Best Pencil2D Alternatives in 2026
The top Pencil2D alternatives are Toon Boom Harmony, Blender and Cinema 4D: 15 animation software our editors would look at instead of Pencil2D, in our ranking order.
Pencil2D: A focused free desktop tool for traditional frame-by-frame 2D animation. Where it falls short: focused on frame-by-frame animation rather than broader animation workflows.
Switching from Pencil2D? For most animation software buyers the best Pencil2D alternative is Toon Boom Harmony, built for professional hand-drawn and rigged 2D animation. On a budget, Rive starts at $9/seat/mo. Blender has a free plan.
Why People Look for a Pencil2D Alternative
- Focused on frame-by-frame animation rather than broader animation workflows
- Desktop-only platform coverage
- No verified rigging or integration features
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallToon Boom Harmony9.3
Professional hand-drawn and rigged 2D animation
Visit Toon Boom Harmony - Lowest priceRive8.5
Paid plans from $9/seat/mo
Visit Rive - Best free optionBlender9.2
Has a free plan
Visit Blender
All 15 Pencil2D Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forProfessional hand-drawn and rigged 2D animation
- Better than Pencil2D:
- Editor score 9.3 vs 7.9
A focused 2D suite for hand-drawn, rigged, composited, and effects-driven animation.
- Character rigging
- 2D animation tools
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Toon Boom -
Best forBroad, professional 3D animation on a free budget
- Better than Pencil2D:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 7.9
A broad 3D suite for professional animation without software licensing costs.
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Blender -
Best forMotion design and full 3D production
- Better than Pencil2D:
- Editor score 9.1 vs 7.9
A broad desktop toolkit for motion design, 3D production, simulation, and rendering.
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Cinema 4D -
Best forEstablished studios needing full 3D animation tools
- Better than Pencil2D:
- Editor score 9.0 vs 7.9
A full 3D production suite for studios that need modeling, animation, effects, and rendering.
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Autodesk Maya -
Best forFree, capable 2D animation production
- Better than Pencil2D:
- Editor score 8.9 vs 7.9
A free, broad 2D animation suite for production workflows across three desktop platforms.
- Character rigging
- 2D animation tools
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit OpenToonz -
Best forProcedural animation and effects production
- Better than Pencil2D:
- Editor score 8.8 vs 7.9
A deep procedural 3D suite for film, games, advertising, and technical art workflows.
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Houdini -
Best forLive puppeteering and streaming characters
- Better than Pencil2D:
- Editor score 8.7 vs 7.9
A focused choice for live 2D puppeteering, lip sync, and character streaming.
- Character rigging
- 2D animation tools
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Adobe -
Best for2D web and interactive content animation
- Better than Pencil2D:
- Editor score 8.6 vs 7.9
A capable 2D desktop animator for web and interactive content, now in maintenance mode.
- Motion graphics
- Character rigging
- 2D animation tools
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Adobe Animate -
Best forInteractive vector animation for apps and games
- Better than Pencil2D:
- Editor score 8.5 vs 7.9
A focused toolkit for building interactive animations with design, state logic, and runtimes.
- Cloud collaboration
- Motion graphics
- Character rigging
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Rive -
Best forGame-focused 2D skeletal animation
- Better than Pencil2D:
- Editor score 8.4 vs 7.9
A focused 2D animation tool with strong rigging, export, and runtime support.
- Character rigging
- 2D animation tools
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Spine -
Best forRaster-first traditional 2D animation
- Better than Pencil2D:
- Editor score 8.3 vs 7.9
A deep raster-first toolkit for traditional 2D animation across three desktop platforms.
- Character rigging
- 2D animation tools
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit TVPaint -
Best forReal-time 3D character animation and mocap
- Better than Pencil2D:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 7.9
A broad real-time 3D animation tool with mocap depth and Windows-only coverage.
- Character rigging
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit iClone -
Best forMotion graphics and compositing
- Better than Pencil2D:
- Editor score 8.1 vs 7.9
A deep desktop tool for motion graphics, compositing, tracking, and visual effects.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Adobe -
Best forFree vector tweening and cutout animation
- Better than Pencil2D:
- Editor score 8.0 vs 7.9
A capable free choice for vector tweening, cutout rigs, and 2D animation workflows.
- Character rigging
- 2D animation tools
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Synfig Studio -
Best forLive 2D avatar animation
A focused desktop tool for rigging, animating, and exporting live 2D models.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Live2D Cubism
Pencil2D Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Pencil2D?
Toon Boom Harmony: #1 in our Animation Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.3 out of 10. A focused 2D suite for hand-drawn, rigged, composited, and effects-driven animation.
Is there a free alternative to Pencil2D?
Yes. Blender, OpenToonz, Houdini, Adobe Character Animator and Rive have a free plan or a free tier (8 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for Pencil2D alternatives?
Focused on frame-by-frame animation rather than broader animation workflows; Desktop-only platform coverage; No verified rigging or integration features.
How do I switch from Pencil2D?
Export your data from Pencil2D (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Pencil2D.
How to Switch from Pencil2D
- Export your data from Pencil2D (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Pencil2D.
Pencil2D vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | 2D animation tools | Character rigging | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Pencil2D | Yes | Free | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 1 | Toon Boom Harmony | No | $55.50/user/yr | Yes | Yes | 9.3 |
| 2 | Blender | Yes | Free | 9.2 | ||
| 3 | Cinema 4D | No | 9.1 | |||
| 4 | Autodesk Maya | No | $2,010/user/yr | 9.0 | ||
| 5 | OpenToonz | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | 8.9 |
| 6 | Houdini | Yes | $1,475/device/yr | 8.8 | ||
| 7 | Adobe Character Animator | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.7 | |
| 8 | Adobe Animate | No | Yes | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 9 | Rive | Yes | $9/seat/mo | Yes | Yes | 8.5 |
| 10 | Spine | No | $850/device/yr | Yes | Yes | 8.4 |
| 11 | TVPaint Animation | No | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | |
| 12 | iClone | Yes | No | Yes | 8.2 | |
| 13 | Adobe After Effects | No | 8.1 | |||
| 14 | Synfig Studio | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | 8.0 |
| 15 | Live2D Cubism | Yes | $68.07/yr | 7.8 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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