Best Animation Software in 2026
Animation software spans tools for 2D work, 3D modeling, character rigging, and motion graphics. Compare those capabilities with cloud collaboration, export formats, and supported platforms to see how each option may fit your workflow. Free plan availability and Paid from details provide additional ways to weigh access and cost. The ranking opens with Live2D Cubism, Houdini, and Rive, followed by Rokoko Studio and Animaker; Blender and Notch also appear among the first entries. Consider what you want to animate and which features you need, then use the listed comparison points to assess the options.
98 animation software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
#1 Live2D Cubism Top pick · 9.2 Free plan · $5.65/mo
#2 Houdini Runner-up · 8.9 Free plan · $7.92/mo
#3 Rive Also great · 8.9 Free plan · $9/mo
- Free planFree trial AndroidiOSmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- $13.26/mo
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$5.65/mofirst paid tier About Live2D CubismVisit site - Free plan WindowsmacOSLinux
- Free plan
- Yes
- 3D modeling
- Yes
- Character rigging
- Yes
- Motion graphics
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$7.92/mofirst paid tier About HoudiniVisit site - Free plan AndroidiOSLinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- Free
- 2D animation tools
- Yes
- Character rigging
- Yes
- Motion graphics
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$9/mofirst paid tier About RiveVisit site - Free planFree trial macOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$0.83/mofirst paid tier About Rokoko StudioVisit site - Free planFree trial AndroidapiiOSWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- $15/mo
- 2D animation tools
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$15/mofirst paid tier About AnimakerVisit site - Free planOpen source LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- 2D animation tools
- Yes
- 3D modeling
- Yes
- Character rigging
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free planFree trial macOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$21/mofirst paid tier About NotchVisit site - Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan AndroidextensioniOSWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- $15/mo
- 2D animation tools
- Yes
- Motion graphics
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$8/mofirst paid tier About PowtoonVisit site - Free trial LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
- 2D animation tools
- Yes
- Character rigging
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$70.83/mofirst paid tier About SpineVisit site - Free plan Windows
- Free plan
- Yes
- 2D animation tools
- No
- 3D modeling
- No
- Character rigging
- Yes
- Motion graphics
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan WindowsmacOSLinux
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- 2D animation tools
- Yes
- 3D modeling
- No
- Character rigging
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan macOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- 2D animation tools
- Yes
- Character rigging
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan macOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- 2D animation tools
- Yes
- Character rigging
- Yes
- Motion graphics
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free trial macOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
- 2D animation tools
- Yes
- 3D modeling
- Yes
- Character rigging
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$59.99/mofirst paid tier About MohoVisit site - Free plan macOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$18.98/mofirst paid tier About Daz StudioVisit site - Free plan Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- $20/mo
- 2D animation tools
- Yes
- Motion graphics
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$20/mofirst paid tier About SVGatorVisit site - Free plan macOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$300/mofirst paid tier About TouchDesignerVisit site - Free plan Windows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- Free
- 2D animation tools
- Yes
- 3D modeling
- Yes
- Character rigging
- Yes
- Motion graphics
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms€50/mofirst paid tier About VentuzVisit site - Free planFree trial Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- $18/mo
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$1.50/mofirst paid tier About Plask MotionVisit site - Free plan Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Motion graphics
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Motion graphics
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - macOSLinux
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$167.50/mofirst paid tier About Autodesk MayaVisit site - LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
- 2D animation tools
- Yes
- 3D modeling
- No
- Character rigging
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$6.75/mofirst paid tier About Toon Boom HarmonyVisit 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 animation software is ranked first on The Geeks Club?
Live2D Cubism is ranked #1 of 98 with a score of 9.2. Houdini is second and Rive third.
How many of these have a free plan?
21 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Rokoko Studio has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.83/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.