15+ Best 2D Animation Software: Which one is the Best?

2D animation is the art of creating moving images in a two-dimensional space using characters, backgrounds, and props. 2D Animation Software is a tool that helps you create, edit, and animate 2D graphics, such as cartoons, illustrations, logos, and games. They can be used for various purposes, such as entertainment, education, marketing, and storytelling. 

They can also help you express your creativity, enhance your skills, and showcase your work. But how do you choose the best 2D Animation Software for your project? There are many factors to consider, such as the level of complexity, the style of animation, the compatibility, the budget, and the user-friendliness of the software. 

To help you make an informed decision, we have compiled a list of the Top Animation tools. This blog explores the 15+ Best 2D Animation Software, based on their pros, cons, and prices in great detail. Let’s dive in deeper!

Table of Contents

1) Top 2D Animation Software

      a) Pencil2D

      b) Toon Boom Harmony

      c) Synfig

      d) Cartoon Animator 4

      e) OpenToonz

       f) Animate CC

      g) SketchBook

      h) Animaker

      i) Blender

      j) FlipBook

2) Conclusion

Top 2D Animation Software

In this section, we will explore Top2D Animation Software and its pros and cons. This will make it easy for you to choose the right tool for you. Let's explore them below:

1) Pencil2D

Pencil2D is a free-to-use, open-source 2D Animation Software. It allows you to create simple hand-drawn animations. It is easy to use, lightweight, and cross-platform. You can draw, sketch, and animate with a pencil, pen, brush, or eraser tool. You can also import and export images, sounds, and videos. Let's explore the pros and cons of this tool:

Pros:

1) Free and open-source

2) Easy to use and learn

3) Lightweight and fast

4) Cross-platform and portable

5) Supports raster and vector graphics

Cons:

1) Limited features and tools

2) No advanced animation options

3) There is no timeline or onion-skinning

4) No support or documentation

Price: Free

 

 

2) Toon Boom Harmony

Toon Boom Harmony is a professional 2D Animation Software that is used by many studios and animators around the world. It offers a complete set of tools and features for creating stunning 2D animations, from drawing and painting to rigging and compositing. You can also integrate it with other software, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects. Let's explore the pros and cons of Toon Boom Harmony:

Pros:

1) Professional and industry-standard

2) Powerful and versatile

3) Rich in features and tools

4) Supports raster and vector graphics

5) Supports 2D and 3D integration

Cons:

1) Expensive and subscription-based

2) The complex and steep learning curve

3) Requires high system requirements

4) No free trial or demo

Price: $25-$115 per month

3) Synfig

Synfig is another free and open-source 2D Animation Software that lets you create vector-based animations. It has a unique feature called “bones”, which allows you to create cut-out animations and manipulate characters easily. You can also use layers, filters, gradients, and transformations to enhance your animations. Here are the pros and cons of Synfig:

Pros:

1) Free and open-source

2) Supports vector graphics

3) Has a bone system for cut-out animation

4) Has layers, filters, gradients, and transformations

Cons:

1) Outdated and buggy

2) Difficult to use and understand

3) Lacks some basic tools and features

4) No support or documentation

Price: Free

4) Cartoon Animator 4

Cartoon Animator 4 is a 2D Animation Software that is designed for beginners and hobbyists. It enables you to create cartoon-style animations with ready-made characters, props, scenes, and motions. You can also customize and animate your own characters using facial mocap, lip-sync, and bone editing. Let's explore the pros and cons of this tool:

Pros:

1) Easy to use and learn

2) Has ready-made assets and templates

3) Supports facial mocap and lip-sync

4) Supports bone editing and IK rigging

Cons:

1) Its 2D Animation Styles are limited, and cartoonish style

2) Not very flexible or creative

3) Requires additional purchases for more content

4) No free trial or demo

Price: $99-$199

5) OpenToonz

OpenToonz is also a free and open-source 2D Animation Software. It is based on the software used by Studio Ghibli, the famous Japanese animation studio. It has a lot of features and tools for creating traditional and digital 2D animations, such as scanning, drawing, colouring, inking, and rendering. You can also use plugins and scripts to extend its functionality. Let's explore the pros and cons of OpenToonz:

Pros:

1) Free and open-source

2) Based on professional software

3) Has a lot of features and tools

4) Supports plugins and scripts

Cons:

1) Complicated and confusing

2) Unstable and buggy

3) Lacks support and documentation

4) No free trial or demo

Price: Free

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6) Animate CC

Animate CC is a 2D Animation Software that is part of the renowned Adobe Creative Cloud suite. It allows you to create interactive animations for web, games, and apps using HTML5, JavaScript, and WebGL. You can also create frame-by-frame animations, motion graphics, and character animations using vector and bitmap graphics. Here are the pros and cons of Animate CC:

Pros:

1) Part of Adobe Creative Cloud

2) Supports interactive animations

3) Supports vector and bitmap graphics

4) Integrates with other Adobe software

Cons:

1) Expensive and subscription-based

2) Requires internet connection and Adobe account

3) Not very user-friendly or intuitive

4) No free trial or demo

Price: $20.99 per month

7) SketchBook

SketchBook is a 2D Animation Software that is focused on drawing and sketching. It has a simple and intuitive interface, with a variety of brushes, pencils, pens, and markers. You can also use layers, rulers, guides, and symmetry tools to create precise and detailed drawings. You can also create basic animations with up to 4 layers and export them as GIFs or MP4s. Let's explore the pros and cons of this tool:

Pros:

1) Simple and intuitive

2) Focused on drawing and sketching

3) Has a variety of brushes and tools

4) Supports layers and symmetry

Cons:

1) Limited and basic animation features

2) Not very versatile or creative

3) Requires Autodesk account and registration

4) No free trial or demo

Price: Free

8) Animaker

Animaker is a 2D Animation Software that is cloud-based and online. It lets you create animated videos, presentations and infographics using pre-made templates, characters, backgrounds, and icons. You can also add voice-overs, music, sound effects, and transitions to your videos. You can also use it to export and share your videos online. Let's explore the pros and cons of Animaker:

Pros:

1) Cloud-based and online

2) Easy to use and learn

3) Has pre-made templates and assets

4) Supports voice-overs, music, and sound effects

Cons:

1) Limited and generic style

2) Not very flexible or original

3) Requires internet connection and account

4) Has watermark and video length restrictions

Price: Free-$39 per month

9) Blender

Blender is yet another free-to-use and open-source software that is primarily used for 3D animation. However, it can also be used for 2D animation. It has a powerful and comprehensive set of tools and features for creating 3D models, scenes, and animations. You can also use its 2D animation mode, called Grease Pencil, to create 2D animations with a 3D feel. Here are the pros and cons of Blender:

Pros:

1) Free and open-source

2) Powerful and comprehensive

3) Supports 3D and 2D animation

4) Supports Grease Pencil mode

Cons:

1) The complex and steep learning curve

2) Requires high system requirements

3) Lacks support and documentation

4) No free trial or demo

Price: Free

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10) FlipBook

FlipBook is a 2D Animation Software that is designed for traditional animators. It allows you to create frame-by-frame animations using a digital pen and tablet. You can also scan your drawings, import images, and capture video. You can also use onion skinning, rotoscoping, and playback features to refine your animations. Let's explore the pros and cons of this tool:

Pros:

1) Designed for traditional animators

2) Supports frame-by-frame animation

3) Supports scanning, importing, and capturing

4) Supports onion skinning, rotoscoping, and playback

Cons:

1) Outdated and old-fashioned

2) Lacks some modern features and tools

3) Not very compatible or integrable

4) No free trial or demo

Price: $19.99-$199.99

11) Krita

Krita is a free and open-source 2D Animation Software that is mainly used for digital painting and illustration. It has a lot of brushes, textures, patterns, and effects for creating realistic and artistic paintings. You can also use its animation mode, called Animation Workspace, to create frame-by-frame animations with onion skinning and audio features. Let's explore the pros and cons of Krita:

Pros:

1) Free and open-source

2) Mainly used for digital painting and illustration

3) Has a lot of brushes, textures, patterns, and effects

4) Supports frame-by-frame animation

Cons:

1) Not very focused on animation

2) Lacks some animation features and tools

3) Slow and laggy

4) No support or documentation

Price: Free

12) Stop Motion Studio

Stop Motion Studio is a 2D Animation Software that is used to create stop motion animations. It allows you to capture images from your camera, webcam, or smartphone and turn them into animated videos. You can also add titles, music, sound effects, and filters to your videos. You can also use it to export and share your videos online. Here are the pros and cons of Stop Motion Studio:

Pros:

1) Used for creating stop-motion animations

2) Supports capturing images from various sources

3) Supports adding titles, music, sound effects, and filters

4) Supports exporting and sharing online

Cons:

1) Limited and simple animation style

2) Not very flexible or creative

3) Requires in-app purchases for more features

4) No free trial or demo

Price: Free-$4.99

13) Celaction

Celaction is a 2D Animation Software that is used to create cut-out animations. It allows you to import images, vectors, and audio files and animate them with a bone system, a curve editor, and a camera system. You can also use layers, masks, effects, and transitions to enhance your animations. Let's explore the pros and cons of this tool:

 

Pros:

1) Used for creating cut-out animations

2) Supports importing images, vectors, and audio

3) Supports bone system, curve editor, and camera system

4) Supports layers, masks, effects, and transitions

Cons:

1) Expensive and license-based

2) The complex and steep learning curve

3) Not very compatible or integrable

4) No free trial or demo

Price: $1,500-$3,000 per license

14) Moho Pro

Moho Pro is a 2D Animation Software that is used to create professional and realistic animations. It has a lot of features and tools for creating vector-based animations, such as drawing, painting, rigging, morphing, and physics. You can also use its Smart Bones, Smart Warp, and Smart Mesh features to create smooth and natural movements. Let's explore the pros and cons of Moho Pro:

Pros:

1) Used for creating professional and realistic animations

2) Supports vector-based animations

3) Has a lot of features and tools

4) Supports Smart Bones, Smart Warp, and Smart Mesh

Cons:

1) Expensive and subscription-based

2) Difficult to use and master

3) Requires high system requirements

4) No free trial or demo

Price: $399.99 per year

15) TupiTube

TupiTube is also an open-source 2D Animation Software that is designed for children and beginners and is free. It allows you to create basic and fun animations using drawing, colouring, and painting tools. You can also use frames, layers, onion skinning, and lip-sync features to animate your drawings. Here are the pros and cons of TupiTube:

Pros:

1) Free and open-source

2) Designed for children and beginners

3) Supports drawing, colouring, and painting

4) Supports frames, layers, onion skinning, and lip-sync

Cons:

1) Limited and childish style

2) Lacks some advanced features and tools

3) Not very stable or reliable

4) No support or documentation

Price: Free

16) Adobe Animate

Adobe Animate is a 2D Animation Software that also belongs to the Adobe Creative Cloud suite. It allows you to create interactive animations for web, games, and apps using HTML5, JavaScript, and WebGL. You can also create frame-by-frame animations, motion graphics, and character animations using vector and bitmap graphics. Let's explore the pros and cons of this tool:

Pros:

1) Part of Adobe Creative Cloud

2) Supports interactive animations

3) Supports vector and bitmap graphics

4) Integrates with other Adobe software

Cons:

1) Expensive and subscription-based

2) Requires internet connection and Adobe account

3) Not very user-friendly or intuitive

4) No free trial or demo

Price: $20.99 per month

17) Tvpaint

Tvpaint is a 2D Animation Software that is used to create traditional and hand-drawn animations. It has a lot of features and tools for creating frame-by-frame animations, such as drawing, colouring, inking, and shading. You can also use layers, masks, filters, and effects to enhance your animations. Here are the pros and cons of Tvpaint:

Pros:

1) Used for creating traditional and hand-drawn animations

2) Supports frame-by-frame animations

3) Has a lot of features and tools

4) Supports layers, masks, filters, and effects

Cons:

1) Expensive and license-based

2) Not very compatible or integrable

3) Not very user-friendly or intuitive

4) No free trial or demo

Price: $550-$1,250 per license

Conclusion

We hope you read and understand the 15+ Best 2D Animation Software. These tools are great for creating animated graphics, videos, and stories. However, choosing the best one for your project can be challenging. By considering factors such as the level of complexity and the budget, you can find the best one for your needs.

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