Introduction
Animation software allows creators to bring their artistic visions to life. Whether you’re a hobbyist just starting out or a professional in need of powerful tools, there is a wide variety of options to choose from. In this blog, we evaluate the top 15 animation software across different categories and price points. We focus on software known for their capabilities in 2D and 3D animation, motion graphics, visual effects, concept art, character rigging and more.
Methods of Evaluation
To evaluate and rank the animation software, we considered several conventional factors like features, pricing, ease of use, and performance. Additionally, we looked at more modern metrics like the number of backlinks, average monthly traffic, and search volume trends for each software’s keyword phrases to understand their industry reputation and market presence. This helped provide a more complete picture of how established, popular and future-proof each software is among users and professionals. Based on these weighted criteria, we’ve compiled our list of the top 15 Animation Software for 2023.
1. Apple Keynote
Apple Keynote is presentation software developed by Apple Inc. It allows users to create slideshow presentations consisting of images, text, video, and other multimedia objects. Some key features include support for creating animated slides and building simple explainer videos.
Pros: Key advantages of Apple Keynote include:
– Easy to use interface for creating professional looking presentations
– Built-in templates and themes for different types of presentations
– Wide range of animated transition effects between slides
– Support for adding comments and annotations
– Integrates well with other Apple apps like Photos and iMovie
Cons: The main disadvantage is that Keynote is only available on Apple platforms like macOS and iOS. It does not have versions for Windows or Android.
Pricing: Apple Keynote is available for free download on macOS and iOS devices. For advanced features like sharing and collaborating on presentations online, a Apple iCloud storage plan may be required starting at $0.99/month.
Some key stats about Apple Keynote include:
– Over 1 billion Apple devices actively used worldwide
– Available on macOS and iOS platforms
– Free to download and use on Apple devices
– Used for business presentations, classes, conferences and more
2. Adobe After Effects
Adobe After Effects is an industry-leading software for motion graphics and visual effects. Developed and maintained by Adobe Inc., After Effects has been the standard animation and compositing software used in major motion picture and video production industry for over 25 years. With its powerful tools for compositing, tracking, keying, and animation, it allows artists to create motion graphics and visual effects for film, TV, video, and web.
Pros: Some key advantages of Adobe After Effects include:
– Industry-standard tool used by professionals worldwide
– Powerful VFX and motion graphics tools for compositions, tracking, keying etc.
– Very versatile and flexible for 2D and 3D animation and motion design
– Deep integration with Premiere Pro and other Adobe apps for a seamless workflow
Cons: One potential disadvantage is the steep learning curve due to the extensive toolset and complexity. It will take time for beginners to learn the basics and get comfortable with advanced tools and techniques.
Pricing: Adobe offers After Effects through its Creative Cloud All Apps plan. Pricing starts at $52.99/month based on an annual commitment.
Some key stats about Adobe After Effects:
– Over 15 million users worldwide
– Used in every major studio, network, and production house
– Deep integration with other Adobe apps like Premiere Pro and Photoshop
– Constantly being updated with new features and improvements
3. Toon Tatsu
Toon Boom Toon Tatsu is free and open source 2D animation software ideal for creating animated shorts and other 2D projects. With Toon Boom’s intuitive timeline-based workflow, creators can focus on bringing their visions to life without distractions.
Pros: Some key advantages of Toon Boom Toon Tatsu include:
– Free and open source pricing model with no subscription fees
– Streamlined timeline-based animation workflow that emulates traditional paper and cel methods
– Focus on delivering a polished yet intuitive interface for creators of all experience levels
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that as a free and open source solution, it lacks some of the more advanced features found in paid animation software like character rigging tools.
Pricing: Toon Boom Toon Tatsu is completely free and open source software. There are no subscription or licensing fees to use the software for both personal and commercial animation projects.
Some key stats about Toon Boom Toon Tatsu include:
– Used by over 50,000 independent creators worldwide
– Support for major file formats like PNG, JPEG, MP4, WebM
– Cross-platform support for Windows, Mac and Linux
4. Blender
Blender is a free and open-source 3D creation suite available for all major operating systems including Windows, MacOS, and Linux. Developed by the Blender Foundation and its global community, Blender has been used to create stunning visuals for films, games, architectural and product design. Since its inception in 1995, it has grown into a powerful yet accessible platform for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, post-production, and more.
Pros: Some key advantages of Blender include:
– Free and open-source licensing means no monthly fees and access to full source code
– Extremely capable 3D software used widely in film, design, and engineering industries
– Large community support through extensive online tutorials, forums, and add-ons
– Customizable interface that can be tailored to specific workflows and needs
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that as open-source software Blender’s development is community driven rather than by a single large company. This can sometimes lead to inconsistencies compared to paid alternatives with dedicated development teams.
Pricing: Blender is completely free to download and use with no subscription or licensing fees required. Both the open-source Blender codebase and pre-compiled versions for all major operating systems are freely available on blender.org.
Some key facts about Blender include:
– Over 2 million downloads monthly
– Used in top films like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Deadpool, and Terminator: Dark Fate
– Continually expanded and developed by its global community of open-source contributors
– Supports all major render engines and file formats used in 3D production
BlenderThe Freedom to Createblender.org
5. Elastic Reality
Elastic Reality is a real-time 3D modeling and animation platform used for building virtual worlds and XR experiences. It offers both free and paid plans.
Pros: Some key advantages of Elastic Reality include:
– Real-time collaboration allowing multiple users to work simultaneously
– Built-in physics engine for realistic interactions
– Code-free visual scripting for non-coders
– Educational and open source licenses available
Cons: A potential disadvantage is the learning curve to fully utilize all of Elastic Reality’s features as it is a complex 3D tool.
Pricing: Elastic Reality offers different pricing plans starting from a Free plan up to an Enterprise plan depending on usage and requirements. Educational and nonprofit licenses are also available at discounted rates.
Some key stats about Elastic Reality include:
– Used by thousands of creators, engineers, and artists globally
– Supports building experiences for web, mobile, VR, AR, and more
– Integrates with Unity, Unreal Engine, and other 3D tools
6. Unreal Engine
Unreal Engine is a powerful real-time 3D creation platform developed by Epic Games. It is widely used for developing photorealistic games and simulations across industries like film, television and architecture. Some key animation features of Unreal Engine include powerful tools for rigging, skinning, realistic motion capture and cinematics.
Pros: Some key advantages of Unreal Engine for animation include:
– Industry standard tools for animating photoreal characters and creatures.
– Ability to import and work with industry standard file formats like FBX and Alembic.
– Large online marketplace with various character models, motions, environments and scenes.
– Real-time animation preview and render capabilities.
Cons: One potential disadvantage of Unreal Engine is the royalty fees of 5% that apply once commercial products using the engine make over $1 million in sales. However, this is standard in the industry for game engines.
Pricing: Unreal Engine is free to use for non-commercial or educational purposes. For commercial products, developers pay 5% royalty on gross revenue after the first $1 million earned per product per calendar quarter.
Some key stats about Unreal Engine:
– Used in over half of the top 100 highest grossing mobile games.
– Over 3 million registered developers.
– Extensive online documentation and tutorials.
– Free to use with 5% royalties after $1 million in sales.
7. Avid Pro Tools
Avid Pro Tools is the industry standard digital audio workstation (DAW) for audio production. In addition to its core audio recording and editing capabilities, Pro Tools also includes integrated tools for basic animation and video editing. With features optimized for creating soundtracks and designing sound for film, television, video games and more, Pro Tools gives users powerful yet intuitive tools for matching audio to picture.
Pros: Some key advantages of Avid Pro Tools include:
– Robust toolkit for recording, editing, mixing and processing multi-track audio
– Sophisticated timeline tools optimized for precisely matching audio to video
– Integrated basic animation features like keyframe volume automations help design sound for picture
– Large plugin ecosystem and compatibility with industry standard audio hardware
Cons: A potential disadvantage is the upfront cost – a Pro Tools subscription can be expensive for individual users or smaller studios on a budget. However, for professional audio work it remains the industry standard solution.
Pricing: Avid Pro Tools pricing starts at $29.99/month for the Pro Tools | First subscription which includes basic audio recording and editing tools. For professional audio production the Pro Tools | Pro subscription is $49.99/month or $599 annually which unlocks the full capabilities. Educational and loyalty discounts are also available.
Some key stats about Avid Pro Tools include:
– Used by the majority of major film studios, video game developers, broadcasters and music producers globally
– Over 30 years of market leadership as the top professional audio production software
– Continually updated with new capabilities and support for the latest audio hardware and file formats
8. PowToon
PowToon is an online animation software that allows users to create professional animated presentations and explainer videos without any design or coding skills. Founded in 2011, PowToon has grown to become one of the most popular platforms for creating animated videos with over 50 million users worldwide.
Pros: Some key advantages of PowToon include:
– User-friendly interface that requires no design or coding skills
– Large library of characters, backgrounds, graphics and audio files
– Fast rendering times to create videos within minutes
– Ability to customize videos with colors, themes, fonts and effects
– Good for creating explainer videos, presentations, infographics and more
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that the free plan only allows watermarking of final videos and limits video output to 720p resolution.
Pricing: PowToon offers both free and paid subscription plans:
– Free Plan: Allows creation of basic videos with a watermark. Limited output resolution.
– Standard Plan: Starts at $9/month billed annually. Removes watermark. Allows 1080p videos.
– Business Plan: Starts at $25/month billed annually. Removes all limits. Dedicated support.
Some key stats about PowToon:
– Over 50 million users globally
– Used by 9 out of 10 Fortune 500 companies
– Supports over 100 pre-made cartoon characters and templates
– Easy drag-and-drop interface for creating videos within minutes
9. iClone
iClone is a 3D character animation software developed by Reallusion. It allows users to rig and animate 3D models and scenes for applications in film, games, VR/AR and more. Some key capabilities of iClone include 3D character creation, motion capture, facial animation, real-time rendering and the ability to output animations to popular game engines and video formats.
Pros: Some key advantages of using iClone include:
– Intuitive interface makes it easy to learn for beginners
– Powerful motion editing and matchmoving tools for high quality animations
– Real-time rendering engine for quick previews
– Ability to create detailed facial expressions and lip syncing
– Library of animated meshes, motions and pre-rigged characters to speed up workflows
Cons: A potential disadvantage is that the professional/studio version has a high upfront cost compared to some other animation software. However, it offers powerful features for 3D character workflows.
Pricing: iClone is available in several tiers including:
– iClone Free for basic motion graphic workflows
– iClone Standard starting at $399 for individual use
– iClone Pro starting at $999 for studio/team licenses
– iClone FX for visual effects workflows
– Educational and bundle pricing options are also available on Reallusion’s website.
Some key stats about iClone include:
– Used in over 150 countries by animators, filmmakers, game developers and more
– Over 1 million downloads to date
– Animation library of over 10,000 motion clips
– Integrations with Unity, Unreal Engine and other 3D tools
10. Construct 3
Construct 3 is a leading 2D game development and animation software created by Scirra. With over 10 years of active development, Construct 3 allows both coders and non-coders to create games, animations and other interactive experiences without traditional programming. The software utilizes a visual node-based interface for rapid game and animation prototyping.
Pros: Some key advantages of Construct 3 include:
– Visual programming interface eliminates the need to write code
– Built-in support for animations, sprites, scenes and events
– Publish games and animations to the web directly from the editor
– Extensive library of plugins and extensions for advanced functionality
– Active developer community and support forums online
Cons: The main disadvantages of Construct 3 are:
– Free version has limits on project size and export options
– Some advanced coding may still be required for complex games
– Fewer customization options compared to code-based engines
Pricing: Construct 3 offers the following pricing tiers:
– Free Basic edition – For personal use only
– Standard edition ($39) – Removes project size limits of Free version
– Team edition ($89) – Additional features for collaboration
Some key stats about Construct 3 include:
– Used by over 5 million users worldwide
– More than 300,000 game projects shared publicly
– Supported platforms include Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS
– Constant updates and new features added regularly
– Free to use with additional paid tiers for advanced features
11. ZBrush
ZBrush is 3D sculpting software developed by Pixologic. Since its launch in 1999, it has become the industry standard for digital sculpting and painting workflows. It allows artists to sculpt highly detailed characters, creatures, props, and more in a digital small-scale environment.
Pros: Key advantages of using ZBrush include:
– Leading software for highly-detailed 3D sculpting
– Intuitive brushes and tools mimic traditional sculpting
– Great for modeling organic forms like characters and creatures
– Wide range of customization and flexibility through plugin ecosystem
Cons: The main disadvantage is that it is focused purely on digital sculpting and does not have robust 3D modeling tools like polygon modeling found in other apps. Customers would need another app like Maya or Blender for hard surface modeling.
Pricing: ZBrush pricing starts with an annual subscription costing $895 or a perpetual license for $895. Educational rates are available. Customers can purchase monthly or quarterly subscriptions as well. Yearly plans work out to be the best value overall.
Some key stats about ZBrush include:
– Used by thousands of artists worldwide for over 20 years
– Powers character creation for top game franchises, movies and more
– Continuously updated with new features and improvements
– Acts as a gateway app for Pixologic’s full 3D pipeline of software
ZBrushThe industry standard for digital sculpting and paintingpixologic.com
12. Houdini
Houdini is a 3D procedural software for modeling, rigging, animation, VFX, look development, lighting and rendering in film, TV, advertising and video game pipelines. Developed by Side Effects Software, Houdini is a node-based 3D animation software that focuses on visual effects. It has become the industry standard for simulations and procedural workflows that require optimizing large scale effects and complex scenes.
Pros: Key advantages of Houdini include:
– Node based allowing modular and reusable workflow
– Ideal for procedural content generation and simulations
– Excellent tools for look development, lighting and rendering
– Optimization for large and complex scenes
– Wide toolset for modeling, rigging, animation and effects
Cons: One of the key disadvantages of Houdini is its steep learning curve. As a node based software focused on visual effects, it requires significant time and practice to master its tools and capabilities.
Pricing: Houdini is commercially licensed with pricing starting at around $4,000 USD for an indie license. Educational and commercial licenses are available on a per seat basis from Side Effects.
Some key stats and facts about Houdini include:
– Used in over 95% of visual effects blockbusters
– Over 25 years of continuous development
– Node based workflow allows for reusable components and scalability
– Popular for crowd simulations, destruction simulation, fluid/cloth/hair dynamics etc.
13. Clip Studio Paint
Clip Studio Paint is an illustration, manga and animation software created by Celsys Inc. Available on Windows and macOS computers as well as iOS and Android mobile devices, it provides professional-grade tools for creating comics, illustrations, concept art, animation and more. With over 4 million users globally, it has become one of the most popular choices for digital artists and animators.
Pros: Some key advantages of Clip Studio Paint include:
– Robust animation features for frame-by-frame and motion tween animations
– Ability to create comics, manga and graphic novels
– Affordable one-time purchase pricing compared to Adobe subscriptions
– Regular updates and new features added based on user feedback
– Available on desktop and mobile devices for a consistent workflow
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that Clip Studio Paint lacks some advanced 3D modeling tools found in programs like Blender or Maya. It is primarily designed for 2D illustration, painting and animation workflows.
Pricing: Clip Studio Paint is available with the following pricing tiers:
– EX: $49.99 annually or $74.99 every two years (recommended for professionals)
– PRO: $69.99 annually or $104.99 every two years
– MOBILE: $9.99 monthly or $59.99 annually for iOS/Android apps
Some key stats about Clip Studio Paint include:
– Over 4 million users worldwide
– Supports Windows, macOS, iOS and Android
– Affordable one-time purchase pricing starting at $50
– Large library of over 1500 included brushes, materials and other tools
14. Synfig Studio
Synfig Studio is an open-source 2D animation software designed for creating film-quality animation using vector and bitmap artwork. It provides a powerful timeline and layer-based workflow that is customizable for versatile 2D projects.
Pros: Some key advantages of Synfig Studio include:
– Completely free and open-source software
– Customizable interface and workflow
– Powerful timeline and layer-based animation tools
– Support for vector and bitmap artwork
– Export to formats like WebM, GIF, and more
Cons: A potential disadvantage is that Synfig Studio has a relatively smaller user community compared to proprietary animation software, which can make finding specialized help or tutorials more difficult at times.
Pricing: Synfig Studio is completely free to download and use. There are no subscription or licensing fees required as it is open-source software.
Some key stats about Synfig Studio include:
– Open-source and free to download for Windows, Linux, and MacOS
– Used by both individuals and studios for commercial productions
– Over 10 years of active development
– Supports importing and exporting of many file formats
15. Poser
Poser is 3D human and animal character design and animation software developed and published by Smith Micro. Originally released in 1992 as a 3D graphics program focused on 3D character posing and rendering, Poser has since expanded to include robust character animation tools. Poser offers an extensive library of 3D movable figures, props and scenes that enable users to easily create human and animal 3D models and animate them.
Pros: Some of the key advantages of using Poser include:
– Extensive pose libraries that allow users to quickly set up character poses without having to manually position each bone. This speeds up character setup and animation.
– Affordable pricing compared to more full-featured 3D animation software like Maya, Blender or 3ds Max, making it a good option for hobbyists and independent animators.
– Intuitive interface and included 3D assets reduce the learning curve compared to other animation software.
Cons: A key disadvantage of Poser is that as it focuses more on 3D character setup and animation, it lacks some of the robust modeling, texturing, lighting and rendering tools found in broader 3D software like Maya, Blender or 3ds Max. So advancedhard surface modeling and texturing need to be done in other apps.
Pricing: Poser pricing starts at $129 for the Pro version and $199 for the Pro Bundle version which includes additional 3D assets. Educational pricing is also available. Subscription options are also available starting at $19.95/month.
Some key stats and facts about Poser include:
– Poser comes preloaded with over 7,000 poses, 150,000 textures and thousands of 3D models and scenes to speed up design and animation workflows.
– It has a user base of over 2 million users worldwide, making it one of the leading 3D character animation software.
– Poser ships with tools for skeletal animation, inverse kinematics, morph targets and dynamics simulations to enable animating realistic movements.
Conclusion
In conclusion, animation software is a diverse space with solutions for every need and budget. Whether you want to simply animate videos for school or create complex visualizations, there is software that can help bring your ideas to life. We hope this evaluation of the top 15 provides useful context to help you choose the right animation tool to fuel your creativity. With the powerful and accessible options available today, the doors to animation are wide open for all.