10 Best Free Animation Software to Unleash Your Creative Vision

Are you looking for free animation software to develop videos for business, education, social media, or others? If so, there are plenty of options available on the internet. However, before selecting software to make animation, there are several factors you should consider, such as formats and platform compatibility. But don't worry. This guide will explain those factors and introduce you to the 10 best tools. Keep reading.

Understanding freeware animation software

Animation entails creating an illusion of movement by displaying a sequence of images rapidly. This sequential presentation is known as frame-by-frame, with each frame being slightly different from the last one. Animation software allows you to create animation in the form of digital images and manipulate them using keyframes and in-betweening. They enable you to add smooth transitions and add depth to your videos with music, sound effects, digital painting, etc. However, since there are plenty of such tools available, consider the following factors to ensure you get the best computer animation software:

• Type of animation: There are various types of animation, such as 2D, 3D, stop-motion, etc. Thus, select an animation software that supports the kind of videos you want to create.
• User-friendliness and learning curve: Consider how long it will take to successfully learn how to create animation on an app, depending on its complexity. User-friendly apps have a shorter learning curve.
• System compatibility: Select software that is compatible with your device's software and hardware specifications. You can choose a cross-platform tool if you have multiple devices.
• Supported video formats: If you want to export your video and share it on a media platform, select an animation tool that supports the video format accepted by the sharing platform.
• Price: Some animation programs are free, while others require a subscription. Many of the top animation software are free, so you can easily find a free tool and save money.

Now that you can competently select the best software for animated videos, let us look at a curated list of the best free animation software.

10 best freeware animation software programs

1. CapCut desktop video editor

The CapCut desktop video editor is a superb Mac and Windows media editing toolset with extensive animation effects. It is designed for professional editing and allows you to add in, out, and combo animation effects that transform your video's appeal and engagement. With this free and easy animation software, you can redefine how your clip starts and ends. You can also animate the entire clip with 50+ animation effects. Moreover, the CapCut desktop video editor is beginner and pro-friendly.

Key features

• Rich media library: Enrich your videos with a wide range of high-quality animation effects, AI-generated stickers, stock videos, video effects, transitions, music, filters, and more.
• Comprehensive editing tools: Leverage basic, advanced, and AI-supported video and audio editing tools, such as keyframe, chroma key, and transcript-based editing, to edit and finetune your project.
• Share instantly: You can post your animated video on TikTok or YouTube directly without leaving the editor.
• Motion tracking: Use camera tracking to follow an object's movement through a scene and create a data path that another element can follow.

Steps

Download the CapCut desktop video editor via the link below and start animating your videos for free. You can reference the steps below for a step-by-step guide to animating on the CapCut desktop editor.

Step
1. Upload
2. Launch the CapCut desktop video editor and click New Project to get started. Select the Import button to open the file explorer and upload your video. Alternatively, drag and drop the clip into the editor. You can also select a video from the CapCut desktop's stock library under the Media tab.
3. 

   

Step
4. Edit
5. Select your video timeline, then navigate the Animation tab on the right panel. If you want your video to start playing cinematically, go to the In section and select an effect such as spin up, swing right, etc. To customize how it ends, click on the Out section and add an effect like slide up, zoom in, etc. You can also animate the entire video or a portion of it via the Combo effects. When choosing a Combo animation, CapCut desktop lets you select a start and end point for the effect.
6. 

   

7. In addition to its captivating animation effects, the CapCut desktop video editor is also an all-in-one editing tool. It offers a suite of basic, advanced, and AI video editing features. Basic functions include crop, trim, resize, color adjustment, and more. The advanced features include masking, splitting scenes, etc., while AI enables smooth slow-mo, AI movement, background removal, etc.
8. This software also provides an extensive media library with music, sound effects, filters, text templates, stock videos, and more.
9. 

   

Step
10. Export

Click Export in the top right corner and customize your video's title. Adjust the video export settings such as resolution (up to 4K), bit rate, codec, format (MP4 or MOV), and frame rate (up to 60fps). Hit Export. Once exporting is done, you can share the clip directly to TikTok and YouTube. CapCut desktop allows you to keep the original aspect ratio or switch to TikTok's 9:16 ratio when sharing with TikTok. You can also add a caption.



2. Anireel

Anireel is a Windows-compatible 2D animation software program designed to create animated explainer videos. You can use it to make marketing, corporate, educational, and knowledge-sharing videos. It is an ideal free animation software for beginners due to its user-friendly interface and lack of usage complexity. Anireel also lets you create custom-branded characters.

Features

• Drag and drop.
• Animated media assets.
• Script to animation.
• Text to speech.
• 70+ templates.
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3. Blender

Blender is an open-source animation software program built for Windows and macOS. Hence, you can use this easy animation software freely to create 2D and 3D animation videos. It lets you bring abstract ideas to life regardless of whether you are a seasoned animator or a beginner. Moreover, it provides an excellent array of tools for animation and can create all types of animated objects, including cartoons and complex human forms.

Features

• Character animation pose editor.
• Forward/inverse kinematics.
• Sound synchronization.
• Built-in sequence editor.
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4. TupiTube

TupiTube is a simple animation software tool designed for children, teenagers, and amateur creators. It is available for Windows, macOS, Unix-like systems, and Android. This free animation software is easy to navigate and is geared towards encouraging beginners interested in animation. Also, it offers many learning resources, such as tutorials, to help you get started.

Features

• 2D animation.
• User-friendly.
• Vector illustration tools.
• Multiple video formats.
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5. MakeHuman

MakeHuman is a free animation software tool designed for creating human characters. It employs a morphing system to let you blend various body shapes and features. This enables you to create a vast variety of unique human characters. Once you export a character, you can integrate it into a project on another 3D design software. MakeHuman is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Features

• Multiple 3D file formats.
• Dynamic posing system.
• Integration with other animating software.
• Supports 3D animation.
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6. Autodesk Maya

Autodesk Maya is a professional 3D computer graphics app that runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. It is one of the best animation software for creating complex characters with dazzling effects like explosions. You can use it to create interactive animated films, games, commercials, and more. This tool has been used in films such as The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Spider-Man.

Features

• Multilingual.
• Polygon modeling.
• Integrated Arnold renderer
• Intuitive interface.
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7. OpenToonz

OpenToonz is an open-source animation software tool for the production of 2D animation. It is one of the best animation programs, free for commercial and non-commercial use. This software is available for Windows and macOS. It offers tools for rigging and has excellent tweening capabilities for smooth transitions between keyframes.

Features

• Supports cel animation.
• Raster and vector image editing.
• Exposure sheets.
• Multiple paint tools and effects.
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8. Adobe Animate

Adobe Animate is among top animation software that can animate just about anything, including banners, cartoons, games, etc. It lets you design interactive animated videos and quickly publish them on various platforms. Adobe Animate has powerful illustration and animation tools and allows you to integrate audio into your project. Moreover, you can integrate video and code into your animation. It is available for Windows and macOS.

Features

• Timeline editing.
• Inverse Kinematics.
• Multiple video formats.
• Plenty of learning materials.
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9. Toon Boom Harmony

Toon Boom Harmony is a free and easy animation software for storyboarding and creating award-winning animation videos. It is compatible with Windows and macOS. This software allows you to create realistic particle effects like smoke, rain, and fire. It also lets you add depth and dimension to your animated videos through lighting and shading tools. Furthermore, it is user-friendly and allows you to customize the interface layout and assign keyboard shortcuts for smooth workflow.

Features

• 2D animation.
• Up to 4 art layers in each drawing.
• Colour management.
• Special animation effects.
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10. Wings 3D

Wings 3D is an open-source animation software built for subdivision modeling. This platform excels at the creation of smooth, organic shapes often used in character modeling, as well as natural objects and creatures. Thus, Wings 3D promotes efficient modeling while eliminating the excessively complex geometry required. It offers a wide range of modeling tools and is compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, and other Unix systems.

Features

• Customizable interface.
• AutoUV mapping.
• Clean interface.
• Symmetry modeling.
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Conclusion

Finally, you now know which animating programs are free and how to select a suitable one for your video creation needs. Whether you are in business, education, marketing, or content creation, this guide has an ideal free animation software for you.

However, there is one tool in this list that can competently and professionally handle all your animation needs in any field. That's right. It is the CapCut desktop video editor. Built to offer professionalism and increase productivity in industries such as social media, marketing, education, real estate, etc, this software is a video animation hub. It features 50+ animated effects to enrich your video and even allows you to animate the entire clip or a section of it. The effects are cinematic and increase your video's engagement.

Try the CapCut desktop video editor today and unleash your creativity.

FAQs

1. What is the best animation software for PC?
2. The CapCut desktop video editor is the undisputed best animation software for PCs. It is available for Mac and Windows and offers 50+ animation effects. This software lets you personalize how your video starts and ends for dramatic appeal. You can animate all types of videos and export them in high-quality resolutions up to 4K.
3. Besides, it offers plenty of audio resources for background sound and supports instant sharing to TikTok and YouTube. Install the CapCut desktop video editor for the best animating experience.
4. What is the easiest animation software free?
5. The CapCut desktop video editor is the easiest animation software to navigate. For starters, the interface is intuitive and user-friendly, allowing quick access to features and resources. It also features a short learning curve and has plenty of learning materials online for reference. The CapCut desktop editor is built for professional use, but even beginners can get around hassle-free.
6. Download the CapCut desktop video editor and start animating videos easily.
7. How do you make animated characters with software for animated videos?
8. To create an animated character, you require a character builder app. You will also need a concept and design of the character you want to create. Use your software tool to create a mesh or draw the character, defining its poses and expressions. You can then customize their appearance through color, hair, clothes, and more. There are plenty of tools for this, such as those in this guide.
9. However, if you simply need to add animations to a video to increase engagement, the CapCut desktop video editor is the go-to software. It offers 50+ animation effects, meaning you can never run out of options. Leverage the CapCut desktop video editor today for superb animation effects.