Best Animation Tools 2024

Are you looking for the perfect animation tool for your next explainer video or animated film project? We know it can be overwhelming to choose from so many options, so we’ve put together a quick comparison of some of the most popular tools on the market. Read on to get an overview of each tool and find out which one is best for your needs!

Vyond

Vyond (formerly GoAnimate) is a favorite for many, and for good reason. It's super user-friendly and has a lot of great templates to work with. The graphics look professional, and there are quite a few options to choose from. Despite the slightly higher price, you really get a lot for your money. If you're looking for high usability and professional results, Vyond is a good choice.

We love combining Vyond with elearning tools like Articulate Storyline or Articulate Rise .

For us it is a clear winner – with Animaker as a cheaper alternative. We hold courses in using Vyond and use it ourselves for developing explainer videos and elearning .

Powtoon

Powtoon can seem a bit more challenging to learn and maybe not as nice as Vyond. Although it is cheaper, you may end up having to pay extra for some features. A very messy experience.

Animaker

Animaker is very intuitive and has a nice, clean user interface. It is just as easy to use as Vyond, maybe even easier. However, it can be a bit limited when it comes to the graphic expression you can choose. If you are looking for a simple, intuitive tool and don't need an overwhelming number of graphic options, Animaker is a good choice.

Toonly

Toonly is part of Voomly, which also includes several products like Doodly and Talkia. It requires you to install an app, and you can't create a demo account without giving up a credit card - the only one of the programs mentioned on this page. Overall, Toonly and Voomly seem like a pretty messy experience. Not recommended.

Prezi

Prezi is a popular presentation tool known for its zooming interface. While Prezi can be a great solution for creating engaging presentations, it is not a tool we would recommend for animated films. It is important to note that Prezi requires you to provide credit card information to access a trial version and remember to cancel it before it expires, which can be frustrating for some users. If you are looking for a tool specifically for animated films, you will probably be better off choosing one of the other tools mentioned in this article.

Moovly

Moovly can also be a bit confusing to use, although it's not quite as cluttered as Powtoon. On the other hand, it doesn't seem to be as capable as Vyond and Animaker for animated films when it comes to features and capabilities. Not recommended.

VideoScribe

VideoScribe can seem a bit dated, and the fact that you have to install a program to use it is a letdown. Also, the seemingly endless use of hands drawing everything can seem a bit redundant. If you don't mind installing a program and like the hand-drawn style, VideoScribe might be an option, but there are other more modern and user-friendly tools available.

Adobe Character Animator

Adobe Character Animator is a powerful tool that enables live animation by recording your movements and voice and using them to animate a character. While it doesn't have quite as many templates, movements, and props as some of the other tools on this list, it's an interesting option for those looking to create unique and engaging animations. However, it's a bit more difficult to work with and therefore not recommended for beginners.

Adobe Animate

Adobe Animate allows you to create animations from scratch, but it requires a good understanding of terms like keyframes and tweens. It's not the most user-friendly tool and therefore is not recommended unless you have a solid background in animation. Another drawback is that it publishes in SWF/Flash format, which is not supported and therefore needs to be converted.

Conclusion

We hope this comparison helps you make an informed decision about which animation tool best suits your needs and preferences.

We are a fan of Vyond - with Animaker as a cheaper alternative. Adobe Character Animator can be an exciting alternative for more advanced projects that require a very special look for the characters. We don't think you should spend time on the rest. Except maybe Prezi which is a fine tool for "zoom presentations", not for video.

Good luck with your animation project! 🚀

PS: Bonus - Video and Animation Tools with Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Technology is constantly evolving, and it's exciting to see how artificial intelligence (AI) is starting to play a role in video production.

Synthesia ( https://www.synthesia.io/ ) is another AI-powered tool that can create realistic videos with synthetic avatars. While it may seem a little creepy, it's a fascinating indication of where film and animation tools are headed in the future.

Stay tuned to see how AI continues to impact and transform the world of animation and video production!