Looking for the perfect animation tool for your next explainer video or animation project? We know it can be overwhelming to choose between so many options, so we've put together a quick comparison of some of the most popular tools on the market. Read on for an overview of each tool and find out which one best suits your needs!
Vyond
Vyond (formerly GoAnimate) is a real favourite for many, and for good reason. It's super user-friendly and has lots of great templates to work with. The graphics look professional, and there are plenty of options to choose from. Despite a slightly higher price point, you really get your money's worth. If you're looking for high usability and professional results, Vyond is a great choice.
We love combining Vyond with e-learning tools like Articulate Storyline or Articulate Rise.
For us, it's a clear winner – with Animaker as a more affordable alternative. We offer courses in using Vyond and use it ourselves for developing explainer videos and e-learning.
Powtoon
Powtoon can be a bit more challenging to learn and perhaps not quite as polished as Vyond. Although it's cheaper, you may end up paying extra for some features. A rather messy experience overall.
Animaker
Animaker is very intuitive and has a sleek, clean user interface. It's as easy to use as Vyond, perhaps even easier. However, it can be a bit limited when it comes to the range of graphic styles available. If you're 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 products like Doodly and Talkia. It requires installing an app, and you can't create a demo account without providing a credit card – the only tool on this list that requires this. Overall, Toonly and Voomly feel like a rather messy experience. Not recommended.
Prezi
Prezi is a popular tool for creating presentations and is known for its zooming interface. While Prezi can be a fantastic solution for creating engaging presentations, it's not a tool we can recommend for animation. Note that Prezi requires credit card details to access a trial version. If you're looking for a tool specifically for animation, you'll probably be better served by choosing one of the other tools mentioned in this article.
Moovly
Moovly can also be somewhat confusing to use, although not quite as messy as Powtoon. On the other hand, it doesn't seem to offer the same capabilities as Vyond and Animaker when it comes to animation features and options. Not recommended.
VideoScribe
VideoScribe can feel a bit dated, and the requirement to install a programme is a drawback. Additionally, the seemingly endless use of drawing hands can feel somewhat redundant. If you don't mind installing a programme and like the hand-drawn style, VideoScribe could be an option, but there are 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 to animate a character. Although it doesn't have as many templates, movements, and props as some of the other tools on this list, it's an interesting option for those who want to create unique and engaging animations. However, it's a bit harder 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 not recommended unless you have a solid background in animation.
Conclusion
We hope this comparison helps you make an informed decision about which animation tool best suits your needs and preferences.
We're fans of Vyond – with Animaker as a more affordable alternative. Adobe Character Animator can be an exciting option for more advanced projects requiring a unique look for characters. We don't think you should spend time on the rest. Except perhaps Prezi, which is a fine tool for "zoom presentations", not for video.
Good luck with your animation project!
AI-Powered Video and Animation Tools
Since we first wrote this article, AI-powered video tools have gone from being a niche curiosity to becoming a real alternative in many contexts. The development is moving extremely fast, and the landscape changes almost from month to month.
Synthesia (synthesia.io) has become one of the most widely used AI video tools, particularly for corporate training and internal communications videos. With Synthesia, you can create videos with realistic AI avatars speaking your script – in over 130 languages. It's fast, easy to use, and the quality has improved significantly. We've used Synthesia ourselves and can see the value, especially when you need quick, consistent videos at scale.
HeyGen (heygen.com) is another AI tool we have experience with. HeyGen offers AI avatars, text-to-video, and notably an impressive translation feature that can dub your videos into other languages with lip-sync. It's particularly useful for companies producing content for multiple markets.
RunwayML (runwayml.com) has evolved into a powerful platform for AI-generated video and image editing. Their Gen-3 model can generate impressive video clips from text descriptions.
Additionally, a wave of new AI video tools has emerged, including OpenAI's Sora, Kling, Pika, and more. These tools can generate video clips from text descriptions with a quality that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. However, it's important to note that these tools primarily generate short video clips – they don't replace a structured animation tool like Vyond when you need to create a coherent explainer video or an e-learning module.
Our assessment is that AI video tools are a fantastic addition to your toolkit, but traditional animation tools remain the right choice when you need to create structured content with a clear narrative, interactive elements, or consistent branding. Stay tuned – the development is moving faster than ever.