Cavalry

Cavalry is desktop software for 2D animation and motion graphics, with procedural tools for building data-driven sequences. It is best suited to motion designers who need repeatable animation and varied exports; it is a weaker fit for mobile workflows or teams that cannot use Canva accounts.

Overview

Cavalry brings animation, compositing, keying, simulation and 3D camera tracking into one hybrid-rendering application. That breadth gives motion designers room to build more than simple animated graphics, while the real-time viewport is intended to keep iteration moving without preview lag. Its focus remains 2D animation, so the added effects tools do not make it a general-purpose substitute for every visual-effects workflow.

Key features

Procedural, data-driven work

Procedural rigs and character rigging support reusable animation setups rather than requiring every variation to be built from scratch. Connecting a spreadsheet to animate data at scale is especially useful for graphics that need to reflect changing values or repeated datasets. This makes Cavalry a compelling option for systematic motion design, though it is less directly suited to work that does not benefit from 2D animation or data-driven sequences.

Rendering and delivery

The real-time viewport is designed to render at full speed without preview lag, helping users refine work as they go. Export options include APNG, GIF, JPEG, Lottie, MP4, PNG, QuickTime, SVG, sprite sheets, WebM and WebP. That range covers animated and static outputs as well as vector and web-oriented formats, reducing the need to choose a tool around a single delivery format.

Learning support

Getting-started guidance, feature material, tips, tutorials, community content, documentation and a support link give new users several ways to find help. This is useful for learning a feature-rich tool, although the presence of resources alone cannot tell a newcomer how quickly a particular workflow will click.

Pricing

Free for Individuals: free. Individual use includes professional features, procedural rigs, a real-time viewport and data-driven sequences, with no stated usage restrictions or payment requirement. That makes it an unusually accessible option for an individual who wants a full 2D motion-design toolkit without a recurring software bill.

Enterprise: custom pricing. Organizations can provide team access with SSO through Canva Enterprise or Canva Education. This plan is aimed at organizations that need centralized access; it is not the individual route, and access depends on the relevant Canva offering.

A Canva account is required to use Cavalry. Refunding a legacy subscription removes access to Pro features in Cavalry 2.6.1 and earlier, a consideration for users with that older subscription history.

Platforms

Cavalry runs on macOS and Windows, not mobile devices. Desktop users on either supported system can consider it, but it is not an option for animating on a phone or tablet. Organizations can provide team access through SSO with Canva Enterprise or Canva Education.

Who it's for

Cavalry is a strong fit for motion designers and animators who want procedural rigs, spreadsheet-driven sequences, character rigging and broad export choices, especially when they work on macOS or Windows. Its free individual use also makes it practical for independent creators who need professional features without stated usage caps. Teams should weigh the Canva account requirement and Enterprise or Education SSO route; mobile-first creators should look elsewhere.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Individual use is free without stated restrictions, so users can access professional animation tools without a listed usage cap.
• Pro: Spreadsheet connections and procedural rigs support repeatable, data-driven animation at scale.
• Pro: The export range spans formats including Lottie, SVG, video, images and sprite sheets, supporting varied delivery needs.
• Con: A Canva account is required, which adds an account dependency to using the software.
• Con: macOS and Windows are the only supported platforms; there is no mobile version.

Alternatives

For broader visual-effects and animation categories, browse Visual Effects Software or Animation Software.

• Houdini is another freemium option with a free plan and Windows, macOS and Linux support; consider it if Linux compatibility matters.
• DaVinci Resolve has a free plan across Linux, macOS and Windows, with a Studio version priced at $295, paid once; consider it if cross-platform availability or its stated Ultra HD, 60 fps offering better matches your needs.
• Mari offers a free non-commercial plan with export limited to 4K and 16-bit per channel, plus a trial; consider it if a non-commercial free option is the priority.
• Mistika Boutique has a free educational plan with all features, H264-only renders and community support, plus a €99 a month personal plan; consider it if those render and support terms suit you.
• Natron is free software under the GNU GPL and supports Linux, macOS and Windows; consider it if a free, open-source option is the priority.
• TouchDesigner offers a non-commercial plan with 1280x1280 resolution and supports macOS and Windows; consider it if those terms fit your work.
• EbSynth is another freemium option; consider it as an alternative if you want to compare tools.
• Gaea has a Windows-only Community Edition with 1,024 × 1,024 single-build resolution and non-commercial use; consider it if those limits suit your project.

Verdict

Cavalry is an easy recommendation for individual motion designers on macOS or Windows who want procedural 2D animation, data-driven sequences and flexible exports without paying for individual access. Its main reason to choose it is the combination of those tools with unrestricted free individual use. Look elsewhere if you need mobile support, cannot use a Canva account, or require a different platform.