Best 2D Character Animation Software in 2026

30 2d character animation software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.

30ranked
13free plans on this page
$2.49/molowest paid tier
2 Oct 2026last checked
#1 Live2D Cubism Top pick · 9.1 Free plan · $5.65/mo #2 Animaker Runner-up · 8.4 Free plan · $15/mo #3 Tahoma2D Also great · 8.3 Free plan · Free
  1. Free planFree trial AndroidiOSmacOSWebWindows
    Free plan
    Yes
    Paid from
    13.26 /mo
    Animation workflow
    puppet
    Mesh deformation
    Yes
    Lip sync
    Yes
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    $5.65/mofirst paid tier About Live2D CubismVisit site
  2. 2 8.4
    Free planFree trial AndroidapiiOSWeb
    Free plan
    Yes
    Paid from
    15 /mo
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    $15/mofirst paid tier About AnimakerVisit site
  3. 3 8.3
    Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
    Free plan
    Yes
    Animation workflow
    hybrid
    Bone rigging
    Yes
    Mesh deformation
    Yes
    Lip sync
    Yes
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
  4. 4 8.1
    Free trial macOSWindows
    Free plan
    No
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    $59.99/mofirst paid tier About MohoVisit site
  5. 5 8.1
    Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
    Free plan
    Yes
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
  6. 6 8.1
    Free trial LinuxmacOSWindows
    Free plan
    No
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    $70.83/mofirst paid tier About SpineVisit site
  7. LinuxmacOSWindows
    Free plan
    No
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    $6.75/mofirst paid tier About Toon Boom HarmonyVisit site
  8. Free plan macOSWindows
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
  9. Free trial Windows
    Free plan
    No
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    $149/mofirst paid tier About Cartoon AnimatorVisit site
  10. Free plan AndroidiOSWindows
    Free plan
    Yes
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    $2.49/mofirst paid tier About Animation DeskVisit site
  11. LinuxmacOSWindows
    Free plan
    No
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
  12. 12 7.4
    AndroidiOSLinuxmacOSWindows
    Free plan
    No
    Animation workflow
    hybrid
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    $5/mofirst paid tier About CallipegVisit site
  13. 13 7.4
    Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
    Free plan
    Yes
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
  14. 14 7.1
    Free plan AndroidLinuxmacOSWindows
    Free plan
    Yes
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
  15. 15 7.0
    Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
    Free plan
    Yes
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
  16. 16 6.9
    Free plan AndroidiOSWindows
    Free plan
    Yes
    Animation workflow
    puppet
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    $3/mofirst paid tier About PlotagonVisit site
  17. LinuxmacOSWindows
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    $79/mofirst paid tier About Animation PaperVisit site
  18. macOSWindows
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
  19. macOSWindows
    Free plan
    No
    Paid from
    70 /mo
    Animation workflow
    rigged
    Bone rigging
    Yes
    Mesh deformation
    Yes
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    $11.67/mofirst paid tier About CelAction2DVisit site
  20. 20 6.7
    AndroidiOSmacOSWindows
    Free plan
    No
    Animation workflow
    frame-by-frame
    Lip sync
    Yes
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    $7.99/mofirst paid tier About RoughAnimatorVisit site
  21. 21 6.7
    Free plan AndroidiOSmacOS
    Free plan
    Yes
    Animation workflow
    frame-by-frame
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
  22. 22 6.6
    AndroidiOSmacOSWebWindows
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
  23. 23 6.4
    Free plan AndroidiOS
    Free plan
    Yes
    Animation workflow
    hybrid
    Mesh deformation
    Yes
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
  24. 24 6.2
    Free plan Windows
    Free plan
    Yes
    Animation workflow
    rigged
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
  25. 25 6.1
    Windows
    Free plan
    No
    Animation workflow
    frame-by-frame
    RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
    $33.25/mofirst paid tier About CACANiVisit site

Is your platform on this list?

Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.

Questions about this list

Which 2d character animation software is ranked first on The Geeks Club?

Live2D Cubism is ranked #1 of 30 with a score of 9.1. Animaker is second and Tahoma2D third.

How many of these have a free plan?

13 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.

Which is the cheapest paid option?

On this page, Animation Desk has the lowest first paid tier we found: $2.49/mo.

How is this list ranked?

Ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going: documentation depth, a free tier or trial, and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.

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