layer
- Automatic friction effects
- Digital tweening
Pros
- It is one of the most affordable 2D animation software available in the market.
- It is a very simple tool, but its features and functionalities allow the users to create amazing animations.
Cons
- There is a steep learning curve involved, especially if you are someone who is new to the world of animations.
- The user interface of Synfig Studio is not very intuitive and should be developed more.
Pricing Plan
Synfig Studio is a free animation software that can be used by anyone.
KeyShot
The final software in our list of best 10 free animation software is KeyShot. This is yet another amazing 3D animation software that allows the users to create interactive visuals, photorealistic renderings, and simple model animations. This simple yet advanced animation software is known for its high-quality 2D and 3D animations without having the need to install any additional graphics card. It also has an extensive features list and is suitable for use by businesses across various industries.
Features
- 30+ 3D file formats
- Real-time 3D image rendering workflow
- 750+ templates
- Interactive labeling
- Physical lighting
- Texture mapping
- Collaboration tools
- Color library
- Toon shading
Pros
- With KeyShot, you can import and export different model formats.
- The software offers extensive inbuilt materials which can be customized based on your requirements.
Cons
- Similar to some of the other animation software listed above, KeyShot also has a steep learning curve for beginners.
- If you do not have a high-quality system, the rendering takes too much time.
Pricing Plan
Users can try out the free trial offered by KeyShot before purchasing the software.
Conclusion
Whether you are a beginner or an expert in the field of animations, it is not easy to choose the perfect animation software for your requirements. Hence, it is best to try out the free animation software available in the market before you go ahead and purchase them. We hope this list of 10 best free animation software is a good start on your search for the most ideal animation software for your personal and professional use.
If you are looking for some more cool software, such as Free Graphic Design Software, do check out SaaSworthy!
