Creating cartoons has never been more accessible. Whether you’re an aspiring animator, a content creator, or a business looking to enhance your visual storytelling, the best cartoon making software can turn your ideas into engaging animations. In this guide, we’ll explore top tools in this niche—tailored for beginners, professionals, and everyone in between. Each software listed is evaluated for usability, features, pricing, and platform compatibility.

What Is Cartoon Making Software?

Cartoon making software is a digital tool that enables users to create 2D or 3D animations, characters, and scenes. These tools often come with drag-and-drop interfaces, drawing tools, timeline editing, and pre-built assets that streamline the animation process. They are widely used in education, marketing, social media content creation, and entertainment.

Why Use Cartoon Making Software?

  • Visual storytelling enhances engagement
  • Boosts learning in educational content
  • Makes explainer videos more fun and accessible
  • Ideal for content creators and YouTubers
  • Saves money compared to hiring animators

Key Features to Look For

When choosing the best cartoon making software, consider the following:

  • User-friendly interface
  • Character customization options
  • Animation timeline editor
  • Audio integration
  • Export options (MP4, GIF, etc.)
  • Cloud storage and collaboration tools
  • Platform compatibility (Windows, macOS, Web, etc.)

Best Cartoon Making Software

1. Adobe Animate

Adobe Animate is a professional-grade software used to design vector animations for web, TV, and mobile apps.

  • Platforms: Windows, macOS
  • Best For: Professionals and advanced users
  • Key Features: Vector brush tools, timeline editor, export in multiple formats
  • Pros: Industry standard, integrates with other Adobe tools
  • Cons: Steep learning curve, subscription-based

2. Toonly

Toonly is an intuitive drag-and-drop cartoon creator designed for marketing and explainer videos.

  • Platforms: Windows, macOS
  • Best For: Beginners and marketers
  • Key Features: Premade characters, drag-and-drop scenes, voice-over support
  • Pros: Easy to use, no animation skills needed
  • Cons: Limited customization

3. Animaker

Animaker is a cloud-based cartoon making software ideal for teams and collaboration.

  • Platforms: Web-based
  • Best For: Teams, educators, YouTubers
  • Key Features: Custom characters, text-to-speech, templates
  • Pros: Online access, team collaboration, rich template library
  • Cons: Requires internet connection

4. Blender (For 3D Animation)

While not traditionally focused on cartoon-style 2D animation, Blender is excellent for creating stylized 3D animated cartoons.

  • Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
  • Best For: 3D animators and advanced users
  • Key Features: Rigging, modeling, VFX, 3D animation
  • Pros: Free and open-source, professional quality
  • Cons: Complex interface, not ideal for beginners

5. Vyond

Vyond lets you create professional animated videos with a focus on business and e-learning.

  • Platforms: Web-based
  • Best For: Businesses and educators
  • Key Features: Lip-syncing, character actions, library of assets
  • Pros: Business-focused, wide range of character options
  • Cons: Subscription pricing

6. Pencil2D

Pencil2D is a free, open-source 2D animation tool perfect for hand-drawn animations.

  • Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
  • Best For: Artists and indie creators
  • Key Features: Raster and vector workflows, onion skinning
  • Pros: Lightweight, easy to use, free
  • Cons: Limited advanced features

7. Moho (Anime Studio)

Moho offers a complete 2D animation system combining traditional techniques with modern rigging.

  • Platforms: Windows, macOS
  • Best For: Intermediate to advanced animators
  • Key Features: Bone rigging, vector tools, motion graphs
  • Pros: Powerful for character animation
  • Cons: Learning curve for beginners

8. Powtoon

Powtoon is a versatile tool for animated presentations and explainer videos.

  • Platforms: Web-based
  • Best For: Marketers, educators, internal communications
  • Key Features: Templates, character libraries, transitions
  • Pros: Simple interface, cloud-based
  • Cons: Limited design flexibility

9. Synfig Studio

Synfig Studio is another open-source cartoon making software with advanced controls.

  • Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
  • Best For: Experienced animators
  • Key Features: Vector tweening, layer-based animation
  • Pros: No frame-by-frame drawing required
  • Cons: Outdated interface, requires skill

10. Doodly

Doodly is designed for creating whiteboard-style cartoon videos.

  • Platforms: Windows, macOS
  • Best For: Course creators, educators
  • Key Features: Hand-drawn animation, audio sync
  • Pros: Great for explainer content
  • Cons: Niche focus, lacks traditional animation tools

How to Choose the Best Cartoon Making Software for You

Ask yourself the following:

  • Are you creating 2D or 3D animations?
  • Do you need character rigging or simple templates?
  • Is this for personal, educational, or professional use?
  • What’s your budget?
  • Do you want downloadable software or a cloud-based platform?

For beginners, Animaker or Toonly offers a gentle learning curve. Professionals may lean toward Adobe Animate or Moho. Open-source fans can start with Pencil2D or Synfig.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the best cartoon making software for beginners?

Animaker and Toonly are ideal for beginners due to their drag-and-drop functionality and easy learning curve.

Can I create cartoons for free?

Yes. Software like Pencil2D and Synfig Studio are completely free and open-source, suitable for personal and educational use.

What is the best software for 3D cartoon animation?

Blender is widely regarded as the best free 3D animation software for cartoon-style animation, though it has a steep learning curve.

Is there a cartoon making software for YouTube videos?

Yes. Vyond, Powtoon, and Animaker are frequently used by YouTubers to create engaging, animated content.

Do I need drawing skills to use cartoon making software?

Not necessarily. Many cartoon making tools like Toonly, Animaker, and Doodly offer pre-built characters and templates, so drawing skills are not required.

What’s the difference between 2D and 3D cartoon software?

2D cartoon software focuses on flat characters and scenes, while 3D cartoon software deals with depth, lighting, and camera angles—ideal for more realistic animations.

Can I use cartoon making software on a mobile device?

Some platforms like Animaker and Powtoon offer mobile access via browser, but most full-featured cartoon software is desktop-based.

Final Thoughts

Finding the best cartoon making software depends on your goals, budget, and skill level. Whether you’re crafting explainer videos, educational content, or full-scale animations, there’s a tool that fits your creative workflow. Start simple, experiment, and level up your storytelling with the power of animation.

If you’d like tailored recommendations based on your specific use case or industry, feel free to ask.

This page was last edited on 18 May 2025, at 12:32 pm