Best Animation Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Rive is ranked #1 of 108 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of Powtoon and Animaker. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Powtoon. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Rokoko Studio at $0.83/mo.
For projects ranging from animated graphics to modeled scenes, animation tools cover different creative needs. Compare 2D animation tools, 3D modeling, character rigging, and motion graphics to see which capabilities align with your work. Cloud collaboration and export formats can help you consider how assets move through a workflow, while supported platforms show where software is available. Rive, Powtoon, and Animaker are among the names to compare; Cascadeur, Live2D Cubism, and Animation Desk are also included. Check whether a free plan is offered and compare the paid-from price alongside the features you need for the kind of animation you want to create.
108 animation software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 Rive iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.5$9/mo 2D animation tools: YesCharacter rigging: Yes
- 2 Powtoon iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.3$8/mo 2D animation tools: Yes
- 3 Animaker iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.3Free 2D animation tools: Yes
- 4 Cascadeur iPhone only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.2$19/mo Character rigging: Yes
- 5 Live2D Cubism iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.9$5.65/mo
- 6 Animation Desk iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.7Free
- 7 Pixelorama Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.7Free
- 8 Stop Motion Studio iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.5Free
- 9 Wick Editor iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.3Free 2D animation tools: Yes
- 10 Blender No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.2Free 2D animation tools: Yes3D modeling: YesCharacter rigging: Yes
- 11 Houdini No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.2$7.92/mo 3D modeling: YesCharacter rigging: Yes
- 12 Callipeg iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.1$5/mo
- 13 OpenToonz No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.0Free 2D animation tools: Yes3D modeling: NoCharacter rigging: Yes
- 14 Vyond iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.0 2D animation tools: Yes
- 15 iClone No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.8Free 2D animation tools: No3D modeling: NoCharacter rigging: Yes
- 16 Pencil2D No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7Free 2D animation tools: Yes
- 17 Plotagon iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7
- 18 Brush Ninja iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7$4/mo 2D animation tools: Yes3D modeling: NoCharacter rigging: No
- 19 Rokoko Studio No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.6$0.83/mo
- 20 Bforartists No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.5Free
- 21 Plask Motion No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.5$18/mo
- 22 DeepMotion Animate 3D No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.5Free
- 23 Mixamo No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.4Free
- 24 FlipaClip iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.4
- 25 Glaxnimate Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.4 2D animation tools: Yes
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | 2D animation tools | 3D modeling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rive | 9.5 | Free plan | $9/mo | Yes | Free | Yes | — |
| 2 | Powtoon | 9.3 | Free plan | $8/mo | Yes | $15/mo | Yes | — |
| 3 | Animaker | 9.3 | Free plan | — | Yes | $15/mo | Yes | — |
| 4 | Cascadeur | 9.2 | Free plan | $19/mo | Yes | $8/mo | — | — |
| 5 | Live2D Cubism | 8.9 | No | $5.65/mo | Yes | $13.26/mo | — | — |
| 6 | Animation Desk | 8.7 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 7 | Pixelorama | 8.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 8 | Stop Motion Studio | 8.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 9 | Wick Editor | 8.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 10 | Blender | 8.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 11 | Houdini | 8.2 | Free plan | $7.92/mo | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 12 | Callipeg | 8.1 | No | $5/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 13 | OpenToonz | 8.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | No |
| 14 | Vyond | 8.0 | No | — | No | — | Yes | — |
| 15 | iClone | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | No | No |
| 16 | Pencil2D | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 17 | Plotagon | 7.7 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 18 | Brush Ninja | 7.7 | Free plan | $4/mo | Yes | — | Yes | No |
| 19 | Rokoko Studio | 7.6 | Free plan | $0.83/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 20 | Bforartists | 7.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 21 | Plask Motion | 7.5 | Free plan | $18/mo | Yes | $18/mo | — | — |
| 22 | DeepMotion Animate 3D | 7.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 23 | Mixamo | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 24 | FlipaClip | 7.4 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 25 | Glaxnimate | 7.4 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which animation software is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
Rive is ranked #1 of 108 with a score of 9.5. Powtoon is second and Animaker third.
How many of these have a free plan?
19 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Rokoko Studio has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.83/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation.