Best Free Animation Video Creators That Really Work

Technology has gone a long way. Today, anyone can use simple tools to create unique animated videos on their computer. Doing something like this was simply unimaginable in the past. Things have gone so far that you can find many free animation video creators that do an excellent job.

Some of the tools promise to create animated videos with a single click. But is this really true? Yes, there are many solutions beginners and semi-professionals can use to produce professional results. Today, we'll introduce the top free animation video makers and help you understand what to expect from them.

But before we get to the list, let's learn more about free animation video makers.

Are Free Animation Video Creators Reliable?

Free animation video creators can be reliable. However, many promise amazing things but don't really deliver. In other words, it's the same as with any other product. There are good and bad ones, and you need to learn to recognize the ones that work.

That's why we've decided to do the research for you and create a list of proven tools that offer excellent results. In other words, don't believe the stories that these tools are scams or misleading. Yes, some people have had bad experiences, but they've used unverified services.

Luckily, we took the time to check out which free animation video creators are worth your time. We not only checked what other users were saying about these solutions, but we also tried them out ourselves. Here's how we narrowed down the list to these choices.

How We Picked the Best Free Animation Video Makers

Here are our criteria for choosing the top free animation video makers:

• Output quality - Many of the free animation tools on our list have quality animations and templates that let you create amazing videos without much knowledge. They can export quality videos, but in some cases, the free options have a resolution limit on exports.
• Features - The more features the tools offer, the better. Many of the listed products offer voiceovers, character customization, video editing, drag-and-drop functionality, animations, and transitions.
• Ease of use - One key consideration is ease of use. You need to find a tool that is easy to use to its fullest capabilities. We tried to include simple solutions, allowing you to perform advanced actions in a few clicks.
• Updated and maintenance - The best tools have large resources, tutorials, and online communities and are updated regularly. You want a solution constantly upgraded with additional functionalities and technologies like AI.

Best Free Animation Video Creators

Filmora

Bring your stories to life with animation magic.

User rating:

• Software Advice: 4.5/5 (688 ratings)
• G2: 4.4/5 (309 ratings)
• TrustRadius: 7.5/10 (63 ratings)

Specifications

Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

Key features:

• Keyframe animation
• Linear interpolation, spatial interpolation, smooth interpolation, and customizable keyframes.
• Bezier adjustment of spatial interpolation. (automatically determines keyframe path)
• Animation effects (slide right/up, pause, vortex out/in, zoom in/out, fade in/out)
• 70+ preset motions
• Dynamic text animations (bounce, fly-in, typewriter effects, bounce, etc.)
• Title templates
• Object tracking and motion tracking
• 3D animation effects (transforming, flipping, and rotating objects)
• Speed ramping
• Masking
• Blend animations
• Split screen animations
• Green screen animations

Free trial: 3-day free trial.

Pricing:

• Free Edition
• Cross-Platform Basic Plan: $49.99 per year
• Cross-Platform Advanced Plan: $59.99 per year
• Perpetual Plan: $79.99 one-time purchase

Best for: Users who want a flexible and capable tool to create amazing animations without much effort.

Reasons to buy

• Very easy to use
• Can create simple and complex animations
• Supports versatile animation features
• Offers many assets
• Works on multiple platforms

Reasons to avoid

• The free version is limited

Wondershare Filmora is an all-in-one video editing software that can edit videos, record videos, create animations, add effects, generate AI videos, and more. It's designed for everyone, including beginners and professionals alike, whether you're an independent creative, a YouTuber, or an employee at a video editing company.

It has comprehensive keyframe animation capabilities with complete graphics, text, and object movement control. It offers multiple keyframe animation methods for smooth results. The tool has many pre-made animations like motion effects and animated assets like shapes, emojis, and icons.

It handles all animation needs with a simple workflow and endless possibilities.

Animaker

A DIY video creation platform on the cloud for everyone.

User rating:

• G2: 4.7/5 (688 ratings)
• GetApp: 4.2/5 (222 ratings)
• Trustpilot: 4.2/5 (435 ratings)

Specifications

Supported platforms: Web-based (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari)

Key features:

• Built-in video templates
• Character animation
• Custom fonts and effects
• Drag-and-drop functionality
• Multi-move animation
• Large asset library
• Animations and transitions

Free trial: 7-day free trial

Pricing:

• Free: $0
• Starter: $45 per month
• Pro: $79 per month
• Enterprise: custom pricing

Best for:

• Users who want to create animated videos but don't want to customize them extensively.

Reasons to buy

• Has a drag-and-drop functionality that makes the tool easy to use.
• Has a vast number of templates, backgrounds, and characters.
• Works with full HD.

Reasons to avoid

• The free version has many video export and length limitations.
• The interface can be overwhelming for beginners.
• The free version leaves a watermark.

Animaker is a free video creator that also has a paid version. The videos are limited in length and quality when using the free version, and you'll have to live with watermarks. It has a great video template library and offers solid quality.

It has a simple workflow - you only have to add a video template and text to get a solid result. It's great for quickly creating short cartoons. Although it doesn't have many advanced features, it's a well-rounded solution for users who want to create animated videos quickly.

Blender

Creative freedom starts here.

User rating:

• G2: 4.6/5 (296 ratings)
• Capterra: 4.7/5 (930 ratings)
• Trustpilot: 4.0/5 (32 ratings)

Specifications

Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Key features:

• Integrated video editor for creating short animation videos
• Supports creating multiple visual simulations
• NLA support
• Character animation editor

Free trial: No

Pricing: Free

Best for: Advanced animation specialists who want to use an open-source solution.

Reasons to buy

• Open-source and completely free.
• Professional-level 3D animation software.
• It offers a whole 3D workflow suite that includes animation, modeling, motion tracking, rendering, simulation, etc.

Reasons to avoid

• It isn't the best option for beginners.
• Requires a powerful computer to run smoothly.

Blender is one of the best-known names in animation, 3D modeling, and rendering. It has a comprehensive suite of 3D tools for post-production, rendering, animation, modeling, etc. Hobbyists and professionals alike can use this open-source software to create quality visual effects and animations.

It has a large community around it, and there are multiple versions of the software designed by the users themselves. However, it's not a solution you can use as a beginner; it requires extensive know-how and time to use it correctly.

Canva

Animation videos for social media unleashed.

User rating:

• GetApp: 4.7/5 (11k ratings)
• Trustpilot: 2.4/5 (44 ratings)
• SoftwareSuggest: 4.7/5 (148 ratings)

Specifications

Supported platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and web browser.

Key features:

• Pre-designed animations
• Text animations
• Custom animation speed
• Page animations
• Frame-by-frame editing
• Video animation integration

Free trial: 30-day free trial.

Pricing:

• Canva Free: $0
• Canva Pro: $15 per month per user

Best for: Users who want to share their work directly to social media platforms.

Reasons to buy

• Very easy-to-use and intuitive interface.
• Offers many stock photos, graphics, and template libraries.
• Can help with various designs outside of animations.

Reasons to avoid

• The animation features are limited compared to other tools.
• Offers less flexibility for complex animation projects.
• Some templates are lacking.
• Most animation assets require the paid version.

Canva is an online 3D design software that lets users create images and videos without coding or technical knowledge. Even though the videos look solid and are easy to make, the video templates aren't that great. In other words, you must customize and polish them manually to get the right results.

Overall, Canva is a simple-to-use solution that can help marketers create great social media content and share it seamlessly. However, it can't create top-of-the-line animations. The free version can cover your basic video animation needs, but you must upgrade to get more materials.

PowToon

Communicate your ideas visually.

User rating:

• GetApp: 4.5/5 (393 ratings)
• G2: 4.4/5 (230 ratings)
• Trustpilot: 4.6/5 (1625 ratings)

Specifications

Supported platforms: Web-based (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)

Key features:

• Over a thousand animation templates
• Explainer videos
• Import media files
• Drag-and-drop functionality
• Character animation
• Text animation
• Transitions
• Timeline editor
• Animated backgrounds

Free trial: 4-day free trial.

Pricing:

• Free: $0
• Lite: $50 per month
• Professional: $190 per month
• Business: $ 125 per month billed yearly

Best for: Users who want to create cartoon-based video animations.

Reasons to buy

• Very user-friendly and great for beginners.
• Has many pre-made animated characters and templates.
• Has many integrations.

Reasons to avoid

• The free version is limited.
• The free version leaves watermarks.
• Only a web version is available.

PowToon is one of the best web-based video editors for creating animation videos. It has a great template library for blogs, presentations, social media, and FAQ videos. The templates are really easy to use and add to your project.

It has a rich asset library filled with videos and backgrounds, but most are available in the paid version. It has animation and presentation modes, making your job easier. As the name implies, PowToon is best suited for cartoonish animations and excels at this use.

Moovly

Your story begins with Moovly.

User rating:

• GetApp: 4.1/5 (64 ratings)
• Trustpilot: 4/5 (42 ratings)
• G2: 4.5/5 (79 ratings)

Specifications

Supported platforms: Web-based (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari)

Key features:

• Over 1 million assets
• Works on all devices
• Royalty-free media
• Drag-and-drop editor
• Animation effects
• Keyframe animation
• Transitions
• Background animation

Free trial: No

Pricing:

• Free: $0
• Pay as you go: $25 per video
• Subscription: $99 per month
• Enterprise: custom pricing

Best for: Users who want a full version with all the features.

Reasons to buy

• Easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface.
• Massive library of templates and assets.
• Integrates with stock image websites.
• The free version has all the features.

Reasons to avoid

• Advanced features have limits with the free plan.
• Video rendering is slower with the free version.

Moovly is a flexible web-based platform for creating infographics, presentations, and animated videos. It has many assets, such as stock images, sounds, and videos. Marketers, small businesses, educators, and content creators often use it to create good-looking animated videos easily.

Pencil2D

An easy, intuitive tool to make 2D hand-drawn animations.

User rating:

• GetApp: 4.2/5 (13 ratings)
• G2: 4.1/5 (16 ratings)
• Softpedia: 4/5 (18 ratings)

Specifications

Supported platforms: Windows, macOs, FreeBSD, and Linux.

Key features:

• Import media files
• Customizing frame rates
• Raster and vector graphics
• Lightweight software
• Frame-by-frame animations
• Onion skinning
• Multiple layers
• Drawing tools

Free trial: No

Pricing:

• Free & open-source

Best for 2D animation and effects designed for beginner animators and semi-professionals with independent projects.

Reasons to buy

• Open-source software
• Lightweight software
• Great 2D capabilities
• Offers raster and vector graphics
• Simple interface

Reasons to avoid

• Limited advanced features
• It isn't suited for more complex 3D projects

Pencil2D might look outdated when you open it for the first time, but it's a really capable open-source platform. As the name implies, it's designed for 2D animations, even though you can technically do some basic 3D animations.

It's easy to use and allows users to use vector and bitmap graphics. It's a good option if you want to get into animation and use digital pencils to draw animations while perfecting your graphic design skills.

Biteable

The online video maker for everything.

User rating:

• Capterra: 4.1/5 (41 ratings)
• G2: 4.3/5 (27 ratings)
• Product Hunt: 5/5 (33 ratings)

Specifications

Supported platforms: Web-based (Chrome, Firefox, and Edge)

Key features:

• 800k video clips available
• Many animation clips
• Customizable animations
• Transitions and text animations

Free trial: 7-day free trial

Pricing:

• Free: $0
• Pro: $29 per month per user
• Premium: $99 per month
• Business: custom pricing

Best for: Users who want to create engaging animated videos for marketing with ease.

Reasons to buy

• A simple tool that's easy to use.
• Animations and templates have good quality.
• Quick workflow.

Reasons to avoid

• The free version leaves watermarks.
• Paid options are expensive.
• The free plan has limited customization.

Biteable is an online video editing platform built for users who want to create animation videos and perform various edits while on the go. It has a straightforward interface that users understand right off the bat.

The workflow is very quick and straightforward, and you only have to upload a script, drag and drop text or images, and other animation elements and press one button to get an animated video. However, it doesn't offer as many extensive features as some other tools, but it has pricier plans.

Conclusion

If you're looking for a capable free animation video creator tool, these are the options you should consider. However, remember that most free versions have limitations that can hinder your workflows in one way or another.

Despite that, they can help you create incredible animated videos that you can use commercially. Naturally, once your needs grow, you should consider upgrading to a paid version.