OpenToonz AlternativesTop Animation Makers & Digital Painting Tools like OpenToonz

OpenToonz is described as 'Animation program that free software version of Toonz, the animation software used by Studio Ghibli, amongst others' and is a very popular Animation Maker in the photos & graphics category. There are more than 25 alternatives to OpenToonz for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iPad apps. The best OpenToonz alternative is Animation Desk, which is free. Other great apps like OpenToonz are Adobe After Effects, Synfig Studio, Clip Studio Paint and enve.

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OpenToonz alternatives are mainly Animation Makers, but if you're looking for Vector Graphic Apps or Digital Painting Tools you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Android + Free and Windows + Free. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to OpenToonz.
OpenToonz iconOpenToonz
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OpenToonz is an animation program that is a free software version of Toonz, the animation software used by Studio Ghibli, amongst others.

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OpenToonz alternatives page was last updated Apr 19, 2025
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  1. Animation Desk icon

    Animation Desk

     177 likes
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    Animation Desk is a perfect tool for animating, storyboarding, and sketching. It’s an app Loved by professional and amateur animators, Youtubers, and many art lovers. Draw you frame-to-frame animation from scratch, or create animations upon videos, images, PSD layers.

    91 Animation Desk alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • TW flagTaiwan

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Animation Desk screenshot 1

    Top Animation Desk Features

    1.  Onion skinning
    2.  Live Screen Recording
    3.  Keyframe Animation
    4.  Video Import
    5.  Support for Layers
    6.  Rotoscoping
    7.  Animated Videos
    8.  Symmetry brush
    9.  Stamps
    10.  Sketch to PSD
    11.  Built-in PDF converter
    12.  Convert Videos to Animated GIFs

    Animation Desk VS OpenToonz

     
    Comments about Animation Desk as an Alternative to OpenToonz
    Erika Lane
    Positive Aug 22, 2019
    4

    It seems to me animation desk is faster!?

    RemovedUser
    Negative Oct 10, 2023
    0

    Not available on MacOS and GNU/Linux.

    OpenToonz Icon
    Animation Desk icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Animation Desk is a great OpenToonz alternative.

    • Animation Desk is the most popular Windows, Android, iPhone & iPad alternative to OpenToonz.

    • Animation Desk is the most popular free alternative to OpenToonz.

    • Animation Desk is Freemium and ProprietaryOpenToonz is Free and Open Source
  2. Adobe After Effects icon

    Adobe After Effects

     203 likes
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    Adobe After Effects offers top-tier motion graphics and visual effects capabilities, ideal for film, TV productions, and creative projects. Featuring advanced compositing with keyframe animation and layer techniques, it's geared for professionals seeking powerful solutions via Creative Cloud.

    49 Adobe After Effects alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Adobe After Effects 2017

    Top Adobe After Effects Features

    1.  Keyframe Animation
    2.  Motion Capture
    3.  Particle Engine
    4.  Support for 4K
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Colour Grading
    9.  Chroma Key / Green Screen
    10.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    11.  Node Based
    12.  Support for Layers

    Adobe After Effects VS OpenToonz

     

    • Adobe After Effects is the most popular Mac alternative to OpenToonz.

    • Adobe After Effects is the most popular commercial alternative to OpenToonz.

    • Adobe After Effects is Paid and ProprietaryOpenToonz is Free and Open Source
  4. Synfig Studio icon

    Synfig Studio

     127 likes
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    Synfig is a free and open-source, industrial-strength, vector-based 2D animation app designed for producing feature-film animations.

    58 Synfig Studio alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • RU flagRussia

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    Synfig Studio screenshot 1

    Synfig Studio Features

    1.  Automated Tweening
    2.  Timeline-based
    3.  Bones and Layers
    4.  Live Preview
    5.  Keyframe Animation
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  HDR Support

    Synfig Studio VS OpenToonz

     

    • Some users think Synfig Studio is a great OpenToonz alternative, some don't.

    • Synfig Studio is the most popular Linux alternative to OpenToonz.

    • Synfig Studio is the most popular Open Source alternative to OpenToonz.

    • Synfig Studio is Free and Open SourceOpenToonz is also Free and Open Source
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Clip Studio Paint icon
    Clip Studio Paint

    Professional software for comic and manga creation, optimized with panel layouts, perspective rulers, sketching, inking, toning, vector support, and 3D model import, suitable for artists seeking advanced drawing and coloring tool...

    https://www.clipstudio.net
    Learn More
  6. Clip Studio Paint icon

    Clip Studio Paint

     123 likes
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    Professional software for comic and manga creation, optimized with panel layouts, perspective rulers, sketching, inking, toning, vector support, and 3D model import, suitable for artists seeking advanced drawing and coloring tools.

    96 Clip Studio Paint alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • JP flagJapan

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Samsung Galaxy Store
    Customizable workspace

    Properties

    1.  Optimal performance
    2.  Customizable
    3.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for Layers
    2.  Pressure Sensitivity
    3.  Texture for brushes
    4.  Open PSD files
    5.  Tablet support
    6.  Smooth lines
    7.  Keyframe Animation
    8.  Drawing Tablet Support
    9.  Cloud Sync
    10.  Custom Brushes
    11.  Built-in 3D model viewer
    12.  Natural media painting

    Clip Studio Paint VS OpenToonz

     
  7. enve icon

    enve

     35 likes
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    Enve is a free and open-source 2D animation app. It can create both vector and raster animations and even use sound and video files. It has been created with flexibility and expandability in mind.

    55 enve alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • PL flagPoland
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    Official Enve Screenshot
    Discontinued

    The GitHub repo hasn't had updates since September 2022. There's already been 2 threads discussing the discontinued state of the program without any comment from the original dev:https://github.com/MaurycyLiebner/enve/issues/315https://github.com/MaurycyLiebner/enve/issues/336

    Top enve Features

    1.  Support for Layers
    2.  Keyframe Animation
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  Cloud Sync
    5.  Pressure Sensitivity
    6.  Custom Brushes
    7.  Automated Tweening
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  No Coding Required
    11.  No registration required
    12.  Hardware Accelerated

    enve VS OpenToonz

     
  8. Adobe Animate icon

    Adobe Animate

     109 likes
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    Versatile multimedia tool, Adobe Animate offers 4K video export, HTML5 support, creative illustration tools, colored onion skinning, and seamless Creative Cloud integration. Formerly Flash Professional, it includes a rotatable canvas and vector brushes.

    57 Adobe Animate alternatives

    License model

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Adobe Animate screenshot 1

    Top Adobe Animate Features

    1.  Keyframe Animation
    2.  Pressure Sensitivity
    3.  Animation Rigging
    4.  Export to SVG
    5.  Support for Layers
    6.  Onion skinning
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Support for scripting
    9.  Automated Tweening
    10.  Video Maker
    11.  Drawing 2D

    Adobe Animate VS OpenToonz

     
  10. Pencil2D icon

    Pencil2D

     57 likes
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    Pencil2D is an opensource animation/drawing software for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux, based on old Pencil software. It lets you create traditional hand-drawn animation (cartoon) using both bitmap and vector graphics.

    42 Pencil2D alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • International

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    Pencil2D screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Keyframe Animation
    2.  Onion skinning
    3.  No Tracking
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Support for Layers
    6.  No Coding Required
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Symmetry brush
    9.  Raster graphics
    10.  QT Based

    Pencil2D VS OpenToonz

     
  11. Expressive Animator icon

    Expressive Animator

     17 likes
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    The premier editor for SVG animations. Create interactive SVG animations that run anywhere without plugins, players, or JavaScript code embedded.

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • RO flagRomania
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Expressive Animator - Walking character animation

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  No Coding Required
    3.  Keyframe Animation
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Support for Layers
    6.  Live Preview
    7.  Automated Tweening
    8.  Dark Mode
    9.  WYSIWYG Support
    10.  Support for 4K
    11.  Hardware Accelerated

    Expressive Animator VS OpenToonz

     
  12. Moho icon

    Moho

     28 likes
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    Moho has everything you need to make amazing, professional animations. Used in the OSCAR nominated films, The Breadwinner and Song of the Sea, for Best Animated Feature Film.

    24 Moho alternatives

    License model

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Moho screenshot 1

    Moho Features

    1.  Support for scripting
    2.  Support for Layers
    3.  Drawing 2D
    4.  Open PSD files
    5.  Import from Photoshop
    6.  GPU Acceleration

    Moho VS OpenToonz

     
  13. Tahoma2D icon

    Tahoma2D

     13 likes
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    Tahoma2D is a powerful program for 2D and stop motion animation. Tahoma 2D is based on OpenToonz.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Interface Overview

    Tahoma2D Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  Keyframe Animation
    3.  Animation Rigging
    4.  Drawing 2D
    5.  Stop Motion

    Tahoma2D VS OpenToonz

     
    Comments about Tahoma2D as an Alternative to OpenToonz
    erayzesen
    Positive Jan 27, 2024
    0

    It's more reduced of Opentoonz for casual works. Actually it has a good potential against Adobe Animate.

    OpenToonz Icon
    Tahoma2D icon
    • Tahoma2D is Free and Open SourceOpenToonz is also Free and Open Source
10 of 40 OpenToonz alternatives