Best 2D Character Animation Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Animaker is ranked #1 of 30 as of 2 October 2026, ahead of OpenToonz and Tahoma2D. The best-ranked option with a free plan is OpenToonz. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Callipeg at $5/mo.
2D character animation tools serve creators building expressive movement, whether their work depends on rigs, deformation, or other animation workflows. Compare bone rigging and mesh deformation with lip sync and export formats, then consider supported platforms, free-plan access, and paid-from pricing. The ranking opens with Animaker, OpenToonz, and Tahoma2D, followed by Live2D Cubism and Toon Boom Harmony. Use the listed capabilities to assess how each tool aligns with the characters you are making, the motion you need to produce, and the formats your work must reach.
30 2D character animation software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
| # | Platform | Score | Why | From | Free plan | Paid from | Animation workflow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Animaker | 7.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | 15 /mo | — | View |
| 2 |  OpenToonz | 7.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | — | View |
| 3 |  Tahoma2D | 7.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | hybrid | View |
| 4 | Live2D Cubism | 7.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $5.65/mo | Yes | 13.26 /mo | puppet | View |
| 5 | Toon Boom Harmony | 6.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $6.75/mo | No | — | — | View |
| 6 |  Moho | 6.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $59.99/mo | No | — | — | View |
| 7 |  TVPaint Animation | 6.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | — | View |
| 8 | Spine | 6.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $70.83/mo | No | — | — | View |
| 9 | Adobe Character Animator | 6.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | — | — | — | View |
| 10 | Callipeg | 6.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $5/mo | No | — | hybrid | View |
| 11 |  Synfig Studio | 6.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 12 |  Cartoon Animator | 6.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $149/mo | No | — | — | View |
| 13 | CelAction2D | 6.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $11.67/mo | No | 70 /mo | rigged | View |
| 14 | Animation Desk | 6.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 15 | Adobe Animate | 6.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | — | — | — | View |
| 16 | Pencil2D | 6.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | — | View |
| 17 | Animation Paper | 5.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $79/mo | — | — | — | View |
| 18 |  RoughAnimator | 5.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $7.99/mo | No | — | frame-by-frame | View |
| 19 | TupiTube | 5.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 20 | Vyond | 5.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | — | — | — | View |
| 21 | FlipaClip | 5.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | frame-by-frame | View |
| 22 |  Plotagon | 5.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | puppet | View |
| 23 |  CACANi | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | frame-by-frame | View |
| 24 |  Pivot Animator | 5.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | rigged | View |
| 25 |  Stick Nodes | 5.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | hybrid | View |
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 Inferse?
Animaker is ranked #1 of 30 with a score of 7.9. OpenToonz is second and Tahoma2D third.
How many of these have a free plan?
6 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Callipeg has the lowest first paid tier we found: $5/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, open and connectable first: a public API, open-source code, the depth of its documentation and a free tier to try it on. Model lists are sorted by the figure in their title, exactly as each provider publishes it. Paid placements never change a rank.