Top 11+ Must-Try Animation Tools of 2025: Free, 2D & 3D Options to Elevate Your Creations

Ready to dive into my favorite animation software list? My top choices are Adobe Animate and Maya.

Emile Cohl, a French artist and animator, created the world’s first animated film, ‘Fantasmagorie,’ back in 1908. Since then, storytelling through animation has captivated audiences worldwide and sparked imaginations across generations.

From beloved classics like The Lion King and Spirited Away in the 1990s and early 2000s to contemporary Netflix series such as Love, Death, and Robots, animated stories have become a staple of our culture. By 2022, over 80% of internet traffic will comprise video content, highlighting the increasing importance of web-based video creation.

Thanks to online animation tools, even beginners can craft impressive animations, including CGI, 2D vector graphics, stop-motion, typography, and motion graphics. Mastering animation skills can lead to profitable opportunities, whether you aim to pursue a professional career, enhance your video editing projects, earn income online, or monetize platforms like YouTube.

This guide will assist you in selecting the ideal animation software, tailored whether you’re into advanced 3D modeling or need a simple animated explainer. We’ve compiled a list of top 2D, free, and 3D animation programs this year.

Disclaimer: I might earn affiliate commissions at no extra cost if you decide to buy a paid plan through some of the links below. You can review our affiliate disclosure in our privacy policy.

Animation software enables creators to craft movement and graphics on a frame-by-frame basis. These individual frames are synchronized to generate seamless motion in videos, games, and films.

While computer animation originated in the 1940s and 50s, real progress began with the 1988 release of Softimage. It was the first tool to unify animation, modeling, and rendering functions—leading to the production of hundreds of major movies and video games. Today, animation impacts almost every aspect of our digital and entertainment lives, from GIFs and presentations to immersive games and blockbuster films. Creating an animation typically involves manipulating a series of images set across keyframes.

You can either develop professional animations yourself using these tools or hire specialists to do it for you. If you’re eager to start creating, this article reviews and ranks the best animation software available this year.

Let’s get started.

Disclaimer: The links below may earn me affiliate payments at no cost to you. These are the tools I’ve tested and believe to be most effective for producing high-quality animations. Read my full affiliate policy in our privacy policy.

Here are my top recommendations for animation programs suited for both professional animators and business use.

Adobe Animate is a versatile vector and 2D animation tool perfect for web and mobile applications. It allows animators to bring vector graphics to life, craft interactive content, and apply various effects easily. The platform also offers customizable templates that you can tweak to suit your project.

Adobe Animate is best suited for individuals aiming to animate vector graphics, develop interactive web-based content, or create animations with an emphasis on user interaction. Its user-friendly interface and extensive features make it suitable for both beginners and experienced designers.

Adobe Animate is available at $20.99 per month for the personal plan, offering affordable access to powerful animation tools.

If you’re interested in accessing all of Adobe’s software tools, you can subscribe for $79.99 each month, which grants you full access to their entire suite of products. Alternatively, you can opt for a free trial of Adobe Animate, which is completely risk-free and allows you to test its features before making a commitment.

Get started with Adobe Animate today. Visit the Adobe Animate page to learn more.

Founded in 1998, Maya is an acclaimed 3D animation and graphics software that has won an Oscar in 2003. Currently owned by Autodesk, it’s highly regarded for creating interactive 3D content for movies, video games, TV shows, and special effects.

Many blockbuster films like Lord of the Rings, Spiderman, Star Wars, and Ice Age have used Maya’s capabilities. One of its key advantages is compatibility with all major operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux, making it accessible to a wide range of users.

Maya excels at producing high-quality animation, visual effects, and 3D modeling for movies, games, and other digital media. If you need sophisticated effects, Maya is a top choice.

Maya is widely regarded as one of the top 3D animation tools available today, combining powerful features with an affordable price of $1,700 annually (or $215 monthly). Users can try it free for 30 days to see if it suits their needs before committing to a purchase.

Maya remains among the leading options in the field and has earned my second-place ranking this year.

You can experience Maya risk-free with a 30-day trial or save 34% by subscribing to an annual plan.

Renderforest is a comprehensive online platform that allows you to create videos, animations, logos, and websites without the need for advanced design skills. It’s perfect for web designers, entrepreneurs, and those who want professional-quality content but don’t specialize in complex 3D modeling.

If you’re not a design expert but want to produce a logo, animated clip, music visualizer, or a sleek intro, Renderforest is the ideal choice for easy, all-in-one content creation.

Business owners who prefer to avoid hiring professional animators but are comfortable following simple online instructions will find Renderforest very useful. If you lack coding skills but want high-quality animations for a monthly fee, this software is an excellent solution.

Plans range from free to $49.99 per month depending on your needs, with the recommended $19.99/month plan suited for businesses producing multiple videos. You can try their platform for free today and see how it fits your project requirements.

Sign up for Renderforest now to get started free of charge. 

Pencil2D is a straightforward and easy-to-use application designed for creating traditional 2D hand-drawn animations. It is open-source and completely free, making it accessible for everyone, including commercial projects. Its user-friendly interface makes it an excellent choice for newcomers who want to practice drawing characters by hand.

This software is perfect for artists who want to learn digital art techniques or for beginners with simple animation needs. Pencil2D offers an approachable platform for those starting out in digital animation and traditional art conversion.

As one of the most affordable animation tools available, Pencil2D boasts an intuitive interface that is easy to navigate. It provides comprehensive tutorials to help users get started quickly. Its minimal design encourages focus on the core aspects of animation and drawing, without unnecessary clutter. The software’s community is active and regularly receives updates, keeping users informed about the latest developments. Additionally, users can connect with others through a dedicated community forum for troubleshooting, ideas, and support.

One requirement is using separate layers for each image, similar to programs like Photoshop or Adobe Animate. Currently, Pencil2D does not support 3D animation features. Importing and exporting animations could be improved to enhance flexibility and workflow efficiency.

Since Pencil2D is open-source, it is completely free to download and use online. It is ideal for beginners embarking on their animation journey, offering a cost-free way to learn and create digital hand-drawn animations.

Founded in 2014, Animaker is a do-it-yourself (DIY) platform for creating 2D animations and videos. It provides a broad range of features, including the ability to produce animated videos with in-built templates, videos, and infographics. In 2017, it became the first animation company to introduce a vertical video creation tool specifically designed for creating vertical, animated content.

This program is highly suitable for educational purposes, especially where simple, ready-made templates make animated tutorial creation quick and accessible.

As a cloud-based service, Animaker offers various subscription plans, ensuring flexible access depending on user needs. The detailed pricing options can be checked on their official website.

Animaker begins with a free plan that offers basic features with limited capabilities. For those seeking more, there are three paid subscription options: The basic package costs $10 per month (billed annually), the starter plan is $19 per month (annual billing), and the professional plan runs $49 per month (annual billing). Additionally, enterprise pricing is customized according to specific business needs.

Originally released in 2016, OpenToonz is a free, open-source animation software. Its open nature allows developers to modify and enhance the code to fit their needs, making it highly customizable. Its primary goal is to connect academic research with animation techniques, fostering innovation in the field.

OpenToonz is ideal for developers and animation artists who require extensive customization. It also serves small to medium-sized businesses and educational purposes for tutorial creation.

OpenToonz is freely available online and can be used for both personal and commercial projects at no cost.

Synfig, also called Synfig Studio, is one of the newest tools in the animation market. It is a free application focused on 2D and character animation, with a specialization in vector graphics solutions.

Synfig is useful for creating TV cartoons, promotional videos, or marketing animations. It is also suitable for educational projects.

Since it is open-source, Synfig Studio is completely free to download and use. The project depends largely on community donations to maintain and improve its features.

KeyShot is a standalone ray-tracing and global illumination rendering program specifically designed for creating stunning 2D and 3D animations. Impressively, it does not require an additional graphics card to operate efficiently. It supports over 30 file formats for rendering and offers features like interactive labeling, texture mapping, and realistic lighting effects. Its user-friendly interface is tailored for those with prior experience, making it accessible for professionals involved in concept modeling, jewelry design, toy creation, and automotive visualization.

This software excels in concept development where high-quality 3D visualization is essential. Its versatility makes it ideal for applications such as jewelry, toy, and automobile design, contributing to fast prototyping and presentation.

KeyShot offers four different plans:

All plans include a free trial period of 15 days, allowing users to test the software before committing to a purchase.

K-3D is another powerful open-source 3D modeling and animation tool that provides a flexible environment for creating complex 3D graphics and animations. Its open-source nature allows users to customize and extend its capabilities according to their project requirements, making it a popular choice among developers and artists seeking a cost-effective solution for professional-grade 3D design.Plugins are powerful tools for designers and artists, praised for their intuitive, user-friendly, and easy-to-learn interfaces. They work smoothly on both Mac and Windows systems, offering more versatility than traditional modifier stacks used in visualization. Additionally, they support basic 2D animation needs. However, it’s important to note that this software is not free.

Best suited for:
This tool is ideal for professional artists, web designers, and animation experts. It’s also excellent for producing films and documentaries, designing jewelry, creating toys, and more.

Key features include:
– Highly adaptable, leveraging a node-based visualization architecture
– Ability to combine various options into multiple custom configurations
– An advanced undo/redo system for efficient workflow management
– Compatibility with numerous plugins, thanks to its robust object-oriented plugin structure
– Built from the ground up to deliver motion-picture quality animations with high-quality rendering engines
– Supports procedural and parametric processes
– Changes made early in a workflow automatically propagate through to the final output, making modifications intuitive

Pros:
– User-friendly and straightforward in design
– Available free of charge for both commercial and personal projects
– Capable of producing both 2D and 3D animations
– Suitable for artists working with limited budgets
– Simplifies complex workflows, making them easier to build, understand, and troubleshoot

Cons:
– Insufficient tutorials for learning animation techniques and tool functionalities
– Can be challenging for beginners without proper guidance or training

Pricing:
This software is entirely free, accessible to anyone with an internet connection.

Blender homepage

Blender is one of the most popular free tools for creating 3D animations. Since its initial release in 1998, it has been widely adopted in various industries. It excels in animating films, designing 3D printed models, creating motion graphics, and producing cinematic visual effects.

Best for:
Blender is perfect for student animators and small studios. While it isn’t often used in large-scale professional environments, it’s highly valuable for educational videos—especially in classrooms that incorporate VFX and 3D elements. Its game engine feature also enables users to develop games. It works well for individuals and smaller operations with modest requirements. Moreover, it’s compatible with Apple iPhones, Android devices, macOS, and integrates with software like Cinema 4D, Moho, Stop Motion Studio, Flipbook, and CrazyTalk Animator.

Key features include:
– Rendering capabilities with high-end production path tracers
– Extensive modeling tools for sculpting, retopology, and general modeling tasks
– Reliable simulation tools using industry-standard libraries such as Bullet and MantaFlow
– Built-in, efficient video editing features
– Support for game development via a dedicated game engine
– Modifiers allowing non-destructive effects application
– Grease Pencil tool for sketching in 2D and integrating with 3D models
– Support for various geometric primitives like metaballs, icospheres, and Bezier curves

Pros:
– Very intuitive and easy to learn interface
– Highly customizable setup
– Recognized for award-winning animation and bone rigging capabilities
– Compatibility with various pipeline tools like Collada and Alembic
– Supports Windows, Linux, and macOS operating systems
– Offers comprehensive tutorials for users to master the software

Cons:
– Not as beginner-friendly; may be difficult for new users
– Has a steep learning curve requiring dedication to learn effectively

Pricing:
Blender is completely free and open-source.

PowToon homepage

Founded in 2012, PowToon provides SaaS-based software for creating animated videos. It’s a web-based platform specializing in 2D animation, offering a wide array of templates and royalty-free images to streamline the creation process. PowToon is versatile, suitable for producing educational tutorials, engaging presentations, and personal projects.

Best for:
PowToon is most suitable for educators, marketers, and content creators seeking quick, professional-looking animated videos without extensive technical skills. Its library of templates simplifies the design process, making it accessible for users of all experience levels.This software is ideal for professionals who frequently create and deliver presentations. It offers a range of features designed to enhance your workflow and output quality.

Key Features:
– No watermarks appear on your videos
– Download projects as MP4 files
– Supports full HD video resolution (1080p)
– Complete control over your account’s privacy settings
– Direct export options to social platforms like YouTube
– In-depth video tutorials and walkthroughs to assist new users
– A variety of character animations and cartoons to choose from

Pros:
– Creative and detailed animations that stand out
– Round-the-clock, priority customer support
– A free plan is available, though it has some limitations

Cons:
– Sometimes experiences slow performance during editing
– Lacks offline editing capabilities
– Can be pricey for some users
– Does not support 3D animation features

Pricing:
PowToon offers four different subscription options:
– The Pro plan costs $19 per month
– The Pro+ plan is also currently priced at $19 per month
– The Agency plan is available for $29 per month and requires an annual commitment

Animation Paper is regarded as one of the top animation tools available today. It provides a broad selection of 2D animations suited for various applications. Compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac operating systems, it’s particularly useful for professional animators, filmmakers, students, and game developers. Its straightforward interface and quick workflow make it a popular choice, especially for hand-drawn animations and character design. Notably, it offers a freemium version, making it accessible for different budgets.

Best for:
Animation Paper is well-suited for large studios, web designers, and individual animators. It can also serve small and medium-sized enterprises and is a valuable educational resource in smart classrooms.

Key Features:
– High-resolution line quality that maintains clarity upon transformation
– ‘Light table’ feature for better drawing control
– Customizable toolbar for personalized workflows
– Color-coded layers for efficient animation management
– Simplifies coloring and post-paint adjustments
– Free version called ‘Plastic Animation Paper,’ usable for commercial and non-commercial projects
– Multiple flipping methods, including keys, wheel, and return flip
– Smooth real-time rotation and zoom functionality
– Ability to play back sequences to check continuity

Pros:
– User-friendly and intuitive interface
– Fast responsiveness during drawing and flipping
– Lasso tool for easy rotation, repositioning, and scaling
– Easy import of video animations and frame stacks
– Supports full-frame reference on a second monitor
– Lightweight, straightforward, and effective

Cons:
– Does not support 3D animation
– The free version includes limited features
– The paid version costs around $79 per month, offering more advanced options

Adobe Animate is widely regarded as one of the top choices for creating animations for websites and mobile applications. It allows you to animate vector images, develop interactive content, apply special effects, and more, making it a comprehensive tool for animators.

A popular free option for those new to 2D animation is Animate CC. It offers ready-made templates and effects, along with a good range of animation tools, so you won’t need to rely heavily on external plugins to expand its functionality.

No, Adobe Animate is not a free program. It costs $20.99 per month if purchased as a standalone product, or $52.99 monthly if you opt for the full Adobe Creative Cloud bundle.

There are many types of animation software available to suit different needs and skill levels. Every business or individual has unique goals, so it’s important to clearly define what you want to accomplish with your animations. Selecting the right software depends on understanding your specific requirements and the complexity of your projects. For example, if you need sophisticated animations for a professional portfolio, you might choose tools like Maya or Animation Paper. Conversely, for simple animations for your website or online business, free options could be sufficient.

If you’re interested in advanced 3D modeling for video games or movies, Maya is a top choice. For business-related animations such as logos or explainer videos, Renderforest is a recommended platform. When choosing software, consider factors like cost, ease of use, complexity, and the support options available to you.

Do you know of other animation tools not listed here? Share your favorites in the comments.

Further Reading on StepThroughThePortal.com: For more software reviews, check out my guides to the best whiteboard animation software, the top video editing programs, and photo editing tools this year.