Animation Desk is software for creating animations, cartoons, and animatics on Android, iOS, and Windows.
Best 2D Character Animation Software in 2026
Creating animated characters starts with choosing how you want to build and move them. Compare animation workflow, bone rigging, mesh deformation, and lip sync to see which approaches suit your scenes. Export formats and supported platforms can affect where you take a finished project, while free-plan availability and paid-from pricing help you consider access and cost. The entries include tools such as Animaker,…
Animaze is software for creating interactive avatar-based entertainment, with avatars, animations, and customization tools.
FlipaClip is a frame-by-frame animation app for creating animated projects.
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VTube Studio
VTube Studio is an app for Virtual YouTubers to animate Live2D models.
Free planAndroidiOSAPImacOS8.0$14.99 one-time - 5
Animaker
Animaker is a web-based tool for creating animated and live-action videos.
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI7.8From $15 a month - 6

Adobe Character Animator
Free planmacOSWindows7.5Free plan - 7

Live2D Cubism
Live2D Cubism Editor turns drawn illustrations into animated 2D models, with tools for puppet-style motion, mesh deformation, physics and lip sync.
AndroidiOSWebmacOS7.4 - 8

Pencil2D
Pencil2D is free, open-source desktop software for making hand-drawn 2D animations, including commercial work.
Free planOpen sourceLinuxmacOSWindows7.4Free plan - 9
PNGTuber Plus
PNGTuber Plus is a free desktop app for customizing 2D PNG VTuber avatars.
Free planOpen sourceLinuxmacOSWindows7.4Free plan - 10
Stick Nodes
Stick Nodes is an Android and iOS app for creating stickfigure animations and exporting them as GIFs or videos.
Free planAndroidiOS7.2$3.99 one-time - 11

Callipeg
Callipeg is a 2D animation application for frame-by-frame work on tablets and desktop computers.
AndroidiOSLinuxmacOS7.0$5 one-time - 12

Spriter
Spriter Pro is a 2D game animation tool that builds movement from modular sprite pieces and skeletal animation.
Free planLinuxWindows6.9$59.99 one-time - 13
Mango Animate Whiteboard Animation Maker
Mango Animate Whiteboard Animation Maker, also called Mango WM, is a Windows application for making whiteboard and hand-drawn style animation videos.
Free planWindows6.8Free plan - 14
Plotagon
Plotagon apps let users create animated videos for fan fiction, original stories, social stories, training, education, and advertising.
AndroidiOSWindows6.8 - 15
RoughAnimator
RoughAnimator is a paid, frame-by-frame app for creating traditional hand-drawn animation on Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows.
AndroidiOSmacOSWindows6.8$7.99 one-time - 16

SpineBones
SpineBones is a free 2D skeletal animation editor for creating bone rigs, animating them with timeline keyframes, and exporting finished work.
Free planAPImacOSWindows6.8Free plan - 17
veadotube
veadotube is a collection of tools for people interested in virtual puppetry, including VTubing.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.8From $8 a month - 18
Moho
Moho is 2D animation software for creating cartoons, films, vector animation, stop-motion, and cut-out animation.
macOSWindows6.7$59.99 one-time - 19

Spine
Spine is a desktop 2D animation tool focused on game animation, with an editor for building skeletal or cutout motion and runtimes for using the results in games.
LinuxmacOSWindows6.7From $850 a year - 20

TupiTube
Free planAndroidLinuxmacOSWindows6.7Free plan - 21

SkelForm
SkelForm is a free 2D skeletal animator for creating game animations.
Free planWebLinuxmacOSWindows6.6Free plan - 22
Cartoon Animator
Windows6.5 - 23

Procreate
iOS6.5$5.99 one-time - 24

AnvilWiki
AnvilWiki is an open-source template for building game wikis and other game-focused content sites.
Free planWebmacOSSelf-hostedWindows6.4Free plan - 25
Creature
Creature is Windows software for making 2D animation for games, digital art, and web design.
Windows6.4$50 one-time


