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Head-to-head · 2D Character Animation Software

OpenToonz vs Live2D Cubism

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score OpenToonz #2 in 2D Character Animation Software 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit OpenToonz
Live2D Cubism #6 in 2D Character Animation Software 8.6/10 Free plan · 42-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 2 of 3 features Visit Live2D Cubism

OpenToonz leads on 0 checks, Live2D Cubism on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreOpenToonz · 9.2/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialonly Live2D Cubism
  • Most featuresLive2D Cubism · 2 of 3

OpenToonz scores higher on our rubric for 2d character animation software: 9.2 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #6.

OpenToonz is the better fit for budget-conscious full-featured animators. Live2D Cubism is the better fit for 2D puppet and avatar creators.

  • OpenToonz fits best

    Budget-conscious full-featured animators

  • Live2D Cubism fits best

    2D puppet and avatar creators

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Side by side

Feature OpenToonz 9.2/10 Visit ↗ Live2D Cubism 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 8.6
Ranking #2 in 2D Character Animation Software #6 in 2D Character Animation Software
Best for Budget-conscious full-featured animators 2D puppet and avatar creators
Pricing model Free Free plan + paid
Starting price Free plan $68.07/yr
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — 42 days
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS
Support Community, Docs Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features OpenToonz 0/3 · Live2D Cubism 2/3
Bone rigging Not checked yet Not checked yet
Mesh deformation Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Lip sync Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Animation workflow Not checked yet Puppet
Supported platforms windows, macos, linux Windows, macOS
Export formats 3GP, AVI, BMP, GIF, JPG, MOV, MP4, PNG, RGB, SGI, Spritesheet, TGA, TIF, TIFF, WebM PNG, JPEG, GIF, MP4, WebM, MOV, MOC3, model3.json, motion3.json
Our review
Pros
  • Free and open-source across Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Combines drawing, rigging, compositing, scanning, and rendering
  • Supports batch rendering and network render farm workflows
  • Mesh-based modeling with ArtMeshes, parameters, and deformers
  • Built-in physics, automatic lip-sync, and timeline editing
  • Exports for images, video, applications, games, and major engines
Cons
  • MP4 and WebM output require FFmpeg
  • MOV support requires 32-bit QuickTime
  • The workflow may demand more technical setup than simpler tools
  • Desktop support is limited to Windows and macOS
  • Puppet-style workflows depend on prepared artwork
  • Business pricing is substantially higher than indie plans
Our verdict

OpenToonz is open-source 2D animation software for commercial and non-commercial projects. It is aimed at animators who want drawing, frame-by-frame animation, digital painting, character deformation, compositing, scanning, and rendering…

Read the review →

Live2D Cubism is a desktop application for turning original illustrations into animated 2D models. It is aimed at illustrators, animators, VTuber creators, game developers, and teams building mobile, console, or other interactive content.…

Read the review →
  1. OpenToonz2D Character Animation Software 9.2Free plan
  2. Live2D Cubism2D Character Animation Software 8.6Free plan · 42-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • OpenToonz — where it wins

    • Free and open-source across Windows, macOS, and Linux
    • Combines drawing, rigging, compositing, scanning, and rendering
    • Supports batch rendering and network render farm workflows

    Where it doesn't

    • MP4 and WebM output require FFmpeg
    • MOV support requires 32-bit QuickTime
    • The workflow may demand more technical setup than simpler tools

  • Live2D Cubism — where it wins

    • Mesh-based modeling with ArtMeshes, parameters, and deformers
    • Built-in physics, automatic lip-sync, and timeline editing
    • Exports for images, video, applications, games, and major engines

    Where it doesn't

    • Desktop support is limited to Windows and macOS
    • Puppet-style workflows depend on prepared artwork
    • Business pricing is substantially higher than indie plans

More comparisons

All 2D character animation software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update