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2024 Approved Bring Your Ideas to Life with These 12 Free Animation Software Options
Bring Your Ideas to Life with These 12 Free Animation Software Options
Best 12 Free Download Animation Software for Windows and Mac
Shanoon Cox
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
In your search for quality animation software, you may have found that many of the programs cost a lot of money no matter it is 2D animation software or 3D animation editor. The good news is that you can choose free animation tools to make different animation types easily.
That is why we created a list of the best animation software on both Mac and Windows. Whether you are a professional editor or just a beginner to start making animation, you will find the tools listed below are easy to use without watermark and won’t cost money to improve your skills.
The best part is you will find these free animation programs are also very useful for content creation on Mac and Windows. Besides, we have listed the pros and cons of each software. Keep reading!
- Part 1: Best Free Animation Software for Mac
- Part 2: Best Free Animation Software for Windows
- Part 3: FAQ about Animation Software for Windows and Mac
Here we have made a table of 12 free animation software without watermark on Windows and macOS. Take a look.
6 Free Animation Software for macOS
5K-3DMiddleIt is a great tool for 3D artists6KritaDifficultPerfect software for 2D animation
| Number | Software | Difficulty Level | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Synfig Studio | Easy | Calculate vector shape to animation automatically |
| 2 | Pencil2D Animation | Easiest | Straightforward interface for beginners |
| 3 | Tupi | Middle | Its community is active to offer solutions |
| 4 | Blender | Difficult | It is a powerful animation tool to render and make modeling |
6 Free Animation Software for Windows
| Number | Software | Difficulty Level | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DAZ Studio | Difficult | For professional users with the fast animation process |
| 2 | Terragen | Middle | It can make realistic CG environments |
| 3 | Anim8or | Difficult | 3D animation is Anim8or’s main function |
| 4 | Seamless3d | Easy | It has many features for 3d modeling |
| 5 | OpenToonz | Middle | Make cartoon animation with plugins |
| 6 | Stykz | Easy | Quickly make animation if you have used Pivot StickFigure Animator |
Best Animation Software on Windows and Mac - Filmora
Looking for a simple while powerful Mac video editing tool ? We recommend using Wondershare Filmora. You can use it to create 2D/3D animated texts, shapes, or anything you like for YouTube videos.
The keyframing features will help you make animation effects smooth and precise. When exporting, you can also make it transparent.
Besides, various title templates and transitions are also available for you. Download it now to have a try! Or learn more from Wondershare Video Community .
Key features
- Create various shapes that you like
- Add keyframing to make it move
- Fine-tuning to make it smooth
- Add visual effects/text/color before export it
You can even create photo cut animation which has been very trendy on Tiktok and Instagram. Here is a video to present you how you can do it in Filmora.
Part 1 Best Free Animation Software for Mac
Listed below is free animation software on Mac. Take a look.
01 Synfig Studio - Mac Software to Animate Video
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: You can create many layers once a time and sync audio for your animation.
Con: This one needs much time to learn, especially for beginners.
An open-source 2D animation software that works on Macs, Synfig Studio delivers multiple players while you are creating content. Whether you want to add geometric, filters, distortions, or transformations, it is all possible! And thanks to the high-end bone system, you can create cut-out videos using bitmap images!
The thoughtful part is there are two download versions on the homepage: the stable version and the development version. If you want to enjoy a stable and smooth animation editing experience, choose the stable one. However, the development package gives you access to the use of the latest features.
For a novice, you can learn Synfig from step by step guide in Wikipedia and video tutorials. Four languages are available including English, Russian, Dutch, and French for a video course.
You can free download its latest version 1.3.11. The upcoming version is 1.4.
Features:
- It offers support for many layers within the animation.
- The program’s bone system means that you can easily create animations with bitmap images or vector artwork.
- It allows you to sync your creative work with any sound that you want. Has a full-featured audio editor.
02 Pencil2D Animation - Animation Program for 2D Pencil Lover
Difficulty Level: Easiest
Pro: Easy to start and make animation as the interface is user-friendly for many people.
Con: You need to set your preference every time to open it up, so it takes up some time
Pencil2D Animation is one of the simplest 2D hand-drawn tools available. It will work flawlessly on Mac computers. It is ideal for beginners, as the commands and interface are very easy to understand.
Whether you want to create a simple one, or you want something with many layers for videos on YouTube, you can use Pencil2D animation to get it done. Its timeline is easy to use at first glance. You can add and duplicate different frames on a different track.
The frequency of releasing the new version is very fast as Pencil2D is committed to bringing the lasted features to each user. The newest version is v0.6.4 (as of August 2019). Its user guide is informative with video tutorials, FAQs, and manual material.
Features:
- Lightweight and minimalistic design that makes it very easy for beginners.
- Features raster and vector workflows, with easy switching between them. You can paint and sketch as you want!
- Will run on all platforms - Mac, Windows, and Linux.
- Completely free and open source.
03 TupiTube - Free Animation Application for Mac Users
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: It supports vector illustrations. Besides, various formats are available.
Con: If you want to make 3D animation, it will fail. You can only make 2D effects.
A free software application for YouTube, Tupi will allow you to create 2D animations to your heart’s content. The tool was started by animators who wanted to create something that others could use.
It is an open-source tool, which means that users can make tweaks to the program if they have some interesting ideas. The program works on both Windows and Mac. You need to use Tupi and Papagayo to make lip-sync animation with different mouth shapes.
It also offers a solution for schools with related features including academic license, technical support, and ads-free, so many schools choose to use this one to teach kids how to make an animation video.
Features:
- Support for vector illustrations. You can add rectangles, lines, polygons, and other shapes as you please. To fill areas, just use the paint bucket.
- You can import raster images using this program.
- You can export all your finished images into different file formats.
- Support for tweeting positions, scale, shear, and rotations.
04 Blender - Need Some Time to Learn This Animation Tool
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Really powerful software that you can make for professional users.
Con: It is not easy to make image animation as it focuses on 3D.
Blender is an open-source 3D animation creation suite without a watermark. If you find that 2D is a little bit limiting, we think that you will be very happy with what this free program offers. You can take your projects to a whole new level when you can use this program on your Mac.
You can use Blender to make a video game, modeling, and high-quality animation. However, it involves a steep learning curve. Luckily, there are many tutorials to guide you through the journey. You can also ask for help in the Blender community that millions of talented people like you are there.
Features:
- Creating renders is no problem with this program.
- Modeling, such as sculpting, retopology, and creating curves is not an issue either.
- VFX and animation features are better than any option on the market.
- It offers powerful simulation tools.
- Integration with pipeline tools is easy.
05 K-3D - Best for Animation and Modeling in 3D
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: Ideal for designing simple 3D animations and models.
Con: It has an old-fashioned interface. Also, the built-render (RenderMan) feature is difficult to use by beginners.
K-3D is an animation and 3D modeling software. You can download this tool for free on your Mac. Besides, you can also install and run it on your Windows and Linux systems. If you look at the design, you will find that the software is quite old. But don’t judge a book by its cover. Why so? It is because K-3D is one of the strongest and most versatile tools for 3D artists with many options.
For example, K-3D offers extremely systematic and methodological workflows. You can easily adjust the properties of the features in real-time and get instant results. It has a node-oriented visualization pipeline to enjoy more freedom. That means you can create animation using a variety of combinations.
One of the best things about K-3D is that it has three subdivisions of animation. You can work on your model on one side while showing the other side in a mirrored form. Then, experience the final result combined together. And in case you need to make the changes to the end results, you can simply work on the first subdivision and savor automatic changes to the results.
K-3D has an advanced redo and undo mechanism to ensure you can go back or move forward to make corrections or amendments without limits. Additionally, the tool is developed keeping in mind all the industrial standards. For instance, it has complete support and integration of native RenderMan™ to its user interface. This is an excellent feature because most free animation software for Mac requires third-party render plugins.
Features:
- Parametric workflow.
- 2D and 3D animation tools.
- Allows Python and K3DScript scripting.
06 Krita - For Professional 2D Animators
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Advanced tools with numerous animation options and online training material.
Con: Not suitable for beginners.
If you love 2D animation, then you’ll surely love Krita. It is entirely free software available on Mac, Windows, and Linux. Also, it offers a full platform for drawing and frame-by-frame animation.
The number one reason for adoring Krita is its brush library. There are more than 100 professional brushes to give you a wide range of effects. Moreover, the strokes are pretty amazing and similar to Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator.
Another great thing about Krita is the brush stabilization feature designed for shaky hands. You can add a stabilizer to your chosen brush to smoothen its flow. Besides, there’s a special Dynamic Brush tool to make animation more fun. At the same time, you can also customize your brushes through different brush engines, including filter engines, color smudge engines, and many more.
Apart from the basic brush options, the preloaded vector tools are next to admire. These tools help you make great comic panels. All you need to do is choose and drag the word bubble template on your canvas. Then, make changes with the anchor point to make new shapes. At the same time, you can also add text to your animation by using the text tool.
Last but not least, there’s a wrap-around mode to create seamless patterns and textures. That means the image or drawing makes its own references along the x-axis and y-axis. This gives you the freedom to continue painting and enjoy updates to your animation instantly.
Features:
- HDR painting.
- PSD support.
- Python scripting.
- Selection and transformation tools.
- Proper group, filter, vector, and file layer management.
- Complete color management for extraordinary results.
- Drawing assistant to help you with straight lines and vanishing points.
Part 2 Best Free Animation Software for Windows
Below is free animation software on Windows. Keep reading.
01 Anireel - Easy to Use Animation Software
Difficulty Level: Easy
Anireel is a simple yet powerful Video Creativity tool used to make 2D animated explainer videos. Developed by Wondershare, one of the most popular Windows software and tool developers, Anireel uses rich, ready-to-use, and diverse assets to help one effortlessly make animated videos.
Features:
- There are tons of drag and drop characters, actions, props, text, and audio assets.
- Easy Text-to-Speech conversion via deep studying technology.
- Animate integrated and imported assets.
- Tons of templates that match many script types.
02 DAZ Studio - Free Software for 3D Lovers
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: You can make game animation for fun. It also supports GPU accelerated real-time rendering.
Con: It has a high demand for the device, but owns a steep learning curve.
Daz 3d is a powerful and completely free 3D creation tool that will let you create the short videos that you want. Whether you are using this for business or pleasure, you will find the program is very easy to understand. Within a day, you will be completely used to its interface.
3D effects are the core focus of DAZ Studio. You can build a model, render, and pose animation within the skin texture level. It has a high requirement for the device. For Windows 64 bits, its recommended RAM is 3G.
Features:
- Options for 3D morphing, animation, and rendering.
- GPU accelerated real-time rendering, which delivers the best results.
- Interactive tutorials to help you become a better 3D artist.
- Everything you make is yours, royalty-free!
03 Terragen - Use It to Make CG Animation
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: The recently updated version is the best one. Ray-traced preview is a great function to help us make animation.
Con: The interface looks complicated, but it gets easy to know after you are familiar with it.
A completely free program that you can download and install on all Windows computers and tablets, Terragen is the ideal program for you to create the 3D animations and environments that you want. If you want a photo-realistic CG environment, using Terragen is the best way to do it!
Releasing imagination instantly, Terragen Creative is the one tool you’d like to consider. You can use it to make beautiful scenery.
For advanced tools, you can choose FBX to make animation quickly. The featured image gallery on its homepage will give you a deep understanding of the final outcome you can achieve with Terragen.
Features:
- Ray-traced preview. Without watermark after exporting
- Photo-realistic clouds and ozone simulation
- Rendering is twice as fast as the previous version of the program.
- Adding terrain, objects, and shader to your final product is very easy with the intuitive interface.
04 Anim8or - Free Tool to Make 3D Modeling
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Anim8or supports 3D modeler and TrueType fonts to meet advanced needs.
Con: Beginners will find it difficult to learn.
Anim8or is a free 3D modeling program that will let you create the unique work that you want. It is a personal project from an animator, but the program does get regular updates and troubleshooting.
It is not going to give you the same features as something like Studio Max or Maya, but you will get the basics. Beginners who are getting into animations will love this program.
Anim8or is a great tool to step into 3D animation ff you think other software is too different to start. In some way, it means you need to give up some advanced features. But all in all, it’s still recommended for you.
Features:
- A full 3D modeler that allows you to create spheres, cylinders, platonic solids, and any other objects that you want.
- Features support for TrueType fonts.
- Easy to create 3D scenes and output them as video files or images.
05 Seamless3d - Open-source Free Software
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: It is an open-source 3D modeling package. The good thing is the handy infinite Undo/Redo operation.
Con: Some advanced features are missing like drawing.
Seamless3d, an open-source 3D modeling software that you can download, is among the best animation worktables if you want to create specialized images, animated videos, or 3D characters.
It supports FFmpeg video format, so you can use AVI, MP4, and more. Besides, the forum is not active compared with before, but you still can find answers from many tutorials .
Features:
- It comes with infinite undo and redo options for complete flexibility to correct mistakes.
- It allows for partitioned and seamless texture mapping for YouTube videos.
- Has a specialized tree view interface.
06 OpenToonz - Support Plug in to Make Animation Freely
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: It is open-source software, so you can change the code freely.
Con: The plug-in effects are limited.
This animation program is made for beginners on Windows. It is among the best 2D animation software in the market. You can use plug-in effects to change image style, add lights, and distort details. It supports Windows 7/8/10 only for 64 bit.
Features:
- You can add provisional colors to make your animation more colorful.
- Smooth correction without frame losing.
- Compatible with black-and-white, colored, or without binarization scanning.
7 Stykz - Simple to Use Animation Program for Beginners
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: It is the best stick figure animation if you want to make this kind of video.
Con: The UI is not modern to use and needs time to adapt to using it.
Stykz is completely free to use and without a watermark. If you have used Pivot StickFigure Animator, then you will find Stykz is similar to it, but you can import the previous .stk files to animate it again. You can use it to make animation smooth frame by frame.
With its frame-based feature, Stykz is easy to customize each frame. You can change previous and current frames to get what you want. You can download it to have a try considering its easy-to-use features.
Features:
- There is some animes file on this website, so you can have a reference.
- Edit animation in the software without using another editing window.
- You can share the final work with others including information.
Part 3 FAQ about Animation Software for Windows and Mac
01 Are Macs good for animation?
To be frank, Mac is a better choice to make animation if you want to have a smooth animation experience. For example, screen resolution is a crucial factor to make excellent animation. The good is Mac’s screen will never let you disappointed.
02 What is the best animation software for Mac?
The best animation software on mac includes Synfig Studio, Pencil2D Animation, Tupi, Blender, and more. Mentioned are free-to-use. Maya is also worth considering animation software if you are a professional user. Maya offers a 1-month free trial. After it is ended, the paid plans are month, 1-year, and 3-year.
03 Can you animate in Photoshop?
Yes, you can make basic animation in Photoshop. However, it only supports frame-based animation making. In this case, you need to use other professional software to make animation. But, you still can use Photoshop to meet your needs if you are a beginner.
Conclusion
With any of these free animation maker programs on Mac and Windows, you will have an easy time creating your next 2D or 3D video. Ensure you choose the program that has the features and compatibility that you desire. Then it is up to your creative mind to come up with stunning animations! If you want to make animation easily, you can also find inspiration through classical animated cartoon types with examples .
Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
In your search for quality animation software, you may have found that many of the programs cost a lot of money no matter it is 2D animation software or 3D animation editor. The good news is that you can choose free animation tools to make different animation types easily.
That is why we created a list of the best animation software on both Mac and Windows. Whether you are a professional editor or just a beginner to start making animation, you will find the tools listed below are easy to use without watermark and won’t cost money to improve your skills.
The best part is you will find these free animation programs are also very useful for content creation on Mac and Windows. Besides, we have listed the pros and cons of each software. Keep reading!
- Part 1: Best Free Animation Software for Mac
- Part 2: Best Free Animation Software for Windows
- Part 3: FAQ about Animation Software for Windows and Mac
Here we have made a table of 12 free animation software without watermark on Windows and macOS. Take a look.
6 Free Animation Software for macOS
5K-3DMiddleIt is a great tool for 3D artists6KritaDifficultPerfect software for 2D animation
| Number | Software | Difficulty Level | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Synfig Studio | Easy | Calculate vector shape to animation automatically |
| 2 | Pencil2D Animation | Easiest | Straightforward interface for beginners |
| 3 | Tupi | Middle | Its community is active to offer solutions |
| 4 | Blender | Difficult | It is a powerful animation tool to render and make modeling |
6 Free Animation Software for Windows
| Number | Software | Difficulty Level | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DAZ Studio | Difficult | For professional users with the fast animation process |
| 2 | Terragen | Middle | It can make realistic CG environments |
| 3 | Anim8or | Difficult | 3D animation is Anim8or’s main function |
| 4 | Seamless3d | Easy | It has many features for 3d modeling |
| 5 | OpenToonz | Middle | Make cartoon animation with plugins |
| 6 | Stykz | Easy | Quickly make animation if you have used Pivot StickFigure Animator |
Best Animation Software on Windows and Mac - Filmora
Looking for a simple while powerful Mac video editing tool ? We recommend using Wondershare Filmora. You can use it to create 2D/3D animated texts, shapes, or anything you like for YouTube videos.
The keyframing features will help you make animation effects smooth and precise. When exporting, you can also make it transparent.
Besides, various title templates and transitions are also available for you. Download it now to have a try! Or learn more from Wondershare Video Community .
Key features
- Create various shapes that you like
- Add keyframing to make it move
- Fine-tuning to make it smooth
- Add visual effects/text/color before export it
You can even create photo cut animation which has been very trendy on Tiktok and Instagram. Here is a video to present you how you can do it in Filmora.
Part 1 Best Free Animation Software for Mac
Listed below is free animation software on Mac. Take a look.
01 Synfig Studio - Mac Software to Animate Video
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: You can create many layers once a time and sync audio for your animation.
Con: This one needs much time to learn, especially for beginners.
An open-source 2D animation software that works on Macs, Synfig Studio delivers multiple players while you are creating content. Whether you want to add geometric, filters, distortions, or transformations, it is all possible! And thanks to the high-end bone system, you can create cut-out videos using bitmap images!
The thoughtful part is there are two download versions on the homepage: the stable version and the development version. If you want to enjoy a stable and smooth animation editing experience, choose the stable one. However, the development package gives you access to the use of the latest features.
For a novice, you can learn Synfig from step by step guide in Wikipedia and video tutorials. Four languages are available including English, Russian, Dutch, and French for a video course.
You can free download its latest version 1.3.11. The upcoming version is 1.4.
Features:
- It offers support for many layers within the animation.
- The program’s bone system means that you can easily create animations with bitmap images or vector artwork.
- It allows you to sync your creative work with any sound that you want. Has a full-featured audio editor.
02 Pencil2D Animation - Animation Program for 2D Pencil Lover
Difficulty Level: Easiest
Pro: Easy to start and make animation as the interface is user-friendly for many people.
Con: You need to set your preference every time to open it up, so it takes up some time
Pencil2D Animation is one of the simplest 2D hand-drawn tools available. It will work flawlessly on Mac computers. It is ideal for beginners, as the commands and interface are very easy to understand.
Whether you want to create a simple one, or you want something with many layers for videos on YouTube, you can use Pencil2D animation to get it done. Its timeline is easy to use at first glance. You can add and duplicate different frames on a different track.
The frequency of releasing the new version is very fast as Pencil2D is committed to bringing the lasted features to each user. The newest version is v0.6.4 (as of August 2019). Its user guide is informative with video tutorials, FAQs, and manual material.
Features:
- Lightweight and minimalistic design that makes it very easy for beginners.
- Features raster and vector workflows, with easy switching between them. You can paint and sketch as you want!
- Will run on all platforms - Mac, Windows, and Linux.
- Completely free and open source.
03 TupiTube - Free Animation Application for Mac Users
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: It supports vector illustrations. Besides, various formats are available.
Con: If you want to make 3D animation, it will fail. You can only make 2D effects.
A free software application for YouTube, Tupi will allow you to create 2D animations to your heart’s content. The tool was started by animators who wanted to create something that others could use.
It is an open-source tool, which means that users can make tweaks to the program if they have some interesting ideas. The program works on both Windows and Mac. You need to use Tupi and Papagayo to make lip-sync animation with different mouth shapes.
It also offers a solution for schools with related features including academic license, technical support, and ads-free, so many schools choose to use this one to teach kids how to make an animation video.
Features:
- Support for vector illustrations. You can add rectangles, lines, polygons, and other shapes as you please. To fill areas, just use the paint bucket.
- You can import raster images using this program.
- You can export all your finished images into different file formats.
- Support for tweeting positions, scale, shear, and rotations.
04 Blender - Need Some Time to Learn This Animation Tool
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Really powerful software that you can make for professional users.
Con: It is not easy to make image animation as it focuses on 3D.
Blender is an open-source 3D animation creation suite without a watermark. If you find that 2D is a little bit limiting, we think that you will be very happy with what this free program offers. You can take your projects to a whole new level when you can use this program on your Mac.
You can use Blender to make a video game, modeling, and high-quality animation. However, it involves a steep learning curve. Luckily, there are many tutorials to guide you through the journey. You can also ask for help in the Blender community that millions of talented people like you are there.
Features:
- Creating renders is no problem with this program.
- Modeling, such as sculpting, retopology, and creating curves is not an issue either.
- VFX and animation features are better than any option on the market.
- It offers powerful simulation tools.
- Integration with pipeline tools is easy.
05 K-3D - Best for Animation and Modeling in 3D
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: Ideal for designing simple 3D animations and models.
Con: It has an old-fashioned interface. Also, the built-render (RenderMan) feature is difficult to use by beginners.
K-3D is an animation and 3D modeling software. You can download this tool for free on your Mac. Besides, you can also install and run it on your Windows and Linux systems. If you look at the design, you will find that the software is quite old. But don’t judge a book by its cover. Why so? It is because K-3D is one of the strongest and most versatile tools for 3D artists with many options.
For example, K-3D offers extremely systematic and methodological workflows. You can easily adjust the properties of the features in real-time and get instant results. It has a node-oriented visualization pipeline to enjoy more freedom. That means you can create animation using a variety of combinations.
One of the best things about K-3D is that it has three subdivisions of animation. You can work on your model on one side while showing the other side in a mirrored form. Then, experience the final result combined together. And in case you need to make the changes to the end results, you can simply work on the first subdivision and savor automatic changes to the results.
K-3D has an advanced redo and undo mechanism to ensure you can go back or move forward to make corrections or amendments without limits. Additionally, the tool is developed keeping in mind all the industrial standards. For instance, it has complete support and integration of native RenderMan™ to its user interface. This is an excellent feature because most free animation software for Mac requires third-party render plugins.
Features:
- Parametric workflow.
- 2D and 3D animation tools.
- Allows Python and K3DScript scripting.
06 Krita - For Professional 2D Animators
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Advanced tools with numerous animation options and online training material.
Con: Not suitable for beginners.
If you love 2D animation, then you’ll surely love Krita. It is entirely free software available on Mac, Windows, and Linux. Also, it offers a full platform for drawing and frame-by-frame animation.
The number one reason for adoring Krita is its brush library. There are more than 100 professional brushes to give you a wide range of effects. Moreover, the strokes are pretty amazing and similar to Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator.
Another great thing about Krita is the brush stabilization feature designed for shaky hands. You can add a stabilizer to your chosen brush to smoothen its flow. Besides, there’s a special Dynamic Brush tool to make animation more fun. At the same time, you can also customize your brushes through different brush engines, including filter engines, color smudge engines, and many more.
Apart from the basic brush options, the preloaded vector tools are next to admire. These tools help you make great comic panels. All you need to do is choose and drag the word bubble template on your canvas. Then, make changes with the anchor point to make new shapes. At the same time, you can also add text to your animation by using the text tool.
Last but not least, there’s a wrap-around mode to create seamless patterns and textures. That means the image or drawing makes its own references along the x-axis and y-axis. This gives you the freedom to continue painting and enjoy updates to your animation instantly.
Features:
- HDR painting.
- PSD support.
- Python scripting.
- Selection and transformation tools.
- Proper group, filter, vector, and file layer management.
- Complete color management for extraordinary results.
- Drawing assistant to help you with straight lines and vanishing points.
Part 2 Best Free Animation Software for Windows
Below is free animation software on Windows. Keep reading.
01 Anireel - Easy to Use Animation Software
Difficulty Level: Easy
Anireel is a simple yet powerful Video Creativity tool used to make 2D animated explainer videos. Developed by Wondershare, one of the most popular Windows software and tool developers, Anireel uses rich, ready-to-use, and diverse assets to help one effortlessly make animated videos.
Features:
- There are tons of drag and drop characters, actions, props, text, and audio assets.
- Easy Text-to-Speech conversion via deep studying technology.
- Animate integrated and imported assets.
- Tons of templates that match many script types.
02 DAZ Studio - Free Software for 3D Lovers
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: You can make game animation for fun. It also supports GPU accelerated real-time rendering.
Con: It has a high demand for the device, but owns a steep learning curve.
Daz 3d is a powerful and completely free 3D creation tool that will let you create the short videos that you want. Whether you are using this for business or pleasure, you will find the program is very easy to understand. Within a day, you will be completely used to its interface.
3D effects are the core focus of DAZ Studio. You can build a model, render, and pose animation within the skin texture level. It has a high requirement for the device. For Windows 64 bits, its recommended RAM is 3G.
Features:
- Options for 3D morphing, animation, and rendering.
- GPU accelerated real-time rendering, which delivers the best results.
- Interactive tutorials to help you become a better 3D artist.
- Everything you make is yours, royalty-free!
03 Terragen - Use It to Make CG Animation
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: The recently updated version is the best one. Ray-traced preview is a great function to help us make animation.
Con: The interface looks complicated, but it gets easy to know after you are familiar with it.
A completely free program that you can download and install on all Windows computers and tablets, Terragen is the ideal program for you to create the 3D animations and environments that you want. If you want a photo-realistic CG environment, using Terragen is the best way to do it!
Releasing imagination instantly, Terragen Creative is the one tool you’d like to consider. You can use it to make beautiful scenery.
For advanced tools, you can choose FBX to make animation quickly. The featured image gallery on its homepage will give you a deep understanding of the final outcome you can achieve with Terragen.
Features:
- Ray-traced preview. Without watermark after exporting
- Photo-realistic clouds and ozone simulation
- Rendering is twice as fast as the previous version of the program.
- Adding terrain, objects, and shader to your final product is very easy with the intuitive interface.
04 Anim8or - Free Tool to Make 3D Modeling
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Anim8or supports 3D modeler and TrueType fonts to meet advanced needs.
Con: Beginners will find it difficult to learn.
Anim8or is a free 3D modeling program that will let you create the unique work that you want. It is a personal project from an animator, but the program does get regular updates and troubleshooting.
It is not going to give you the same features as something like Studio Max or Maya, but you will get the basics. Beginners who are getting into animations will love this program.
Anim8or is a great tool to step into 3D animation ff you think other software is too different to start. In some way, it means you need to give up some advanced features. But all in all, it’s still recommended for you.
Features:
- A full 3D modeler that allows you to create spheres, cylinders, platonic solids, and any other objects that you want.
- Features support for TrueType fonts.
- Easy to create 3D scenes and output them as video files or images.
05 Seamless3d - Open-source Free Software
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: It is an open-source 3D modeling package. The good thing is the handy infinite Undo/Redo operation.
Con: Some advanced features are missing like drawing.
Seamless3d, an open-source 3D modeling software that you can download, is among the best animation worktables if you want to create specialized images, animated videos, or 3D characters.
It supports FFmpeg video format, so you can use AVI, MP4, and more. Besides, the forum is not active compared with before, but you still can find answers from many tutorials .
Features:
- It comes with infinite undo and redo options for complete flexibility to correct mistakes.
- It allows for partitioned and seamless texture mapping for YouTube videos.
- Has a specialized tree view interface.
06 OpenToonz - Support Plug in to Make Animation Freely
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: It is open-source software, so you can change the code freely.
Con: The plug-in effects are limited.
This animation program is made for beginners on Windows. It is among the best 2D animation software in the market. You can use plug-in effects to change image style, add lights, and distort details. It supports Windows 7/8/10 only for 64 bit.
Features:
- You can add provisional colors to make your animation more colorful.
- Smooth correction without frame losing.
- Compatible with black-and-white, colored, or without binarization scanning.
7 Stykz - Simple to Use Animation Program for Beginners
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: It is the best stick figure animation if you want to make this kind of video.
Con: The UI is not modern to use and needs time to adapt to using it.
Stykz is completely free to use and without a watermark. If you have used Pivot StickFigure Animator, then you will find Stykz is similar to it, but you can import the previous .stk files to animate it again. You can use it to make animation smooth frame by frame.
With its frame-based feature, Stykz is easy to customize each frame. You can change previous and current frames to get what you want. You can download it to have a try considering its easy-to-use features.
Features:
- There is some animes file on this website, so you can have a reference.
- Edit animation in the software without using another editing window.
- You can share the final work with others including information.
Part 3 FAQ about Animation Software for Windows and Mac
01 Are Macs good for animation?
To be frank, Mac is a better choice to make animation if you want to have a smooth animation experience. For example, screen resolution is a crucial factor to make excellent animation. The good is Mac’s screen will never let you disappointed.
02 What is the best animation software for Mac?
The best animation software on mac includes Synfig Studio, Pencil2D Animation, Tupi, Blender, and more. Mentioned are free-to-use. Maya is also worth considering animation software if you are a professional user. Maya offers a 1-month free trial. After it is ended, the paid plans are month, 1-year, and 3-year.
03 Can you animate in Photoshop?
Yes, you can make basic animation in Photoshop. However, it only supports frame-based animation making. In this case, you need to use other professional software to make animation. But, you still can use Photoshop to meet your needs if you are a beginner.
Conclusion
With any of these free animation maker programs on Mac and Windows, you will have an easy time creating your next 2D or 3D video. Ensure you choose the program that has the features and compatibility that you desire. Then it is up to your creative mind to come up with stunning animations! If you want to make animation easily, you can also find inspiration through classical animated cartoon types with examples .
Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
In your search for quality animation software, you may have found that many of the programs cost a lot of money no matter it is 2D animation software or 3D animation editor. The good news is that you can choose free animation tools to make different animation types easily.
That is why we created a list of the best animation software on both Mac and Windows. Whether you are a professional editor or just a beginner to start making animation, you will find the tools listed below are easy to use without watermark and won’t cost money to improve your skills.
The best part is you will find these free animation programs are also very useful for content creation on Mac and Windows. Besides, we have listed the pros and cons of each software. Keep reading!
- Part 1: Best Free Animation Software for Mac
- Part 2: Best Free Animation Software for Windows
- Part 3: FAQ about Animation Software for Windows and Mac
Here we have made a table of 12 free animation software without watermark on Windows and macOS. Take a look.
6 Free Animation Software for macOS
5K-3DMiddleIt is a great tool for 3D artists6KritaDifficultPerfect software for 2D animation
| Number | Software | Difficulty Level | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Synfig Studio | Easy | Calculate vector shape to animation automatically |
| 2 | Pencil2D Animation | Easiest | Straightforward interface for beginners |
| 3 | Tupi | Middle | Its community is active to offer solutions |
| 4 | Blender | Difficult | It is a powerful animation tool to render and make modeling |
6 Free Animation Software for Windows
| Number | Software | Difficulty Level | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DAZ Studio | Difficult | For professional users with the fast animation process |
| 2 | Terragen | Middle | It can make realistic CG environments |
| 3 | Anim8or | Difficult | 3D animation is Anim8or’s main function |
| 4 | Seamless3d | Easy | It has many features for 3d modeling |
| 5 | OpenToonz | Middle | Make cartoon animation with plugins |
| 6 | Stykz | Easy | Quickly make animation if you have used Pivot StickFigure Animator |
Best Animation Software on Windows and Mac - Filmora
Looking for a simple while powerful Mac video editing tool ? We recommend using Wondershare Filmora. You can use it to create 2D/3D animated texts, shapes, or anything you like for YouTube videos.
The keyframing features will help you make animation effects smooth and precise. When exporting, you can also make it transparent.
Besides, various title templates and transitions are also available for you. Download it now to have a try! Or learn more from Wondershare Video Community .
Key features
- Create various shapes that you like
- Add keyframing to make it move
- Fine-tuning to make it smooth
- Add visual effects/text/color before export it
You can even create photo cut animation which has been very trendy on Tiktok and Instagram. Here is a video to present you how you can do it in Filmora.
Part 1 Best Free Animation Software for Mac
Listed below is free animation software on Mac. Take a look.
01 Synfig Studio - Mac Software to Animate Video
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: You can create many layers once a time and sync audio for your animation.
Con: This one needs much time to learn, especially for beginners.
An open-source 2D animation software that works on Macs, Synfig Studio delivers multiple players while you are creating content. Whether you want to add geometric, filters, distortions, or transformations, it is all possible! And thanks to the high-end bone system, you can create cut-out videos using bitmap images!
The thoughtful part is there are two download versions on the homepage: the stable version and the development version. If you want to enjoy a stable and smooth animation editing experience, choose the stable one. However, the development package gives you access to the use of the latest features.
For a novice, you can learn Synfig from step by step guide in Wikipedia and video tutorials. Four languages are available including English, Russian, Dutch, and French for a video course.
You can free download its latest version 1.3.11. The upcoming version is 1.4.
Features:
- It offers support for many layers within the animation.
- The program’s bone system means that you can easily create animations with bitmap images or vector artwork.
- It allows you to sync your creative work with any sound that you want. Has a full-featured audio editor.
02 Pencil2D Animation - Animation Program for 2D Pencil Lover
Difficulty Level: Easiest
Pro: Easy to start and make animation as the interface is user-friendly for many people.
Con: You need to set your preference every time to open it up, so it takes up some time
Pencil2D Animation is one of the simplest 2D hand-drawn tools available. It will work flawlessly on Mac computers. It is ideal for beginners, as the commands and interface are very easy to understand.
Whether you want to create a simple one, or you want something with many layers for videos on YouTube, you can use Pencil2D animation to get it done. Its timeline is easy to use at first glance. You can add and duplicate different frames on a different track.
The frequency of releasing the new version is very fast as Pencil2D is committed to bringing the lasted features to each user. The newest version is v0.6.4 (as of August 2019). Its user guide is informative with video tutorials, FAQs, and manual material.
Features:
- Lightweight and minimalistic design that makes it very easy for beginners.
- Features raster and vector workflows, with easy switching between them. You can paint and sketch as you want!
- Will run on all platforms - Mac, Windows, and Linux.
- Completely free and open source.
03 TupiTube - Free Animation Application for Mac Users
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: It supports vector illustrations. Besides, various formats are available.
Con: If you want to make 3D animation, it will fail. You can only make 2D effects.
A free software application for YouTube, Tupi will allow you to create 2D animations to your heart’s content. The tool was started by animators who wanted to create something that others could use.
It is an open-source tool, which means that users can make tweaks to the program if they have some interesting ideas. The program works on both Windows and Mac. You need to use Tupi and Papagayo to make lip-sync animation with different mouth shapes.
It also offers a solution for schools with related features including academic license, technical support, and ads-free, so many schools choose to use this one to teach kids how to make an animation video.
Features:
- Support for vector illustrations. You can add rectangles, lines, polygons, and other shapes as you please. To fill areas, just use the paint bucket.
- You can import raster images using this program.
- You can export all your finished images into different file formats.
- Support for tweeting positions, scale, shear, and rotations.
04 Blender - Need Some Time to Learn This Animation Tool
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Really powerful software that you can make for professional users.
Con: It is not easy to make image animation as it focuses on 3D.
Blender is an open-source 3D animation creation suite without a watermark. If you find that 2D is a little bit limiting, we think that you will be very happy with what this free program offers. You can take your projects to a whole new level when you can use this program on your Mac.
You can use Blender to make a video game, modeling, and high-quality animation. However, it involves a steep learning curve. Luckily, there are many tutorials to guide you through the journey. You can also ask for help in the Blender community that millions of talented people like you are there.
Features:
- Creating renders is no problem with this program.
- Modeling, such as sculpting, retopology, and creating curves is not an issue either.
- VFX and animation features are better than any option on the market.
- It offers powerful simulation tools.
- Integration with pipeline tools is easy.
05 K-3D - Best for Animation and Modeling in 3D
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: Ideal for designing simple 3D animations and models.
Con: It has an old-fashioned interface. Also, the built-render (RenderMan) feature is difficult to use by beginners.
K-3D is an animation and 3D modeling software. You can download this tool for free on your Mac. Besides, you can also install and run it on your Windows and Linux systems. If you look at the design, you will find that the software is quite old. But don’t judge a book by its cover. Why so? It is because K-3D is one of the strongest and most versatile tools for 3D artists with many options.
For example, K-3D offers extremely systematic and methodological workflows. You can easily adjust the properties of the features in real-time and get instant results. It has a node-oriented visualization pipeline to enjoy more freedom. That means you can create animation using a variety of combinations.
One of the best things about K-3D is that it has three subdivisions of animation. You can work on your model on one side while showing the other side in a mirrored form. Then, experience the final result combined together. And in case you need to make the changes to the end results, you can simply work on the first subdivision and savor automatic changes to the results.
K-3D has an advanced redo and undo mechanism to ensure you can go back or move forward to make corrections or amendments without limits. Additionally, the tool is developed keeping in mind all the industrial standards. For instance, it has complete support and integration of native RenderMan™ to its user interface. This is an excellent feature because most free animation software for Mac requires third-party render plugins.
Features:
- Parametric workflow.
- 2D and 3D animation tools.
- Allows Python and K3DScript scripting.
06 Krita - For Professional 2D Animators
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Advanced tools with numerous animation options and online training material.
Con: Not suitable for beginners.
If you love 2D animation, then you’ll surely love Krita. It is entirely free software available on Mac, Windows, and Linux. Also, it offers a full platform for drawing and frame-by-frame animation.
The number one reason for adoring Krita is its brush library. There are more than 100 professional brushes to give you a wide range of effects. Moreover, the strokes are pretty amazing and similar to Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator.
Another great thing about Krita is the brush stabilization feature designed for shaky hands. You can add a stabilizer to your chosen brush to smoothen its flow. Besides, there’s a special Dynamic Brush tool to make animation more fun. At the same time, you can also customize your brushes through different brush engines, including filter engines, color smudge engines, and many more.
Apart from the basic brush options, the preloaded vector tools are next to admire. These tools help you make great comic panels. All you need to do is choose and drag the word bubble template on your canvas. Then, make changes with the anchor point to make new shapes. At the same time, you can also add text to your animation by using the text tool.
Last but not least, there’s a wrap-around mode to create seamless patterns and textures. That means the image or drawing makes its own references along the x-axis and y-axis. This gives you the freedom to continue painting and enjoy updates to your animation instantly.
Features:
- HDR painting.
- PSD support.
- Python scripting.
- Selection and transformation tools.
- Proper group, filter, vector, and file layer management.
- Complete color management for extraordinary results.
- Drawing assistant to help you with straight lines and vanishing points.
Part 2 Best Free Animation Software for Windows
Below is free animation software on Windows. Keep reading.
01 Anireel - Easy to Use Animation Software
Difficulty Level: Easy
Anireel is a simple yet powerful Video Creativity tool used to make 2D animated explainer videos. Developed by Wondershare, one of the most popular Windows software and tool developers, Anireel uses rich, ready-to-use, and diverse assets to help one effortlessly make animated videos.
Features:
- There are tons of drag and drop characters, actions, props, text, and audio assets.
- Easy Text-to-Speech conversion via deep studying technology.
- Animate integrated and imported assets.
- Tons of templates that match many script types.
02 DAZ Studio - Free Software for 3D Lovers
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: You can make game animation for fun. It also supports GPU accelerated real-time rendering.
Con: It has a high demand for the device, but owns a steep learning curve.
Daz 3d is a powerful and completely free 3D creation tool that will let you create the short videos that you want. Whether you are using this for business or pleasure, you will find the program is very easy to understand. Within a day, you will be completely used to its interface.
3D effects are the core focus of DAZ Studio. You can build a model, render, and pose animation within the skin texture level. It has a high requirement for the device. For Windows 64 bits, its recommended RAM is 3G.
Features:
- Options for 3D morphing, animation, and rendering.
- GPU accelerated real-time rendering, which delivers the best results.
- Interactive tutorials to help you become a better 3D artist.
- Everything you make is yours, royalty-free!
03 Terragen - Use It to Make CG Animation
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: The recently updated version is the best one. Ray-traced preview is a great function to help us make animation.
Con: The interface looks complicated, but it gets easy to know after you are familiar with it.
A completely free program that you can download and install on all Windows computers and tablets, Terragen is the ideal program for you to create the 3D animations and environments that you want. If you want a photo-realistic CG environment, using Terragen is the best way to do it!
Releasing imagination instantly, Terragen Creative is the one tool you’d like to consider. You can use it to make beautiful scenery.
For advanced tools, you can choose FBX to make animation quickly. The featured image gallery on its homepage will give you a deep understanding of the final outcome you can achieve with Terragen.
Features:
- Ray-traced preview. Without watermark after exporting
- Photo-realistic clouds and ozone simulation
- Rendering is twice as fast as the previous version of the program.
- Adding terrain, objects, and shader to your final product is very easy with the intuitive interface.
04 Anim8or - Free Tool to Make 3D Modeling
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Anim8or supports 3D modeler and TrueType fonts to meet advanced needs.
Con: Beginners will find it difficult to learn.
Anim8or is a free 3D modeling program that will let you create the unique work that you want. It is a personal project from an animator, but the program does get regular updates and troubleshooting.
It is not going to give you the same features as something like Studio Max or Maya, but you will get the basics. Beginners who are getting into animations will love this program.
Anim8or is a great tool to step into 3D animation ff you think other software is too different to start. In some way, it means you need to give up some advanced features. But all in all, it’s still recommended for you.
Features:
- A full 3D modeler that allows you to create spheres, cylinders, platonic solids, and any other objects that you want.
- Features support for TrueType fonts.
- Easy to create 3D scenes and output them as video files or images.
05 Seamless3d - Open-source Free Software
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: It is an open-source 3D modeling package. The good thing is the handy infinite Undo/Redo operation.
Con: Some advanced features are missing like drawing.
Seamless3d, an open-source 3D modeling software that you can download, is among the best animation worktables if you want to create specialized images, animated videos, or 3D characters.
It supports FFmpeg video format, so you can use AVI, MP4, and more. Besides, the forum is not active compared with before, but you still can find answers from many tutorials .
Features:
- It comes with infinite undo and redo options for complete flexibility to correct mistakes.
- It allows for partitioned and seamless texture mapping for YouTube videos.
- Has a specialized tree view interface.
06 OpenToonz - Support Plug in to Make Animation Freely
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: It is open-source software, so you can change the code freely.
Con: The plug-in effects are limited.
This animation program is made for beginners on Windows. It is among the best 2D animation software in the market. You can use plug-in effects to change image style, add lights, and distort details. It supports Windows 7/8/10 only for 64 bit.
Features:
- You can add provisional colors to make your animation more colorful.
- Smooth correction without frame losing.
- Compatible with black-and-white, colored, or without binarization scanning.
7 Stykz - Simple to Use Animation Program for Beginners
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: It is the best stick figure animation if you want to make this kind of video.
Con: The UI is not modern to use and needs time to adapt to using it.
Stykz is completely free to use and without a watermark. If you have used Pivot StickFigure Animator, then you will find Stykz is similar to it, but you can import the previous .stk files to animate it again. You can use it to make animation smooth frame by frame.
With its frame-based feature, Stykz is easy to customize each frame. You can change previous and current frames to get what you want. You can download it to have a try considering its easy-to-use features.
Features:
- There is some animes file on this website, so you can have a reference.
- Edit animation in the software without using another editing window.
- You can share the final work with others including information.
Part 3 FAQ about Animation Software for Windows and Mac
01 Are Macs good for animation?
To be frank, Mac is a better choice to make animation if you want to have a smooth animation experience. For example, screen resolution is a crucial factor to make excellent animation. The good is Mac’s screen will never let you disappointed.
02 What is the best animation software for Mac?
The best animation software on mac includes Synfig Studio, Pencil2D Animation, Tupi, Blender, and more. Mentioned are free-to-use. Maya is also worth considering animation software if you are a professional user. Maya offers a 1-month free trial. After it is ended, the paid plans are month, 1-year, and 3-year.
03 Can you animate in Photoshop?
Yes, you can make basic animation in Photoshop. However, it only supports frame-based animation making. In this case, you need to use other professional software to make animation. But, you still can use Photoshop to meet your needs if you are a beginner.
Conclusion
With any of these free animation maker programs on Mac and Windows, you will have an easy time creating your next 2D or 3D video. Ensure you choose the program that has the features and compatibility that you desire. Then it is up to your creative mind to come up with stunning animations! If you want to make animation easily, you can also find inspiration through classical animated cartoon types with examples .
Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
In your search for quality animation software, you may have found that many of the programs cost a lot of money no matter it is 2D animation software or 3D animation editor. The good news is that you can choose free animation tools to make different animation types easily.
That is why we created a list of the best animation software on both Mac and Windows. Whether you are a professional editor or just a beginner to start making animation, you will find the tools listed below are easy to use without watermark and won’t cost money to improve your skills.
The best part is you will find these free animation programs are also very useful for content creation on Mac and Windows. Besides, we have listed the pros and cons of each software. Keep reading!
- Part 1: Best Free Animation Software for Mac
- Part 2: Best Free Animation Software for Windows
- Part 3: FAQ about Animation Software for Windows and Mac
Here we have made a table of 12 free animation software without watermark on Windows and macOS. Take a look.
6 Free Animation Software for macOS
5K-3DMiddleIt is a great tool for 3D artists6KritaDifficultPerfect software for 2D animation
| Number | Software | Difficulty Level | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Synfig Studio | Easy | Calculate vector shape to animation automatically |
| 2 | Pencil2D Animation | Easiest | Straightforward interface for beginners |
| 3 | Tupi | Middle | Its community is active to offer solutions |
| 4 | Blender | Difficult | It is a powerful animation tool to render and make modeling |
6 Free Animation Software for Windows
| Number | Software | Difficulty Level | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DAZ Studio | Difficult | For professional users with the fast animation process |
| 2 | Terragen | Middle | It can make realistic CG environments |
| 3 | Anim8or | Difficult | 3D animation is Anim8or’s main function |
| 4 | Seamless3d | Easy | It has many features for 3d modeling |
| 5 | OpenToonz | Middle | Make cartoon animation with plugins |
| 6 | Stykz | Easy | Quickly make animation if you have used Pivot StickFigure Animator |
Best Animation Software on Windows and Mac - Filmora
Looking for a simple while powerful Mac video editing tool ? We recommend using Wondershare Filmora. You can use it to create 2D/3D animated texts, shapes, or anything you like for YouTube videos.
The keyframing features will help you make animation effects smooth and precise. When exporting, you can also make it transparent.
Besides, various title templates and transitions are also available for you. Download it now to have a try! Or learn more from Wondershare Video Community .
Key features
- Create various shapes that you like
- Add keyframing to make it move
- Fine-tuning to make it smooth
- Add visual effects/text/color before export it
You can even create photo cut animation which has been very trendy on Tiktok and Instagram. Here is a video to present you how you can do it in Filmora.
Part 1 Best Free Animation Software for Mac
Listed below is free animation software on Mac. Take a look.
01 Synfig Studio - Mac Software to Animate Video
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: You can create many layers once a time and sync audio for your animation.
Con: This one needs much time to learn, especially for beginners.
An open-source 2D animation software that works on Macs, Synfig Studio delivers multiple players while you are creating content. Whether you want to add geometric, filters, distortions, or transformations, it is all possible! And thanks to the high-end bone system, you can create cut-out videos using bitmap images!
The thoughtful part is there are two download versions on the homepage: the stable version and the development version. If you want to enjoy a stable and smooth animation editing experience, choose the stable one. However, the development package gives you access to the use of the latest features.
For a novice, you can learn Synfig from step by step guide in Wikipedia and video tutorials. Four languages are available including English, Russian, Dutch, and French for a video course.
You can free download its latest version 1.3.11. The upcoming version is 1.4.
Features:
- It offers support for many layers within the animation.
- The program’s bone system means that you can easily create animations with bitmap images or vector artwork.
- It allows you to sync your creative work with any sound that you want. Has a full-featured audio editor.
02 Pencil2D Animation - Animation Program for 2D Pencil Lover
Difficulty Level: Easiest
Pro: Easy to start and make animation as the interface is user-friendly for many people.
Con: You need to set your preference every time to open it up, so it takes up some time
Pencil2D Animation is one of the simplest 2D hand-drawn tools available. It will work flawlessly on Mac computers. It is ideal for beginners, as the commands and interface are very easy to understand.
Whether you want to create a simple one, or you want something with many layers for videos on YouTube, you can use Pencil2D animation to get it done. Its timeline is easy to use at first glance. You can add and duplicate different frames on a different track.
The frequency of releasing the new version is very fast as Pencil2D is committed to bringing the lasted features to each user. The newest version is v0.6.4 (as of August 2019). Its user guide is informative with video tutorials, FAQs, and manual material.
Features:
- Lightweight and minimalistic design that makes it very easy for beginners.
- Features raster and vector workflows, with easy switching between them. You can paint and sketch as you want!
- Will run on all platforms - Mac, Windows, and Linux.
- Completely free and open source.
03 TupiTube - Free Animation Application for Mac Users
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: It supports vector illustrations. Besides, various formats are available.
Con: If you want to make 3D animation, it will fail. You can only make 2D effects.
A free software application for YouTube, Tupi will allow you to create 2D animations to your heart’s content. The tool was started by animators who wanted to create something that others could use.
It is an open-source tool, which means that users can make tweaks to the program if they have some interesting ideas. The program works on both Windows and Mac. You need to use Tupi and Papagayo to make lip-sync animation with different mouth shapes.
It also offers a solution for schools with related features including academic license, technical support, and ads-free, so many schools choose to use this one to teach kids how to make an animation video.
Features:
- Support for vector illustrations. You can add rectangles, lines, polygons, and other shapes as you please. To fill areas, just use the paint bucket.
- You can import raster images using this program.
- You can export all your finished images into different file formats.
- Support for tweeting positions, scale, shear, and rotations.
04 Blender - Need Some Time to Learn This Animation Tool
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Really powerful software that you can make for professional users.
Con: It is not easy to make image animation as it focuses on 3D.
Blender is an open-source 3D animation creation suite without a watermark. If you find that 2D is a little bit limiting, we think that you will be very happy with what this free program offers. You can take your projects to a whole new level when you can use this program on your Mac.
You can use Blender to make a video game, modeling, and high-quality animation. However, it involves a steep learning curve. Luckily, there are many tutorials to guide you through the journey. You can also ask for help in the Blender community that millions of talented people like you are there.
Features:
- Creating renders is no problem with this program.
- Modeling, such as sculpting, retopology, and creating curves is not an issue either.
- VFX and animation features are better than any option on the market.
- It offers powerful simulation tools.
- Integration with pipeline tools is easy.
05 K-3D - Best for Animation and Modeling in 3D
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: Ideal for designing simple 3D animations and models.
Con: It has an old-fashioned interface. Also, the built-render (RenderMan) feature is difficult to use by beginners.
K-3D is an animation and 3D modeling software. You can download this tool for free on your Mac. Besides, you can also install and run it on your Windows and Linux systems. If you look at the design, you will find that the software is quite old. But don’t judge a book by its cover. Why so? It is because K-3D is one of the strongest and most versatile tools for 3D artists with many options.
For example, K-3D offers extremely systematic and methodological workflows. You can easily adjust the properties of the features in real-time and get instant results. It has a node-oriented visualization pipeline to enjoy more freedom. That means you can create animation using a variety of combinations.
One of the best things about K-3D is that it has three subdivisions of animation. You can work on your model on one side while showing the other side in a mirrored form. Then, experience the final result combined together. And in case you need to make the changes to the end results, you can simply work on the first subdivision and savor automatic changes to the results.
K-3D has an advanced redo and undo mechanism to ensure you can go back or move forward to make corrections or amendments without limits. Additionally, the tool is developed keeping in mind all the industrial standards. For instance, it has complete support and integration of native RenderMan™ to its user interface. This is an excellent feature because most free animation software for Mac requires third-party render plugins.
Features:
- Parametric workflow.
- 2D and 3D animation tools.
- Allows Python and K3DScript scripting.
06 Krita - For Professional 2D Animators
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Advanced tools with numerous animation options and online training material.
Con: Not suitable for beginners.
If you love 2D animation, then you’ll surely love Krita. It is entirely free software available on Mac, Windows, and Linux. Also, it offers a full platform for drawing and frame-by-frame animation.
The number one reason for adoring Krita is its brush library. There are more than 100 professional brushes to give you a wide range of effects. Moreover, the strokes are pretty amazing and similar to Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator.
Another great thing about Krita is the brush stabilization feature designed for shaky hands. You can add a stabilizer to your chosen brush to smoothen its flow. Besides, there’s a special Dynamic Brush tool to make animation more fun. At the same time, you can also customize your brushes through different brush engines, including filter engines, color smudge engines, and many more.
Apart from the basic brush options, the preloaded vector tools are next to admire. These tools help you make great comic panels. All you need to do is choose and drag the word bubble template on your canvas. Then, make changes with the anchor point to make new shapes. At the same time, you can also add text to your animation by using the text tool.
Last but not least, there’s a wrap-around mode to create seamless patterns and textures. That means the image or drawing makes its own references along the x-axis and y-axis. This gives you the freedom to continue painting and enjoy updates to your animation instantly.
Features:
- HDR painting.
- PSD support.
- Python scripting.
- Selection and transformation tools.
- Proper group, filter, vector, and file layer management.
- Complete color management for extraordinary results.
- Drawing assistant to help you with straight lines and vanishing points.
Part 2 Best Free Animation Software for Windows
Below is free animation software on Windows. Keep reading.
01 Anireel - Easy to Use Animation Software
Difficulty Level: Easy
Anireel is a simple yet powerful Video Creativity tool used to make 2D animated explainer videos. Developed by Wondershare, one of the most popular Windows software and tool developers, Anireel uses rich, ready-to-use, and diverse assets to help one effortlessly make animated videos.
Features:
- There are tons of drag and drop characters, actions, props, text, and audio assets.
- Easy Text-to-Speech conversion via deep studying technology.
- Animate integrated and imported assets.
- Tons of templates that match many script types.
02 DAZ Studio - Free Software for 3D Lovers
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: You can make game animation for fun. It also supports GPU accelerated real-time rendering.
Con: It has a high demand for the device, but owns a steep learning curve.
Daz 3d is a powerful and completely free 3D creation tool that will let you create the short videos that you want. Whether you are using this for business or pleasure, you will find the program is very easy to understand. Within a day, you will be completely used to its interface.
3D effects are the core focus of DAZ Studio. You can build a model, render, and pose animation within the skin texture level. It has a high requirement for the device. For Windows 64 bits, its recommended RAM is 3G.
Features:
- Options for 3D morphing, animation, and rendering.
- GPU accelerated real-time rendering, which delivers the best results.
- Interactive tutorials to help you become a better 3D artist.
- Everything you make is yours, royalty-free!
03 Terragen - Use It to Make CG Animation
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: The recently updated version is the best one. Ray-traced preview is a great function to help us make animation.
Con: The interface looks complicated, but it gets easy to know after you are familiar with it.
A completely free program that you can download and install on all Windows computers and tablets, Terragen is the ideal program for you to create the 3D animations and environments that you want. If you want a photo-realistic CG environment, using Terragen is the best way to do it!
Releasing imagination instantly, Terragen Creative is the one tool you’d like to consider. You can use it to make beautiful scenery.
For advanced tools, you can choose FBX to make animation quickly. The featured image gallery on its homepage will give you a deep understanding of the final outcome you can achieve with Terragen.
Features:
- Ray-traced preview. Without watermark after exporting
- Photo-realistic clouds and ozone simulation
- Rendering is twice as fast as the previous version of the program.
- Adding terrain, objects, and shader to your final product is very easy with the intuitive interface.
04 Anim8or - Free Tool to Make 3D Modeling
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Anim8or supports 3D modeler and TrueType fonts to meet advanced needs.
Con: Beginners will find it difficult to learn.
Anim8or is a free 3D modeling program that will let you create the unique work that you want. It is a personal project from an animator, but the program does get regular updates and troubleshooting.
It is not going to give you the same features as something like Studio Max or Maya, but you will get the basics. Beginners who are getting into animations will love this program.
Anim8or is a great tool to step into 3D animation ff you think other software is too different to start. In some way, it means you need to give up some advanced features. But all in all, it’s still recommended for you.
Features:
- A full 3D modeler that allows you to create spheres, cylinders, platonic solids, and any other objects that you want.
- Features support for TrueType fonts.
- Easy to create 3D scenes and output them as video files or images.
05 Seamless3d - Open-source Free Software
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: It is an open-source 3D modeling package. The good thing is the handy infinite Undo/Redo operation.
Con: Some advanced features are missing like drawing.
Seamless3d, an open-source 3D modeling software that you can download, is among the best animation worktables if you want to create specialized images, animated videos, or 3D characters.
It supports FFmpeg video format, so you can use AVI, MP4, and more. Besides, the forum is not active compared with before, but you still can find answers from many tutorials .
Features:
- It comes with infinite undo and redo options for complete flexibility to correct mistakes.
- It allows for partitioned and seamless texture mapping for YouTube videos.
- Has a specialized tree view interface.
06 OpenToonz - Support Plug in to Make Animation Freely
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: It is open-source software, so you can change the code freely.
Con: The plug-in effects are limited.
This animation program is made for beginners on Windows. It is among the best 2D animation software in the market. You can use plug-in effects to change image style, add lights, and distort details. It supports Windows 7/8/10 only for 64 bit.
Features:
- You can add provisional colors to make your animation more colorful.
- Smooth correction without frame losing.
- Compatible with black-and-white, colored, or without binarization scanning.
7 Stykz - Simple to Use Animation Program for Beginners
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: It is the best stick figure animation if you want to make this kind of video.
Con: The UI is not modern to use and needs time to adapt to using it.
Stykz is completely free to use and without a watermark. If you have used Pivot StickFigure Animator, then you will find Stykz is similar to it, but you can import the previous .stk files to animate it again. You can use it to make animation smooth frame by frame.
With its frame-based feature, Stykz is easy to customize each frame. You can change previous and current frames to get what you want. You can download it to have a try considering its easy-to-use features.
Features:
- There is some animes file on this website, so you can have a reference.
- Edit animation in the software without using another editing window.
- You can share the final work with others including information.
Part 3 FAQ about Animation Software for Windows and Mac
01 Are Macs good for animation?
To be frank, Mac is a better choice to make animation if you want to have a smooth animation experience. For example, screen resolution is a crucial factor to make excellent animation. The good is Mac’s screen will never let you disappointed.
02 What is the best animation software for Mac?
The best animation software on mac includes Synfig Studio, Pencil2D Animation, Tupi, Blender, and more. Mentioned are free-to-use. Maya is also worth considering animation software if you are a professional user. Maya offers a 1-month free trial. After it is ended, the paid plans are month, 1-year, and 3-year.
03 Can you animate in Photoshop?
Yes, you can make basic animation in Photoshop. However, it only supports frame-based animation making. In this case, you need to use other professional software to make animation. But, you still can use Photoshop to meet your needs if you are a beginner.
Conclusion
With any of these free animation maker programs on Mac and Windows, you will have an easy time creating your next 2D or 3D video. Ensure you choose the program that has the features and compatibility that you desire. Then it is up to your creative mind to come up with stunning animations! If you want to make animation easily, you can also find inspiration through classical animated cartoon types with examples .
Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Shanoon Cox
Eye-Catching Thumbnails Made Easy: YouTube Image Dimensions, Templates, and Pro Tips
YouTube Thumbnail Size Template & Practical Tactics for You
An easy yet powerful editor
Numerous effects to choose from
Detailed tutorials provided by the official channel
A YouTube thumbnail is like a cover page of your video that creates the first impression. Though a default thumbnail is created for each video by YouTube, you can always customize it and make it more appealing and attractive.
More in detail about Youtube thumbnail size template, tips, and others can be learned from the following content.
In this article
01 [Youtube Thumbnail Specifications ](#Part 1)
02 [Youtube Thumbnail Templates](#Part 2)
03 [Top 5 Tips for Creating Effective Thumbnails](#Part 3)
04 [How to Add a Customized Thumbnail to a Youtube Video](#Part 4)
Part 1 YouTube Thumbnail Specifications
To stand out from the crowd and create an impact over the viewers, a well-customized thumbnail works great. A customized thumbnail proves effective in ways more than one like encouraging attention, increasing engagement, giving a professional look, portraying your personality, and much more. The right size of the thumbnail is an important consideration and the following are the suggested YouTube video thumbnail dimensions.
● An ideal width and height of YouTube thumbnail size is 1280 X 720 pixels
● The size of the thumbnail should be kept under 2MB.
● Use the thumbnail in JPEG, PNG, BMP, or GIF format.
● The ideal thumbnail ratio for YouTube has to be kept at 16:9.
● The width of the thumbnail should not be less than 640 pixels.
Part 2 YouTube Thumbnail Templates
If you are struggling to find the right thumbnail for your video, templates are a great rescue. There are several sites and programs where you can find multiple templates that can be customized and edited to suit your requirements. We have shortlisted a few sites where you can check different types of interesting templates for the YouTube thumbnails.
● Canva: This online site has a huge collection of free as well as paid video thumbnails in different categories, and types. You can filter the collection of templates based on style and theme. The templates can be further customized as needed after which they can be downloaded to be used on YouTube.
● VistaCreate: Interesting template designs are available at this site to be used as a YouTube video thumbnail. You can even create your own design or customize the ones available. The site also has an option to choose the desired thumbnail design using the search bar.
● Postermywall: YouTube templates in an array of designs, themes, and genres are available at this site. There are also Youtube Thumbnail Size Template and from these you can choose the one that matches the personality of your video and customize it as per the requirements. The search bar to look for your choice of template is also available.
● Visme: Templates for all types of video thumbnails are available at this site to choose from. You simply need to choose the template as per your choice and you are all set to have an impressive thumbnail for your video. You can even look for your choice of design using the search bar.
● Snappa: There is a wide selection of templates in different categories at this site that can be used for creating a customized thumbnail for your YouTube videos. The templates are free and you need to create a free account on the site to use them.
Part 3 Top 5 Tips For Creating Effective Thumbnails
To make your thumbnails interesting and effective we have shortlisted a few useful tips as below.
● Keep it clutter-free: It’s always good to keep your thumbnail simple and clean without any clutter. If you use too many elements in a thumbnail, they will look messy when watched on a mobile device.
● Using a still image from the video: Though you can set a customized thumbnail for your videos, an automatic image is also selected by YouTube. It might be a possibility that the image automatically selected is good enough and effective and thus creating a customized thumbnail is not required.
● Using editing software like Wondershare Filmora Video Editor for creating customized graphics: A good editing software can be used for creating an effective and impressive image. Wondershare Filmora is one such professional tool that can be considered. This Windows and Mac-based program can let you edit your images using multiple features. Simple and fast to use, the software also supports batch processing so that multiple files as thumbnails for multiple videos can be created at a time. Additional features supported by the software include motion tracking, adding text and tiles, adding overlays and filters, adding transitions and elements, color tuning, and more.
Wondershare Filmora
Get started easily with Filmora’s powerful performance, intuitive interface, and countless effects!
Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Learn More >
● Use eye-catchy titles: Using catchy titles in your thumbnails is an effective way to grab the attention of the viewers. A title will give a glimpse to the viewers of the content of the video.
● Try different designs: If you are not sure about a thumbnail design, create multiple ones and then add them to the video one by one. Select the design that goes best and looks attractive.
Part 4 How to Add A Customized Thumbnail To A Youtube Video
Once a customized thumbnail image is created, the next step is to add it to the video on your YouTube. The process is simple and quick and involves the following steps.
Step 1. Open your YouTube account and add the new video using the camera-plus icon. Alternatively, to add a thumbnail to the already uploaded video, go to the Studio dashboard and tap on the video for editing the settings.
Step 2. At the bottom of the video settings window, you can see the 3 thumbnails generated automatically. To upload the customized image, click on the Custom thumbnail box at the bottom right-hand side.
Step 3. Browse and import the created thumbnail image and click on the Upload button.
The selected image will not be used as the thumbnail for the video.
Key Takeaways from This Episode
● A YouTube thumbnail works as the cover for your video and is the first thing that will get the attention and the interest of the viewer.
● YouTube video thumbnail dimensions as recommended must be used.
● Several pre-designed templates are available for creating interesting thumbnails.
● To create an effective thumbnail, several tips and tricks can be used like using editing software like Wondershare Filmora.
A YouTube thumbnail is like a cover page of your video that creates the first impression. Though a default thumbnail is created for each video by YouTube, you can always customize it and make it more appealing and attractive.
More in detail about Youtube thumbnail size template, tips, and others can be learned from the following content.
In this article
01 [Youtube Thumbnail Specifications ](#Part 1)
02 [Youtube Thumbnail Templates](#Part 2)
03 [Top 5 Tips for Creating Effective Thumbnails](#Part 3)
04 [How to Add a Customized Thumbnail to a Youtube Video](#Part 4)
Part 1 YouTube Thumbnail Specifications
To stand out from the crowd and create an impact over the viewers, a well-customized thumbnail works great. A customized thumbnail proves effective in ways more than one like encouraging attention, increasing engagement, giving a professional look, portraying your personality, and much more. The right size of the thumbnail is an important consideration and the following are the suggested YouTube video thumbnail dimensions.
● An ideal width and height of YouTube thumbnail size is 1280 X 720 pixels
● The size of the thumbnail should be kept under 2MB.
● Use the thumbnail in JPEG, PNG, BMP, or GIF format.
● The ideal thumbnail ratio for YouTube has to be kept at 16:9.
● The width of the thumbnail should not be less than 640 pixels.
Part 2 YouTube Thumbnail Templates
If you are struggling to find the right thumbnail for your video, templates are a great rescue. There are several sites and programs where you can find multiple templates that can be customized and edited to suit your requirements. We have shortlisted a few sites where you can check different types of interesting templates for the YouTube thumbnails.
● Canva: This online site has a huge collection of free as well as paid video thumbnails in different categories, and types. You can filter the collection of templates based on style and theme. The templates can be further customized as needed after which they can be downloaded to be used on YouTube.
● VistaCreate: Interesting template designs are available at this site to be used as a YouTube video thumbnail. You can even create your own design or customize the ones available. The site also has an option to choose the desired thumbnail design using the search bar.
● Postermywall: YouTube templates in an array of designs, themes, and genres are available at this site. There are also Youtube Thumbnail Size Template and from these you can choose the one that matches the personality of your video and customize it as per the requirements. The search bar to look for your choice of template is also available.
● Visme: Templates for all types of video thumbnails are available at this site to choose from. You simply need to choose the template as per your choice and you are all set to have an impressive thumbnail for your video. You can even look for your choice of design using the search bar.
● Snappa: There is a wide selection of templates in different categories at this site that can be used for creating a customized thumbnail for your YouTube videos. The templates are free and you need to create a free account on the site to use them.
Part 3 Top 5 Tips For Creating Effective Thumbnails
To make your thumbnails interesting and effective we have shortlisted a few useful tips as below.
● Keep it clutter-free: It’s always good to keep your thumbnail simple and clean without any clutter. If you use too many elements in a thumbnail, they will look messy when watched on a mobile device.
● Using a still image from the video: Though you can set a customized thumbnail for your videos, an automatic image is also selected by YouTube. It might be a possibility that the image automatically selected is good enough and effective and thus creating a customized thumbnail is not required.
● Using editing software like Wondershare Filmora Video Editor for creating customized graphics: A good editing software can be used for creating an effective and impressive image. Wondershare Filmora is one such professional tool that can be considered. This Windows and Mac-based program can let you edit your images using multiple features. Simple and fast to use, the software also supports batch processing so that multiple files as thumbnails for multiple videos can be created at a time. Additional features supported by the software include motion tracking, adding text and tiles, adding overlays and filters, adding transitions and elements, color tuning, and more.
Wondershare Filmora
Get started easily with Filmora’s powerful performance, intuitive interface, and countless effects!
Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Learn More >
● Use eye-catchy titles: Using catchy titles in your thumbnails is an effective way to grab the attention of the viewers. A title will give a glimpse to the viewers of the content of the video.
● Try different designs: If you are not sure about a thumbnail design, create multiple ones and then add them to the video one by one. Select the design that goes best and looks attractive.
Part 4 How to Add A Customized Thumbnail To A Youtube Video
Once a customized thumbnail image is created, the next step is to add it to the video on your YouTube. The process is simple and quick and involves the following steps.
Step 1. Open your YouTube account and add the new video using the camera-plus icon. Alternatively, to add a thumbnail to the already uploaded video, go to the Studio dashboard and tap on the video for editing the settings.
Step 2. At the bottom of the video settings window, you can see the 3 thumbnails generated automatically. To upload the customized image, click on the Custom thumbnail box at the bottom right-hand side.
Step 3. Browse and import the created thumbnail image and click on the Upload button.
The selected image will not be used as the thumbnail for the video.
Key Takeaways from This Episode
● A YouTube thumbnail works as the cover for your video and is the first thing that will get the attention and the interest of the viewer.
● YouTube video thumbnail dimensions as recommended must be used.
● Several pre-designed templates are available for creating interesting thumbnails.
● To create an effective thumbnail, several tips and tricks can be used like using editing software like Wondershare Filmora.
A YouTube thumbnail is like a cover page of your video that creates the first impression. Though a default thumbnail is created for each video by YouTube, you can always customize it and make it more appealing and attractive.
More in detail about Youtube thumbnail size template, tips, and others can be learned from the following content.
In this article
01 [Youtube Thumbnail Specifications ](#Part 1)
02 [Youtube Thumbnail Templates](#Part 2)
03 [Top 5 Tips for Creating Effective Thumbnails](#Part 3)
04 [How to Add a Customized Thumbnail to a Youtube Video](#Part 4)
Part 1 YouTube Thumbnail Specifications
To stand out from the crowd and create an impact over the viewers, a well-customized thumbnail works great. A customized thumbnail proves effective in ways more than one like encouraging attention, increasing engagement, giving a professional look, portraying your personality, and much more. The right size of the thumbnail is an important consideration and the following are the suggested YouTube video thumbnail dimensions.
● An ideal width and height of YouTube thumbnail size is 1280 X 720 pixels
● The size of the thumbnail should be kept under 2MB.
● Use the thumbnail in JPEG, PNG, BMP, or GIF format.
● The ideal thumbnail ratio for YouTube has to be kept at 16:9.
● The width of the thumbnail should not be less than 640 pixels.
Part 2 YouTube Thumbnail Templates
If you are struggling to find the right thumbnail for your video, templates are a great rescue. There are several sites and programs where you can find multiple templates that can be customized and edited to suit your requirements. We have shortlisted a few sites where you can check different types of interesting templates for the YouTube thumbnails.
● Canva: This online site has a huge collection of free as well as paid video thumbnails in different categories, and types. You can filter the collection of templates based on style and theme. The templates can be further customized as needed after which they can be downloaded to be used on YouTube.
● VistaCreate: Interesting template designs are available at this site to be used as a YouTube video thumbnail. You can even create your own design or customize the ones available. The site also has an option to choose the desired thumbnail design using the search bar.
● Postermywall: YouTube templates in an array of designs, themes, and genres are available at this site. There are also Youtube Thumbnail Size Template and from these you can choose the one that matches the personality of your video and customize it as per the requirements. The search bar to look for your choice of template is also available.
● Visme: Templates for all types of video thumbnails are available at this site to choose from. You simply need to choose the template as per your choice and you are all set to have an impressive thumbnail for your video. You can even look for your choice of design using the search bar.
● Snappa: There is a wide selection of templates in different categories at this site that can be used for creating a customized thumbnail for your YouTube videos. The templates are free and you need to create a free account on the site to use them.
Part 3 Top 5 Tips For Creating Effective Thumbnails
To make your thumbnails interesting and effective we have shortlisted a few useful tips as below.
● Keep it clutter-free: It’s always good to keep your thumbnail simple and clean without any clutter. If you use too many elements in a thumbnail, they will look messy when watched on a mobile device.
● Using a still image from the video: Though you can set a customized thumbnail for your videos, an automatic image is also selected by YouTube. It might be a possibility that the image automatically selected is good enough and effective and thus creating a customized thumbnail is not required.
● Using editing software like Wondershare Filmora Video Editor for creating customized graphics: A good editing software can be used for creating an effective and impressive image. Wondershare Filmora is one such professional tool that can be considered. This Windows and Mac-based program can let you edit your images using multiple features. Simple and fast to use, the software also supports batch processing so that multiple files as thumbnails for multiple videos can be created at a time. Additional features supported by the software include motion tracking, adding text and tiles, adding overlays and filters, adding transitions and elements, color tuning, and more.
Wondershare Filmora
Get started easily with Filmora’s powerful performance, intuitive interface, and countless effects!
Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Learn More >
● Use eye-catchy titles: Using catchy titles in your thumbnails is an effective way to grab the attention of the viewers. A title will give a glimpse to the viewers of the content of the video.
● Try different designs: If you are not sure about a thumbnail design, create multiple ones and then add them to the video one by one. Select the design that goes best and looks attractive.
Part 4 How to Add A Customized Thumbnail To A Youtube Video
Once a customized thumbnail image is created, the next step is to add it to the video on your YouTube. The process is simple and quick and involves the following steps.
Step 1. Open your YouTube account and add the new video using the camera-plus icon. Alternatively, to add a thumbnail to the already uploaded video, go to the Studio dashboard and tap on the video for editing the settings.
Step 2. At the bottom of the video settings window, you can see the 3 thumbnails generated automatically. To upload the customized image, click on the Custom thumbnail box at the bottom right-hand side.
Step 3. Browse and import the created thumbnail image and click on the Upload button.
The selected image will not be used as the thumbnail for the video.
Key Takeaways from This Episode
● A YouTube thumbnail works as the cover for your video and is the first thing that will get the attention and the interest of the viewer.
● YouTube video thumbnail dimensions as recommended must be used.
● Several pre-designed templates are available for creating interesting thumbnails.
● To create an effective thumbnail, several tips and tricks can be used like using editing software like Wondershare Filmora.
A YouTube thumbnail is like a cover page of your video that creates the first impression. Though a default thumbnail is created for each video by YouTube, you can always customize it and make it more appealing and attractive.
More in detail about Youtube thumbnail size template, tips, and others can be learned from the following content.
In this article
01 [Youtube Thumbnail Specifications ](#Part 1)
02 [Youtube Thumbnail Templates](#Part 2)
03 [Top 5 Tips for Creating Effective Thumbnails](#Part 3)
04 [How to Add a Customized Thumbnail to a Youtube Video](#Part 4)
Part 1 YouTube Thumbnail Specifications
To stand out from the crowd and create an impact over the viewers, a well-customized thumbnail works great. A customized thumbnail proves effective in ways more than one like encouraging attention, increasing engagement, giving a professional look, portraying your personality, and much more. The right size of the thumbnail is an important consideration and the following are the suggested YouTube video thumbnail dimensions.
● An ideal width and height of YouTube thumbnail size is 1280 X 720 pixels
● The size of the thumbnail should be kept under 2MB.
● Use the thumbnail in JPEG, PNG, BMP, or GIF format.
● The ideal thumbnail ratio for YouTube has to be kept at 16:9.
● The width of the thumbnail should not be less than 640 pixels.
Part 2 YouTube Thumbnail Templates
If you are struggling to find the right thumbnail for your video, templates are a great rescue. There are several sites and programs where you can find multiple templates that can be customized and edited to suit your requirements. We have shortlisted a few sites where you can check different types of interesting templates for the YouTube thumbnails.
● Canva: This online site has a huge collection of free as well as paid video thumbnails in different categories, and types. You can filter the collection of templates based on style and theme. The templates can be further customized as needed after which they can be downloaded to be used on YouTube.
● VistaCreate: Interesting template designs are available at this site to be used as a YouTube video thumbnail. You can even create your own design or customize the ones available. The site also has an option to choose the desired thumbnail design using the search bar.
● Postermywall: YouTube templates in an array of designs, themes, and genres are available at this site. There are also Youtube Thumbnail Size Template and from these you can choose the one that matches the personality of your video and customize it as per the requirements. The search bar to look for your choice of template is also available.
● Visme: Templates for all types of video thumbnails are available at this site to choose from. You simply need to choose the template as per your choice and you are all set to have an impressive thumbnail for your video. You can even look for your choice of design using the search bar.
● Snappa: There is a wide selection of templates in different categories at this site that can be used for creating a customized thumbnail for your YouTube videos. The templates are free and you need to create a free account on the site to use them.
Part 3 Top 5 Tips For Creating Effective Thumbnails
To make your thumbnails interesting and effective we have shortlisted a few useful tips as below.
● Keep it clutter-free: It’s always good to keep your thumbnail simple and clean without any clutter. If you use too many elements in a thumbnail, they will look messy when watched on a mobile device.
● Using a still image from the video: Though you can set a customized thumbnail for your videos, an automatic image is also selected by YouTube. It might be a possibility that the image automatically selected is good enough and effective and thus creating a customized thumbnail is not required.
● Using editing software like Wondershare Filmora Video Editor for creating customized graphics: A good editing software can be used for creating an effective and impressive image. Wondershare Filmora is one such professional tool that can be considered. This Windows and Mac-based program can let you edit your images using multiple features. Simple and fast to use, the software also supports batch processing so that multiple files as thumbnails for multiple videos can be created at a time. Additional features supported by the software include motion tracking, adding text and tiles, adding overlays and filters, adding transitions and elements, color tuning, and more.
Wondershare Filmora
Get started easily with Filmora’s powerful performance, intuitive interface, and countless effects!
Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Learn More >
● Use eye-catchy titles: Using catchy titles in your thumbnails is an effective way to grab the attention of the viewers. A title will give a glimpse to the viewers of the content of the video.
● Try different designs: If you are not sure about a thumbnail design, create multiple ones and then add them to the video one by one. Select the design that goes best and looks attractive.
Part 4 How to Add A Customized Thumbnail To A Youtube Video
Once a customized thumbnail image is created, the next step is to add it to the video on your YouTube. The process is simple and quick and involves the following steps.
Step 1. Open your YouTube account and add the new video using the camera-plus icon. Alternatively, to add a thumbnail to the already uploaded video, go to the Studio dashboard and tap on the video for editing the settings.
Step 2. At the bottom of the video settings window, you can see the 3 thumbnails generated automatically. To upload the customized image, click on the Custom thumbnail box at the bottom right-hand side.
Step 3. Browse and import the created thumbnail image and click on the Upload button.
The selected image will not be used as the thumbnail for the video.
Key Takeaways from This Episode
● A YouTube thumbnail works as the cover for your video and is the first thing that will get the attention and the interest of the viewer.
● YouTube video thumbnail dimensions as recommended must be used.
● Several pre-designed templates are available for creating interesting thumbnails.
● To create an effective thumbnail, several tips and tricks can be used like using editing software like Wondershare Filmora.
Cutting-Edge Free 4K Video Editing Solutions
The Ultra HD video, also known as 4K video , defines 3840 2160 pixels. It became popular in 2016 and has overtaken both HD and ultra-HD to become the video with the highest resolution. Most videos are shot in HD, but as camera technology improves, 4K video seems to have become increasingly common. Because of the additional level of detail that the camera acquires, 4K videos are large files that allow you more editing possibilities.
Several free 4K video editing software has been developed to make video editing relatively easy in recent times. These free 4K video editors allow you to import, edit, and export videos easily. This article will provide you with some of the best free 4K video editors you should try in 2022.
In this article
01 Best Free 4K Video Editing Software for Windows and Mac
02 Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors
03 Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly
Part 1: Top 5 Best Free 4K Video Editing Software for Windows and Mac
1. iMovie
Supported OS: iPhone, iPad, and Mac
iMovie is one of the most popular free 4K Video editing software. Using iMovie, you can create a professional-looking video even without any editing experience. You can import 4K images and 4K videos to iMovie, and then trim, split and add titles, transitions, filters or effects to the video by dragging and dropping. What’s more, you can import and export 60 frames per second video in iMovie.
iMovie is a video editing software that imports video footage from digital video cameras that use the MiniDV format. It can play DV, HDV, AVCHD, iFrame, Animation Codec, and other video formats. You can import 4K videos directly to iMovie and export them as 4K videos at 24fps/30fps/60fps. You can also share the 4K video to YouTube from iMovie directly.
Pros:
1. Switching across different devices:
This free 4K video editor is designed to work together using different devices (iPhone, iPad & Mac). You can begin a project on your iPhone, then transfer it to your iPad using AirDrop or iCloud Drive. It allows you to share what you have worked on to different devices, and you can also send projects from your iPad to your MacBook or iMac.
2. Advanced editing features:
What makes this free 4K video editor special is the ability to add some innovative editing functions when creating and editing your videos. Understandably, any video editor should offer basic editing features; however, iMovie allows you to work with more advanced functions like split-screen , picture-in-picture , and green-screen effects .
3. Saving all the original files
An advantage of working with different devices provides an opportunity to save all original files. It saves you time since you can import any media you need to get your project started in the video editor without losing the original files.
Cons:
- Distorted files: If you don’t follow the importing and exporting process, the files might get distorted, resulting in fuzzy images.
- Only available on iOS/macOS/iPad devices
2. VSDC
Supported OS: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/7/8/10
VSDC is a free 4K video editor that allows for beginner-level editing. It supports recording voice-over, capturing the desktop screen, editing the video and audio files. With VSDC, you can blend multiple footage layers into a single composition. You can easily apply a picture-in-picture effect and make things change their appearance or position.
VSDC allows you to import 4K video, audio, and image files. To successfully import these files; Click ‘Shift + I’ to add an image, ‘Shift A’ to add an audio file, and ‘Shift V’ to add a video file. VSDC allows you to export 4K videos to PC or share to web platforms like YouTube. To export these files, go to the export project tab at the top, and then set the profile to the highest quality. Click the Edit profile button and then select the 4K preset from the list. Choose the video and audio quality size, and then save the video as 4K.
Pros:
- Every tool for video editing is available
- Amazing Visual Effects
- Efficient Text Processing
- Lots of Blending modes
Cons:
- Pro editing features are missing
- Available for Windows only
- Audio waveform and hardware acceleration features are not available
3. ShotCut
Supported OS: Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Shotcut is another free 4K video editor made for Linux, Macintosh, and Windows gadgets. It has wide arranged support that features its astounding usefulness. This 4K video editing software may not be the most alluring programming you see, yet it can assist with making the process of editing smooth and straightforward.
This professional video editing software support almost all the latest audio and video formats, including ProRes, DNxHD, and 4K, and it allows you to trim, cut, insert, and overwrite the video and audio. With its video effects, you can do color correction and grading, add fade-in and fade-out effects, reverse the clip, and even edit the 360° videos.
Here is a completed video tutorial from YouTuber Kevin Stratvert, which provides almost all information about how to use Shotcut, including how to create a project, add media, edit clips and export.
Pros:
- Easy Access: The 4K video editor is open source. Users can easily alter the source codes, enabling the process of editing simple and clear.
- Shotcut has every one of the required instruments to give excellent outcomes to clients. It has all elements of good video editing software and a bunch of other supportive and current choices.
- Shotcut offers an easy-to-use interface that allows you to finish a project quickly while having it examined by multiple members of your team. Its preview panel gives users access to a quick start menu, and its view menu lets them decide which features appear on the screen. The software’s video and audio filters are the most amazing of all its features. These filters can be customized, and they can be combined and layered in a variety of ways. Adjusting is now easier thanks to the easy checkbox and slider systems. Shotcut is so good that it makes even the most complicated effects understandable to the average user.
Cons:
- The platform might be a bit confusing when using the software for the first time because the interface isn’t intuitive.
4. LightWorks
Supported OS: Windows, Linux, and macOS
Lightworks is another video editor that can edit 4K videos from EditShare for people who have video editing experience. It has a simple and intuitive user interface, and you will find LOG, EDIT, VFX, and AUDIO tabs at the top of the interface. It integrates some paid royalty-free audio files, so you don’t need to find the background music from somewhere else. This software has some advanced editing features such as Multicam editing and batch export. It even supports third-party plugins, such as Boris FX, Boris Graffiti, and GenArts Sapphire. It enables its users to freely edit videos, even to the extent of trimming a video down to the size you desire.
However, if you want to export the videos in 4K, you need to pay, since it is limited to Lightworks Pro users.
Pros:
- The software allows clips to be easily imported and provides a platform where these clips can be played. This is made possible because this 4K video editor provides an interface made of panels such as bins, timeline, and edit review.
- Lightworks provides an easy way of applying varieties of effects from different clips in a coordinated manner. The software utilizes the hub-based framework to put together clips and recordings, which is needed for clips with numerous effects and tracks.
- Navigating this software, a right-click menu allows the user to export videos directly to YouTube. Also, the software automatically saves your work, so you don’t lose the files you’ve worked on.
Cons:
- Poor quality exporting options when making use of the free version (720p only)
- You need to register first to use it
5. Filmora Instant Cutter Tool
Supporting OS: Windows and Mac
For Win 7 or later (64-bit)
For macOS 10.12 or later
Filmora is one of the best video editors for beginners to create professional-looking videos in a modern way. One of the biggest advantages of using Filmora is its resources. You can now search the resources in the search bar and drag and drop them to the timeline to preview the result without paying first.
Some of you may say, Filmora is not a free video editor since there will be a watermark at the export video. But here, I will introduce the Instant Cutter Tool which is a perfect tool to trim and merge large 4K videos and action camera videos. This free 4k tool provides a proper way of instantly trimming or merging videos without de-coding, which means the video resolution will not be changed. Using the instant cutter tool, you can upload or merge files of huge sizes in different formats, such as MP4/MOV or MTS/M2TS.
Note: You can try some legal ways to remove the Filmora watermark without paying .
Pros:
- Clean and Intuitive User Interface
- 4K Video Support
- Trim and merge large videos quickly
Cons:
- Limited video formats supported when using Instant Cutter Tool
Part 2: Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors
While the general features of the best free 4K video editors have been discussed, it’s important you are aware of some specific requirements your system must possess to edit your videos successfully. Irrespective of the kind of device you’re using to edit your videos, you need to pay attention to some features your device must have. However, these requirements depend on the 4K video editing software free.
- Central Processing Unit (CPU): The Processor of the software being used must be Intel Core i7, 2.3Ghz four-core; this is applicable if you will be editing your videos offline. Then, Dual Intel Xeon 2Ghz six-core is applicable if you will be editing your videos online.
- Random Access Memory (RAM): Preferably an 8GB Memory if you’re editing offline, and 32GB Memory if you’re editing online.
- Internal storage: The required storage must be sufficient because 4K videos are huge files.
Note: Offline editing refers to editing a proxy file of the original source material ; online editing is the editing of the original material.
Part 3: Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly
- Choose the software based on your hardware: To choose the best 4K video editing software free, you must not opt for an editing software with higher requirements than your hardware; such software won’t work well on your device. You should instead select an editing software with lower requirements.
- Split large 4K videos into several parts: It has been reiterated that 4K videos are huge files; to edit your videos smoothly, it is recommended to split up the videos and edit one after the other. This will save you from heavy data loss.
- Enable graphics accelerator: A graphic accelerator is used in video editing to turbocharge your video exporting. It’s usually clung to a video board of your system. It makes the editing easier and faster by preventing a heavy workload.
02 Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors
03 Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly
Part 1: Top 5 Best Free 4K Video Editing Software for Windows and Mac
1. iMovie
Supported OS: iPhone, iPad, and Mac
iMovie is one of the most popular free 4K Video editing software. Using iMovie, you can create a professional-looking video even without any editing experience. You can import 4K images and 4K videos to iMovie, and then trim, split and add titles, transitions, filters or effects to the video by dragging and dropping. What’s more, you can import and export 60 frames per second video in iMovie.
iMovie is a video editing software that imports video footage from digital video cameras that use the MiniDV format. It can play DV, HDV, AVCHD, iFrame, Animation Codec, and other video formats. You can import 4K videos directly to iMovie and export them as 4K videos at 24fps/30fps/60fps. You can also share the 4K video to YouTube from iMovie directly.
Pros:
1. Switching across different devices:
This free 4K video editor is designed to work together using different devices (iPhone, iPad & Mac). You can begin a project on your iPhone, then transfer it to your iPad using AirDrop or iCloud Drive. It allows you to share what you have worked on to different devices, and you can also send projects from your iPad to your MacBook or iMac.
2. Advanced editing features:
What makes this free 4K video editor special is the ability to add some innovative editing functions when creating and editing your videos. Understandably, any video editor should offer basic editing features; however, iMovie allows you to work with more advanced functions like split-screen , picture-in-picture , and green-screen effects .
3. Saving all the original files
An advantage of working with different devices provides an opportunity to save all original files. It saves you time since you can import any media you need to get your project started in the video editor without losing the original files.
Cons:
- Distorted files: If you don’t follow the importing and exporting process, the files might get distorted, resulting in fuzzy images.
- Only available on iOS/macOS/iPad devices
2. VSDC
Supported OS: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/7/8/10
VSDC is a free 4K video editor that allows for beginner-level editing. It supports recording voice-over, capturing the desktop screen, editing the video and audio files. With VSDC, you can blend multiple footage layers into a single composition. You can easily apply a picture-in-picture effect and make things change their appearance or position.
VSDC allows you to import 4K video, audio, and image files. To successfully import these files; Click ‘Shift + I’ to add an image, ‘Shift A’ to add an audio file, and ‘Shift V’ to add a video file. VSDC allows you to export 4K videos to PC or share to web platforms like YouTube. To export these files, go to the export project tab at the top, and then set the profile to the highest quality. Click the Edit profile button and then select the 4K preset from the list. Choose the video and audio quality size, and then save the video as 4K.
Pros:
- Every tool for video editing is available
- Amazing Visual Effects
- Efficient Text Processing
- Lots of Blending modes
Cons:
- Pro editing features are missing
- Available for Windows only
- Audio waveform and hardware acceleration features are not available
3. ShotCut
Supported OS: Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Shotcut is another free 4K video editor made for Linux, Macintosh, and Windows gadgets. It has wide arranged support that features its astounding usefulness. This 4K video editing software may not be the most alluring programming you see, yet it can assist with making the process of editing smooth and straightforward.
This professional video editing software support almost all the latest audio and video formats, including ProRes, DNxHD, and 4K, and it allows you to trim, cut, insert, and overwrite the video and audio. With its video effects, you can do color correction and grading, add fade-in and fade-out effects, reverse the clip, and even edit the 360° videos.
Here is a completed video tutorial from YouTuber Kevin Stratvert, which provides almost all information about how to use Shotcut, including how to create a project, add media, edit clips and export.
Pros:
- Easy Access: The 4K video editor is open source. Users can easily alter the source codes, enabling the process of editing simple and clear.
- Shotcut has every one of the required instruments to give excellent outcomes to clients. It has all elements of good video editing software and a bunch of other supportive and current choices.
- Shotcut offers an easy-to-use interface that allows you to finish a project quickly while having it examined by multiple members of your team. Its preview panel gives users access to a quick start menu, and its view menu lets them decide which features appear on the screen. The software’s video and audio filters are the most amazing of all its features. These filters can be customized, and they can be combined and layered in a variety of ways. Adjusting is now easier thanks to the easy checkbox and slider systems. Shotcut is so good that it makes even the most complicated effects understandable to the average user.
Cons:
- The platform might be a bit confusing when using the software for the first time because the interface isn’t intuitive.
4. LightWorks
Supported OS: Windows, Linux, and macOS
Lightworks is another video editor that can edit 4K videos from EditShare for people who have video editing experience. It has a simple and intuitive user interface, and you will find LOG, EDIT, VFX, and AUDIO tabs at the top of the interface. It integrates some paid royalty-free audio files, so you don’t need to find the background music from somewhere else. This software has some advanced editing features such as Multicam editing and batch export. It even supports third-party plugins, such as Boris FX, Boris Graffiti, and GenArts Sapphire. It enables its users to freely edit videos, even to the extent of trimming a video down to the size you desire.
However, if you want to export the videos in 4K, you need to pay, since it is limited to Lightworks Pro users.
Pros:
- The software allows clips to be easily imported and provides a platform where these clips can be played. This is made possible because this 4K video editor provides an interface made of panels such as bins, timeline, and edit review.
- Lightworks provides an easy way of applying varieties of effects from different clips in a coordinated manner. The software utilizes the hub-based framework to put together clips and recordings, which is needed for clips with numerous effects and tracks.
- Navigating this software, a right-click menu allows the user to export videos directly to YouTube. Also, the software automatically saves your work, so you don’t lose the files you’ve worked on.
Cons:
- Poor quality exporting options when making use of the free version (720p only)
- You need to register first to use it
5. Filmora Instant Cutter Tool
Supporting OS: Windows and Mac
For Win 7 or later (64-bit)
For macOS 10.12 or later
Filmora is one of the best video editors for beginners to create professional-looking videos in a modern way. One of the biggest advantages of using Filmora is its resources. You can now search the resources in the search bar and drag and drop them to the timeline to preview the result without paying first.
Some of you may say, Filmora is not a free video editor since there will be a watermark at the export video. But here, I will introduce the Instant Cutter Tool which is a perfect tool to trim and merge large 4K videos and action camera videos. This free 4k tool provides a proper way of instantly trimming or merging videos without de-coding, which means the video resolution will not be changed. Using the instant cutter tool, you can upload or merge files of huge sizes in different formats, such as MP4/MOV or MTS/M2TS.
Note: You can try some legal ways to remove the Filmora watermark without paying .
Pros:
- Clean and Intuitive User Interface
- 4K Video Support
- Trim and merge large videos quickly
Cons:
- Limited video formats supported when using Instant Cutter Tool
Part 2: Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors
While the general features of the best free 4K video editors have been discussed, it’s important you are aware of some specific requirements your system must possess to edit your videos successfully. Irrespective of the kind of device you’re using to edit your videos, you need to pay attention to some features your device must have. However, these requirements depend on the 4K video editing software free.
- Central Processing Unit (CPU): The Processor of the software being used must be Intel Core i7, 2.3Ghz four-core; this is applicable if you will be editing your videos offline. Then, Dual Intel Xeon 2Ghz six-core is applicable if you will be editing your videos online.
- Random Access Memory (RAM): Preferably an 8GB Memory if you’re editing offline, and 32GB Memory if you’re editing online.
- Internal storage: The required storage must be sufficient because 4K videos are huge files.
Note: Offline editing refers to editing a proxy file of the original source material ; online editing is the editing of the original material.
Part 3: Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly
- Choose the software based on your hardware: To choose the best 4K video editing software free, you must not opt for an editing software with higher requirements than your hardware; such software won’t work well on your device. You should instead select an editing software with lower requirements.
- Split large 4K videos into several parts: It has been reiterated that 4K videos are huge files; to edit your videos smoothly, it is recommended to split up the videos and edit one after the other. This will save you from heavy data loss.
- Enable graphics accelerator: A graphic accelerator is used in video editing to turbocharge your video exporting. It’s usually clung to a video board of your system. It makes the editing easier and faster by preventing a heavy workload.
02 Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors
03 Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly
Part 1: Top 5 Best Free 4K Video Editing Software for Windows and Mac
1. iMovie
Supported OS: iPhone, iPad, and Mac
iMovie is one of the most popular free 4K Video editing software. Using iMovie, you can create a professional-looking video even without any editing experience. You can import 4K images and 4K videos to iMovie, and then trim, split and add titles, transitions, filters or effects to the video by dragging and dropping. What’s more, you can import and export 60 frames per second video in iMovie.
iMovie is a video editing software that imports video footage from digital video cameras that use the MiniDV format. It can play DV, HDV, AVCHD, iFrame, Animation Codec, and other video formats. You can import 4K videos directly to iMovie and export them as 4K videos at 24fps/30fps/60fps. You can also share the 4K video to YouTube from iMovie directly.
Pros:
1. Switching across different devices:
This free 4K video editor is designed to work together using different devices (iPhone, iPad & Mac). You can begin a project on your iPhone, then transfer it to your iPad using AirDrop or iCloud Drive. It allows you to share what you have worked on to different devices, and you can also send projects from your iPad to your MacBook or iMac.
2. Advanced editing features:
What makes this free 4K video editor special is the ability to add some innovative editing functions when creating and editing your videos. Understandably, any video editor should offer basic editing features; however, iMovie allows you to work with more advanced functions like split-screen , picture-in-picture , and green-screen effects .
3. Saving all the original files
An advantage of working with different devices provides an opportunity to save all original files. It saves you time since you can import any media you need to get your project started in the video editor without losing the original files.
Cons:
- Distorted files: If you don’t follow the importing and exporting process, the files might get distorted, resulting in fuzzy images.
- Only available on iOS/macOS/iPad devices
2. VSDC
Supported OS: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/7/8/10
VSDC is a free 4K video editor that allows for beginner-level editing. It supports recording voice-over, capturing the desktop screen, editing the video and audio files. With VSDC, you can blend multiple footage layers into a single composition. You can easily apply a picture-in-picture effect and make things change their appearance or position.
VSDC allows you to import 4K video, audio, and image files. To successfully import these files; Click ‘Shift + I’ to add an image, ‘Shift A’ to add an audio file, and ‘Shift V’ to add a video file. VSDC allows you to export 4K videos to PC or share to web platforms like YouTube. To export these files, go to the export project tab at the top, and then set the profile to the highest quality. Click the Edit profile button and then select the 4K preset from the list. Choose the video and audio quality size, and then save the video as 4K.
Pros:
- Every tool for video editing is available
- Amazing Visual Effects
- Efficient Text Processing
- Lots of Blending modes
Cons:
- Pro editing features are missing
- Available for Windows only
- Audio waveform and hardware acceleration features are not available
3. ShotCut
Supported OS: Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Shotcut is another free 4K video editor made for Linux, Macintosh, and Windows gadgets. It has wide arranged support that features its astounding usefulness. This 4K video editing software may not be the most alluring programming you see, yet it can assist with making the process of editing smooth and straightforward.
This professional video editing software support almost all the latest audio and video formats, including ProRes, DNxHD, and 4K, and it allows you to trim, cut, insert, and overwrite the video and audio. With its video effects, you can do color correction and grading, add fade-in and fade-out effects, reverse the clip, and even edit the 360° videos.
Here is a completed video tutorial from YouTuber Kevin Stratvert, which provides almost all information about how to use Shotcut, including how to create a project, add media, edit clips and export.
Pros:
- Easy Access: The 4K video editor is open source. Users can easily alter the source codes, enabling the process of editing simple and clear.
- Shotcut has every one of the required instruments to give excellent outcomes to clients. It has all elements of good video editing software and a bunch of other supportive and current choices.
- Shotcut offers an easy-to-use interface that allows you to finish a project quickly while having it examined by multiple members of your team. Its preview panel gives users access to a quick start menu, and its view menu lets them decide which features appear on the screen. The software’s video and audio filters are the most amazing of all its features. These filters can be customized, and they can be combined and layered in a variety of ways. Adjusting is now easier thanks to the easy checkbox and slider systems. Shotcut is so good that it makes even the most complicated effects understandable to the average user.
Cons:
- The platform might be a bit confusing when using the software for the first time because the interface isn’t intuitive.
4. LightWorks
Supported OS: Windows, Linux, and macOS
Lightworks is another video editor that can edit 4K videos from EditShare for people who have video editing experience. It has a simple and intuitive user interface, and you will find LOG, EDIT, VFX, and AUDIO tabs at the top of the interface. It integrates some paid royalty-free audio files, so you don’t need to find the background music from somewhere else. This software has some advanced editing features such as Multicam editing and batch export. It even supports third-party plugins, such as Boris FX, Boris Graffiti, and GenArts Sapphire. It enables its users to freely edit videos, even to the extent of trimming a video down to the size you desire.
However, if you want to export the videos in 4K, you need to pay, since it is limited to Lightworks Pro users.
Pros:
- The software allows clips to be easily imported and provides a platform where these clips can be played. This is made possible because this 4K video editor provides an interface made of panels such as bins, timeline, and edit review.
- Lightworks provides an easy way of applying varieties of effects from different clips in a coordinated manner. The software utilizes the hub-based framework to put together clips and recordings, which is needed for clips with numerous effects and tracks.
- Navigating this software, a right-click menu allows the user to export videos directly to YouTube. Also, the software automatically saves your work, so you don’t lose the files you’ve worked on.
Cons:
- Poor quality exporting options when making use of the free version (720p only)
- You need to register first to use it
5. Filmora Instant Cutter Tool
Supporting OS: Windows and Mac
For Win 7 or later (64-bit)
For macOS 10.12 or later
Filmora is one of the best video editors for beginners to create professional-looking videos in a modern way. One of the biggest advantages of using Filmora is its resources. You can now search the resources in the search bar and drag and drop them to the timeline to preview the result without paying first.
Some of you may say, Filmora is not a free video editor since there will be a watermark at the export video. But here, I will introduce the Instant Cutter Tool which is a perfect tool to trim and merge large 4K videos and action camera videos. This free 4k tool provides a proper way of instantly trimming or merging videos without de-coding, which means the video resolution will not be changed. Using the instant cutter tool, you can upload or merge files of huge sizes in different formats, such as MP4/MOV or MTS/M2TS.
Note: You can try some legal ways to remove the Filmora watermark without paying .
Pros:
- Clean and Intuitive User Interface
- 4K Video Support
- Trim and merge large videos quickly
Cons:
- Limited video formats supported when using Instant Cutter Tool
Part 2: Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors
While the general features of the best free 4K video editors have been discussed, it’s important you are aware of some specific requirements your system must possess to edit your videos successfully. Irrespective of the kind of device you’re using to edit your videos, you need to pay attention to some features your device must have. However, these requirements depend on the 4K video editing software free.
- Central Processing Unit (CPU): The Processor of the software being used must be Intel Core i7, 2.3Ghz four-core; this is applicable if you will be editing your videos offline. Then, Dual Intel Xeon 2Ghz six-core is applicable if you will be editing your videos online.
- Random Access Memory (RAM): Preferably an 8GB Memory if you’re editing offline, and 32GB Memory if you’re editing online.
- Internal storage: The required storage must be sufficient because 4K videos are huge files.
Note: Offline editing refers to editing a proxy file of the original source material ; online editing is the editing of the original material.
Part 3: Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly
- Choose the software based on your hardware: To choose the best 4K video editing software free, you must not opt for an editing software with higher requirements than your hardware; such software won’t work well on your device. You should instead select an editing software with lower requirements.
- Split large 4K videos into several parts: It has been reiterated that 4K videos are huge files; to edit your videos smoothly, it is recommended to split up the videos and edit one after the other. This will save you from heavy data loss.
- Enable graphics accelerator: A graphic accelerator is used in video editing to turbocharge your video exporting. It’s usually clung to a video board of your system. It makes the editing easier and faster by preventing a heavy workload.
02 Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors
03 Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly
Part 1: Top 5 Best Free 4K Video Editing Software for Windows and Mac
1. iMovie
Supported OS: iPhone, iPad, and Mac
iMovie is one of the most popular free 4K Video editing software. Using iMovie, you can create a professional-looking video even without any editing experience. You can import 4K images and 4K videos to iMovie, and then trim, split and add titles, transitions, filters or effects to the video by dragging and dropping. What’s more, you can import and export 60 frames per second video in iMovie.
iMovie is a video editing software that imports video footage from digital video cameras that use the MiniDV format. It can play DV, HDV, AVCHD, iFrame, Animation Codec, and other video formats. You can import 4K videos directly to iMovie and export them as 4K videos at 24fps/30fps/60fps. You can also share the 4K video to YouTube from iMovie directly.
Pros:
1. Switching across different devices:
This free 4K video editor is designed to work together using different devices (iPhone, iPad & Mac). You can begin a project on your iPhone, then transfer it to your iPad using AirDrop or iCloud Drive. It allows you to share what you have worked on to different devices, and you can also send projects from your iPad to your MacBook or iMac.
2. Advanced editing features:
What makes this free 4K video editor special is the ability to add some innovative editing functions when creating and editing your videos. Understandably, any video editor should offer basic editing features; however, iMovie allows you to work with more advanced functions like split-screen , picture-in-picture , and green-screen effects .
3. Saving all the original files
An advantage of working with different devices provides an opportunity to save all original files. It saves you time since you can import any media you need to get your project started in the video editor without losing the original files.
Cons:
- Distorted files: If you don’t follow the importing and exporting process, the files might get distorted, resulting in fuzzy images.
- Only available on iOS/macOS/iPad devices
2. VSDC
Supported OS: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/7/8/10
VSDC is a free 4K video editor that allows for beginner-level editing. It supports recording voice-over, capturing the desktop screen, editing the video and audio files. With VSDC, you can blend multiple footage layers into a single composition. You can easily apply a picture-in-picture effect and make things change their appearance or position.
VSDC allows you to import 4K video, audio, and image files. To successfully import these files; Click ‘Shift + I’ to add an image, ‘Shift A’ to add an audio file, and ‘Shift V’ to add a video file. VSDC allows you to export 4K videos to PC or share to web platforms like YouTube. To export these files, go to the export project tab at the top, and then set the profile to the highest quality. Click the Edit profile button and then select the 4K preset from the list. Choose the video and audio quality size, and then save the video as 4K.
Pros:
- Every tool for video editing is available
- Amazing Visual Effects
- Efficient Text Processing
- Lots of Blending modes
Cons:
- Pro editing features are missing
- Available for Windows only
- Audio waveform and hardware acceleration features are not available
3. ShotCut
Supported OS: Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Shotcut is another free 4K video editor made for Linux, Macintosh, and Windows gadgets. It has wide arranged support that features its astounding usefulness. This 4K video editing software may not be the most alluring programming you see, yet it can assist with making the process of editing smooth and straightforward.
This professional video editing software support almost all the latest audio and video formats, including ProRes, DNxHD, and 4K, and it allows you to trim, cut, insert, and overwrite the video and audio. With its video effects, you can do color correction and grading, add fade-in and fade-out effects, reverse the clip, and even edit the 360° videos.
Here is a completed video tutorial from YouTuber Kevin Stratvert, which provides almost all information about how to use Shotcut, including how to create a project, add media, edit clips and export.
Pros:
- Easy Access: The 4K video editor is open source. Users can easily alter the source codes, enabling the process of editing simple and clear.
- Shotcut has every one of the required instruments to give excellent outcomes to clients. It has all elements of good video editing software and a bunch of other supportive and current choices.
- Shotcut offers an easy-to-use interface that allows you to finish a project quickly while having it examined by multiple members of your team. Its preview panel gives users access to a quick start menu, and its view menu lets them decide which features appear on the screen. The software’s video and audio filters are the most amazing of all its features. These filters can be customized, and they can be combined and layered in a variety of ways. Adjusting is now easier thanks to the easy checkbox and slider systems. Shotcut is so good that it makes even the most complicated effects understandable to the average user.
Cons:
- The platform might be a bit confusing when using the software for the first time because the interface isn’t intuitive.
4. LightWorks
Supported OS: Windows, Linux, and macOS
Lightworks is another video editor that can edit 4K videos from EditShare for people who have video editing experience. It has a simple and intuitive user interface, and you will find LOG, EDIT, VFX, and AUDIO tabs at the top of the interface. It integrates some paid royalty-free audio files, so you don’t need to find the background music from somewhere else. This software has some advanced editing features such as Multicam editing and batch export. It even supports third-party plugins, such as Boris FX, Boris Graffiti, and GenArts Sapphire. It enables its users to freely edit videos, even to the extent of trimming a video down to the size you desire.
However, if you want to export the videos in 4K, you need to pay, since it is limited to Lightworks Pro users.
Pros:
- The software allows clips to be easily imported and provides a platform where these clips can be played. This is made possible because this 4K video editor provides an interface made of panels such as bins, timeline, and edit review.
- Lightworks provides an easy way of applying varieties of effects from different clips in a coordinated manner. The software utilizes the hub-based framework to put together clips and recordings, which is needed for clips with numerous effects and tracks.
- Navigating this software, a right-click menu allows the user to export videos directly to YouTube. Also, the software automatically saves your work, so you don’t lose the files you’ve worked on.
Cons:
- Poor quality exporting options when making use of the free version (720p only)
- You need to register first to use it
5. Filmora Instant Cutter Tool
Supporting OS: Windows and Mac
For Win 7 or later (64-bit)
For macOS 10.12 or later
Filmora is one of the best video editors for beginners to create professional-looking videos in a modern way. One of the biggest advantages of using Filmora is its resources. You can now search the resources in the search bar and drag and drop them to the timeline to preview the result without paying first.
Some of you may say, Filmora is not a free video editor since there will be a watermark at the export video. But here, I will introduce the Instant Cutter Tool which is a perfect tool to trim and merge large 4K videos and action camera videos. This free 4k tool provides a proper way of instantly trimming or merging videos without de-coding, which means the video resolution will not be changed. Using the instant cutter tool, you can upload or merge files of huge sizes in different formats, such as MP4/MOV or MTS/M2TS.
Note: You can try some legal ways to remove the Filmora watermark without paying .
Pros:
- Clean and Intuitive User Interface
- 4K Video Support
- Trim and merge large videos quickly
Cons:
- Limited video formats supported when using Instant Cutter Tool
Part 2: Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors
While the general features of the best free 4K video editors have been discussed, it’s important you are aware of some specific requirements your system must possess to edit your videos successfully. Irrespective of the kind of device you’re using to edit your videos, you need to pay attention to some features your device must have. However, these requirements depend on the 4K video editing software free.
- Central Processing Unit (CPU): The Processor of the software being used must be Intel Core i7, 2.3Ghz four-core; this is applicable if you will be editing your videos offline. Then, Dual Intel Xeon 2Ghz six-core is applicable if you will be editing your videos online.
- Random Access Memory (RAM): Preferably an 8GB Memory if you’re editing offline, and 32GB Memory if you’re editing online.
- Internal storage: The required storage must be sufficient because 4K videos are huge files.
Note: Offline editing refers to editing a proxy file of the original source material ; online editing is the editing of the original material.
Part 3: Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly
- Choose the software based on your hardware: To choose the best 4K video editing software free, you must not opt for an editing software with higher requirements than your hardware; such software won’t work well on your device. You should instead select an editing software with lower requirements.
- Split large 4K videos into several parts: It has been reiterated that 4K videos are huge files; to edit your videos smoothly, it is recommended to split up the videos and edit one after the other. This will save you from heavy data loss.
- Enable graphics accelerator: A graphic accelerator is used in video editing to turbocharge your video exporting. It’s usually clung to a video board of your system. It makes the editing easier and faster by preventing a heavy workload.
Unlock the Power of Green Screen: Top 10 Free Apps for Android & iOS
FREE Top 10 Green Screen APPs for Android/iOS
Liza Brown
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
The background effects you use are largely likely to determine the quality of your videos and photos. Most of the award-winning videos use green screen apps to edit their still images as well as short video clips. Have you ever asked yourself; Are the movies and photos featuring Golden Gate or The White House as their backgrounds shot at those exact scenes?
It’s surprising to see how the internet is flooded with poorly edited videos, movies, and photos despite the huge number of free green screen apps.
In order to learn how to use green screen effectively in all movie and photo scenarios, this article is subdivided into the following parts:
- Part 1: What Is a Green Screen App and Its Uses?
- Part 2: How to Use Filmora9 to Edit Green Screen [Recommended Tool]
- Part 3: 10 Best Free/Paid Green Screen Apps For Androids/iOS
Part 1: What Is a Green Screen App and Its Uses?
The green screen app is an application that’s used by filmmakers, videographers, and photographers to create unique backgrounds. Many great apps work perfectly well with Windows, Mac, Androids, and iOS. Whereas a few can be used online, the majority are can only be used upon download. The green screen is also known as the Chroma key.
So, what are the uses of green screen apps? To replace the background of your videos and photos, you require a green screen app. Other uses include:
- During weather forecasts, television producers use green screen apps to shade regions of interest.
- In case of extensive use of single color in videos, you can use these apps to cut the color pixels from the video.
- Green screen apps feature many editing effects that can be used to enhance the quality of videos.
Part 2: How to Use Filmora to Edit Green Screen [Recommended Tool]
If you want to get the best green-screen effect, Filmora is the tool to use. The green screen editor involves the superimposing of different virtual backgrounds during the video-making process. The combination of Filmora’s green screen feature and the thousands of HD royalty-free video backgrounds in Filmstock makes it the perfect video editor for you. Learn more from Wondershare Video Community .
Besides the green screen feature, Filmora offers many useful features like Instant Mode, Speed Ramping, Auto Beat Maker, and more to help you edit the video you want.
How to Edit Green Screen Using Filmora?
Editing the green screen with Filmora is easy. In this article, we offer two types of tutorials here. You can check the video or follow the step-by-step guide to create your own green screen video.
Step 1: Launch Filmora.
In order to launch this software, start by clicking any of the buttons below to download and install to your Mac or desktop. It’s compatible with Windows7/8/10.
Once you’ve successfully installed it, double-click the icon to open it.
Step 2: Import your green screen video footage and background to the timeline.
There are plenty of websites with wonderful green screen videos for you to download. To select a video background, go to Filmstock on the Wondershare website and download.
For your green screen video to appear on top, drag it onto track 2 and the background footage to track 1.
Step 3: Start editing.
The Chroma Key editing features are hidden in this part. To open the editing effects, double-click on the green screen video.
On the pop-up menu, just click the Chroma key option.
Use the editing panel to set the appearance that best fascinates your audience.
Step 4: Save your video.
Click Export to save your created green screen. If you don’t have an account, create one for you to be able to access the Find Target. Tap the Find Target to choose where to save the video.
Try Filmora for Smartphone
Try Filmora for iPad
Part 3: 10 Best Free/Paid Green Screen Apps For Androids/iOS
After days of downloading and testing both the free/paid green screen apps for Windows, Mac, and smartphones, here is a complete comparison chart of the findings.
Watch Video! Top Free Green Screen App in 2022
Here is now the detailed elaboration of the green screen apps features, pros, and cons above:
1. Chromavid – Easiest for shooting and sharing photos and videos using Chroma Key
Compatibility: Androids 5.0+, iPhone, iPod touch, iPad (iOS 12 or later)
Price: $2.99
This app works pretty well with both photos and videos.
If you’ve been looking for the best green screen app for iPad this is the right app for you. Despite the low pricing, Chromavid has top-notch Chroma Key effects like more Chroma colors, unlimited recording time, and image merge functions. It’s the social sharing button and the option to shoot videos on the Chroma key that makes Chromavid stand out.
To access the advanced Chromavid commercial use, you need to subscribe to the specific commercial version indicated on the License page.
Pros:
- Chromavid green screen app is simple and easy to use.
- Also, the Chromavid plus plan produces watermark-free videos and photos.
- You can save edited videos directly into your device.
Cons:
- Only real-time photos and videos can be edited using this app.
- Too much personal detail is required to open an account.
2. Kinemaster – Best app for smartphones and a powerful tool for video editing
Compatibility: Androids 5.0+, Chrome OS, iPhone, iPod , iPad
Price: Free
Kinemaster’s Chroma Key function can be used to overlay texts, photos, and videos.
Any person searching for the top free green screen app should consider Kinemaster. The supported multilayer effect allows users to lay video clips, images, texts, and many more at once. The alpha mask feature found in this app can hardly be found in other apps. To eliminate the watermark and get unlimited export of 4K resolution backgrounds, just subscribe to the Kinemaster premium plan.
Pros:
- Good for sharing to social media platforms like Instagram, Youtube, TikTok, and Facebook.
- 100s of weekly updated stickers, video backgrounds, video clips, transitions, and music clips.
- Can create multiple layer videos.
- Availability of EQ presets, speed controls, and preview features.
Cons:
- The current versions are malfunctioning
- Not compatible with PCs and mac
3. Green Screen by Do Ink – This is probably the best green screen app for iPad users
Compatible: iOS 9.0 or later and iPad
Price: $4.99
It’s best for both photos and videos.
Green Screen by Do Ink prides itself on simplicity and is highly suitable for beginners, experts, and even doodlers. When using the green screen editor, you’ll find the interface to be more friendly and easy to understand. It has only four simple elements that include:
- Source selector -Where to export images and videos.
- Preview window -For reviewing completed projects.
- Timeline – For arranging exported images and videos.
- Toolbar – This is where you’ll find all the Chroma Key tools and buttons.
Pros:
- Supports any videos aspect ratio.
- Plenty of drawing tools.
- Ability to import images and videos from the camera.
Cons:
- The pricing is a bit high compared to other apps.
- Only limited to iPhone and iPad.
4. Veescope Live Green Screen App – Highly suitable for editing real-time videos and creating QuickTime videos
Compatible: iOS devices
Price: Free
The green Screen feature/ Chroma Key allows editing of real-time images from the camera, photos, and videos.
Any journalist specializing in weather forecasts should use Veescope Live to bring live forecasts and change backgrounds to fit any location. For high-quality videos, use the Remote feature to switch backgrounds as you desire. With the camera, shoot or record Ultra HD and 4K resolution photos and videos.
Pros:
- Easy to use the adjustable white balance and light exposure.
- Ability to overlay up to 20 different backgrounds.
- The new Pinch Zooming feature helps preview every detail of the project.
- Best for any background green screen color.
Cons:
- The free plan has a permanent watermark.
- Cannot undo or redo on the timeline.
5. Stop Motion Studio - This is the most versatile green screen app
Compatibility: Mac, iOS, Android, and Windows
Price: For iOS-$4.99, Windows- $1.99, Mac- $9.99 and Android - $4.99
Suitable for both photos and videos.
Finding a green screen app for Windows and Mac with stunning features that are easy to use has been the most daunting task. With Stop Motion Studio, you can export edited videos directly to YouTube, work on a single project from mobile, export it to a computer, and create 4K Ultra HD videos. When using the Chroma Key/ green screen feature, you can automatically change the background by importing from any source.
Pros:
- Can enhance videos quality by using different backgrounds, foregrounds, and transitions.
- The built-in music helps improve the sound quality of the created green screen.
- Can be used by beginners and is also suitable for all family use.
- The Rotoscoping feature helps create unique videos.
Cons:
- No free plan
6. Chroma key Studio Pro – Highly recommended for TV productions and cinematic movies
Compatibility: iOS 7.0 or later (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch)
Price: $4.99
Used for creating a green screen for both photos and videos.
Chroma Key Studio Pro is probably the easiest green screen app for iPhone to understand and the simplest to use due to its limited number of features. The Intelligent auto-enhance filter, color keying, and the selfie mode camera feature make this app good for creating quick green screen images. Other top features are a huge gallery of photos and videos, 100s of effects and filters, and high-quality backgrounds.
Pros:
- Faster video editing.
- Easy color separation.
Cons:
- Limited to only iOS devices.
7. PocketVideo – Preferred for Video Blogging
Compatibility: iOS 12.0 or later and Android 4.4 or later, PC and Mac
Price: Free
PocketVideo can only be used to edit videos and photos.
After years of searching for apps that can create YouTube vlogs, video bloggers have something to smile about -PocketVideo green screen app. Even though the number of features is numerous, this green screen app for Mac and other devices is simple and highly suitable for videos making experts and beginners. The Animated Doodle Tool is the children’s go-to tool.
Pros:
- Can record and edit up to 10 minutes of Ultra HD video.
- Self-explanatory user interface.
- Huge collection of free stickers, PNGs, and GIFs.
Cons:
- No training tutorials.
8. Green Screen Wizard Pro Studio Editor - Best for professional photographers
Compatibility: Windows7,8,10, Mac, Android and iPhone
Price: Windows/Mac- $199.95, Android- $4.99
This app is more suitable for editing photos.
Even though Green Screen Studio is costly, professional photographers continue to applaud it for its extraordinary features. There are currently over 25,000 users. Using the color and brightness correction features for foregrounds and backgrounds, you can create stunning silhouettes and green screens.
Pros:
- Advanced Chroma Key features.
- In-depth tutorials for each version.
- Suitable for all children and professional experts.
Cons:
- Extremely expensive to PC and Mac users.
- No image resizing feature.
9. Green Screen Studio - This is the photographers’ photo green screen app
Compatibility: iOS 9.0 or later
Price: $4.99
Works pretty well with both photos and videos.
Besides the obvious effects and transitions, this app has Extra photo editing features, blemish, red-eye, and additional photo effects for editing photos. It also has an automatic green screen feature. To preview every detail of the edited video, use the Zoom feature.
Pros:
- Simple and easy to use.
- You can manually apply backgrounds in this app.
- Friendly interface.
Cons:
- Not compatible with PCs and Mac.
10. iMovie – Best for making Hollywood-style trailers
Compatibility: iOS 13 and MacOS
Price: Free
iMovie green screen app was developed to create a photo and video green screen.
iMovie is the most popular free green screen app. Using the AirDrop or iCloud Drive features, you can share your videos to any social media platform in a second. Its 10 Apple-designed photo and video filters are enough to make your edited videos win every award.
Pros:
- Has the best Apple-designed features.
- Free to all iOS users.
- Has Dark mode features and 8 unique themes.
Cons:
- Requires an expert to perfectly use this app.
- Only limited to iPhone and iPad.
Comparison Table of Top 10 Green Screen Software
| No. | Product Name | Compatibility | Pricing | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Chromavid | Android 5.0+, iOS 12 or later, | $2.99 /year | 4.0 |
| 2. | Kinemaster | Androids 5.0+, Chrome OS, iPhone, iPad | Free | 4.4 |
| 3. | Green Screen by Do Ink | iOS 9.0 or later, iPad | $4.99 /year | 3.9 |
| 4. | Veescope Live | iOS 11.0 or later (iPod touch iPhone and iPad) | Free | 3.8 |
| 5. | Stop Motion Studio | Mac, iOS, Android, and Windows | iOS-$4.99, Windows- $1.99, Mac- $9.99, Android - $4.99 | 4.5 |
| 6. | A Chroma key Studio Pro | iOS 7.0 or later | $4.99 /year | 4.0 |
| 7. | PocketVideo | iOS 12.0 or later, Android 4.4 or later, Mac and Windows | Free | 3.2 |
| 8. | Green Screen Wizard Pro | Windows, Mac, Android, and iPhone | Windows/ Mac - $199.95, Android - $4.99 | 3.0 |
| 9. | Green Screen Studio | iOS 9.0 or later | $4.99 | 3.3 |
| 10. | iMovie | iOS 13 and MacOS | Free | 3.9 |
Conclusion
There are many green screen apps claiming to create award-winning Hollywood-like videos and the most admired photos. Caution: If you are not using any of the above-listed green screen apps, kindly read user reviews and research widely!
Using tried, tested and proven apps on your PCS, Mac, and smartphones is the only sure way of protecting your device. Which of the above apps have you used? Or, which one would you prefer? Share your comments or opinion on our social media platform.
Liza Brown
Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Liza Brown
Liza Brown
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
The background effects you use are largely likely to determine the quality of your videos and photos. Most of the award-winning videos use green screen apps to edit their still images as well as short video clips. Have you ever asked yourself; Are the movies and photos featuring Golden Gate or The White House as their backgrounds shot at those exact scenes?
It’s surprising to see how the internet is flooded with poorly edited videos, movies, and photos despite the huge number of free green screen apps.
In order to learn how to use green screen effectively in all movie and photo scenarios, this article is subdivided into the following parts:
- Part 1: What Is a Green Screen App and Its Uses?
- Part 2: How to Use Filmora9 to Edit Green Screen [Recommended Tool]
- Part 3: 10 Best Free/Paid Green Screen Apps For Androids/iOS
Part 1: What Is a Green Screen App and Its Uses?
The green screen app is an application that’s used by filmmakers, videographers, and photographers to create unique backgrounds. Many great apps work perfectly well with Windows, Mac, Androids, and iOS. Whereas a few can be used online, the majority are can only be used upon download. The green screen is also known as the Chroma key.
So, what are the uses of green screen apps? To replace the background of your videos and photos, you require a green screen app. Other uses include:
- During weather forecasts, television producers use green screen apps to shade regions of interest.
- In case of extensive use of single color in videos, you can use these apps to cut the color pixels from the video.
- Green screen apps feature many editing effects that can be used to enhance the quality of videos.
Part 2: How to Use Filmora to Edit Green Screen [Recommended Tool]
If you want to get the best green-screen effect, Filmora is the tool to use. The green screen editor involves the superimposing of different virtual backgrounds during the video-making process. The combination of Filmora’s green screen feature and the thousands of HD royalty-free video backgrounds in Filmstock makes it the perfect video editor for you. Learn more from Wondershare Video Community .
Besides the green screen feature, Filmora offers many useful features like Instant Mode, Speed Ramping, Auto Beat Maker, and more to help you edit the video you want.
How to Edit Green Screen Using Filmora?
Editing the green screen with Filmora is easy. In this article, we offer two types of tutorials here. You can check the video or follow the step-by-step guide to create your own green screen video.
Step 1: Launch Filmora.
In order to launch this software, start by clicking any of the buttons below to download and install to your Mac or desktop. It’s compatible with Windows7/8/10.
Once you’ve successfully installed it, double-click the icon to open it.
Step 2: Import your green screen video footage and background to the timeline.
There are plenty of websites with wonderful green screen videos for you to download. To select a video background, go to Filmstock on the Wondershare website and download.
For your green screen video to appear on top, drag it onto track 2 and the background footage to track 1.
Step 3: Start editing.
The Chroma Key editing features are hidden in this part. To open the editing effects, double-click on the green screen video.
On the pop-up menu, just click the Chroma key option.
Use the editing panel to set the appearance that best fascinates your audience.
Step 4: Save your video.
Click Export to save your created green screen. If you don’t have an account, create one for you to be able to access the Find Target. Tap the Find Target to choose where to save the video.
Try Filmora for Smartphone
Try Filmora for iPad
Part 3: 10 Best Free/Paid Green Screen Apps For Androids/iOS
After days of downloading and testing both the free/paid green screen apps for Windows, Mac, and smartphones, here is a complete comparison chart of the findings.
Watch Video! Top Free Green Screen App in 2022
Here is now the detailed elaboration of the green screen apps features, pros, and cons above:
1. Chromavid – Easiest for shooting and sharing photos and videos using Chroma Key
Compatibility: Androids 5.0+, iPhone, iPod touch, iPad (iOS 12 or later)
Price: $2.99
This app works pretty well with both photos and videos.
If you’ve been looking for the best green screen app for iPad this is the right app for you. Despite the low pricing, Chromavid has top-notch Chroma Key effects like more Chroma colors, unlimited recording time, and image merge functions. It’s the social sharing button and the option to shoot videos on the Chroma key that makes Chromavid stand out.
To access the advanced Chromavid commercial use, you need to subscribe to the specific commercial version indicated on the License page.
Pros:
- Chromavid green screen app is simple and easy to use.
- Also, the Chromavid plus plan produces watermark-free videos and photos.
- You can save edited videos directly into your device.
Cons:
- Only real-time photos and videos can be edited using this app.
- Too much personal detail is required to open an account.
2. Kinemaster – Best app for smartphones and a powerful tool for video editing
Compatibility: Androids 5.0+, Chrome OS, iPhone, iPod , iPad
Price: Free
Kinemaster’s Chroma Key function can be used to overlay texts, photos, and videos.
Any person searching for the top free green screen app should consider Kinemaster. The supported multilayer effect allows users to lay video clips, images, texts, and many more at once. The alpha mask feature found in this app can hardly be found in other apps. To eliminate the watermark and get unlimited export of 4K resolution backgrounds, just subscribe to the Kinemaster premium plan.
Pros:
- Good for sharing to social media platforms like Instagram, Youtube, TikTok, and Facebook.
- 100s of weekly updated stickers, video backgrounds, video clips, transitions, and music clips.
- Can create multiple layer videos.
- Availability of EQ presets, speed controls, and preview features.
Cons:
- The current versions are malfunctioning
- Not compatible with PCs and mac
3. Green Screen by Do Ink – This is probably the best green screen app for iPad users
Compatible: iOS 9.0 or later and iPad
Price: $4.99
It’s best for both photos and videos.
Green Screen by Do Ink prides itself on simplicity and is highly suitable for beginners, experts, and even doodlers. When using the green screen editor, you’ll find the interface to be more friendly and easy to understand. It has only four simple elements that include:
- Source selector -Where to export images and videos.
- Preview window -For reviewing completed projects.
- Timeline – For arranging exported images and videos.
- Toolbar – This is where you’ll find all the Chroma Key tools and buttons.
Pros:
- Supports any videos aspect ratio.
- Plenty of drawing tools.
- Ability to import images and videos from the camera.
Cons:
- The pricing is a bit high compared to other apps.
- Only limited to iPhone and iPad.
4. Veescope Live Green Screen App – Highly suitable for editing real-time videos and creating QuickTime videos
Compatible: iOS devices
Price: Free
The green Screen feature/ Chroma Key allows editing of real-time images from the camera, photos, and videos.
Any journalist specializing in weather forecasts should use Veescope Live to bring live forecasts and change backgrounds to fit any location. For high-quality videos, use the Remote feature to switch backgrounds as you desire. With the camera, shoot or record Ultra HD and 4K resolution photos and videos.
Pros:
- Easy to use the adjustable white balance and light exposure.
- Ability to overlay up to 20 different backgrounds.
- The new Pinch Zooming feature helps preview every detail of the project.
- Best for any background green screen color.
Cons:
- The free plan has a permanent watermark.
- Cannot undo or redo on the timeline.
5. Stop Motion Studio - This is the most versatile green screen app
Compatibility: Mac, iOS, Android, and Windows
Price: For iOS-$4.99, Windows- $1.99, Mac- $9.99 and Android - $4.99
Suitable for both photos and videos.
Finding a green screen app for Windows and Mac with stunning features that are easy to use has been the most daunting task. With Stop Motion Studio, you can export edited videos directly to YouTube, work on a single project from mobile, export it to a computer, and create 4K Ultra HD videos. When using the Chroma Key/ green screen feature, you can automatically change the background by importing from any source.
Pros:
- Can enhance videos quality by using different backgrounds, foregrounds, and transitions.
- The built-in music helps improve the sound quality of the created green screen.
- Can be used by beginners and is also suitable for all family use.
- The Rotoscoping feature helps create unique videos.
Cons:
- No free plan
6. Chroma key Studio Pro – Highly recommended for TV productions and cinematic movies
Compatibility: iOS 7.0 or later (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch)
Price: $4.99
Used for creating a green screen for both photos and videos.
Chroma Key Studio Pro is probably the easiest green screen app for iPhone to understand and the simplest to use due to its limited number of features. The Intelligent auto-enhance filter, color keying, and the selfie mode camera feature make this app good for creating quick green screen images. Other top features are a huge gallery of photos and videos, 100s of effects and filters, and high-quality backgrounds.
Pros:
- Faster video editing.
- Easy color separation.
Cons:
- Limited to only iOS devices.
7. PocketVideo – Preferred for Video Blogging
Compatibility: iOS 12.0 or later and Android 4.4 or later, PC and Mac
Price: Free
PocketVideo can only be used to edit videos and photos.
After years of searching for apps that can create YouTube vlogs, video bloggers have something to smile about -PocketVideo green screen app. Even though the number of features is numerous, this green screen app for Mac and other devices is simple and highly suitable for videos making experts and beginners. The Animated Doodle Tool is the children’s go-to tool.
Pros:
- Can record and edit up to 10 minutes of Ultra HD video.
- Self-explanatory user interface.
- Huge collection of free stickers, PNGs, and GIFs.
Cons:
- No training tutorials.
8. Green Screen Wizard Pro Studio Editor - Best for professional photographers
Compatibility: Windows7,8,10, Mac, Android and iPhone
Price: Windows/Mac- $199.95, Android- $4.99
This app is more suitable for editing photos.
Even though Green Screen Studio is costly, professional photographers continue to applaud it for its extraordinary features. There are currently over 25,000 users. Using the color and brightness correction features for foregrounds and backgrounds, you can create stunning silhouettes and green screens.
Pros:
- Advanced Chroma Key features.
- In-depth tutorials for each version.
- Suitable for all children and professional experts.
Cons:
- Extremely expensive to PC and Mac users.
- No image resizing feature.
9. Green Screen Studio - This is the photographers’ photo green screen app
Compatibility: iOS 9.0 or later
Price: $4.99
Works pretty well with both photos and videos.
Besides the obvious effects and transitions, this app has Extra photo editing features, blemish, red-eye, and additional photo effects for editing photos. It also has an automatic green screen feature. To preview every detail of the edited video, use the Zoom feature.
Pros:
- Simple and easy to use.
- You can manually apply backgrounds in this app.
- Friendly interface.
Cons:
- Not compatible with PCs and Mac.
10. iMovie – Best for making Hollywood-style trailers
Compatibility: iOS 13 and MacOS
Price: Free
iMovie green screen app was developed to create a photo and video green screen.
iMovie is the most popular free green screen app. Using the AirDrop or iCloud Drive features, you can share your videos to any social media platform in a second. Its 10 Apple-designed photo and video filters are enough to make your edited videos win every award.
Pros:
- Has the best Apple-designed features.
- Free to all iOS users.
- Has Dark mode features and 8 unique themes.
Cons:
- Requires an expert to perfectly use this app.
- Only limited to iPhone and iPad.
Comparison Table of Top 10 Green Screen Software
| No. | Product Name | Compatibility | Pricing | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Chromavid | Android 5.0+, iOS 12 or later, | $2.99 /year | 4.0 |
| 2. | Kinemaster | Androids 5.0+, Chrome OS, iPhone, iPad | Free | 4.4 |
| 3. | Green Screen by Do Ink | iOS 9.0 or later, iPad | $4.99 /year | 3.9 |
| 4. | Veescope Live | iOS 11.0 or later (iPod touch iPhone and iPad) | Free | 3.8 |
| 5. | Stop Motion Studio | Mac, iOS, Android, and Windows | iOS-$4.99, Windows- $1.99, Mac- $9.99, Android - $4.99 | 4.5 |
| 6. | A Chroma key Studio Pro | iOS 7.0 or later | $4.99 /year | 4.0 |
| 7. | PocketVideo | iOS 12.0 or later, Android 4.4 or later, Mac and Windows | Free | 3.2 |
| 8. | Green Screen Wizard Pro | Windows, Mac, Android, and iPhone | Windows/ Mac - $199.95, Android - $4.99 | 3.0 |
| 9. | Green Screen Studio | iOS 9.0 or later | $4.99 | 3.3 |
| 10. | iMovie | iOS 13 and MacOS | Free | 3.9 |
Conclusion
There are many green screen apps claiming to create award-winning Hollywood-like videos and the most admired photos. Caution: If you are not using any of the above-listed green screen apps, kindly read user reviews and research widely!
Using tried, tested and proven apps on your PCS, Mac, and smartphones is the only sure way of protecting your device. Which of the above apps have you used? Or, which one would you prefer? Share your comments or opinion on our social media platform.
Liza Brown
Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Liza Brown
Liza Brown
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
The background effects you use are largely likely to determine the quality of your videos and photos. Most of the award-winning videos use green screen apps to edit their still images as well as short video clips. Have you ever asked yourself; Are the movies and photos featuring Golden Gate or The White House as their backgrounds shot at those exact scenes?
It’s surprising to see how the internet is flooded with poorly edited videos, movies, and photos despite the huge number of free green screen apps.
In order to learn how to use green screen effectively in all movie and photo scenarios, this article is subdivided into the following parts:
- Part 1: What Is a Green Screen App and Its Uses?
- Part 2: How to Use Filmora9 to Edit Green Screen [Recommended Tool]
- Part 3: 10 Best Free/Paid Green Screen Apps For Androids/iOS
Part 1: What Is a Green Screen App and Its Uses?
The green screen app is an application that’s used by filmmakers, videographers, and photographers to create unique backgrounds. Many great apps work perfectly well with Windows, Mac, Androids, and iOS. Whereas a few can be used online, the majority are can only be used upon download. The green screen is also known as the Chroma key.
So, what are the uses of green screen apps? To replace the background of your videos and photos, you require a green screen app. Other uses include:
- During weather forecasts, television producers use green screen apps to shade regions of interest.
- In case of extensive use of single color in videos, you can use these apps to cut the color pixels from the video.
- Green screen apps feature many editing effects that can be used to enhance the quality of videos.
Part 2: How to Use Filmora to Edit Green Screen [Recommended Tool]
If you want to get the best green-screen effect, Filmora is the tool to use. The green screen editor involves the superimposing of different virtual backgrounds during the video-making process. The combination of Filmora’s green screen feature and the thousands of HD royalty-free video backgrounds in Filmstock makes it the perfect video editor for you. Learn more from Wondershare Video Community .
Besides the green screen feature, Filmora offers many useful features like Instant Mode, Speed Ramping, Auto Beat Maker, and more to help you edit the video you want.
How to Edit Green Screen Using Filmora?
Editing the green screen with Filmora is easy. In this article, we offer two types of tutorials here. You can check the video or follow the step-by-step guide to create your own green screen video.
Step 1: Launch Filmora.
In order to launch this software, start by clicking any of the buttons below to download and install to your Mac or desktop. It’s compatible with Windows7/8/10.
Once you’ve successfully installed it, double-click the icon to open it.
Step 2: Import your green screen video footage and background to the timeline.
There are plenty of websites with wonderful green screen videos for you to download. To select a video background, go to Filmstock on the Wondershare website and download.
For your green screen video to appear on top, drag it onto track 2 and the background footage to track 1.
Step 3: Start editing.
The Chroma Key editing features are hidden in this part. To open the editing effects, double-click on the green screen video.
On the pop-up menu, just click the Chroma key option.
Use the editing panel to set the appearance that best fascinates your audience.
Step 4: Save your video.
Click Export to save your created green screen. If you don’t have an account, create one for you to be able to access the Find Target. Tap the Find Target to choose where to save the video.
Try Filmora for Smartphone
Try Filmora for iPad
Part 3: 10 Best Free/Paid Green Screen Apps For Androids/iOS
After days of downloading and testing both the free/paid green screen apps for Windows, Mac, and smartphones, here is a complete comparison chart of the findings.
Watch Video! Top Free Green Screen App in 2022
Here is now the detailed elaboration of the green screen apps features, pros, and cons above:
1. Chromavid – Easiest for shooting and sharing photos and videos using Chroma Key
Compatibility: Androids 5.0+, iPhone, iPod touch, iPad (iOS 12 or later)
Price: $2.99
This app works pretty well with both photos and videos.
If you’ve been looking for the best green screen app for iPad this is the right app for you. Despite the low pricing, Chromavid has top-notch Chroma Key effects like more Chroma colors, unlimited recording time, and image merge functions. It’s the social sharing button and the option to shoot videos on the Chroma key that makes Chromavid stand out.
To access the advanced Chromavid commercial use, you need to subscribe to the specific commercial version indicated on the License page.
Pros:
- Chromavid green screen app is simple and easy to use.
- Also, the Chromavid plus plan produces watermark-free videos and photos.
- You can save edited videos directly into your device.
Cons:
- Only real-time photos and videos can be edited using this app.
- Too much personal detail is required to open an account.
2. Kinemaster – Best app for smartphones and a powerful tool for video editing
Compatibility: Androids 5.0+, Chrome OS, iPhone, iPod , iPad
Price: Free
Kinemaster’s Chroma Key function can be used to overlay texts, photos, and videos.
Any person searching for the top free green screen app should consider Kinemaster. The supported multilayer effect allows users to lay video clips, images, texts, and many more at once. The alpha mask feature found in this app can hardly be found in other apps. To eliminate the watermark and get unlimited export of 4K resolution backgrounds, just subscribe to the Kinemaster premium plan.
Pros:
- Good for sharing to social media platforms like Instagram, Youtube, TikTok, and Facebook.
- 100s of weekly updated stickers, video backgrounds, video clips, transitions, and music clips.
- Can create multiple layer videos.
- Availability of EQ presets, speed controls, and preview features.
Cons:
- The current versions are malfunctioning
- Not compatible with PCs and mac
3. Green Screen by Do Ink – This is probably the best green screen app for iPad users
Compatible: iOS 9.0 or later and iPad
Price: $4.99
It’s best for both photos and videos.
Green Screen by Do Ink prides itself on simplicity and is highly suitable for beginners, experts, and even doodlers. When using the green screen editor, you’ll find the interface to be more friendly and easy to understand. It has only four simple elements that include:
- Source selector -Where to export images and videos.
- Preview window -For reviewing completed projects.
- Timeline – For arranging exported images and videos.
- Toolbar – This is where you’ll find all the Chroma Key tools and buttons.
Pros:
- Supports any videos aspect ratio.
- Plenty of drawing tools.
- Ability to import images and videos from the camera.
Cons:
- The pricing is a bit high compared to other apps.
- Only limited to iPhone and iPad.
4. Veescope Live Green Screen App – Highly suitable for editing real-time videos and creating QuickTime videos
Compatible: iOS devices
Price: Free
The green Screen feature/ Chroma Key allows editing of real-time images from the camera, photos, and videos.
Any journalist specializing in weather forecasts should use Veescope Live to bring live forecasts and change backgrounds to fit any location. For high-quality videos, use the Remote feature to switch backgrounds as you desire. With the camera, shoot or record Ultra HD and 4K resolution photos and videos.
Pros:
- Easy to use the adjustable white balance and light exposure.
- Ability to overlay up to 20 different backgrounds.
- The new Pinch Zooming feature helps preview every detail of the project.
- Best for any background green screen color.
Cons:
- The free plan has a permanent watermark.
- Cannot undo or redo on the timeline.
5. Stop Motion Studio - This is the most versatile green screen app
Compatibility: Mac, iOS, Android, and Windows
Price: For iOS-$4.99, Windows- $1.99, Mac- $9.99 and Android - $4.99
Suitable for both photos and videos.
Finding a green screen app for Windows and Mac with stunning features that are easy to use has been the most daunting task. With Stop Motion Studio, you can export edited videos directly to YouTube, work on a single project from mobile, export it to a computer, and create 4K Ultra HD videos. When using the Chroma Key/ green screen feature, you can automatically change the background by importing from any source.
Pros:
- Can enhance videos quality by using different backgrounds, foregrounds, and transitions.
- The built-in music helps improve the sound quality of the created green screen.
- Can be used by beginners and is also suitable for all family use.
- The Rotoscoping feature helps create unique videos.
Cons:
- No free plan
6. Chroma key Studio Pro – Highly recommended for TV productions and cinematic movies
Compatibility: iOS 7.0 or later (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch)
Price: $4.99
Used for creating a green screen for both photos and videos.
Chroma Key Studio Pro is probably the easiest green screen app for iPhone to understand and the simplest to use due to its limited number of features. The Intelligent auto-enhance filter, color keying, and the selfie mode camera feature make this app good for creating quick green screen images. Other top features are a huge gallery of photos and videos, 100s of effects and filters, and high-quality backgrounds.
Pros:
- Faster video editing.
- Easy color separation.
Cons:
- Limited to only iOS devices.
7. PocketVideo – Preferred for Video Blogging
Compatibility: iOS 12.0 or later and Android 4.4 or later, PC and Mac
Price: Free
PocketVideo can only be used to edit videos and photos.
After years of searching for apps that can create YouTube vlogs, video bloggers have something to smile about -PocketVideo green screen app. Even though the number of features is numerous, this green screen app for Mac and other devices is simple and highly suitable for videos making experts and beginners. The Animated Doodle Tool is the children’s go-to tool.
Pros:
- Can record and edit up to 10 minutes of Ultra HD video.
- Self-explanatory user interface.
- Huge collection of free stickers, PNGs, and GIFs.
Cons:
- No training tutorials.
8. Green Screen Wizard Pro Studio Editor - Best for professional photographers
Compatibility: Windows7,8,10, Mac, Android and iPhone
Price: Windows/Mac- $199.95, Android- $4.99
This app is more suitable for editing photos.
Even though Green Screen Studio is costly, professional photographers continue to applaud it for its extraordinary features. There are currently over 25,000 users. Using the color and brightness correction features for foregrounds and backgrounds, you can create stunning silhouettes and green screens.
Pros:
- Advanced Chroma Key features.
- In-depth tutorials for each version.
- Suitable for all children and professional experts.
Cons:
- Extremely expensive to PC and Mac users.
- No image resizing feature.
9. Green Screen Studio - This is the photographers’ photo green screen app
Compatibility: iOS 9.0 or later
Price: $4.99
Works pretty well with both photos and videos.
Besides the obvious effects and transitions, this app has Extra photo editing features, blemish, red-eye, and additional photo effects for editing photos. It also has an automatic green screen feature. To preview every detail of the edited video, use the Zoom feature.
Pros:
- Simple and easy to use.
- You can manually apply backgrounds in this app.
- Friendly interface.
Cons:
- Not compatible with PCs and Mac.
10. iMovie – Best for making Hollywood-style trailers
Compatibility: iOS 13 and MacOS
Price: Free
iMovie green screen app was developed to create a photo and video green screen.
iMovie is the most popular free green screen app. Using the AirDrop or iCloud Drive features, you can share your videos to any social media platform in a second. Its 10 Apple-designed photo and video filters are enough to make your edited videos win every award.
Pros:
- Has the best Apple-designed features.
- Free to all iOS users.
- Has Dark mode features and 8 unique themes.
Cons:
- Requires an expert to perfectly use this app.
- Only limited to iPhone and iPad.
Comparison Table of Top 10 Green Screen Software
| No. | Product Name | Compatibility | Pricing | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Chromavid | Android 5.0+, iOS 12 or later, | $2.99 /year | 4.0 |
| 2. | Kinemaster | Androids 5.0+, Chrome OS, iPhone, iPad | Free | 4.4 |
| 3. | Green Screen by Do Ink | iOS 9.0 or later, iPad | $4.99 /year | 3.9 |
| 4. | Veescope Live | iOS 11.0 or later (iPod touch iPhone and iPad) | Free | 3.8 |
| 5. | Stop Motion Studio | Mac, iOS, Android, and Windows | iOS-$4.99, Windows- $1.99, Mac- $9.99, Android - $4.99 | 4.5 |
| 6. | A Chroma key Studio Pro | iOS 7.0 or later | $4.99 /year | 4.0 |
| 7. | PocketVideo | iOS 12.0 or later, Android 4.4 or later, Mac and Windows | Free | 3.2 |
| 8. | Green Screen Wizard Pro | Windows, Mac, Android, and iPhone | Windows/ Mac - $199.95, Android - $4.99 | 3.0 |
| 9. | Green Screen Studio | iOS 9.0 or later | $4.99 | 3.3 |
| 10. | iMovie | iOS 13 and MacOS | Free | 3.9 |
Conclusion
There are many green screen apps claiming to create award-winning Hollywood-like videos and the most admired photos. Caution: If you are not using any of the above-listed green screen apps, kindly read user reviews and research widely!
Using tried, tested and proven apps on your PCS, Mac, and smartphones is the only sure way of protecting your device. Which of the above apps have you used? Or, which one would you prefer? Share your comments or opinion on our social media platform.
Liza Brown
Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Liza Brown
Liza Brown
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
The background effects you use are largely likely to determine the quality of your videos and photos. Most of the award-winning videos use green screen apps to edit their still images as well as short video clips. Have you ever asked yourself; Are the movies and photos featuring Golden Gate or The White House as their backgrounds shot at those exact scenes?
It’s surprising to see how the internet is flooded with poorly edited videos, movies, and photos despite the huge number of free green screen apps.
In order to learn how to use green screen effectively in all movie and photo scenarios, this article is subdivided into the following parts:
- Part 1: What Is a Green Screen App and Its Uses?
- Part 2: How to Use Filmora9 to Edit Green Screen [Recommended Tool]
- Part 3: 10 Best Free/Paid Green Screen Apps For Androids/iOS
Part 1: What Is a Green Screen App and Its Uses?
The green screen app is an application that’s used by filmmakers, videographers, and photographers to create unique backgrounds. Many great apps work perfectly well with Windows, Mac, Androids, and iOS. Whereas a few can be used online, the majority are can only be used upon download. The green screen is also known as the Chroma key.
So, what are the uses of green screen apps? To replace the background of your videos and photos, you require a green screen app. Other uses include:
- During weather forecasts, television producers use green screen apps to shade regions of interest.
- In case of extensive use of single color in videos, you can use these apps to cut the color pixels from the video.
- Green screen apps feature many editing effects that can be used to enhance the quality of videos.
Part 2: How to Use Filmora to Edit Green Screen [Recommended Tool]
If you want to get the best green-screen effect, Filmora is the tool to use. The green screen editor involves the superimposing of different virtual backgrounds during the video-making process. The combination of Filmora’s green screen feature and the thousands of HD royalty-free video backgrounds in Filmstock makes it the perfect video editor for you. Learn more from Wondershare Video Community .
Besides the green screen feature, Filmora offers many useful features like Instant Mode, Speed Ramping, Auto Beat Maker, and more to help you edit the video you want.
How to Edit Green Screen Using Filmora?
Editing the green screen with Filmora is easy. In this article, we offer two types of tutorials here. You can check the video or follow the step-by-step guide to create your own green screen video.
Step 1: Launch Filmora.
In order to launch this software, start by clicking any of the buttons below to download and install to your Mac or desktop. It’s compatible with Windows7/8/10.
Once you’ve successfully installed it, double-click the icon to open it.
Step 2: Import your green screen video footage and background to the timeline.
There are plenty of websites with wonderful green screen videos for you to download. To select a video background, go to Filmstock on the Wondershare website and download.
For your green screen video to appear on top, drag it onto track 2 and the background footage to track 1.
Step 3: Start editing.
The Chroma Key editing features are hidden in this part. To open the editing effects, double-click on the green screen video.
On the pop-up menu, just click the Chroma key option.
Use the editing panel to set the appearance that best fascinates your audience.
Step 4: Save your video.
Click Export to save your created green screen. If you don’t have an account, create one for you to be able to access the Find Target. Tap the Find Target to choose where to save the video.
Try Filmora for Smartphone
Try Filmora for iPad
Part 3: 10 Best Free/Paid Green Screen Apps For Androids/iOS
After days of downloading and testing both the free/paid green screen apps for Windows, Mac, and smartphones, here is a complete comparison chart of the findings.
Watch Video! Top Free Green Screen App in 2022
Here is now the detailed elaboration of the green screen apps features, pros, and cons above:
1. Chromavid – Easiest for shooting and sharing photos and videos using Chroma Key
Compatibility: Androids 5.0+, iPhone, iPod touch, iPad (iOS 12 or later)
Price: $2.99
This app works pretty well with both photos and videos.
If you’ve been looking for the best green screen app for iPad this is the right app for you. Despite the low pricing, Chromavid has top-notch Chroma Key effects like more Chroma colors, unlimited recording time, and image merge functions. It’s the social sharing button and the option to shoot videos on the Chroma key that makes Chromavid stand out.
To access the advanced Chromavid commercial use, you need to subscribe to the specific commercial version indicated on the License page.
Pros:
- Chromavid green screen app is simple and easy to use.
- Also, the Chromavid plus plan produces watermark-free videos and photos.
- You can save edited videos directly into your device.
Cons:
- Only real-time photos and videos can be edited using this app.
- Too much personal detail is required to open an account.
2. Kinemaster – Best app for smartphones and a powerful tool for video editing
Compatibility: Androids 5.0+, Chrome OS, iPhone, iPod , iPad
Price: Free
Kinemaster’s Chroma Key function can be used to overlay texts, photos, and videos.
Any person searching for the top free green screen app should consider Kinemaster. The supported multilayer effect allows users to lay video clips, images, texts, and many more at once. The alpha mask feature found in this app can hardly be found in other apps. To eliminate the watermark and get unlimited export of 4K resolution backgrounds, just subscribe to the Kinemaster premium plan.
Pros:
- Good for sharing to social media platforms like Instagram, Youtube, TikTok, and Facebook.
- 100s of weekly updated stickers, video backgrounds, video clips, transitions, and music clips.
- Can create multiple layer videos.
- Availability of EQ presets, speed controls, and preview features.
Cons:
- The current versions are malfunctioning
- Not compatible with PCs and mac
3. Green Screen by Do Ink – This is probably the best green screen app for iPad users
Compatible: iOS 9.0 or later and iPad
Price: $4.99
It’s best for both photos and videos.
Green Screen by Do Ink prides itself on simplicity and is highly suitable for beginners, experts, and even doodlers. When using the green screen editor, you’ll find the interface to be more friendly and easy to understand. It has only four simple elements that include:
- Source selector -Where to export images and videos.
- Preview window -For reviewing completed projects.
- Timeline – For arranging exported images and videos.
- Toolbar – This is where you’ll find all the Chroma Key tools and buttons.
Pros:
- Supports any videos aspect ratio.
- Plenty of drawing tools.
- Ability to import images and videos from the camera.
Cons:
- The pricing is a bit high compared to other apps.
- Only limited to iPhone and iPad.
4. Veescope Live Green Screen App – Highly suitable for editing real-time videos and creating QuickTime videos
Compatible: iOS devices
Price: Free
The green Screen feature/ Chroma Key allows editing of real-time images from the camera, photos, and videos.
Any journalist specializing in weather forecasts should use Veescope Live to bring live forecasts and change backgrounds to fit any location. For high-quality videos, use the Remote feature to switch backgrounds as you desire. With the camera, shoot or record Ultra HD and 4K resolution photos and videos.
Pros:
- Easy to use the adjustable white balance and light exposure.
- Ability to overlay up to 20 different backgrounds.
- The new Pinch Zooming feature helps preview every detail of the project.
- Best for any background green screen color.
Cons:
- The free plan has a permanent watermark.
- Cannot undo or redo on the timeline.
5. Stop Motion Studio - This is the most versatile green screen app
Compatibility: Mac, iOS, Android, and Windows
Price: For iOS-$4.99, Windows- $1.99, Mac- $9.99 and Android - $4.99
Suitable for both photos and videos.
Finding a green screen app for Windows and Mac with stunning features that are easy to use has been the most daunting task. With Stop Motion Studio, you can export edited videos directly to YouTube, work on a single project from mobile, export it to a computer, and create 4K Ultra HD videos. When using the Chroma Key/ green screen feature, you can automatically change the background by importing from any source.
Pros:
- Can enhance videos quality by using different backgrounds, foregrounds, and transitions.
- The built-in music helps improve the sound quality of the created green screen.
- Can be used by beginners and is also suitable for all family use.
- The Rotoscoping feature helps create unique videos.
Cons:
- No free plan
6. Chroma key Studio Pro – Highly recommended for TV productions and cinematic movies
Compatibility: iOS 7.0 or later (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch)
Price: $4.99
Used for creating a green screen for both photos and videos.
Chroma Key Studio Pro is probably the easiest green screen app for iPhone to understand and the simplest to use due to its limited number of features. The Intelligent auto-enhance filter, color keying, and the selfie mode camera feature make this app good for creating quick green screen images. Other top features are a huge gallery of photos and videos, 100s of effects and filters, and high-quality backgrounds.
Pros:
- Faster video editing.
- Easy color separation.
Cons:
- Limited to only iOS devices.
7. PocketVideo – Preferred for Video Blogging
Compatibility: iOS 12.0 or later and Android 4.4 or later, PC and Mac
Price: Free
PocketVideo can only be used to edit videos and photos.
After years of searching for apps that can create YouTube vlogs, video bloggers have something to smile about -PocketVideo green screen app. Even though the number of features is numerous, this green screen app for Mac and other devices is simple and highly suitable for videos making experts and beginners. The Animated Doodle Tool is the children’s go-to tool.
Pros:
- Can record and edit up to 10 minutes of Ultra HD video.
- Self-explanatory user interface.
- Huge collection of free stickers, PNGs, and GIFs.
Cons:
- No training tutorials.
8. Green Screen Wizard Pro Studio Editor - Best for professional photographers
Compatibility: Windows7,8,10, Mac, Android and iPhone
Price: Windows/Mac- $199.95, Android- $4.99
This app is more suitable for editing photos.
Even though Green Screen Studio is costly, professional photographers continue to applaud it for its extraordinary features. There are currently over 25,000 users. Using the color and brightness correction features for foregrounds and backgrounds, you can create stunning silhouettes and green screens.
Pros:
- Advanced Chroma Key features.
- In-depth tutorials for each version.
- Suitable for all children and professional experts.
Cons:
- Extremely expensive to PC and Mac users.
- No image resizing feature.
9. Green Screen Studio - This is the photographers’ photo green screen app
Compatibility: iOS 9.0 or later
Price: $4.99
Works pretty well with both photos and videos.
Besides the obvious effects and transitions, this app has Extra photo editing features, blemish, red-eye, and additional photo effects for editing photos. It also has an automatic green screen feature. To preview every detail of the edited video, use the Zoom feature.
Pros:
- Simple and easy to use.
- You can manually apply backgrounds in this app.
- Friendly interface.
Cons:
- Not compatible with PCs and Mac.
10. iMovie – Best for making Hollywood-style trailers
Compatibility: iOS 13 and MacOS
Price: Free
iMovie green screen app was developed to create a photo and video green screen.
iMovie is the most popular free green screen app. Using the AirDrop or iCloud Drive features, you can share your videos to any social media platform in a second. Its 10 Apple-designed photo and video filters are enough to make your edited videos win every award.
Pros:
- Has the best Apple-designed features.
- Free to all iOS users.
- Has Dark mode features and 8 unique themes.
Cons:
- Requires an expert to perfectly use this app.
- Only limited to iPhone and iPad.
Comparison Table of Top 10 Green Screen Software
| No. | Product Name | Compatibility | Pricing | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Chromavid | Android 5.0+, iOS 12 or later, | $2.99 /year | 4.0 |
| 2. | Kinemaster | Androids 5.0+, Chrome OS, iPhone, iPad | Free | 4.4 |
| 3. | Green Screen by Do Ink | iOS 9.0 or later, iPad | $4.99 /year | 3.9 |
| 4. | Veescope Live | iOS 11.0 or later (iPod touch iPhone and iPad) | Free | 3.8 |
| 5. | Stop Motion Studio | Mac, iOS, Android, and Windows | iOS-$4.99, Windows- $1.99, Mac- $9.99, Android - $4.99 | 4.5 |
| 6. | A Chroma key Studio Pro | iOS 7.0 or later | $4.99 /year | 4.0 |
| 7. | PocketVideo | iOS 12.0 or later, Android 4.4 or later, Mac and Windows | Free | 3.2 |
| 8. | Green Screen Wizard Pro | Windows, Mac, Android, and iPhone | Windows/ Mac - $199.95, Android - $4.99 | 3.0 |
| 9. | Green Screen Studio | iOS 9.0 or later | $4.99 | 3.3 |
| 10. | iMovie | iOS 13 and MacOS | Free | 3.9 |
Conclusion
There are many green screen apps claiming to create award-winning Hollywood-like videos and the most admired photos. Caution: If you are not using any of the above-listed green screen apps, kindly read user reviews and research widely!
Using tried, tested and proven apps on your PCS, Mac, and smartphones is the only sure way of protecting your device. Which of the above apps have you used? Or, which one would you prefer? Share your comments or opinion on our social media platform.
Liza Brown
Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Liza Brown
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- Title: 2024 Approved Bring Your Ideas to Life with These 12 Free Animation Software Options
- Author: Emma
- Created at : 2024-05-19 05:47:36
- Updated at : 2024-05-20 05:47:36
- Link: https://video-ai-editor.techidaily.com/2024-approved-bring-your-ideas-to-life-with-these-12-free-animation-software-options/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
