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2024 Approved The Best of the Best Top Reaction Video Editing Apps
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The Best of the Best: Top Reaction Video Editing Apps
Top 5 Reaction Video Makers
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
A reaction video can be any type of video in which the host reacts to ideas and opinions that are expressed in another video. Reacting to a video that attracts a lot of attention on the Internet might put you in the middle of the debate the video you’re commenting on is covering.
Reaction videos boil down to expressing your attitude about the topic you feel strongly about, but they must also be entertaining to watch. That is why you are going to need software that enables you to capture both your screen and webcam footage, as the audience needs to see the host and what he or she is reacting to. So, in this article we are going to take you through the top 5 reaction video makers you can use on PC and Mac computers.
Top 5 Reaction Video Makers for Windows and Mac
It is worth noting that besides software that enables you to create reaction videos, you are going to need an external microphone , and in some cases lighting and other equipment that is commonly used for the production of YouTube videos . Let’s take a look at what the top 5 reaction video makers have to offer.
1. Filmora
Price: Freemium
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
Filmora grants you access to all the tools you are going to need while creating a reaction video Its screen recorder tool enables you to capture your computer’s screen and the webcam footage simultaneously so that you can record the video to which you are recording as well as your reaction at the same time. Watch the video below to explore how Daniel record and make a reaction video with Filmora.
Optionally, you can capture your computer’s screen and your reaction separately and then use Filmora to sync these two video files. The first thing you will have to do if you decide to use this method of creating a reaction video is to create a project and import all footage into it. You should then place the footage on two separate video tracks on the timeline, and readjust the size of each video in the preview window.
Filmora lets you remove the background of the video clips you don’t want to include in the final cut with the human segmentation effect under AI Portrait. This feature allows you to separate people from the video background , and replace them with a new one. And then you can blend the reaction video with the original one fluently. After you complete the video editing process you can export your project to your YouTube or Vimeo account directly from Filmora.
There are several ways to create a reaction video in Filmora, you can read this article to find out the details: How to Make a Reaction Video with Filmora?
Pros
- Excellent screen recording options
- Equipped with a broad range of effects, text overlays, and transitions
- Supports all commonly used video file formats
- Videos can be exported in resolutions up to 4K
Cons
- All reaction videos created with the free version of Filmora are watermarked.
- Requires at least a basic set of video editing skills
2. VSDC
Price: Free
Compatibility: Windows
In order to start making a reaction video with VSDC, you must first record your reaction to the video and make sure that the video you’re reacting to is saved on your computer’s hard drive. You should then create a new project in VSDC, specify the resolution for the entire project and proceed to import all media files you’re going to need during the video editing process, by selecting the Video option from the Add Object menu.
Place the files on the editor’s timeline so that they are positioned one above the other. The reaction video should occupy the full screen, and you can use the preview window to adjust the size of the reaction video. You should than readjust the on-screen position and the size of the video you’re reacting to, before proceeding to preview the resulting video. In case you like the result you should click on the Export button and choose the output file format and the destination to which the reaction video will be exported.
Pros
- No previous video editing experience needed
- Offers a rich selection of transitions and visual effects
- Videos can be exported directly to YouTube from VSDC in resolutions up to 4K
- Offers desktop capturing tools
Cons
- Lacks advanced video editing tools
- Outdated interface design
3. iMovie
Price: Free
Compatibility: macOS, iPhone, iPad
The process of making a reaction video in iMovie isn’t much different from the process of making any other type of video. Before you start working on your new reaction video, you need to make sure that you have all the media files you want you to use in your project. You can then simply import them into iMovie, and place footage of yourself reacting to a video to the timeline. Afterward, you should place the actual video to which you are reacting above or below the video file that contains the footage of your reaction, depending on which video clip you want to use as a background video.
However, the overlaid video is not going to be automatically visible in the preview screen, so you should just click on the Video Overlay Settings and pick the Picture in Picture option. As soon as you select this option the overlay video will become visible in the preview window, where you can adjust its size and position. When ready, you should export your reaction video and upload it to your channel.
Pros
- The quick and easy video editing process
- Available to all Mac users for free
- Excellent for inexperienced video editors
- A rich selection of visual effects
Cons
- No screen capturing tools
- Audio editing options could be better
4. OBS
Price: Free
Compatibility: macOS, Windows, Linux
OBS is a screencasting software that enables you to create live streams or record all actions you perform on your computer’s screen. After you launch OBS, you should select the For Recording option, and this reaction video maker will optimize the project settings automatically. Once the OBS’ main window loads, you just have to specify the sources from which you want to record the footage. Simply right-click anywhere within the Sources tab, select the Add option and choose the Display Capture setting from the submenu.
You can then repeat the same process to select Audio Output Capture option, in order to record the audio from the video you’re reacting to. Afterward, you should head over to the Add menu once more and add the Video Capture Device to the Sources tab. Optionally, you can readjust the size of each video source in the Preview Window, and hit the Start Recording button.
Pros
- Free for PC and Mac users
- Enables users to specify the format of the output video
- Captures videos in HD resolution
- Excellent audio recording features
Cons
- OBS crashes easily
- Not aimed at inexperienced users
5. VegasPro 18
Price: Freemium
Compatibility: Windows
Both the video of your reaction and the video to which you are reacting must be recorded before you start editing them in Sony Vegas Pro. Making a reaction video with this video editing software is a relatively easy task that only requires you to position your footage correctly on the timeline.
The video containing your reaction should be below the video you are commenting on so that the second video can be treated as an overlay. Click on the Event Pan/Crop button and readjust the size and the on-screen location of the video you’re reacting to. When done, you can proceed to sync both videos so that your reactions correspond with the events in the other video. Don’t forget to preview the reaction video you’ve created before exporting it.
Pros
- Offers professional video editing tools
- Grants users full control over the footage
- Intuitive and modernly designed interface
- Supports a broad range of output file formats
Cons
- Aimed only at professional video editors
- Capturing a computer screen with Sony Vegas Pro is not possible
Conclusion
In order to gather thousands of views, comments, and likes, every detail in your reaction videos needs to be perfect. Video reaction makers we featured in this article enable you to have complete creative control over the process of making a reaction video.
Among all these above, if you want to go for a free one, I’ll say you should go for OBS.
If you want to go for a paid one but don’t want to pay too much for it, I’ll suggest you go for Filmora, which provides you several ways to create a reaction video easily on Windows and Mac.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
A reaction video can be any type of video in which the host reacts to ideas and opinions that are expressed in another video. Reacting to a video that attracts a lot of attention on the Internet might put you in the middle of the debate the video you’re commenting on is covering.
Reaction videos boil down to expressing your attitude about the topic you feel strongly about, but they must also be entertaining to watch. That is why you are going to need software that enables you to capture both your screen and webcam footage, as the audience needs to see the host and what he or she is reacting to. So, in this article we are going to take you through the top 5 reaction video makers you can use on PC and Mac computers.
Top 5 Reaction Video Makers for Windows and Mac
It is worth noting that besides software that enables you to create reaction videos, you are going to need an external microphone , and in some cases lighting and other equipment that is commonly used for the production of YouTube videos . Let’s take a look at what the top 5 reaction video makers have to offer.
1. Filmora
Price: Freemium
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
Filmora grants you access to all the tools you are going to need while creating a reaction video Its screen recorder tool enables you to capture your computer’s screen and the webcam footage simultaneously so that you can record the video to which you are recording as well as your reaction at the same time. Watch the video below to explore how Daniel record and make a reaction video with Filmora.
Optionally, you can capture your computer’s screen and your reaction separately and then use Filmora to sync these two video files. The first thing you will have to do if you decide to use this method of creating a reaction video is to create a project and import all footage into it. You should then place the footage on two separate video tracks on the timeline, and readjust the size of each video in the preview window.
Filmora lets you remove the background of the video clips you don’t want to include in the final cut with the human segmentation effect under AI Portrait. This feature allows you to separate people from the video background , and replace them with a new one. And then you can blend the reaction video with the original one fluently. After you complete the video editing process you can export your project to your YouTube or Vimeo account directly from Filmora.
There are several ways to create a reaction video in Filmora, you can read this article to find out the details: How to Make a Reaction Video with Filmora?
Pros
- Excellent screen recording options
- Equipped with a broad range of effects, text overlays, and transitions
- Supports all commonly used video file formats
- Videos can be exported in resolutions up to 4K
Cons
- All reaction videos created with the free version of Filmora are watermarked.
- Requires at least a basic set of video editing skills
2. VSDC
Price: Free
Compatibility: Windows
In order to start making a reaction video with VSDC, you must first record your reaction to the video and make sure that the video you’re reacting to is saved on your computer’s hard drive. You should then create a new project in VSDC, specify the resolution for the entire project and proceed to import all media files you’re going to need during the video editing process, by selecting the Video option from the Add Object menu.
Place the files on the editor’s timeline so that they are positioned one above the other. The reaction video should occupy the full screen, and you can use the preview window to adjust the size of the reaction video. You should than readjust the on-screen position and the size of the video you’re reacting to, before proceeding to preview the resulting video. In case you like the result you should click on the Export button and choose the output file format and the destination to which the reaction video will be exported.
Pros
- No previous video editing experience needed
- Offers a rich selection of transitions and visual effects
- Videos can be exported directly to YouTube from VSDC in resolutions up to 4K
- Offers desktop capturing tools
Cons
- Lacks advanced video editing tools
- Outdated interface design
3. iMovie
Price: Free
Compatibility: macOS, iPhone, iPad
The process of making a reaction video in iMovie isn’t much different from the process of making any other type of video. Before you start working on your new reaction video, you need to make sure that you have all the media files you want you to use in your project. You can then simply import them into iMovie, and place footage of yourself reacting to a video to the timeline. Afterward, you should place the actual video to which you are reacting above or below the video file that contains the footage of your reaction, depending on which video clip you want to use as a background video.
However, the overlaid video is not going to be automatically visible in the preview screen, so you should just click on the Video Overlay Settings and pick the Picture in Picture option. As soon as you select this option the overlay video will become visible in the preview window, where you can adjust its size and position. When ready, you should export your reaction video and upload it to your channel.
Pros
- The quick and easy video editing process
- Available to all Mac users for free
- Excellent for inexperienced video editors
- A rich selection of visual effects
Cons
- No screen capturing tools
- Audio editing options could be better
4. OBS
Price: Free
Compatibility: macOS, Windows, Linux
OBS is a screencasting software that enables you to create live streams or record all actions you perform on your computer’s screen. After you launch OBS, you should select the For Recording option, and this reaction video maker will optimize the project settings automatically. Once the OBS’ main window loads, you just have to specify the sources from which you want to record the footage. Simply right-click anywhere within the Sources tab, select the Add option and choose the Display Capture setting from the submenu.
You can then repeat the same process to select Audio Output Capture option, in order to record the audio from the video you’re reacting to. Afterward, you should head over to the Add menu once more and add the Video Capture Device to the Sources tab. Optionally, you can readjust the size of each video source in the Preview Window, and hit the Start Recording button.
Pros
- Free for PC and Mac users
- Enables users to specify the format of the output video
- Captures videos in HD resolution
- Excellent audio recording features
Cons
- OBS crashes easily
- Not aimed at inexperienced users
5. VegasPro 18
Price: Freemium
Compatibility: Windows
Both the video of your reaction and the video to which you are reacting must be recorded before you start editing them in Sony Vegas Pro. Making a reaction video with this video editing software is a relatively easy task that only requires you to position your footage correctly on the timeline.
The video containing your reaction should be below the video you are commenting on so that the second video can be treated as an overlay. Click on the Event Pan/Crop button and readjust the size and the on-screen location of the video you’re reacting to. When done, you can proceed to sync both videos so that your reactions correspond with the events in the other video. Don’t forget to preview the reaction video you’ve created before exporting it.
Pros
- Offers professional video editing tools
- Grants users full control over the footage
- Intuitive and modernly designed interface
- Supports a broad range of output file formats
Cons
- Aimed only at professional video editors
- Capturing a computer screen with Sony Vegas Pro is not possible
Conclusion
In order to gather thousands of views, comments, and likes, every detail in your reaction videos needs to be perfect. Video reaction makers we featured in this article enable you to have complete creative control over the process of making a reaction video.
Among all these above, if you want to go for a free one, I’ll say you should go for OBS.
If you want to go for a paid one but don’t want to pay too much for it, I’ll suggest you go for Filmora, which provides you several ways to create a reaction video easily on Windows and Mac.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
A reaction video can be any type of video in which the host reacts to ideas and opinions that are expressed in another video. Reacting to a video that attracts a lot of attention on the Internet might put you in the middle of the debate the video you’re commenting on is covering.
Reaction videos boil down to expressing your attitude about the topic you feel strongly about, but they must also be entertaining to watch. That is why you are going to need software that enables you to capture both your screen and webcam footage, as the audience needs to see the host and what he or she is reacting to. So, in this article we are going to take you through the top 5 reaction video makers you can use on PC and Mac computers.
Top 5 Reaction Video Makers for Windows and Mac
It is worth noting that besides software that enables you to create reaction videos, you are going to need an external microphone , and in some cases lighting and other equipment that is commonly used for the production of YouTube videos . Let’s take a look at what the top 5 reaction video makers have to offer.
1. Filmora
Price: Freemium
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
Filmora grants you access to all the tools you are going to need while creating a reaction video Its screen recorder tool enables you to capture your computer’s screen and the webcam footage simultaneously so that you can record the video to which you are recording as well as your reaction at the same time. Watch the video below to explore how Daniel record and make a reaction video with Filmora.
Optionally, you can capture your computer’s screen and your reaction separately and then use Filmora to sync these two video files. The first thing you will have to do if you decide to use this method of creating a reaction video is to create a project and import all footage into it. You should then place the footage on two separate video tracks on the timeline, and readjust the size of each video in the preview window.
Filmora lets you remove the background of the video clips you don’t want to include in the final cut with the human segmentation effect under AI Portrait. This feature allows you to separate people from the video background , and replace them with a new one. And then you can blend the reaction video with the original one fluently. After you complete the video editing process you can export your project to your YouTube or Vimeo account directly from Filmora.
There are several ways to create a reaction video in Filmora, you can read this article to find out the details: How to Make a Reaction Video with Filmora?
Pros
- Excellent screen recording options
- Equipped with a broad range of effects, text overlays, and transitions
- Supports all commonly used video file formats
- Videos can be exported in resolutions up to 4K
Cons
- All reaction videos created with the free version of Filmora are watermarked.
- Requires at least a basic set of video editing skills
2. VSDC
Price: Free
Compatibility: Windows
In order to start making a reaction video with VSDC, you must first record your reaction to the video and make sure that the video you’re reacting to is saved on your computer’s hard drive. You should then create a new project in VSDC, specify the resolution for the entire project and proceed to import all media files you’re going to need during the video editing process, by selecting the Video option from the Add Object menu.
Place the files on the editor’s timeline so that they are positioned one above the other. The reaction video should occupy the full screen, and you can use the preview window to adjust the size of the reaction video. You should than readjust the on-screen position and the size of the video you’re reacting to, before proceeding to preview the resulting video. In case you like the result you should click on the Export button and choose the output file format and the destination to which the reaction video will be exported.
Pros
- No previous video editing experience needed
- Offers a rich selection of transitions and visual effects
- Videos can be exported directly to YouTube from VSDC in resolutions up to 4K
- Offers desktop capturing tools
Cons
- Lacks advanced video editing tools
- Outdated interface design
3. iMovie
Price: Free
Compatibility: macOS, iPhone, iPad
The process of making a reaction video in iMovie isn’t much different from the process of making any other type of video. Before you start working on your new reaction video, you need to make sure that you have all the media files you want you to use in your project. You can then simply import them into iMovie, and place footage of yourself reacting to a video to the timeline. Afterward, you should place the actual video to which you are reacting above or below the video file that contains the footage of your reaction, depending on which video clip you want to use as a background video.
However, the overlaid video is not going to be automatically visible in the preview screen, so you should just click on the Video Overlay Settings and pick the Picture in Picture option. As soon as you select this option the overlay video will become visible in the preview window, where you can adjust its size and position. When ready, you should export your reaction video and upload it to your channel.
Pros
- The quick and easy video editing process
- Available to all Mac users for free
- Excellent for inexperienced video editors
- A rich selection of visual effects
Cons
- No screen capturing tools
- Audio editing options could be better
4. OBS
Price: Free
Compatibility: macOS, Windows, Linux
OBS is a screencasting software that enables you to create live streams or record all actions you perform on your computer’s screen. After you launch OBS, you should select the For Recording option, and this reaction video maker will optimize the project settings automatically. Once the OBS’ main window loads, you just have to specify the sources from which you want to record the footage. Simply right-click anywhere within the Sources tab, select the Add option and choose the Display Capture setting from the submenu.
You can then repeat the same process to select Audio Output Capture option, in order to record the audio from the video you’re reacting to. Afterward, you should head over to the Add menu once more and add the Video Capture Device to the Sources tab. Optionally, you can readjust the size of each video source in the Preview Window, and hit the Start Recording button.
Pros
- Free for PC and Mac users
- Enables users to specify the format of the output video
- Captures videos in HD resolution
- Excellent audio recording features
Cons
- OBS crashes easily
- Not aimed at inexperienced users
5. VegasPro 18
Price: Freemium
Compatibility: Windows
Both the video of your reaction and the video to which you are reacting must be recorded before you start editing them in Sony Vegas Pro. Making a reaction video with this video editing software is a relatively easy task that only requires you to position your footage correctly on the timeline.
The video containing your reaction should be below the video you are commenting on so that the second video can be treated as an overlay. Click on the Event Pan/Crop button and readjust the size and the on-screen location of the video you’re reacting to. When done, you can proceed to sync both videos so that your reactions correspond with the events in the other video. Don’t forget to preview the reaction video you’ve created before exporting it.
Pros
- Offers professional video editing tools
- Grants users full control over the footage
- Intuitive and modernly designed interface
- Supports a broad range of output file formats
Cons
- Aimed only at professional video editors
- Capturing a computer screen with Sony Vegas Pro is not possible
Conclusion
In order to gather thousands of views, comments, and likes, every detail in your reaction videos needs to be perfect. Video reaction makers we featured in this article enable you to have complete creative control over the process of making a reaction video.
Among all these above, if you want to go for a free one, I’ll say you should go for OBS.
If you want to go for a paid one but don’t want to pay too much for it, I’ll suggest you go for Filmora, which provides you several ways to create a reaction video easily on Windows and Mac.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
A reaction video can be any type of video in which the host reacts to ideas and opinions that are expressed in another video. Reacting to a video that attracts a lot of attention on the Internet might put you in the middle of the debate the video you’re commenting on is covering.
Reaction videos boil down to expressing your attitude about the topic you feel strongly about, but they must also be entertaining to watch. That is why you are going to need software that enables you to capture both your screen and webcam footage, as the audience needs to see the host and what he or she is reacting to. So, in this article we are going to take you through the top 5 reaction video makers you can use on PC and Mac computers.
Top 5 Reaction Video Makers for Windows and Mac
It is worth noting that besides software that enables you to create reaction videos, you are going to need an external microphone , and in some cases lighting and other equipment that is commonly used for the production of YouTube videos . Let’s take a look at what the top 5 reaction video makers have to offer.
1. Filmora
Price: Freemium
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
Filmora grants you access to all the tools you are going to need while creating a reaction video Its screen recorder tool enables you to capture your computer’s screen and the webcam footage simultaneously so that you can record the video to which you are recording as well as your reaction at the same time. Watch the video below to explore how Daniel record and make a reaction video with Filmora.
Optionally, you can capture your computer’s screen and your reaction separately and then use Filmora to sync these two video files. The first thing you will have to do if you decide to use this method of creating a reaction video is to create a project and import all footage into it. You should then place the footage on two separate video tracks on the timeline, and readjust the size of each video in the preview window.
Filmora lets you remove the background of the video clips you don’t want to include in the final cut with the human segmentation effect under AI Portrait. This feature allows you to separate people from the video background , and replace them with a new one. And then you can blend the reaction video with the original one fluently. After you complete the video editing process you can export your project to your YouTube or Vimeo account directly from Filmora.
There are several ways to create a reaction video in Filmora, you can read this article to find out the details: How to Make a Reaction Video with Filmora?
Pros
- Excellent screen recording options
- Equipped with a broad range of effects, text overlays, and transitions
- Supports all commonly used video file formats
- Videos can be exported in resolutions up to 4K
Cons
- All reaction videos created with the free version of Filmora are watermarked.
- Requires at least a basic set of video editing skills
2. VSDC
Price: Free
Compatibility: Windows
In order to start making a reaction video with VSDC, you must first record your reaction to the video and make sure that the video you’re reacting to is saved on your computer’s hard drive. You should then create a new project in VSDC, specify the resolution for the entire project and proceed to import all media files you’re going to need during the video editing process, by selecting the Video option from the Add Object menu.
Place the files on the editor’s timeline so that they are positioned one above the other. The reaction video should occupy the full screen, and you can use the preview window to adjust the size of the reaction video. You should than readjust the on-screen position and the size of the video you’re reacting to, before proceeding to preview the resulting video. In case you like the result you should click on the Export button and choose the output file format and the destination to which the reaction video will be exported.
Pros
- No previous video editing experience needed
- Offers a rich selection of transitions and visual effects
- Videos can be exported directly to YouTube from VSDC in resolutions up to 4K
- Offers desktop capturing tools
Cons
- Lacks advanced video editing tools
- Outdated interface design
3. iMovie
Price: Free
Compatibility: macOS, iPhone, iPad
The process of making a reaction video in iMovie isn’t much different from the process of making any other type of video. Before you start working on your new reaction video, you need to make sure that you have all the media files you want you to use in your project. You can then simply import them into iMovie, and place footage of yourself reacting to a video to the timeline. Afterward, you should place the actual video to which you are reacting above or below the video file that contains the footage of your reaction, depending on which video clip you want to use as a background video.
However, the overlaid video is not going to be automatically visible in the preview screen, so you should just click on the Video Overlay Settings and pick the Picture in Picture option. As soon as you select this option the overlay video will become visible in the preview window, where you can adjust its size and position. When ready, you should export your reaction video and upload it to your channel.
Pros
- The quick and easy video editing process
- Available to all Mac users for free
- Excellent for inexperienced video editors
- A rich selection of visual effects
Cons
- No screen capturing tools
- Audio editing options could be better
4. OBS
Price: Free
Compatibility: macOS, Windows, Linux
OBS is a screencasting software that enables you to create live streams or record all actions you perform on your computer’s screen. After you launch OBS, you should select the For Recording option, and this reaction video maker will optimize the project settings automatically. Once the OBS’ main window loads, you just have to specify the sources from which you want to record the footage. Simply right-click anywhere within the Sources tab, select the Add option and choose the Display Capture setting from the submenu.
You can then repeat the same process to select Audio Output Capture option, in order to record the audio from the video you’re reacting to. Afterward, you should head over to the Add menu once more and add the Video Capture Device to the Sources tab. Optionally, you can readjust the size of each video source in the Preview Window, and hit the Start Recording button.
Pros
- Free for PC and Mac users
- Enables users to specify the format of the output video
- Captures videos in HD resolution
- Excellent audio recording features
Cons
- OBS crashes easily
- Not aimed at inexperienced users
5. VegasPro 18
Price: Freemium
Compatibility: Windows
Both the video of your reaction and the video to which you are reacting must be recorded before you start editing them in Sony Vegas Pro. Making a reaction video with this video editing software is a relatively easy task that only requires you to position your footage correctly on the timeline.
The video containing your reaction should be below the video you are commenting on so that the second video can be treated as an overlay. Click on the Event Pan/Crop button and readjust the size and the on-screen location of the video you’re reacting to. When done, you can proceed to sync both videos so that your reactions correspond with the events in the other video. Don’t forget to preview the reaction video you’ve created before exporting it.
Pros
- Offers professional video editing tools
- Grants users full control over the footage
- Intuitive and modernly designed interface
- Supports a broad range of output file formats
Cons
- Aimed only at professional video editors
- Capturing a computer screen with Sony Vegas Pro is not possible
Conclusion
In order to gather thousands of views, comments, and likes, every detail in your reaction videos needs to be perfect. Video reaction makers we featured in this article enable you to have complete creative control over the process of making a reaction video.
Among all these above, if you want to go for a free one, I’ll say you should go for OBS.
If you want to go for a paid one but don’t want to pay too much for it, I’ll suggest you go for Filmora, which provides you several ways to create a reaction video easily on Windows and Mac.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Resize Your Video: Tips and Tricks for Perfect Dimensions
How to Change Shape of a Video?
Liza Brown
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
While most videos nowadays are rectangular, and are recorded in either landscape or portrait orientation, there are some social media platforms that require the clips to be square shaped. If you want to upload your footages on such websites, it is essential to learn how to change video shape.
Another benefit of changing the shape of the recorded films is that they can be adjusted in limited amount of space, especially if they are to be posted on a website. Furthermore, some fancy designs such as star-shaped or circle-shaped videos attract more attention when used in digital marketing campaigns.
With that said, here you will learn how to change the shape of a video using one of the most advanced and versatile post-production tools, Wondershare Filmora.
Want to learn more about aspect ratio of your video? Click here!
Or, you just want to transfer your video into vertical.
Part 1: How to Change Video Shape from Rectangle to Square
Depending on the recording device and the target audiences a video is intended to be distributed to, the aspect ratio of the produced footage could be 16:9, 4:3, or 21:9 that makes the film rectangular-shaped. Given that, the aspect ratio can be modified to change the film shape from rectangle to square.
The instructions given below explain how to change video shape from rectangle to square in Wondershare Filmora:
Step 1: Import Video to Timeline
Launch Wondershare Filmora on your PC (a Windows 10 computer is used here), click the Add Files icon from the center of the Media window present at the upper-left section, and use the Open box that appears to select and import the source video to Filmora. Next, drag the video from the Media window to the Timeline, and select your preferred option when/if the Project Setting confirmation box appears.
Step 2: Change Aspect Ratio
Select the video in the Timeline, and click the Crop and Zoom icon from the upper-left area of the Timeline itself. On the Crop and Zoom window that opens next, select 1:1 from the Ratio drop-down list, and click OK to save the new setting.
Step 3: Export the Video
Click EXPORT from the top-center area of the interface, go to the Local tab on the Export box, select your preferred format from the Format list in the left pane, optionally click SETTINGS from the right window to make other adjustments if necessary, and click EXPORT from the bottom-right corner of the box.
For more details, please refer to this article: How to Resize a Video to Right Aspect Ratio and Size.
Part 2: Change Video Shape by Cropping
If your preferred aspect ratio isn’t available in the ‘Ratio’ drop-down list of the ‘Crop and Zoom’ window, Wondershare Filmora allows you to manually change the video to a custom shape.
You can learn how to change the shape of a video to an unlisted aspect ratio by following the instructions given below:
Step 1: Import the Video and Get to the Crop and Zoom Window
Follow the method explained in Step 1 of Part 1 to import a video to Wondershare Filmora, and then add it to the Timeline.
Step 2: Select Custom Ratio
Select the video in the Timeline, and click the Crop and Zoom icon as explained earlier to open its window. Next, select Custom from the Ratio drop-down list to be able to crop the videos unproportionally.
Step 3: Crop the Video Manually
Drag the cropping handles from any one edge of the video. Repeat this process for all the four sides to select the area of interest. Click OK to save the changes.
Step 4: Export the Video
Follow the process explained in Step 3 of Part 1 to export the modified video.
Part 3: Change Video Shape to Circle or Other Shapes in Filmora
Another, rather better way of changing videos to custom shapes is with the help of image or shape masking.
In Filmora you can apply image masks either from the existing presets, i.e. circle, star, diamond, etc., or you can add custom photos if need be. Professionals generally use custom pictures to create fancy logos and titles.
On the other hand, shape masking allows you to mask a background video with a foreground footage in a custom shape.
Although the basic concept of both types of masking is same, the options available under each can be used to produce effective outputs.
That said, following are the instructions to apply both types of masking to your videos:
Image Masking
The steps given below explain how to change video shape with image masking in Filmora:
Step 1: Add Clip to Timeline
Use the method explained in the previous sections to import a clip and add it to the Timeline.
Step 2: Add Image Mask
Click Effects from the standard toolbar at the top, select Utility from the left pane, drag Image Mask from the Utility window, and drop it on top of the video itself in the Timeline. Notice how the fx icon appears on the video layer showing that the effect has been successfully added.
Step 3: Customize Image Mask
On the Timeline, double-click the video layer you applied Image Mask to, and notice all the available shapes available under the Preset Mask section on the Video Effects > Image Mask window that appears at the upper-left area. You can double-click any of the available shape presets to apply it to the video layer. In addition, drag the X and Y, and Width, Height, and Feather sliders to adjust the mask’s position, size, and edge smoothness respectively. You can also check the Invert Mask box to reverse the masking effect on the video. Finally, click OK to save the changes, and follow the method explained in earlier parts to export the video.
Shape Masking
The following steps explain how to change the shape of a video with shape masks in Filmora:
Step 1: Get to the Utility Window
Add at two footages on their individual layers in the Timeline (make sure to place the second layer above the first one), and follow the method explained above to get to the Effects > Utility window.
Step 2: Add Shape Mask
Drag Shape Mask from the Utility window, and drop it on top of the video itself in the Timeline. Confirm that the fx icon appears on the video layer to ensure that the effect has been applied.
Step 3: Customize Shape Mask
Double-click the video layer in the Timeline you applied shape mask to. On the Video Effects > Shape Mask window, use the X and Y, and Width, Height, and Feather sliders to adjust the mask’s position, size and edge smoothness respectively. Optionally check the Invert Mask box to reverse the masking effect, and click OK to save the settings. Next, follow the method explained earlier to export the video.
FAQs
1. What’s the difference between Image Mask and Shape Mask in Filmora?
A) In Filmora, Image Mask allows you to use an image (or any available preset) for masking so that the background footage is cropped to the shape of the picture. This is generally used to create logos and dynamic titles for movies or documentaries. On the other hand, Shape Mask enables you to mask the background clip with the foreground footage in the form of a shape that could be positioned and customized using the available sliders.
2. How many image masks are available in Filmora?
A) At the time of this writing, Wondershare Filmora has around 40 image mask presets. In addition, it also allows you to add custom images from your PC for more dynamic approach.
Liza Brown
Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Liza Brown
Liza Brown
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
While most videos nowadays are rectangular, and are recorded in either landscape or portrait orientation, there are some social media platforms that require the clips to be square shaped. If you want to upload your footages on such websites, it is essential to learn how to change video shape.
Another benefit of changing the shape of the recorded films is that they can be adjusted in limited amount of space, especially if they are to be posted on a website. Furthermore, some fancy designs such as star-shaped or circle-shaped videos attract more attention when used in digital marketing campaigns.
With that said, here you will learn how to change the shape of a video using one of the most advanced and versatile post-production tools, Wondershare Filmora.
Want to learn more about aspect ratio of your video? Click here!
Or, you just want to transfer your video into vertical.
Part 1: How to Change Video Shape from Rectangle to Square
Depending on the recording device and the target audiences a video is intended to be distributed to, the aspect ratio of the produced footage could be 16:9, 4:3, or 21:9 that makes the film rectangular-shaped. Given that, the aspect ratio can be modified to change the film shape from rectangle to square.
The instructions given below explain how to change video shape from rectangle to square in Wondershare Filmora:
Step 1: Import Video to Timeline
Launch Wondershare Filmora on your PC (a Windows 10 computer is used here), click the Add Files icon from the center of the Media window present at the upper-left section, and use the Open box that appears to select and import the source video to Filmora. Next, drag the video from the Media window to the Timeline, and select your preferred option when/if the Project Setting confirmation box appears.
Step 2: Change Aspect Ratio
Select the video in the Timeline, and click the Crop and Zoom icon from the upper-left area of the Timeline itself. On the Crop and Zoom window that opens next, select 1:1 from the Ratio drop-down list, and click OK to save the new setting.
Step 3: Export the Video
Click EXPORT from the top-center area of the interface, go to the Local tab on the Export box, select your preferred format from the Format list in the left pane, optionally click SETTINGS from the right window to make other adjustments if necessary, and click EXPORT from the bottom-right corner of the box.
For more details, please refer to this article: How to Resize a Video to Right Aspect Ratio and Size.
Part 2: Change Video Shape by Cropping
If your preferred aspect ratio isn’t available in the ‘Ratio’ drop-down list of the ‘Crop and Zoom’ window, Wondershare Filmora allows you to manually change the video to a custom shape.
You can learn how to change the shape of a video to an unlisted aspect ratio by following the instructions given below:
Step 1: Import the Video and Get to the Crop and Zoom Window
Follow the method explained in Step 1 of Part 1 to import a video to Wondershare Filmora, and then add it to the Timeline.
Step 2: Select Custom Ratio
Select the video in the Timeline, and click the Crop and Zoom icon as explained earlier to open its window. Next, select Custom from the Ratio drop-down list to be able to crop the videos unproportionally.
Step 3: Crop the Video Manually
Drag the cropping handles from any one edge of the video. Repeat this process for all the four sides to select the area of interest. Click OK to save the changes.
Step 4: Export the Video
Follow the process explained in Step 3 of Part 1 to export the modified video.
Part 3: Change Video Shape to Circle or Other Shapes in Filmora
Another, rather better way of changing videos to custom shapes is with the help of image or shape masking.
In Filmora you can apply image masks either from the existing presets, i.e. circle, star, diamond, etc., or you can add custom photos if need be. Professionals generally use custom pictures to create fancy logos and titles.
On the other hand, shape masking allows you to mask a background video with a foreground footage in a custom shape.
Although the basic concept of both types of masking is same, the options available under each can be used to produce effective outputs.
That said, following are the instructions to apply both types of masking to your videos:
Image Masking
The steps given below explain how to change video shape with image masking in Filmora:
Step 1: Add Clip to Timeline
Use the method explained in the previous sections to import a clip and add it to the Timeline.
Step 2: Add Image Mask
Click Effects from the standard toolbar at the top, select Utility from the left pane, drag Image Mask from the Utility window, and drop it on top of the video itself in the Timeline. Notice how the fx icon appears on the video layer showing that the effect has been successfully added.
Step 3: Customize Image Mask
On the Timeline, double-click the video layer you applied Image Mask to, and notice all the available shapes available under the Preset Mask section on the Video Effects > Image Mask window that appears at the upper-left area. You can double-click any of the available shape presets to apply it to the video layer. In addition, drag the X and Y, and Width, Height, and Feather sliders to adjust the mask’s position, size, and edge smoothness respectively. You can also check the Invert Mask box to reverse the masking effect on the video. Finally, click OK to save the changes, and follow the method explained in earlier parts to export the video.
Shape Masking
The following steps explain how to change the shape of a video with shape masks in Filmora:
Step 1: Get to the Utility Window
Add at two footages on their individual layers in the Timeline (make sure to place the second layer above the first one), and follow the method explained above to get to the Effects > Utility window.
Step 2: Add Shape Mask
Drag Shape Mask from the Utility window, and drop it on top of the video itself in the Timeline. Confirm that the fx icon appears on the video layer to ensure that the effect has been applied.
Step 3: Customize Shape Mask
Double-click the video layer in the Timeline you applied shape mask to. On the Video Effects > Shape Mask window, use the X and Y, and Width, Height, and Feather sliders to adjust the mask’s position, size and edge smoothness respectively. Optionally check the Invert Mask box to reverse the masking effect, and click OK to save the settings. Next, follow the method explained earlier to export the video.
FAQs
1. What’s the difference between Image Mask and Shape Mask in Filmora?
A) In Filmora, Image Mask allows you to use an image (or any available preset) for masking so that the background footage is cropped to the shape of the picture. This is generally used to create logos and dynamic titles for movies or documentaries. On the other hand, Shape Mask enables you to mask the background clip with the foreground footage in the form of a shape that could be positioned and customized using the available sliders.
2. How many image masks are available in Filmora?
A) At the time of this writing, Wondershare Filmora has around 40 image mask presets. In addition, it also allows you to add custom images from your PC for more dynamic approach.
Liza Brown
Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Liza Brown
Liza Brown
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
While most videos nowadays are rectangular, and are recorded in either landscape or portrait orientation, there are some social media platforms that require the clips to be square shaped. If you want to upload your footages on such websites, it is essential to learn how to change video shape.
Another benefit of changing the shape of the recorded films is that they can be adjusted in limited amount of space, especially if they are to be posted on a website. Furthermore, some fancy designs such as star-shaped or circle-shaped videos attract more attention when used in digital marketing campaigns.
With that said, here you will learn how to change the shape of a video using one of the most advanced and versatile post-production tools, Wondershare Filmora.
Want to learn more about aspect ratio of your video? Click here!
Or, you just want to transfer your video into vertical.
Part 1: How to Change Video Shape from Rectangle to Square
Depending on the recording device and the target audiences a video is intended to be distributed to, the aspect ratio of the produced footage could be 16:9, 4:3, or 21:9 that makes the film rectangular-shaped. Given that, the aspect ratio can be modified to change the film shape from rectangle to square.
The instructions given below explain how to change video shape from rectangle to square in Wondershare Filmora:
Step 1: Import Video to Timeline
Launch Wondershare Filmora on your PC (a Windows 10 computer is used here), click the Add Files icon from the center of the Media window present at the upper-left section, and use the Open box that appears to select and import the source video to Filmora. Next, drag the video from the Media window to the Timeline, and select your preferred option when/if the Project Setting confirmation box appears.
Step 2: Change Aspect Ratio
Select the video in the Timeline, and click the Crop and Zoom icon from the upper-left area of the Timeline itself. On the Crop and Zoom window that opens next, select 1:1 from the Ratio drop-down list, and click OK to save the new setting.
Step 3: Export the Video
Click EXPORT from the top-center area of the interface, go to the Local tab on the Export box, select your preferred format from the Format list in the left pane, optionally click SETTINGS from the right window to make other adjustments if necessary, and click EXPORT from the bottom-right corner of the box.
For more details, please refer to this article: How to Resize a Video to Right Aspect Ratio and Size.
Part 2: Change Video Shape by Cropping
If your preferred aspect ratio isn’t available in the ‘Ratio’ drop-down list of the ‘Crop and Zoom’ window, Wondershare Filmora allows you to manually change the video to a custom shape.
You can learn how to change the shape of a video to an unlisted aspect ratio by following the instructions given below:
Step 1: Import the Video and Get to the Crop and Zoom Window
Follow the method explained in Step 1 of Part 1 to import a video to Wondershare Filmora, and then add it to the Timeline.
Step 2: Select Custom Ratio
Select the video in the Timeline, and click the Crop and Zoom icon as explained earlier to open its window. Next, select Custom from the Ratio drop-down list to be able to crop the videos unproportionally.
Step 3: Crop the Video Manually
Drag the cropping handles from any one edge of the video. Repeat this process for all the four sides to select the area of interest. Click OK to save the changes.
Step 4: Export the Video
Follow the process explained in Step 3 of Part 1 to export the modified video.
Part 3: Change Video Shape to Circle or Other Shapes in Filmora
Another, rather better way of changing videos to custom shapes is with the help of image or shape masking.
In Filmora you can apply image masks either from the existing presets, i.e. circle, star, diamond, etc., or you can add custom photos if need be. Professionals generally use custom pictures to create fancy logos and titles.
On the other hand, shape masking allows you to mask a background video with a foreground footage in a custom shape.
Although the basic concept of both types of masking is same, the options available under each can be used to produce effective outputs.
That said, following are the instructions to apply both types of masking to your videos:
Image Masking
The steps given below explain how to change video shape with image masking in Filmora:
Step 1: Add Clip to Timeline
Use the method explained in the previous sections to import a clip and add it to the Timeline.
Step 2: Add Image Mask
Click Effects from the standard toolbar at the top, select Utility from the left pane, drag Image Mask from the Utility window, and drop it on top of the video itself in the Timeline. Notice how the fx icon appears on the video layer showing that the effect has been successfully added.
Step 3: Customize Image Mask
On the Timeline, double-click the video layer you applied Image Mask to, and notice all the available shapes available under the Preset Mask section on the Video Effects > Image Mask window that appears at the upper-left area. You can double-click any of the available shape presets to apply it to the video layer. In addition, drag the X and Y, and Width, Height, and Feather sliders to adjust the mask’s position, size, and edge smoothness respectively. You can also check the Invert Mask box to reverse the masking effect on the video. Finally, click OK to save the changes, and follow the method explained in earlier parts to export the video.
Shape Masking
The following steps explain how to change the shape of a video with shape masks in Filmora:
Step 1: Get to the Utility Window
Add at two footages on their individual layers in the Timeline (make sure to place the second layer above the first one), and follow the method explained above to get to the Effects > Utility window.
Step 2: Add Shape Mask
Drag Shape Mask from the Utility window, and drop it on top of the video itself in the Timeline. Confirm that the fx icon appears on the video layer to ensure that the effect has been applied.
Step 3: Customize Shape Mask
Double-click the video layer in the Timeline you applied shape mask to. On the Video Effects > Shape Mask window, use the X and Y, and Width, Height, and Feather sliders to adjust the mask’s position, size and edge smoothness respectively. Optionally check the Invert Mask box to reverse the masking effect, and click OK to save the settings. Next, follow the method explained earlier to export the video.
FAQs
1. What’s the difference between Image Mask and Shape Mask in Filmora?
A) In Filmora, Image Mask allows you to use an image (or any available preset) for masking so that the background footage is cropped to the shape of the picture. This is generally used to create logos and dynamic titles for movies or documentaries. On the other hand, Shape Mask enables you to mask the background clip with the foreground footage in the form of a shape that could be positioned and customized using the available sliders.
2. How many image masks are available in Filmora?
A) At the time of this writing, Wondershare Filmora has around 40 image mask presets. In addition, it also allows you to add custom images from your PC for more dynamic approach.
Liza Brown
Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Liza Brown
Liza Brown
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
While most videos nowadays are rectangular, and are recorded in either landscape or portrait orientation, there are some social media platforms that require the clips to be square shaped. If you want to upload your footages on such websites, it is essential to learn how to change video shape.
Another benefit of changing the shape of the recorded films is that they can be adjusted in limited amount of space, especially if they are to be posted on a website. Furthermore, some fancy designs such as star-shaped or circle-shaped videos attract more attention when used in digital marketing campaigns.
With that said, here you will learn how to change the shape of a video using one of the most advanced and versatile post-production tools, Wondershare Filmora.
Want to learn more about aspect ratio of your video? Click here!
Or, you just want to transfer your video into vertical.
Part 1: How to Change Video Shape from Rectangle to Square
Depending on the recording device and the target audiences a video is intended to be distributed to, the aspect ratio of the produced footage could be 16:9, 4:3, or 21:9 that makes the film rectangular-shaped. Given that, the aspect ratio can be modified to change the film shape from rectangle to square.
The instructions given below explain how to change video shape from rectangle to square in Wondershare Filmora:
Step 1: Import Video to Timeline
Launch Wondershare Filmora on your PC (a Windows 10 computer is used here), click the Add Files icon from the center of the Media window present at the upper-left section, and use the Open box that appears to select and import the source video to Filmora. Next, drag the video from the Media window to the Timeline, and select your preferred option when/if the Project Setting confirmation box appears.
Step 2: Change Aspect Ratio
Select the video in the Timeline, and click the Crop and Zoom icon from the upper-left area of the Timeline itself. On the Crop and Zoom window that opens next, select 1:1 from the Ratio drop-down list, and click OK to save the new setting.
Step 3: Export the Video
Click EXPORT from the top-center area of the interface, go to the Local tab on the Export box, select your preferred format from the Format list in the left pane, optionally click SETTINGS from the right window to make other adjustments if necessary, and click EXPORT from the bottom-right corner of the box.
For more details, please refer to this article: How to Resize a Video to Right Aspect Ratio and Size.
Part 2: Change Video Shape by Cropping
If your preferred aspect ratio isn’t available in the ‘Ratio’ drop-down list of the ‘Crop and Zoom’ window, Wondershare Filmora allows you to manually change the video to a custom shape.
You can learn how to change the shape of a video to an unlisted aspect ratio by following the instructions given below:
Step 1: Import the Video and Get to the Crop and Zoom Window
Follow the method explained in Step 1 of Part 1 to import a video to Wondershare Filmora, and then add it to the Timeline.
Step 2: Select Custom Ratio
Select the video in the Timeline, and click the Crop and Zoom icon as explained earlier to open its window. Next, select Custom from the Ratio drop-down list to be able to crop the videos unproportionally.
Step 3: Crop the Video Manually
Drag the cropping handles from any one edge of the video. Repeat this process for all the four sides to select the area of interest. Click OK to save the changes.
Step 4: Export the Video
Follow the process explained in Step 3 of Part 1 to export the modified video.
Part 3: Change Video Shape to Circle or Other Shapes in Filmora
Another, rather better way of changing videos to custom shapes is with the help of image or shape masking.
In Filmora you can apply image masks either from the existing presets, i.e. circle, star, diamond, etc., or you can add custom photos if need be. Professionals generally use custom pictures to create fancy logos and titles.
On the other hand, shape masking allows you to mask a background video with a foreground footage in a custom shape.
Although the basic concept of both types of masking is same, the options available under each can be used to produce effective outputs.
That said, following are the instructions to apply both types of masking to your videos:
Image Masking
The steps given below explain how to change video shape with image masking in Filmora:
Step 1: Add Clip to Timeline
Use the method explained in the previous sections to import a clip and add it to the Timeline.
Step 2: Add Image Mask
Click Effects from the standard toolbar at the top, select Utility from the left pane, drag Image Mask from the Utility window, and drop it on top of the video itself in the Timeline. Notice how the fx icon appears on the video layer showing that the effect has been successfully added.
Step 3: Customize Image Mask
On the Timeline, double-click the video layer you applied Image Mask to, and notice all the available shapes available under the Preset Mask section on the Video Effects > Image Mask window that appears at the upper-left area. You can double-click any of the available shape presets to apply it to the video layer. In addition, drag the X and Y, and Width, Height, and Feather sliders to adjust the mask’s position, size, and edge smoothness respectively. You can also check the Invert Mask box to reverse the masking effect on the video. Finally, click OK to save the changes, and follow the method explained in earlier parts to export the video.
Shape Masking
The following steps explain how to change the shape of a video with shape masks in Filmora:
Step 1: Get to the Utility Window
Add at two footages on their individual layers in the Timeline (make sure to place the second layer above the first one), and follow the method explained above to get to the Effects > Utility window.
Step 2: Add Shape Mask
Drag Shape Mask from the Utility window, and drop it on top of the video itself in the Timeline. Confirm that the fx icon appears on the video layer to ensure that the effect has been applied.
Step 3: Customize Shape Mask
Double-click the video layer in the Timeline you applied shape mask to. On the Video Effects > Shape Mask window, use the X and Y, and Width, Height, and Feather sliders to adjust the mask’s position, size and edge smoothness respectively. Optionally check the Invert Mask box to reverse the masking effect, and click OK to save the settings. Next, follow the method explained earlier to export the video.
FAQs
1. What’s the difference between Image Mask and Shape Mask in Filmora?
A) In Filmora, Image Mask allows you to use an image (or any available preset) for masking so that the background footage is cropped to the shape of the picture. This is generally used to create logos and dynamic titles for movies or documentaries. On the other hand, Shape Mask enables you to mask the background clip with the foreground footage in the form of a shape that could be positioned and customized using the available sliders.
2. How many image masks are available in Filmora?
A) At the time of this writing, Wondershare Filmora has around 40 image mask presets. In addition, it also allows you to add custom images from your PC for more dynamic approach.
Liza Brown
Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Liza Brown
The Ultimate List of Free Animation Software for Windows and Mac
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
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- Title: 2024 Approved The Best of the Best Top Reaction Video Editing Apps
- Author: Emma
- Created at : 2024-05-19 05:48:04
- Updated at : 2024-05-20 05:48:04
- Link: https://video-ai-editor.techidaily.com/2024-approved-the-best-of-the-best-top-reaction-video-editing-apps/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.