7 Best Animation Software for Beginners in 2026

Summary: In this guide, updated for 2026, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the best options for animation software that lets you quickly create videos that grab your audience’s attention and drive success at your organization.

Animation isn’t just for movies or shows. It’s a powerful tool you can use to create impactful video content for your business—whether for learning and development programs, social media, or empowering your sales team.

But with so many options on the market, where do you start?

We created a list of the best animation software for business users, particularly beginners, to help you decide which product is best suited for your needs. We made our list based on how intuitive each tool is, how many resources and tutorial materials are available to learn the software, and whether it requires beefy hardware (expensive graphics cards, CPUs, RAM, etc.). Let’s dive in.

The best animation software for beginners in 2026

1. Vyond: An all-in-one AI video creation platform with the most user-friendly and versatile animation tools on the market
2. Animaker: DIY video tool with high-res 2K and 4K downloads
3. Powtoon: Customizable templates and animations
4. Biteable: Simple-to-use animation software
5. Procreate: Animation for artists who love their Apple pencil
6. Blender: Open-source animation tool
7. Cinema 4D: Features photorealistic rendering and an ample toolkit

1. Vyond

Vyond is a beginner-friendly, Enterprise-grade, all-in-one video creation platform with the most powerful animated video capabilities on the market.

Used by companies and teams of all sizes, Vyond makes it easy for anyone to create engaging animated videos for any business use case, including training, HR, internal communications, marketing, sales enablement and sales. Beyond animated videos, Vyond also helps teams create videos with live action footage, screen recordings, AI avatar hosts, stock photos and footage, and more.

Vyond’s platform features Vyond Go, an AI-powered script and “instant video” generator, thousands of animated video templates, and Vyond Studio, an effortless drag-and-drop interface that features a huge variety of video templates, style options, and a powerful brand management system.

With thousands of assets and customizable templates, dedicated customer support, and a robust Help Center with step-by-step tutorials, Vyond makes it easy for anyone at your company to create animated videos in a variety of business-friendly styles.

System requirements are very minimal. Regarding hardware, computers with at least 8 GB of memory running on either Windows 7 (SP1 or later) or Mac will support Vyond. For software, all you need is one of the following web browsers: Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox (version 42 or later). Also, Vyond is the only video creation software that supports enterprise-level security requirements.

Vyond pros

• Generates results quickly with AI: With Vyond Go, anyone can create polished videos about any topic in literally seconds. Users can also build an animated video using one of thousands of pre-built templates, or build from scratch in Vyond Studio. 
• Style versatility: Vyond’s all-in-one platform offers a wide range of popular animation styles, including Contemporary, Whiteboard Animation, and Business-Friendly as well as new AI-generated styles you can create with our Text to Image tool. The platform also features a wide variety of engaging non-character templates, a huge library of Shutterstock video and image assets, and allows you to upload all kinds of live footage and screen recordings and add animated elements to them.
• Beloved by customers: Vyond’s Net Promoter Score of 63 is more than double the industry average of 30. The software also has a 4.8/5 rating on G2, the highest in the category.
• Easy to translate into multiple languages: Professional and enterprise users can instantly translate video content into 80+ languages.
• Update content quickly: No need to create brand-new videos every time your organization experiences a change that requires a content tweak. Simply update your existing video with a few clicks.with our Text to Image tool. The platform also features a wide variety of engaging non-character templates, a huge library of Shutterstock video and image assets, and allows you to upload all kinds of live footage and screen recordings and add animated elements to them.

What to look out for with Vyond

• No free version beyond the free trial
• Some brand management features are available only at the Enterprise level

Key features of Vyond

One of Vyond’s key differentiators is its extreme ease of use: Vyond Go makes it possible to create short animated videos on any topic in less than a minute, no production experience required. And Vyond Studio’s drag-and-drop tools and giant template and asset library make creating video as easy as throwing together a PowerPoint.

Vyond pricing

Vyond offers a free trial and four pricing tiers beginning at $58 per month (billed annually at $699).

Final thoughts on Vyond

Vyond is both the most sophisticated and easiest-to-use animation software on the market. Trusted by businesses of all sizes, Vyond is used by 20,000 companies, including 65% of the Fortune 500. Vyond uses its cutting-edge AI-powered platform to make professional video creation easy for anyone, not just creatives and designers.

You can try Vyond for for free when you sign up for a free trial:

2. Animaker

Animaker is a DIY video tool that promises to help non-technical folks get started producing animated and live-action videos in minutes. The tool has applications in learning and development, marketing and sales, and internal communication, including courses, presentations, and explainers.

Animaker is easy to navigate and offers a library of templates, assets, music, and sound effects. Users who prefer more realism than 2D animation styles can also upload and edit their own live-action videos in the tool.

Additionally, Animaker works on Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems and requires the basics of a modern computer to run, including a web browser (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge), sufficient RAM, and a good processor for a smooth performance.

Animaker pros

• High-resolution 2K and 4K downloads
• Library of templates and video styles, including explainers, whiteboard presentations, and company communications
• Robust resource section with tutorials, tips and hacks, and product updates

Animaker cons

• Animation styles offer fewer character types, action options, and facial expressions than some competitors
• Its AI features are far less advanced than competitors
• Users on G2 complain about occasional glitches and lagging speeds
• Free plan offers limited downloads, video lengths, and other features
• Users must subscribe to a paid plan in order to access watermark-free videos

Key features of Animaker

Animaker offers video production for non-designers and non-technical folks. The tool is simple to understand and offers a variety of pricing plans. All but the lowest two tiers offer at least 2K resolution; enterprise users can create 4K resolution videos.

Animaker pricing

Animaker offers four paid plans starting at $12.50 per month (billed annually at $150) and a limited free plan with fewer features and watermarked videos. Pro and enterprise users can create 2K and 4K resolution videos and access a broader range of assets and features.

Final thoughts on Animaker

Business users who are just getting their feet wet in the world of AI-assisted video production will enjoy Animaker’s self-explanatory interface and sizable template library. However, the tool does offer more limited animation options than some of its competitors, and accessing advanced features will require a paid subscription.

3. Powtoon

Powtoon is a video animation platform that allows newbies to create professional-quality presentations, explainers, and educational videos. Choose from multiple templates in categories like Marketing & Sales, Internal Comms, Education, and HR, import assets and files, or use AI-powered script and production assistant tools to streamline your process.

This tool comes with a QuickStart Guide full of bite-size how-to videos, making it simple to pick up. Also, similar to Vyond and Animaker, it requires the basics of a modern computer to run (i.e., the latest version of your internet browser, a Windows, Mac, or Linux operating system, adequate RAM, and a good processor).

Powtoon pros

• AI-powered script, text-to-speech, and video creator tools
• Powtoon Capture tool allows video recording from webcam or screen
• Convenient interface and easy-to-use tools

Powtoon cons

• There are fewer character and expression options in animations than in some competitors
• Features like text-to-speech, character and font customization, and reseller rights are only available with the highest-level package
• Limited storage and video lengths at lower tiers

Key features of Powtoon

Powtoon offers a library of customizable templates and animations, plus the option to import assets from Photoshop and Powerpoint. The Powtoon Capture tool allows users to create presentations from their webcam or screen.

Powtoon pricing

Powtoon offers an extremely limited free version as well as three tiers of paid plans ranging from $15 per month (billed annually at $180) to $125 per month (billed annually at $1,500). All paid versions come with priority support, privacy control, and commercial use. The top tiers offer advanced AI tools and increased storage.

Final thoughts on Powtoon

Powtoon is easy to use and offers a good range of templates and options. However, some users may find animation options to be limited and experience slower speeds at longer video lengths.

4. Biteable

Biteable is a cloud-based video and animation software platform that offers more than 1,700 templates, 2.4 million stock footage clips, and a text-to-video AI tool, among other features.

For first-time users, Biteable offers several resources to help you get started, including a product demo, Quick Start Guide, and Help Center. It requires minimal hardware (a decent RAM and standard processor) and is a web-based application that runs on most browsers. Supported by Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.

Biteable pros

• Straightforward and user-friendly interface
• Well-organized library of templates and assets
• Helpful resources, including a quick-start guide and product demo

Biteable cons

• Only a 7-day free trial, shorter than the free trial tier offered by many competitors
• Paid plans start at $49 per month (billed at $588 annually), which may be too steep for some SMBs and entrepreneurs
• Limited customization options compared with competing applications

Key features of Biteable

Biteable’s most significant advantage is its streamlined interface. Biteable also offers an extensive template library, branding options, and AI tools like text-to-video.

Biteable pricing

Users can access a free 7-day trial. Paid plans start at $49 per year (billed annually at $588).

Final thoughts on Biteable

Biteable is a solid video tool and animation software package—as long as you have the budget for it. It’s user-friendly and offers various templates and customization options.

5. Procreate

Do you have a background in arts or design? If you can sketch on your iPad, you can use Procreate, which offers a robust app for drawing and rendering animated videos. Additionally, Procreate offers a handy Beginner Series of tutorial videos on their site to help you pick up the fundamentals.

The hardware and software requirements are unique compared to those of the previous tools on this list. Procreate is only supported on specific iPad models and, as of the time of publishing this article, needs iPadOS 15.4.1 or newer.

Procreate pros

• Relatively simple to use with an efficient workflow
• Timelapse workflow feature is convenient for creators who enjoy sharing their work progress
• Ideal for illustrators
• Only a one-time fee of $12.99 for the basic app

Procreate cons

• iPad only (Procreate Pocket works on certain iPhone models)
• Primarily for illustrators and artists
• Not geared toward business-related training videos

Key features of Procreate

Procreate bills itself as the complete art studio and offers a suite of features including Quickshape, Animation Assist, and Streamline, as well as over 200 brushes.

Procreate pricing

In contrast with its competitors, Procreate offers one-time pricing. Procreate Pocket, the iPhone app, costs $5.99; Procreate for iPad costs $12.99; and Procreate Dreams, the enhanced animation tool, costs $19.99.

Final thoughts on Procreate

Procreate is firmly geared toward users with previous design experience and has limitations, including only being available on iPad and iPhone. However, some users may really enjoy the app’s flexibility, intuitive interface, and professional, artistic results.

6. Blender

Unlike the other tools on this list, Blender is a free, open-source 3D animation software package that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux and supports everything from video creation to game production. Popular users of this tool include game developers, VFX and 3D artists, and architects and designers.

If you have no prior 3D animation experience, be prepared—Blender will take some time to learn and even more time to master. However, it may be worth it if your organization would benefit from having someone in-house with an advanced 3D modeling skillset.

Blender’s current recommended system requirements include:

• Processors: For Windows or Linux, 8 cores; for Mac, Apple Silicon.
• Supported operating systems: Windows 10 or Windows 11, macOS 14 (Sonoma), or Linux distribution with glibc 2.28 or newer (64-bit).
• RAM: 32 GB recommended
• GPU: For Windows or Linux, 8 GB VRAM; for Mac, GPU with Metal 2.2.

Blender pros

• Free for all users
• Large community offering a wealth of resources and tutorials
• Advanced rendering capabilities, including realistic lighting and global illumination
• A variety of animation tools, including keyframe animation and inverse kinematics

Blender cons

• The tool can be difficult to learn, especially for newbies
• Complex interface
• High system requirements
• Due to the crowd-sourced nature of support documentation, it may be occasionally challenging to find answers to questions

Key features of Blender

Blender is well-known for the quality of its sculpting and simulation tools and customizable user interface. Plus, it’s free and open-source.

Blender pricing

As an open-source product, Blender is free.

Final thoughts on Blender

If you have some design experience and are a patient learner, you’ll likely enjoy Blender’s rendering, modeling, and video editing tools. Certainly, you can’t beat the price.

7. Cinema 4D

Cinema 4D is a professional 3D animation software developed by Maxon. Frequent users include motion graphics designers and 3D artists, and they typically use it to create graphics or visual effects for film, television, or advertising.

Beginners and experts alike find the interface pretty user-friendly, though the advanced features are more difficult for new users to learn—especially for those without design experience.

To run Cinema 4D (2024) on your computer, you’ll need:

• Processors: For Windows, Intel 64-bit CPU or AMD 64-bit CPU with AVX2 support; for Mac, Intel-based Apple Macintosh with SSE4.2 support or Apple M1/M2-powered Mac. For Linux, 64-bit Linux distribution with glibc 2.17 or later.
• Supported operating systems: Windows 10 Version 20H2 or higher, Windows 11, macOS 11.7.7+ (Big Sur), 12.6+ (Monterey) or 13.3+ (Ventura), or Linux distribution with glibc 2.28 or newer (64-bit).
• RAM: 24 GB recommended
• GPU: For Windows, any of the following as a minimum: NVIDIA Maxwell GPU, AMD Polaris (AMD GCN 4), or Intel Kaby Lake or newer supporting DirectX 12 with feature level 11.0. For Mac, Metal: v2 (Mac2) or higher or Apple 7 (M1) or higher.
• Monitor resolution: 1920 x 1080 recommended minimum

Cinema 4D pros

• High-quality graphics, toolset, and render engine
• Clean, comfortable workspace
• Supports third-party renderers like Arnold and OctaneRender

Cinema 4D cons

• Steep learning curve for advanced features
• Expensive compared to competitors
• Relatively high system requirements

Key features of Cinema 4D

Cinema 4D helps even relatively new users create professional quality 3D graphics, animated videos, and VFX. The tool is also well known for its photorealistic rendering, substantial toolset, and easy-to-use interface.

Cinema 4D pricing

Maxon bundles Cinema 4D with Redshift, its rendering tool, for $81.91 per month (billed annually at $983.00). You can also access a free trial.

Final thoughts on Cinema 4D

Cinema 4D offers powerful tools and an intuitive interface, and users rave about the end results. However, it’s pricey compared with competitors and may be more advanced than some organizations need.

What is the best animation software for beginners?

With so many animation software options on the market, it can be hard to know which animation software is the best for your business, especially if you haven’t shopped for software like this before.

But for most companies looking to communicate and train more effectively, the best tool:

• Features a wide range of styles, making it easier to appeal to a wide range of audiences
• Requires minimal technical requirements
• Is reasonably priced
• And most importantly, is intuitive enough that anyone at your company—even total beginners—can easily use it

Want to see if Vyond’s AI-powered animated video platform is right for you? Try it for Free: