Live2D Cubism
Live2D Cubism: A focused puppet-animation tool for expressive avatars, games, and interactive content. Ranked #6 of 48 in 2D Character Animation Software by our editors (8.6/10); pricing: Free plan · 42-day trial; best for 2D puppet and avatar creators.
At a glance
- Editor score8.6 / 10
- PricingFree plan · 42-day trial
- Best for2D puppet and avatar creators
- Free planYes
- Paid from$68.07/yr
- Animation workflowPuppet
- Founded2006 · Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
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
Our verdict on Live2D Cubism
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. The workflow centers on imported artwork, ArtMeshes, parameters, warp and rotation deformers, and timeline-based animation. Creators can add physics and lip-sync, then export still images, GIFs, video, or model and motion data for applications and games.
The published plans show a free plan, a 42-day trial, and Cubism PRO for indie starting at $13.26 per month with monthly billing. Annual indie pricing is $91.02 for year one, $74.96 for year two, and $68.07 for year three and later; a non-renewable 3-year plan costs $234.05. For medium or large businesses, the monthly business plan is $61.32, while annual pricing is $420.68 for year one and $380.91 for year two. The store displays USD values alongside JPY, and actual charges may vary with exchange rates.
Its strongest fit is a puppet-style character pipeline that needs expressive movement without abandoning an illustration-led workflow. Key tools include keyframes, a Dope Sheet, a Graph Editor, physics settings, automatic lip-sync from audio files, motion-sync viseme generation from WAV audio, and exports including PNG, JPEG, GIF, MP4, WebM, MOV, MOC3, model3.json, and motion3.json. Integration options include Unity, Unreal Engine, Cocos Creator, Web, Native SDK, and After Effects. Choose Cubism when mesh deformation, avatar animation, and interactive exports are central; consider another option if cross-platform desktop support beyond Windows and macOS is required.
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Live2D Cubism pricing
All 10 Live2D Cubism plans and prices →
Live2D Cubism fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | $68.07/yr |
| Animation workflow | Puppet |
| Bone rigging | Not verified |
| Mesh deformation | Yes |
| Lip sync | Yes |
| Supported platforms | Windows, macOS |
| Export formats | PNG, JPEG, GIF, MP4, WebM, MOV, MOC3, model3.json, motion3.json |
| Free trial | 42 days |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 6 integrations: Unity, Unreal Engine, Cocos Creator, Web, Native SDK, After Effects |
| Pricing | Free plan · 42-day trial (source) |
| Website | live2d.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Live2D Cubism integrations
Live2D Cubism lists 6 integrations on its own site.
- Unity
- Unreal Engine
- Cocos Creator
- Web
- Native SDK
- After Effects
Alternatives to Live2D Cubism
- Toon Boom HarmonyA broad desktop suite for teams that need both drawn and rigged 2D production.9.4
- OpenToonzA free, full-featured 2D animation suite for artists who can manage a technical workflow.9.2
- Adobe AnimateA capable desktop animator for vector workflows, web publishing, and Adobe users.9.0
See all Live2D Cubism alternatives →
Live2D Cubism vs the competition
- Live2D Cubism vs Toon Boom Harmony
- Live2D Cubism vs OpenToonz
- Live2D Cubism vs Adobe Animate
- Live2D Cubism vs Spine
- Live2D Cubism vs TVPaint Animation
- Live2D Cubism vs Cartoon Animator
Compare Live2D Cubism with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
Live2D Cubism is ranked in 5 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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