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Sep 17,2019• Proven solutions
In your search for quality animation software, you may have found that many of the programs cost a lot of money.
It is not ideal if you need to pay so much for animated application, and price should not be the reason that stops you from making animation video.
The good news is that you can choose free animation tools to start the journey in the market.
That is why we created a list of the best animation software on both Mac and Windows. Some of them are excellent to use, even compared with some paid package.
Whether you are a professional editor or just a beginner to start making animation, you will find the tools listed below are easy to use without watermark and won't cost money to improve your skills.
The best part is you will find these free animation programs are also very useful for content creation on Mac and Windows. Besides, we have listed the pros and cons of each software. Keep reading!
Best Animation Software on Mac and Windows - FilmoraPro
Looking for some simple while powerful video editing tools? We recommend using Wondershare FilmoraPro. You can use it to create 2D/3D animated texts, shapes or anything you like for YouTube video.
The keyframing features will help you make animation effects smooth and precise. When exporting, you can also make it transparent.
Besides, various title templates and transitions are also available for you. Download it now to have a try!
Simple steps to make animation easily
Create various shapes that you like
Add keyframing to make it move
Fine-tuning to make it smooth
Add visual effects/text/color before export it
Here we have listed 10 free animation software without watermark on Windows and macOS.
Synfig Studio
Pencil2D Animation
Tupi
Blender
DAZ Studio
Terragen
Anim8or
Seamless3d
OpenToonz
Stykz
Part 1: Best Free Animation Software for Mac
Listed below are free animation software on Mac. Take a look.
1.Synfig Studio - Mac software to animate video
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: You can create many layers once a time and sync audio for your animation.
Con: This one needs much time to learn, especially for beginners.
An open-source 2D animation software that works on Macs, Synfig Studio delivers multiple players while you are creating content. Whether you want to add geometric, filters, distortions or transformations, it is all possible! And thanks to the high-end bone system, you can create cut out videos using bitmap images!
The thoughtful part is there are two download version on the homepage: stable version and development version. If you want to enjoy a stable and smooth animation editing experience, choose the stable one. However, the development package give you access to use the latest features.
For a novice, you can learn Synfig from step by step guide in Wikipeida and video tutorials. Four languages are available including English, Russian, Dutch and French for video course.
Features:
It offers support for many layers within the animation.
The program’s bone system means that you can easily create animations with bitmap images or vector artwork.
It allows you to sync your creative work with any sound that you want. Has a full-featured audio editor.
2.Pencil2D Animation - Animation program for 2D pencil lover
Difficulty Level: Easiest
Pro: Easy to start and make animation as the interface is user-friendly for many people.
Con: You need to set your preference every time to open it up, so it takes up some time
Pencil2D Animation is one of the simplest 2D hand-drawn tools available. It will work flawlessly on Mac computers. It is ideal for beginners, as the commands and interface are very easy to understand.
Whether you want to create a simple one, or you want something with many layers for videos on YouTube, you can use Pencil2D animation to get it done. Its time is easy to use at the first glance. You can add and duplicate different frames on different track.
The frequency of releasing new version is very fast as Pencil2D is committed to bring the lasted features to each users. The newest version is v0.6.4 (as of August, 2019). Its user guide is informative with video tutorial, FAQ and manual material.
Features:
Lightweight and minimalistic design that makes it very easy for beginners.
Features raster and vector workflows, with easy switching between them. You can paint and sketch as you want!
Will run on all platforms - Mac, Windows and Linux.
Completely free and open source.
3.Tupi - free animation application for mac users
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: It supports vector illustrations. Besides, various formats are available.
Con: If you want to make 3D animation, it will fail. You can only make 2D effects.
A free software application for YouTube, Tupi will allow you to create 2D animations to your heart’s content. The tool was started by animators who wanted to create something that others could use.
It is an open-source tool, which means that users can make their tweaks to the program if they have some interesting ideas. The program works on both Windows and Mac. You need to use Tupi and Papagayo to make lip-sync animation with different mouth shape.
It offers solution for schools with related features including academic license, technical support and ads-free, so many schools choose use this one to teach kids on how to make an animation video.
Features:
Support for vector illustrations. You can add rectangles, lines, polygons, and other shapes as you please. To fill areas, just use the paint bucket.
You can import raster images using this program.
You can export all your finished images into different file formats.
Support for tweeting positions, scale, shear and rotations.
4.Blender - need some time to learn this animation tool
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Really powerful software that you can make for professional users.
Con: It is not easy to make image animation as it focuses on 3D.
Blender is an open-source 3D animation creation suite without watermark. If you find that 2D is a little bit limiting, we think that you will be very happy with what this free program offers. You can take your projects to a whole new level when you can use this program on your Mac.
You can use Blender to make video game, modeling and high quality animation. However, it involves steep learning curve. Luckily, there are many tutorial to guide you through the journey. You can also ask for help in Blender community that millions of talented people like you are there.
Features:
Creating renders is no problem with this program.
Modeling, such as sculpting, retopology and creating curves is not an issue either.
VFX and animation features are better than any option on the market.
It offers powerful simulation tools.
Integration with pipeline tools is easy.
Part 2: Best Free Animation Software for Windows
Below are free animation software on Windows. Keep reading.
5.DAZ Studio - free software for 3D lovers
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: You can make game animation for fun. It also supports GPU accelerated real-time rendering.
Con: It has high demand for the device, but owns a steep learning curve.
Daz 3d is a powerful and completely free 3D creation tool that will let you create the short videos that you want. Whether you are using this for business or pleasure, you will find the program is very easy to understand. Within a day, you will be completely used to its interface.
3D effects is the core focus of DAZ Studio. You can build model, render and pose animation within skin texture level. It has a high requirement for device. For Windows 64 bits, its recommended RAM is 3G.
Features:
Options for 3D morphing, animation, and rendering.
GPU accelerated real-time rendering, which delivers the best results.
Interactive tutorials to help you become a better 3D artist.
Everything you make is yours, royalty-free!
6.Terragen - use it to make CG animation
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: The recently updated version is the best one. Ray-traced preview is a great function to help us making animation.
Con: The interface looks complicated, but it gets easy to know after you are familiar with it.
A completely free program that you can download and install on all Windows computers and tablets, Terragen is the ideal program for you to create the 3D animations and environments that you want. If you want a photo-realistic CG environment, using Terragen is the best way to do it!
Releasing imagination instantly, Terragen Creative is the one tool you'd like to consider. You can use it to make beautiful scenery.
For advanced tools, you can choose FBX to make animation quickly. The featured image gallery on its homepage will give you a deep understanding about the final outcome you can achieve with Terragen.
Features:
Ray-traced preview. Without watermark after exporting
Photo-realistic clouds and ozone simulation
Rendering is twice as fast as the previous version of the program.
Adding terrain, objects and shader to your final product is very easy with the intuitive interface.
7.Anim8or - free tool to make 3D modeling
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Anim8or supports 3D modeler and TrueType fonts to meet advanced needs.
Con: Beginners will find it difficult to learn.
Anim8or is a free 3D modeling program that will let you create the unique work that you want. It is a personal project from an animator, but the program does get regular updates and troubleshooting.
It is not going to give you the same features as something like Studio Max or Maya, but you will get the basics. Beginners who are getting into animations will love this program.
Anim8or is a great tool to step into 3D animation ff you think other software is too different to start. In some way, it means you need to give up some advanced features. But all in all, it's still recommended for you.
Features:
A full 3D modeler that allows you to create spheres, cylinders, platonic solids and any other objects that you want.
Features support for TrueType fonts.
Easy to create 3D scenes and output them as video files or images.
8.Seamless3d - open-source free software
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: It is an open-source 3D modeling package. The good thing is the handy infinite Undo/Redo operation.
Con: Some advanced features are missing like drawing.
Seamless3d, an open-source 3D modeling software that you can download, is among the best animation worktable if you want to create specialized images, animated videos or 3D characters.
It supports FFmpeg video format, so you can use AVI, MP4 and more. Besides, the forum is not active compared with before, but you still can find answers from many tutorials.
Features:
It comes with infinite undo and redo options for complete flexibility to correct mistakes.
It allows for partitioned and seamless texture mapping for YouTube videos.
Has a specialized tree view interface.
9.OpenToonz - support plug in to make animation freely
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: It is an open source software, so you can change the code freely.
Con: The plug-in effects are limited.
This animation program is made for beginners on Windows. It is among the best 2D animation software in the market. You can use plug-in effects to change image style, add lights and distort details. It supports Windows 7/8/10 only for 64 bit.
Features:
You can add provisional colors to make your animation more colorful.
Smooth correction without frame losing.
Compatible with black-and-white, colored, or without binarization scanning.
10.Stykz - Simple to use animation program for beginners
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: It is the best stick figure animation if you want to make this kind of video.
Con: The UI is not modern to use and needs time to adapt to using it.
Stykz is completely free to use and without watermark. If you have used Pivot StickFigure Animator, then you will find Stykz is similar to it, but you can import the previous .stk files to animate it again. You can use it to make animation smooth frame by frame.
With its frame based feature, Stykz is easy to cutomize each frame. You can change previous and current frames to get what you want. You can download it to have a try considering its easy to use features.
Features:
There is some animes file on this website, so you can have a reference.
Edit animation in the software without using another editing window.
You can share the final work with others including information.
Conclusion
With any of these free animation maker programs on Mac and Windows, you will have an easy time creating your next 2D or 3D video. Ensure you choose the program that has the features and compatibility that you desire. Then it is up to your creative mind to come up with stunning animations! If you want to make animation easily, download FilmoraPro to have a try.
Easy-to-use and powerful video editor for all creators.
Bring up your video to a professional level with straightforward tools.
Choosing Video Editing Software
Video Editing Tips
2018 Update:The content mentioned in this blog no longer represents the main video direction of Moovly.
Instead of the emphasis on animation only, Moovly has now transitioned into a leading video-making platform that allows you to create professional-looking video content using animated transitions, infographics, and 75+ million stock videos, images, and sounds.
Register and use the discount code NEWMOOVLY20 to get 20% OFF.
Click here to get started.
In today’s environment, free animation software is widely accessible for the average video animator looking to create animations. Designers, educators, trainers and even marketers have realized the real value of creating animated videos as one of the key means of increasing audience engagement.
Where to get free animation software?
There are various resources available for creating 2D animations. The most effective and modern method is creating 2D animations through the use of online software. For the most part, creating 2D animations is not an expensive process. Sure, for the industry leading animation experts, using of the best 2D animation software can come at a costly expense. However, there are many free and free-trial 2D animation software solutions available, capable of creating awesome animations online. The big question remains, “Which free 2D animation software should I use”?
Try Moovly… ? Did you know that Moovly is an easy and powerful animation software, accessible online to anyone with an internet connection? Moovly offers a full-featured free trial license, after which you can decide to upgrade to Pro subscription for $49 a month. Definitely, much less than almost all of the other animation tools you’ll find!
Which animation software is the easiest?
Let’s face it, creating animated videos can be a daunting experience. For beginners, After Effects is arguably a step in the wrong direction. After Effects animation software is incredibly powerful for professional video animators with graphical talent and experience, but for beginners, it can be a bit of a nuisance. Much like the old Flash animation software, After Effects is an expensive animation tool and makes use of sophisticated features which will only confuse beginners.
So which animation software is the easiest to use? Well, when it comes to 2D animation software, Moovly is by far one of the most well-rounded animation programs, with a clean looking interface and great features. What is it that makes Moovly the easiest animation tool compared to the likes of Powtoon, Wideo, GoAnimate, Prezi or Animaker?
Right from the launch, Moovly was designed to be extremely user-friendly and straightforward. Tried and tested, we made sure that creating animated videos with Moovly is an easy and joyful experience. With Moovly you can create your animated video in no time, taking advantage of the drag and drop interface. Just browse the object libraries and look for the animated asset you wish to use, and drag it onto the “Stage”. There are over 500,000 assets for you to choose from across the multiple Moovly libraries: animated objects, motion graphics, animated backgrounds, stock photos and videos, illustrations, royalty-free sounds and music, all free for you to use in your content! You will surely find something for your animated video project.
But that’s not all. With Moovly, you can also make use of pre-animated templates called “Clips”. Clips are fully customizable, meaning you can customize and adapt them to your requirements in a fast and easy manner!
Another feature which makes Moovly one of the easiest animation tools out there is the ability to use a growing list of default animation effects. Moovly allows you to apply animation effects to your objects, such as “Move and Zoom”, “Fade in” or “Fly out”. Simply choose your animation effect and voila!
Want to find out just how easy Moovly’s 2D animation software is? Start here!
Which animation software should I use?
Before creating your first animated video, you’re most probably going to ask yourself “Which animation software should I use”? GoAnimate, Powtoon, Prezi, Wideo, Animaker… The list of the best 2D animation software tools goes on.
Here’s why your next animated video should be made with Moovly: Moovly is a cloud-based animation software that doesn’t require any downloads. As we mentioned above, Moovly uses a drag-and-drop feature which helps promote the platform’s easy to use animation software.
Moovly also features many animation libraries, most of which are fully available on Moovly’s Free Trial license – so you can experience almost all of it! Here’s what you can expect from each of the animation libraries which help position Moovly as the best 2D animation software.
The Doodle Marker animation library
Moovly’s Doodle Marker graphic style is a very recognizable animation library, popular amongst many users looking to create an animated explainer video. Check out this video animation created with Moovly’s Doodle Marker library:
The Infographics style animation library
The Infographics style is another one of Moovly’s popular animation libraries. Similar to the Doodle Marker animation library, Infographics style animations are commonly used to explain certain topics and ideas, in a more corporate approach.
The Clean Graphics Style library
With over 100 different clean, simplified graphical elements, the Clean Graphics library is ideal for professional videos and works great to attract you audience and put emphasis on the message you want to get across.
Animation software for business use
Gone are the days where businesses would need to buy Flash animation software and pay an animation expert to create a 30-second animation video. The rise of online video animation software has created a sense of urgency amongst marketers and brands. More and more marketing videos produced are making use of beautiful 2D animations. It’s time for you to jump on the animation train and engage your audience with animated content!
You can use Moovly’s animation software for free for a whole month to create stunning animated videos without any design skills or specialized training. With Moovly, you can create animated videos yourself in a cost effective way. Have a look at the staff picks of our User Gallery to check out what other users have made with Moovly!
Below are a few different examples of the types of videos that you can create on Moovly’s 2D animation platform:
Animated explainer videos. Educate your viewers about your product or service through an animated explainer video. With Moovly, you have unlimited animated objects available, perfect for creating an explainer video.
Training videos. When it comes to live training seminars, there’s a lot to take in. Why not create an animated training video, which your staff, students or other audiences can watch and follow from the comfort of their home?
Brand awareness video. To create a video that helps you meet your marketing goals, you need your potential customers to recall your brand. Connect with your potential audience on a personal level by sharing stories and testimonials, using video.
If you are looking to make your brand shine, Moovly offers you a business solution. With a Moovly Business License, you can create fully customized animated videos that meet your brand guidelines and corporate requirements.
Free animation software for education
It’s no secret that both kids and adults universally love animation. While animation has been cemented across the entertainment industry for years, animation in learning has only started to gain some serious traction. Animation is a powerful way to improve knowledge retention and simplify complex ideas. Animation can also add humor. It can make learning more interactive and engaging. 2D animation in the classroom should be used to support and add value. You don’t want to pay a fortune to use animation software or spend half your evenings learning complicated animation tools.
Moovly offers a free Education license to all users with an email address from an official educational domain, such as .edu, .k12.us, .ac.uk etc. An ideal solution you want to use Moovly for classroom projects or assignments and have your pupils or students make their own animated explainer videos. More information is available on our Education solution pages.
Publish, share and download your free animations
Did you know that during the Free Trial of Moovly, you can share and publish your animations at no additional costs? Publish your animated video on the Moovly Gallery or share your created animations directly on YouTube and Facebook!
Here are our top 3 tips to help get you started with your 2D animation video.
Choose animated elements that evoke emotions. Choose background music or an animation style that is suitable to your topic and that your audience can relate to.
Focus on one topic at a time. Avoid creating a full-length animated feature. Complex animations will only overwhelm your viewers. Keep your animated video simple!
Pair visuals with audio! Audio has the power to create an emotional setting. Synchronize your created animations with some background music or a narration.
And there you have it.
You can get started with Moovly right away, from within your browser. There’s no need to download and install any sort of video animation software, Moovly is entirely cloud-based! It’s time to create animations and bring them to life: sign up here for your Free Trial of Moovly and get started on creating your video!