Attention iOS Users!

Creating an animation is fun and exciting. With it, any individual can bring their ideas to life, no matter how fanciful they may be.

There are no boundaries or constraints. The opportunities are truly limitless in animation.

For example, you can use it to

- Create Animated Characters,
- Design Vibrant Landscapes,
- Animate Objects,

And loads more!

But here’s the challenge.

Creating an animated video on your mobile may not be as easy as making one using a laptop or computer.

Only a few apps on the appstore support creating animated videos, and most in the list charge a fee to use it.

Now, if you are new to animation, you may feel nervous and uncertain about investing in something you are not familiar with.

Therefore, you might wonder whether any free animation apps are available for iPads and iPhones.

Short answer. Yes, there is!

We have analyzed the finest animation apps for iPad and iPhone that are available for free and selected the seven best apps that you will find most user-friendly.

So here is the list!

A) Apt for Beginners – Ideal for individuals new to animation.
B) Apt for Advanced Beginners – Ideal for individuals with some animation experience.

So let’s get started.

A)Apt for Beginners

When you’re starting out on creating your first animation, three major factors influence the making process, which are

- The App’s Ease of Use
- Tool Constraints
- Features Availablity

With these in mind, we have narrowed the selection to four top animation apps specifically designed for beginners exploring the field of animation.

On the top of the list is,

1)Animaker Animation Video Maker

Download Animaker Animation Video Maker Here!

1.1)Features

Animaker stands apart from other apps by providing access to a significant portion of its features in the Free Plan, granting users the ability to utilize at least 8 out of the 10 features available in the Animation Suite.

You can use it to
A) Create your own avatar.
B) Choose from 50+ Prebuild Characters.
C) Detail Your Scene with 70k+ props.
D) Add Animation Presets with a tap.
E) Choose and add a music track to your videos.
F) Add Special Effects.
G) Add Transition Effects.

1.2)Pros

- It is the only video maker app enabling users to generate animated characters.
- You can apply preset animations rather than stressing out about manually creating motion.
- The majority of the features are available for free.
- Massive collection of animation templates, preset shapes, and popular music tracks.

1.3)Cons

- Absence of the voiceover function.
- Watermarked video downloads

2)Tweencraft

Download Tweencraft Here!

2.1) Features Gist

Tweencraft offers assistance for creating videos in two different styles.
- Comic Strip and
- 2D Animation

The library features many characters, including well-known superheroes, that will captivate your interest. Nevertheless, your choices may be constrained as a Free Plan user.

So you have to manually move the character’s arms, legs, heads, eyes, and other body parts to the desired position, which can be challenging.

One special feature that sets this app apart is its character voiceover. It transforms your recorded voice uniquely based on the character you choose.

2.2)Pros

- The app is available in multiple languages – English, Hindi, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, etc.
- The only app that has a collection of famous celebrities and superhero characters that you can add and animate.
- A stand-out voice modulator.

2.3)Cons

- The selection of characters and backgrounds to choose from is extremely limited.
- Challenging to animate characters without preset animations.
- Watermarked Downloads.
- Does not contain templates.
- Can’t upload your own media & animate it.

3)Plotagon Story

Download Plotagon Story Here!

3.1)Features Gist

Plotagon Story powers amateurs to create movie-like 3D animations.’

The interface might initially appear difficult to navigate, so you might need to invest a few minutes to comprehend its functionalities.

Also, a noteworthy distinction between Plotagon’s interface and other apps is that you cannot directly modify the character or any other elements on the canvas. Instead, you can only choose from a set of preset options.

Compared to its competitors, the prebuilt character choices & customizations are limited in Plotagon.

It might be the ideal platform if you’re looking to create a conversational animated video, as the AI voice feature is a standout.

3.2)Pros

- Powers to create 3D Animated Videos with ease.
- Compared to its competitors, it has the largest collection of character expressions to animate your characters.
- The Text-To-Speech voiceover feature is more human-like than any other similar app in the market.
- It is the only app with an auto-selected camera angle feature to make scenes look even more engaging.

3.3)Cons

- Very Limited Character Collection.
- Watermarked Video Downloads.
- No Template Collection.
- You cannot upload and animate your own files (images & videos).
- Lengthy Video Ads.

4)Renderforest Video & Animation

Download Renderforest Video & Animation Here!

4.1)Features

Renderforest can help you create high-quality animation videos.

It offers a combination of 2D and 3D animated characters, which is not common among other apps.

Using it is quite simple. Animation templates are readily accessible on the Dashboard. Alternatively, you have the option to start a video project from scratch.

However, here’s the catch. If you are using the Free Plan, you may not have the option to choose a video template that exceeds 1 minute in duration, which makes the template option very limited.

Renderforest facilitates video-making through the assembly of pre-made scenes.
Simply select a scene that meets your needs and insert your own content.

You won’t be able to reposition the character or the text on the scene (workspace). You can utilize the pre-made scenes as they are.

So, if you’re looking to create a simple animated video, the app will be quite user-friendly. On the other hand, if you have a script and wish to describe your scene intricately, it may present some difficulty.

4.2)Pros

- One of the very limited apps that provide 3D characters.
- A huge collection of premade scenes to choose from.

4.3)Cons

- The Free Plan offers very limited access. Roughly 2 out of 5 options available are restricted for Free Plan users.
- You cannot detail your animation.
- Scene selection can be exhaustive.

B.Apt for Advanced Beginners

If you’re interested in making an animated video with a frame-by-frame approach, then this section is for you.

The following apps are suited for individuals with some animation background and are willing to devote time and effort to draw and construct animations gradually.

So, let’s take a look at the list!

5)FlipaClip

Download Flipaclip Here!

5.1)Features Gist

Creating frame-by-frame animations can be a time-consuming process.

So Flipaclip has done its best to support its users with clear tutorials and a quite simple& easy interface.

In case you find it difficult to create a video and rather begin with a template, there are a couple of demo templates available for you to learn from and practice on.

You won’t be able to find any preset shapes to help you with the making process. However, you can use the rulers (available on the canvas) to assist you with creating basic shapes.

If you’re planning to add voiceovers or music tracks, Flipaclip gives you two options.

You can either record in the app.
Or watch an ad to upload your audio track.

You can also upload your pictures and videos by watching ads as well.

5.2)Pros

- Compared to other video-making apps, the interface of this one is the easiest to use.
- The app is loaded with handy tutorials.
- Has handy tools such as rulers and grids to facilitate the fast drawing of shapes.

5.3)Cons

- Very limited templates.
- No preset shapes.
- Contains Ads.

6)Picsart Animator

Download Picsart Animator Here!

6.1)Features Gist

The Picsart Animator app is a versatile animation tool that includes a unique AI feature.

There are three different purposes for which you can utilize the app.

That is,

- To create frame-by-frame Animations.
- To transform your picture into smiley faces (utilizing the AI function).
- To draw and animate over photos.

When it comes to frame-by-frame animation, Picsart Animator has a slight edge over its rivals as it offers preset shapes that make it convenient for creating animations. You can also use various brush strokes to draw and add details to your scenes.

The most impressive feature of the app is its AI feature. It has the ability to transform any image into an outlined smiley face.

6.2)Pros

-Handy tools(brush strokes and shape presets) that help you detail your animation with ease.
-Unlike its competitors, Picsart offers basic templates to assist users with creating animations.
-It is not restricted solely to frame-by-frame animation; you can also employ it to animate images.
-Even if you are using the Free Plan, you have the ability to design personalized photo smileys with the help of the AI feature.

6.3)Cons

- Watermarked Downloads.
-Cannot zoom into the workspace to detail your scene.

7)Animation Desk

Download Animation Desk Here!

7.1)Features Gist

Animation Desk has numerous useful tutorials and onscreen instructions, making it very handy for beginners.

You might find it challenging to understand the interface at first, as the animation tools on the canvas (workspace) are only depicted by icons. So you might need to spend some time exploring the canvas.

A single frame can be divided into multiple layers (similar to “Layers” in Adobe Photoshop). This allows more detailed animation creation.

You also have the option to upload various types of multimedia (such as photos, videos, GIFs, and PSD files) and make edits to them.
The rulers and grids help you quickly create shapes.

In case you’re looking to add music, you only have the option to upload your own. It has no music collection.
Perhaps the biggest challenge in the app is that you won’t be able to add text to your video in the Free Plan.

7.2)Pros

- Detailed Animation – Multi-layer frame-by-frame animation.
- Unlike other competitors, you can upload GIFs and PSD files and animate them.
- It is one of the few apps that has handy tutorials and onscreen instructions.

7.3)Cons

- Unavailability of text in the Free Plan.
- The workspace is challenging to understand as it contains only icons.
- Watermarked downloads.

And that’s all! We have reached the conclusion of the list.

This is a breakdown of the app’s key animation features for comparison.

I hope you found this helpful. In case you know any other animation apps for iPad and iPhone users that you believe deserve recognition, please leave a comment below.

Happy Animating!

A 2D animation video takes hours of planning and effort. Right from the pre-production stage of character design, scriptwriting, storyboarding, choosing color themes, visualizing backgrounds, and more – 2d animation videos worth a couple of hours takes months to be produced.

But, the efforts taken to produce a 2d animation video is totally worth it because of the attention and appreciation it gets. People enjoy watching 2d animated videos because of their simplicity, visual appeal, and impact.

With a huge potential to attract and convert, 2d animations are a treasure trove for not just the entertainment industry but businesses too.

But, more often than not, creating 2d animation videos is abandoned or postponed because of the fact that it takes a lot of time, effort, resources, and a huge pie of the budget.

The age of DIY 2d Animation Software

With the rise of DIY 2d animation tools, creating videos for marketing, sales, HR, and learning has become easier than ever. Every individual who has no prior knowledge or experience of video making or editing can get their hands dirty with these DIY tools and produce studio-quality videos in no time.

The DIY 2d animation tools have been successfully breaking the barriers and making videos possible for all.

But, there’s one problem with this.

Which software do I choose? That’s the question on everyone’s mind.

Investing in 2D animation software can be overwhelming to decide considering that there are so many players in the market.

We have made it easy for you by filtering out the best players in the market and have highlighted their features, pros, cons, pricing, and differentiating factors so that your choice can be made easier.

Let’s begin.

Top 5 2D animation software 

1. Animaker

Animaker is a DIY video making tool that helps beginners, non-designers, and practically anyone create studio-quality animation videos at ease with its simple drag-and-drop interface.

 Animaker has a forever free plan that gives you access to a lot of assets. You can create 2 custom characters and export up to 5 HD quality videos per month.

Pros:

• Tons of pre-built templates covering a wide range of topics and use cases

• A huge library of 30,000+ in-built animated assets that cover 2d backgrounds, stickers, gifs, properties, animated texts, and more

• Powerful character builder to create custom characters by altering facial features, accessories, and expressions – potential to create a billion character combinations

• Advanced animations like smart move and action plus simplify complex animations with a click of a button

• You can add voiceovers to video through the TTS software, upload voiceovers, or even record one on the app

• It is also possible to humanize text-to-speech by adding breaks, emphasis, and customize it in different languages and voices

• Syncing characters’ lip movement with voiceovers can be automated with a single click

• You get up to 4K quality video exports

• If you are a power user of videos in your content, then, features like Brand kit and real-time collaboration would come in handy

Cons:

• The Brand kit is available only in the Enterprise Plan of Animaker

• 2K quality is available from the Pro Plan onwards

Animaker tops the list of best 2D animation software because of differentiating features like advanced animations and a huge collection of assets.

2. Vyond

Vyond allows you to create professional 2D animation videos at ease with its simple user interface. It has a wide collection of animated assets covering different industries and use cases. There are three visual styles -  contemporary, business-friendly, and whiteboard.

Vyond gives a 14-day free trial.

Pros:

• Vyond has 200+ templates representing hundreds of industries, occupations, and concepts

• In Vyond, you can customize your characters and alter almost anything including complexion, accessories, facial features, and more

• You can animate characters in Vyond with the motion path feature

• Vyond has TTS software, but  you cannot humanize voices

• Vyond has a good system for the support that includes FAQs, community forums, and webinars

Cons:

• Vyond is one of the expensive DIY 2d video making software

• You cannot export your projects during the free trial and have to upgrade to paid plans to do so

• You get up to only 1080p quality exports

• Although the characters on Vyond have wide customization options, their characters do not look as attractive as the other tools offer

3. Powtoon

Powtoon helps in creating decent 2D animation videos at ease. The tool is quite simple and easy to use.

Pros:

• You can custom create different characters for your videos. The options to customize is not as vast as Animaker or Vyond

• It has a good collection of properties

• You can create two looks for your animated videos – modern edge and cartoon

• A wide collection of templates for different use cases

• There are options to record voiceovers and use TTS software but you cannot humanize the voice

Cons:

• You can create characters in the free plan, but they come with an agency watermark (upgrade to use characters in your videos)

• There are no advanced animations in Powtoon. You can only animate your characters and properties on a loop or apply transition effects

• Powtoon has a freemium plan, but you cannot download videos in the free plan which really defeats the purpose of a free plan

4. Toonly

Toonly is an easy-to-use DIY 2d animation software and one of the most affordable in the market.

Pros:

• Toonly has a good collection of characters, backgrounds, and properties covering a lot of industries and niche. However, the options are not as wide and impressive as the other tools that we just discussed

• You can animate your videos easily with a simple click of a button

• The pricing is affordable as t starts at as low as $20 in the standard plan that is billed annually

• There is a 30-day timeline within which you can get your refund if you are not satisfied with the tool – this makes it risk-free

• There’s a private Facebook group for Toonly users to discuss and bounce off tips and suggestions

Cons:

• Toonly is downloadable software and is not available on the cloud

• The assets available in the standard plan are very limited. Particularly the backgrounds, text animations, and character animations are scarce which make it difficult to create a variety of videos

• There is no free trial available which makes it a bit difficult to try and test the tool before investing

• Though you can record and upload voiceovers on Toonly, there’s no option to humanize the voices

• You cannot customize your characters on Toonly

5. Moovly

Moovly is a decent 2d animation software that allows the creation of animated videos at ease.

Pros:

• There is a TTS software available in Moovly. However, the access is available only on their expensive plans

• The characters can be customized on Toonly. But, you cannot get too creative as the customization options are very limited

• There’s a good collection of templates available

Cons: 

• You cannot export videos in the free plan. Also, you can create videos only with a duration of 2 minutes in the free version.

• Basic actions like adding custom fonts and colors and subtitles are restricted on the free as well as their Pro plan

• There is no support available for the free plan

• The quality of animations is mediocre on Moovly

Conclusion

So, that was the list of our top 5 2d animation software. Animaker is a complete tool that has a lot of features that the other players do not have. Also, the forever free plan allows you to use the tool and also download five videos per month.

There is also an opportunity to create two custom characters per month. Vyond and Powtoon are the next best followed by Animaker.

So, depending on your requirements, you can now make an informed choice! If you have any other suggestions, do drop it in the comments.