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Filmora: Best AI & Free Adobe Animate Alternative (2025 Guide)

Filmora: The Best AI-Powered Adobe Animate Alternative for Quick Videos

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Searching for a free and easy-to-use alternative to Adobe Animate? With its complex interface and high price tag, it's no surprise that many creators, especially beginners, are looking for a better option. This guide will introduce you to the best Adobe Animate alternatives, including Filmora, a top AI-powered video editor. Whether you need a simple tool to create animated videos or a professional-grade animator, we've got you covered with this list of the best alternatives. 

best alternatives to adobe animate

Our Top 3 Adobe Animate Alternative Picks

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Wondershare Filmora
Filmora is a video editor with built-in pre-made animation tools, making it a great alternative for users who want to create animated videos fast without the complexity of traditional animation software.
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Blender
Blender is a powerful open-source program that supports both 2D and 3D animation. It's the best free alternative for animators who want full control over modeling, rigging, simulations, and visual effects for professional-level projects.
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Krita
Krita is the best free option for traditional hand-drawn animation. It comes with essential tools like onion skinning, timeline controls, and a storyboard editor for those who prefer a frame-by-frame workflow.
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How We Test It

Adobe Animate is known for its advanced 2D animation capabilities and professional-grade features. But its hefty price tag ($22.99/month, billed annually) or complicated setup often puts people off from using it.

For this reason, we've carefully tested various Animate alternatives to see how they compare in terms of ease of use, animation features, pricing, and compatibility for different use cases.

Part 1. Top 10 Adobe Animate Alternatives Comparison

To give you a sneak peek and a quick glance at the top alternatives to Adobe Animate in our list, we've put together a side-by-side comparison table as seen below.

Tools Platforms Paid/Free Animation Type Supported Rating (average)
Filmora Win, Mac, Android, iOS Free plan, One-time or Subscription 2D/3D (keyframe-based, premade animation) 4.5/5
Blender Win, Mac Free 2D/3D Animation 4/5
Toon Boom Win, Mac, Linux Paid (Subscription) 2D (rig-based, frame-by-frame) 3/5
Animaker Online, iOS Free plan or Subscription 2D (AI-generated, explainer videos) 4.4/5
Synfig Win, Mac, Linux Free 2D (rig-based, vector, and bitmap) 4.4/5
Krita Win, Mac, Linux Free 2D (frame-by-frame, raster-based) 4.4/5
Open Toonz Windows Free 2D (frame-by-frame, rig-based) 4.3/5
TVPaint Animation Win, Mac, Linux Paid (One-time Purchase) 2D (bitmap, traditional hand-drawn style) 5/5
Powtoon Online Free plan or Subscription 2D (explainer, business animation) 4.4/5
Autodesk Maya Win, Mac, Linux Paid (Subscription) 3D Animation 4.3/5
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Part 2. 10 Best Adobe Animate Alternatives in 2025

Up next, let's take a closer look at some of the best alternatives to Adobe Animate in 2025.

1. Wondershare Filmora – Best AI & Free Alternative for Animated Videos

First on our list is Filmora, a video editing program that's packed with powerful features but still easy for beginners to use. If you only want to make a simple animation video without animating from scratch, Filmora might be the best Adobe Animate alternative you are looking for.

Although it's not a frame-by-frame animator, Filmora comes with plenty of pre-animated stickers, text, and titles that make creating motion-based videos quickly. Additionally, you can use its keyframe animation feature for more control of the animation.

adobe animate alternative filmora
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Official Ratings
4.5/5 on TrustPilot; 4.5/5 on Software Advice; 4/5 on PCMag.
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Android, iOS.
Pricing
Free version; Check the purchase page for full subscription pricing.
Pros & Cons
  • Text-to-Video: Automatically generate an animated video by simply typing in a script.
  • AI Image Generator: Create unique characters and backgrounds for your animations from a text prompt.
  • AI Portrait Cutout: Instantly remove background from a video and replace it with an animated scene.
  • Not ideal for frame-by-frame or hand-drawn animation
  • Some advanced features are for pro users only
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Why We Recommend It

2. Blender – Best free tool for 3D and 2D animation

If you are looking for a free Adobe Animate alternative because of its high cost, Blender is definitely worth a look. It's completely free and open-source, yet packed with professional-grade tools for both 2D and 3D animation. The Academy Award-winning film “Flow” was created using Blender, which says a lot about what it can do.

adobe animate alternative blender
Official Ratings
3.3/5 on TrustPilot; 4/5 on PCMag; 4.7/5 on Capterra.
Platforms
Windows, macOS.
Pricing
Free
Pros & Cons
  • Totally free to use
  • More versatile than many 3D tools
  • Extensive community and learning resources
  • Non-destructive editing for creating 3D models
  • Not ideal for beginners; requires time to learn the software
  • Navigating through the menus can be confusing
  • May lag or crash on older hardware
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Why We Recommend It

3. Toon Boom Harmony – Best for professional 2D animation

If Adobe has Animate, Toon Boom has Harmony, which can help its users make 2D animations. It's widely used in the animation industry for producing TV shows, films, and web content. Besides Harmony, Toon Boom also offers Storyboard Pro that lets you make storyboards with ease.

adobe animate alternative toon boom harmony
Official Ratings
6/10 on TrustRadius (1 review).
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux.
Pricing
Free trial available, subscirption plan started from $29/month
Pros & Cons
  • Wide range of brush styles (pencil, chalk, pen, etc.)
  • Provides more professional-grade features used in the animation industry
  • Provides complete tutorials to get started with the tool
  • The pricing can be more expensive than Animate
  • File names with spaces can somehow cause errors
  • Most advanced features are available through Harmony Premium only
  • May not run smoothly on older or low-spec computers
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Why We Recommend It

4. Animaker – Best for animated explainers and marketing videos

Animaker is an AI-powered animation video platform designed for both non-designers and professionals. You don't need to start from scratch; AI can generate animations for you, or you can customize one of the many ready-made templates to speed up your workflow.

adobe animate alternative animaker
Official Ratings
4.3/5 on TrustPilot; 4.7/5 on G2; 4.2/5 on Software Advice.
Platforms
Online, iOS.
Pricing
Starts from $27/month (Basic)
Pros & Cons
  • Requires little to zero experience in animation
  • Online-based platform, no need to install software
  • Available as a mobile app for editing on the go
  • Not suitable for making complex animations
  • Lacks advanced rigging and timing controls
  • Relies on a stable internet connection
  • The price is still expensive compared to other, more advanced tools
  • The free plan includes watermarks and limited export quality
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Why We Recommend It

5. Synfig Studio – Best free 2D animation software for rig-based animation

Synfig Studio is a free, open-source 2D animation tool built for creating high-quality animations using both vector and bitmap artwork. It's designed to streamline the animation process by removing the need for frame-by-frame drawing. Even if you have minimal resources and a small team, you can still produce professional-grade 2D animations.

adobe animate alternative synfig studio
Official Ratings
4.5/5 on G2; 4.6/5 on SourceForge; 4.1/5 on Capterra.
Platforms
Windows (7 or above), macOS (10.8 or above), Linux.
Pricing
Free
Pros & Cons
  • Completely free and open-source
  • Doesn't require a powerful computer to use it
  • Supports both vector and bitmap artwork
  • Advanced control through parameter linking and expressions
  • Good for learning basic rigging in animation
  • The interface feels outdated
  • Lacks real-time preview
  • Despite its simple appearance, Synfig could be quite complex for beginners
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Why We Recommend It

6. Krita – Best for free frame-by-frame animation

Krita is actually a free drawing and painting program that serves as a great tool for artists who need an affordable art solution. But beyond illustration, its features can help you create frame-by-frame raster animation.

adobe animate alternative krita
Official Ratings
4.4/5 on Capterra, Software Advice, and G2.
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux.
Pricing
Free
Pros & Cons
  • Free and open-source
  • Comes with a large variety of brushes and creative tools
  • Pretty easy to get started with
  • Can consume a lot of RAM, especially with large projects
  • Lacks advanced vector editing capabilities
  • Supports only 2D frame-by-frame animation with no rigging features
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Why We Recommend It

7. OpenToonz – Best open-source animation alternative with pro features

OpenToonz is an open-source professional-grade 2D animation software that's completely free to use for both personal projects and commercial ones. Originally developed from the Toonz software by Digital Video S.p.A. in Italy, it was later customized by the legendary Studio Ghibli for their productions.

adobe animate alternative opentoonz
Official Ratings
4.3/5 on G2.
Platforms
Windows.
Pricing
Free
Pros & Cons
  • Fully free and open-source, where users to modify and customize the software's code
  • Supports four different scanning modes (black & white, color, and options with or without binarization)
  • Works with TWAIN-compatible scanning devices
  • Requires a solid understanding of animation principles
  • The interface can feel complex for beginners
  • Often crashes or slows down during mid to heavy projects
  • Only available on Windows
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Why We Recommend It

8. TVPaint Animation – Best for traditional animators

Unlike Adobe Animate, which is vector-based and better suited for sharp, scalable designs, TVPaint Animation is a professional 2D animation software built on bitmap technology. This program focuses on giving traditional animators a more organic, paper-like drawing experience.

adobe animate alternative tvpaint animation
Official Ratings
5/5 on G2 (1 review).
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux.
Pricing
Free trial available, subscription plan started from €650.
Pros & Cons
  • Excellent drawing tools that closely mimic traditional pencil-on-paper animation
  • Full production workflow from rough sketches to final film
  • More cost-effective long-term compared to subscription-based software like Animate
  • High upfront costs, and you need to pay again to upgrade to a higher version
  • Lacks vector support and advanced puppet-rigging features
  • Effects and filters are not applied non-destructively
  • Not suitable for computers with lower specifications
Highlight Features
Why We Recommend It

9. Powtoon – Best for quick business and social media animations

Powtoon works a bit similarly to Animaker. It's a web-based platform designed to help users create videos quickly, including animated videos. With pre-made templates and character libraries, Powtoon is more suitable for making animations for business presentations, explainer videos, and social media content.

adobe animate alternative powtoon
Official Ratings
4.4/5 on G2; 4.3/5 on TrustPilot.
Platforms
Online.
Pricing
Free trial available, subscription plan started from $49/month (Lite).
Pros & Cons
  • No need for any design or tech skills to start
  • Quick turnaround time with ready-to-use templates
  • Easy to share or download in multiple formats
  • Not for advanced users who wish to make a complex animation project
  • A limited selection of animation templates
  • Most of the templates are for premium users only
  • Expensive compared to other Adobe Animate alternatives
Highlight Features
Why We Recommend It

10. Autodesk Maya – Best for advanced 3D character animation

Autodesk Maya is a professional 3D animation tool known for its ability to create detailed characters, complex animations, and movie-quality effects. Maya uses a node-based system, which means every part of your scene is made up of customizable building blocks. It gives you full control over how things look and move.

adobe animate alternative autodesk maya
Official Ratings
4/5 on PCMag; 4.5/5 on Software Advice; 4.3/5 on G2.
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux.
Pricing
Free trial available, subscription plan started from $175/month.
Pros & Cons
  • Industry standard for film and motion capture
  • Flexible modeling system using layers instead of just modifiers
  • Does an excellent job of making realistic character animation and effects
  • High-quality built-in rendering with support for plugins
  • Not ideal for beginners
  • Its node editor and scene hierarchy can be difficult to manage
  • Some compatibility issues may require additional plugins
  • Expensive, which may not be suitable for casual users
Highlight Features
Why We Recommend It

Part 3. What to Look for in Adobe Animate Alternatives

Still unsure which one to try first? Even after exploring the best alternatives for Adobe Animate, it's normal to feel a bit overwhelmed. You can narrow it down by thinking about these aspects.

1. Ease of Use

Do you want something simple to learn or a more advanced tool? If you just want to make a quick video for your business, school project, or social media, you may want to consider using Filmora. It already offers enough tools for simple animations, while still being beginner-friendly.

easy adobe animate alternative

2. Capabilities

Adobe Animate offers several key features that make it one of powerful software programs for animation, including:

  • Vector drawing tools
  • Animation timelines to control movement and timing frame-by-frame
  • Asset warping to create puppet-style animations
  • Lip-syncing tools to match voiceovers with mouth movements
  • Audio syncing to align sound and animation with precision

If those features are essential to your workflow, you'll want an alternative that offers something similar, or even better. For those focused on 3D animation, Autodesk Maya is the better fit. But if you prefer 2D animation with a more traditional or artistic feel, consider TVPaint Animation or OpenToonz.

animating on adobe animate alternative

3. Budget

Since Adobe Animate is only available through a subscription, it's completely understandable if you're hesitant to invest in it. In that case, you may want to try Adobe Animate free alternatives like Blender or Krita (for frame-by-frame animation).

Conclusion

If you're looking for an alternative to Adobe Animate that's both powerful and easy to use, Filmora stands out as the best choice. Unlike complex professional tools like Blender or expensive ones like Adobe, Filmora offers robust AI-powered features for free, making it a perfect tool for creating animated videos, explainers, and marketing content quickly. It is the best solution for creators who want to leverage AI to make high-quality animations without the steep learning curve or high costs. 

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