OpenToonz vs TVPaint Animation

OpenToonz9.2Visit TATVPaint Animation8.7Visit

Higher score OpenToonz #2 in 2D Character Animation Software 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit OpenToonz

vs

TA TVPaint Animation #5 in 2D Character Animation Software 8.7/10 Paid ✓ 0 of 3 features Visit TVPaint

• OpenToonz fits best

  Budget-conscious full-featured animators

• TVPaint Animation fits best

  Raster-focused animation professionals

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Side by side

Feature	OpenToonz 9.2/10 Visit ↗	TATVPaint Animation 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.2	8.7
Ranking	#2 in 2D Character Animation Software	#5 in 2D Character Animation Software
Best for	Budget-conscious full-featured animators	Raster-focused animation professionals
Pricing model	Free	Paid
Starting price	Free plan	—
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux
Support	Community, Docs	Phone, Tickets, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features OpenToonz 0/3 · TVPaint Animation 0/3
Bone rigging	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Mesh deformation	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Lip sync	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Animation workflow	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Supported platforms	windows, macos, linux	Windows, macOS, Linux
Export formats	3GP, AVI, BMP, GIF, JPG, MOV, MP4, PNG, RGB, SGI, Spritesheet, TGA, TIF, TIFF, WebM	BMP, GIF, JPG, PNG, PSD, TGA, TIFF, AVI, MKV, MOV, MP4, WebM, OGG, JSON, CSV, FLI
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	Bitmap brush engine supports traditional frame-by-frame workflows Professional adds rigging, smart colorization, camera, and storyboarding Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux with extensive export support
Cons	MP4 and WebM output require FFmpeg MOV support requires 32-bit QuickTime The workflow may demand more technical setup than simpler tools	Pricing requires contacting sales or requesting a quotation Trial projects cannot be saved or exported No cloud collaboration, AI features, or 3D modeling
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 →	TVPaint Animation is bitmap-based 2D animation software for independent animators, students, animation schools, and production studios. Its workflow centers on raster brushes, light tables, timeline-based animation, storyboarding,… Read the review →

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

• TVPaint Animation — where it wins

  • Bitmap brush engine supports traditional frame-by-frame workflows
  • Professional adds rigging, smart colorization, camera, and storyboarding
  • Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux with extensive export support

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing requires contacting sales or requesting a quotation
  • Trial projects cannot be saved or exported
  • No cloud collaboration, AI features, or 3D modeling

• OpenToonz9.2/10 · Free plan

  A free, full-featured 2D animation suite for artists who can manage a technical workflow.

  Visit OpenToonzFull verdict →
• TATVPaint Animation8.7/10 · Paid

  A raster-first animation suite with traditional tools, rigging, camera controls, and professional exports.

  Visit TVPaintFull verdict →