Are you looking for the perfect animation tool for your next project with explainer videos or animated films? We know it can be overwhelming to choose from so many options, so we've created 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 best suits your needs!
Vyond
Vyond (formerly GoAnimate) is truly a favorite for many, and there's a reason for that. It's super user-friendly and has a lot of great templates to work with. The graphic design looks professional, and there are plenty of options to choose from. Despite a slightly higher price, you really get a lot for your money. If you're after high usability and professional results, Vyond is a great choice.
We love to combine Vyond with e-learning tools like Articulate Storyline or Articulate Rise.
For us, it's a clear winner – with Animaker as a cheaper alternative.
Powtoon
Powtoon can be a bit more challenging to learn and perhaps not as neat as Vyond. Although it's cheaper, you may end up paying extra for some features. A very messy experience.
Animaker
Animaker is very intuitive and has a sleek, clean user interface. It's as easy to use as Vyond, maybe even easier. But it can be a bit limited when it comes to the graphic design options you can choose. If you're after 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 providing a credit card – the only one of the programs mentioned on this page. Overall, Toonly and Voomly seem like a rather messy experience. Not recommended.
Prezi
Prezi is a popular tool for creating presentations and is known for its zooming user interface. While Prezi can be a fantastic solution for creating engaging presentations, it's not a tool we can recommend for animated films. It's 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're looking for a tool specifically for animated films, you're probably 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 as messy as Powtoon. On the other hand, it doesn't seem to be able to do the same as Vyond and Animaker regarding animated films when it comes to features and options. Not recommended.
VideoScribe
VideoScribe may seem a bit outdated, and it's a drawback that you have to install a program to use it. Additionally, 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. 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 is not the most user-friendly tool and therefore not recommended unless you have a solid background in animation. Another downside is that it publishes in SWF/Flash format, which is not supported and therefore needs to be converted.
Conclusion
We hope that this comparison helps you make an informed decision about which animation tool best suits your needs and preferences.
We are fans of Vyond - with Animaker as a cheaper alternative. Adobe Character Animator can be an exciting alternative for more advanced projects that require a unique look for the characters. We don't think you should spend time on the rest. Except maybe Prezi, which is a nice tool for "zoom presentations," but not for video.
Good luck with your animation project! 🚀
PS: Bonus - Artificial Intelligence Animation Tools
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 bit eerie, it's a fascinating indication of where film and animation tools are heading in the future.
HeyGen (https://www.heygen.com/) is an AI tool for video production that turns text into videos. It offers over 100 different avatars, 300 voices in over 40 languages, and enables customization of videos with pre-built templates and custom avatars.
RunwayML (https://runwayml.com/) is an AI-driven platform for animation and video production, supporting various features like background blurring, style transformation, inpainting, super-slow motion, and green screen. It offers the Gen-2 feature to generate videos from text or images and supports frame interpolation.
Keep an eye on how AI continues to influence and change the world of animation and video production!