Pencil2D AlternativesTop Digital Painting Tools & Animation Makers like Pencil2D

Pencil2D is described as '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' and is a popular digital painting tool in the photos & graphics category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Pencil2D for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Web-based and Android apps. The best Pencil2D alternative is Animation Desk, which is free. Other great apps like Pencil2D are OpenToonz, Glaxnimate, Wick Editor and Synfig Studio.

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Pencil2D alternatives are mainly Animation Makers but may also be Vector Graphic Apps or Digital Painting Tools.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Pencil2D.
Pencil2D iconPencil2D
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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...

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Pencil2D alternatives page was last updated Jan 1, 2024
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  1. Animation Desk icon
    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.

    94 Animation Desk alternatives
    Animation Desk screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Animation Desk screenshot 1
    Animation Desk screenshot 2
    +2
    Animation Desk screenshot 3

    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 iconPencil2D Icon

    Animation Desk VS Pencil2D

    Is Animation Desk a good alternative to Pencil2D?
     
    Comments about Animation Desk as an Alternative to Pencil2D
     
    Rosalind Morris

    Animation Desk is more powerful than Pencil2D!

    Positive comment •Feb 22, 2019
    9
    Pencil2D Icon
    Animation Desk icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Animation Desk is a great Pencil2D alternative.

    • Animation Desk is the most popular Windows, Android, iPhone & iPad alternative to Pencil2D.

    • Animation Desk is the most popular free alternative to Pencil2D.

    • Animation Desk is Freemium and ProprietaryPencil2D is Free and Open Source
  2. OpenToonz icon
    OpenToonz icon

    OpenToonz

     110 likes
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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.

    40 OpenToonz alternatives
    GTS

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Digital painting
    Filming
    +4
    OpenToonz screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Pen Stabilization
    2.  Keyframe Animation
    3.  Stop Motion
    4.  Custom Brushes
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Support for scripting
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Drawing Tablet Support
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  No Tracking
    12.  Automated Tweening
    OpenToonz iconPencil2D Icon

    OpenToonz VS Pencil2D

    Is OpenToonz a good alternative to Pencil2D?
     

    • This alternative is disputed. OpenToonz is a legitimate Pencil2D alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • OpenToonz is the most popular Mac & Linux alternative to Pencil2D.

    • OpenToonz is the most popular Open Source alternative to Pencil2D.

    • OpenToonz is Free and Open SourcePencil2D is also Free and Open Source
    • OpenToonz is Privacy focusedPencil2D is not according to our users
  4. Glaxnimate icon
    Glaxnimate icon

    Glaxnimate

     37 likes
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    Glaxnimate is a vector graphics animation program which focuses on being quick and easy to use.

    15 Glaxnimate alternatives
    Glaxnimate screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Flathub
    • Snapcraft
    Main Window
    Trace Bitma
    +2
    Advanced bitmap tracing functionality

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Animate Vector Illustrations
    2.  Export to SVG
    3.  Automated Tweening
    4.  Keyframe Animation
    5.  Support for Layers
    6.  Live Preview
    7.  Support for scripting
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  No registration required
    12.  No Tracking
    Glaxnimate iconPencil2D Icon

    Glaxnimate VS Pencil2D

    Is Glaxnimate a good alternative to Pencil2D?
     
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Xara Designer Pro icon

    Xara Designer Pro

    Xara Designer Pro is a fully integrated single package solution for all your graphic design needs, for print and the web. Illustration, photo editing, DTP and document creation, web graphics and websites - Designer Pro does it a...

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  6. Wick Editor icon
    Wick Editor icon

    Wick Editor

     74 likes
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    The Wick Editor is a free and open-source tool for creating games, animations, and everything in-between. It's designed to be the most accessible tool for creating multimedia projects on the web. Your creations can run on any device with a web browser - that means mobile too.

    96 Wick Editor alternatives
    A picture of the editor with a demo!

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    The front page of www.wickeditor.com
    The About page and a design image for a new editor layout.
    +1
    Some community projects on the community page.

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for HTML5
    2.  Support for Layers
    3.  Onion skinning
    4.  Automated Tweening
    5.  Keyframe Animation
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  No registration required
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  2D Game Creation
    11.  Movie clips
    12.  Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
    Wick Editor iconPencil2D Icon

    Wick Editor VS Pencil2D

    Is Wick Editor a good alternative to Pencil2D?
     
    Comments about Wick Editor as an Alternative to Pencil2D
     
    Guest

    Wick editor is adobe flash and Pincel2d combined together

    Positive comment •Dec 1, 2020
    0
    Pencil2D Icon
    Wick Editor icon

    • This alternative is disputed. Wick Editor is a legitimate Pencil2D alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • Wick Editor is the most popular Web-based & Self-Hosted alternative to Pencil2D.

    • Wick Editor is Free and Open SourcePencil2D is also Free and Open Source
    • Wick Editor is LightweightPencil2D is not according to our users
  7. Synfig Studio icon
    Synfig Studio icon

    Synfig Studio

     126 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
    Synfig Studio screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Synfig Studio screenshot 1
    Synfig Studio screenshot 2
    +2
    Synfig Studio screenshot 3

    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 iconPencil2D Icon

    Synfig Studio VS Pencil2D

    Is Synfig Studio a good alternative to Pencil2D?
     
  8. enve icon
    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
    Official Enve Screenshot

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux

    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
    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

    enve iconPencil2D Icon

    enve VS Pencil2D

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  10. Expressive Animator icon
    Expressive Animator icon

    Expressive Animator

     15 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.

    74 Expressive Animator alternatives
    Expressive Animator - Walking character animation

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Expressive Animator - Text and Local Fonts
    Expressive Animator - demo animation
    +2
    Expressive Animator - Export Options

    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 iconPencil2D Icon

    Expressive Animator VS Pencil2D

    Is Expressive Animator a good alternative to Pencil2D?
     

    • Expressive Animator is the most popular commercial alternative to Pencil2D.

    • Expressive Animator is Paid and ProprietaryPencil2D is Free and Open Source
    • Expressive Animator is LightweightPencil2D is not according to our users
  11. Tahoma2D icon
    Tahoma2D icon

    Tahoma2D

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

    24 Tahoma2D alternatives
    Interface Overview

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    File Browser
    Flipbook
    +7
    Function Editor

    Tahoma2D Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  Keyframe Animation
    3.  Animation Rigging
    4.  Drawing 2D
    5.  Stop Motion
    Tahoma2D iconPencil2D Icon

    Tahoma2D VS Pencil2D

    Is Tahoma2D a good alternative to Pencil2D?
     
  12. Karbon icon
    Karbon icon

    Karbon

     53 likes
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    Karbon is a vector drawing application with a user interface that is easy to use, highly customizable and extensible. That makes Karbon a great application for users starting to explore the world of vector graphics as well as for artists wanting to create breathtaking vector art.

    41 Karbon alternatives
    Karbon screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • KDE Plasma
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  WYSIWYG Support
    4.  Support for Layers
    5.  Non Destructive Editing
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  Portable
    8.  KDE
    9.  High Availability
    Karbon iconPencil2D Icon

    Karbon VS Pencil2D

    Is Karbon a good alternative to Pencil2D?
     
  13. sK1 icon
    sK1 icon

    sK1

     37 likes
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    sK1 is an open source cross-platform vector graphics editor like CorelDRAW, Adobe Illustrator, or Freehand. The major feature of sK1 is a professional precise printing and prepress ready PDF output.

    32 sK1 alternatives
    sK1 screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    sK1 screenshot 1
    sK1 screenshot 2
    +4
    sK1 screenshot 3

    sK1 Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Support for Layers
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Non Destructive Editing
    5.  Portable
    Discontinued

    Last updates occurred on Aug 31, 2021

    sK1 iconPencil2D Icon

    sK1 VS Pencil2D

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  14. Kage Studio icon
    Kage Studio icon

    Kage Studio

     4 likes
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    Kage Studio is a vector-based 2D Animation cross-platform Software that can export animation to HTML5, PNG sequence, Spritesheet, and video (via FFmpeg) as well as static images to PNG and SVG.

    23 Kage Studio alternatives
    Kage Studio on Mac OS

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Mac
    Kage Studio on Windows

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for Layers
    2.  WYSIWYG Support
    3.  Automated Tweening
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Keyframe Animation
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Live Preview
    9.  Portable
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  Non Destructive Editing
    12.  No Coding Required
    Kage Studio iconPencil2D Icon

    Kage Studio VS Pencil2D

    Is Kage Studio a good alternative to Pencil2D?
     
  15. Xara Designer Pro icon
    Xara Designer Pro icon

    Xara Designer Pro

     32 likes
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    Xara Designer Pro is a fully integrated single package solution for all your graphic design needs, for print and the web. Illustration, photo editing, DTP and document creation, web graphics and websites - Designer Pro does it all!

    55 Xara Designer Pro alternatives
    Xara Designer Pro screenshot 1

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Xara Designer Pro screenshot 1
    Xara Designer Pro screenshot 2
    +3
    Xara Designer Pro screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for Layers
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  No Coding Required
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  WYSIWYG Support
    6.  Live Preview
    7.  Pressure Sensitivity
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Node Based
    10.  Custom Brushes
    11.  WYSIWYG HTML Editor
    12.  Photo effects
    Xara Designer Pro iconPencil2D Icon

    Xara Designer Pro VS Pencil2D

    Is Xara Designer Pro a good alternative to Pencil2D?
     
12 of 42 Pencil2D alternatives