Top 10 Free 2D/3D Animation Software [2024]

In the video era, high-quality animated videos win more markets for market competitors, so ultimately, their demand for high-quality animated videos increases as they grow. 

There are many software tools on the market that can produce 2d or 3d animation, and they all have differences in price, function, and other factors. So, the question is, how to choose the most suitable one for you? 

Here are the ten best animation software free for download.

10 Best Animation Software Free for Download

1. Blender

Blender is a 3D computer graphics software that includes a comprehensive suite of tools for modeling, animation, rendering, and more. It is widely used by professionals and enthusiasts in various industries, such as film, video games, visual effects, and architectural visualization.

Main Features

• Animation and rigging

• Story Artist

• Video editing

• Sculpting

• VFX animation

Pros

• Free

• Open-source software can be redeveloped

• Powerful rendering

Cons

• Functions are large but scattered

• Update too quickly

2. WPS

WPS provides a complete Office Suite that is used for creating, editing, and managing different types of documents. But that’s not all. The animation tool provided by WPS lets you create beautiful and unique presentations for professional use. In short, WPS is  2D animation software free provided by the WPS company.

It is best for the commercial field and helps you in creating animated videos to present on bigger screen presentations.  

Features

• Typewriter effect

• Animation in slides

• Can be used on all devices

Pros

• Lots of excellent text animation effects

• Supports multiple platforms

• Comprehensive: word, ppt, excel

• The simple interface

• Lots of different types of templates

Cons

• Some tools still need improvement

3. Autodesk Maya

Autodesk Maya is a 3D animation software free that is widely used for creating high-quality 3D animations, visual effects, simulations, and rendering. It is one of the industry-standard software applications in the field of 3D animation and is commonly used in film, television, video games, and other industries that require advanced 3D content creation.

Autodesk Maya contains the most advanced animation and digital effects technology and can be used for a number of rendering projects, VFX, and animations.

Features

• 3D animation and rigging

• 3D modeling, UV editor

• USD workflows

• Motion graphics

• The most advanced animation and digital effects technology

• Multiple modules: Modeling, Artisan, and many more

Pros

• Powerful function

• High production efficiency

• One of the most trusted and respected brands in the industry

Cons

• Not suitable for beginners

• expensive

4. Daz Studio

DAZ Studio is a 3D animation software free used for modeling and rendering. It primarily creates and animates virtual humans and other 3D characters. It is developed by DAZ 3D, a company known for its digital content and software solutions for 3D art and animation.

DAZ Studio also has an extensive content marketplace where users can purchase additional 3D models and environments created by both DAZ 3D and independent artists. If you are a beginner starting in the field of animation, this software is the best suited to your needs.

Main Features

• Skeletal system

• Dynamic rendering

Pros

• Supports import and export of various file formats

• Free

• Simple learning curve

Cons

• Installation trouble

5. Adobe After Effects

Adobe After Effects is a digital visual effects, motion graphics, and compositing software. This animation software free available can be the best one for making exquisite videos.

After Effects offers a powerful set of tools for creating and manipulating visual effects. It supports layer-based compositing, allowing users to combine multiple elements, such as video footage, images, and animations to create seamless compositions.

Main Features

• Picture and video processing

• Make MG (Motion Graphics) animation

• Multilayer editing

Pros

• Strong material integration ability

• Good special effect

• Learning curve friendly

Cons

• Multiple layers may cause confusion in the operation

6. OpenToonz

OpenToonz is a 2D animation software free available on the internet with the trial. It provides tools for traditional and digital 2D animation, which can include drawing, scanning, and compositing. The software also includes a range of built-in effects, such as blurs, glows, and transitions, that can be applied to enhance the visual quality of the animation.

It can be best for individuals or small and medium enterprises producing 2d animation. However, it has no restrictions both for amateur and professional animators and can work for a wide range of projects.

Main Features

• Powerful digital drawing tools

• Indexed color palettes

• Frame-by-frame Animation

Pros

• Lot of features and stuff

• Customizable fonts and templates

• Easy to use

Cons

• Not a very self-explanatory software

• Looks like an old Windows application

• Very few sources for learning

7. Pencil2D

Unlike many other animation software tools, Pencil2D is a completely free animation software used accessible to millions of users worldwide. This animation software free download is available on its website and can also be downloaded from third-party websites.

If you are a beginner looking for a simple interface to start learning with, this software can be the best for your needs.

Main Features

• Minimal Design

• Raster & Vector

• Cross-Platform

Pros

• Open Source & Free.

• A lot of helpful tutorials

Cons

• Heavy learning curve

8. Toon Boom Harmony

Talking about 2D animation software free tools, Toon Boom Harmony is one of the best ones used to animate characters in the traditional and digital world.

Toon Boom Harmony provides a wide range of drawing and animation tools to create expressive and dynamic 2D animations. It includes powerful brush and pencil tools, vector-based drawing capabilities, shape tools, and deformation tools to manipulate characters and objects.

Main Features

• Drawing engine & tools

• Color management

• Integrating 3d elements

Pros

• All-in-one 2D production animation software

• Flexibility, functionality, and sensitivity of tools

• Cost and time savings

Cons

• Problems often occur when you have Spaces in the file name

9. MagicaVoxel-3D

MagicaVoxel is a free voxel-based 3D modeling and rendering software. It allows users to create and manipulate voxel art, which is a form of digital art where objects are constructed using volumetric pixels called voxels. That’s why this software is best for pixel-style production.

It has also been used to create a wide range of voxel art, including characters, objects, scenes, and game assets.

Features

• Live Crop and Fit

• Animation Support

• UI Customization

Pros

• Voxels unlock new simulation techniques

• The quickest way to quickly model

• More accurate 3D building block

Cons

• Much harder to build complex objects

• Lacks the mathematical precision of BRep modeling

• No specialized hardware to efficiently render high-resolution voxels

10. Animaker

Animaker is an online animation video-making platform that allows users to create professional-looking animated videos, presentations, and infographics. This animation software free download is best for motion graphics animation and users can also upload their own images or use the built-in image library to personalize their videos further.

Main Features

• Character Builder

• Facial Expressions

• Auto Lip-Sync

• Smart Move

Pros

• Easy to change actions & expressions of the animation

• Customizable

• Large amount of assets

• Multi-User Collaboration

Cons

• Slow to export large files

• Can be lagged in operation

FAQs

Q1. Which animation software is best for beginners and free?

According to the software interface, Pencil2D, OpenToonz, and Animaker are easy to use. So they are the best for beginners and small-level organizations.

Q2. What is the easiest animation to learn?

All of these programs provide tons of resources to reduce your learning cycle.

1. WPS

2. Adobe Character Animator. Animate in real-time.

3. Cartoon Animator 4 (formerly CrazyTalk Animator 3)

4. Stop Motion Studio.

5. DigiCel FlipBook.

What’s More in Animation Software

Till now, we have learned about almost all types of animation software available out there. However, choosing the best one depends on your personal needs and how you want to use the software. Some people may want to start with animation, so they focus on opting for beginner-level software that offers 2D animation and is easy to use.

On the other hand, expert animation specialists will opt for more functionality and a wide range of options with customization, so they will look for heavy-duty software that can handle the amount of work they are doing and can provide them with the best output as expected at the professional level.

However, if you are looking for a mid-level animation software free available on the internet, we recommend you go with WPS. WPS offers a complete Office suite that includes a Word editor, Spreadsheet manager, and Presentation maker. Presentation maker offers functionality where you can use different animations to make your presentations more attractive by incorporating character animation and different motion effects.