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Unlock Free Animation Top Software for Windows and Mac for 2024
Unlock Free Animation: Top Software for Windows and Mac
Best 12 Free Download Animation Software for Windows and Mac
Shanoon Cox
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
In your search for quality animation software, you may have found that many of the programs cost a lot of money no matter it is 2D animation software or 3D animation editor. The good news is that you can choose free animation tools to make different animation types easily.
That is why we created a list of the best animation software on both Mac and Windows. Whether you are a professional editor or just a beginner to start making animation, you will find the tools listed below are easy to use without watermark and won’t cost money to improve your skills.
The best part is you will find these free animation programs are also very useful for content creation on Mac and Windows. Besides, we have listed the pros and cons of each software. Keep reading!
- Part 1: Best Free Animation Software for Mac
- Part 2: Best Free Animation Software for Windows
- Part 3: FAQ about Animation Software for Windows and Mac
Here we have made a table of 12 free animation software without watermark on Windows and macOS. Take a look.
6 Free Animation Software for macOS
5K-3DMiddleIt is a great tool for 3D artists6KritaDifficultPerfect software for 2D animation
| Number | Software | Difficulty Level | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Synfig Studio | Easy | Calculate vector shape to animation automatically |
| 2 | Pencil2D Animation | Easiest | Straightforward interface for beginners |
| 3 | Tupi | Middle | Its community is active to offer solutions |
| 4 | Blender | Difficult | It is a powerful animation tool to render and make modeling |
6 Free Animation Software for Windows
| Number | Software | Difficulty Level | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DAZ Studio | Difficult | For professional users with the fast animation process |
| 2 | Terragen | Middle | It can make realistic CG environments |
| 3 | Anim8or | Difficult | 3D animation is Anim8or’s main function |
| 4 | Seamless3d | Easy | It has many features for 3d modeling |
| 5 | OpenToonz | Middle | Make cartoon animation with plugins |
| 6 | Stykz | Easy | Quickly make animation if you have used Pivot StickFigure Animator |
Best Animation Software on Windows and Mac - Filmora
Looking for a simple while powerful Mac video editing tool ? We recommend using Wondershare Filmora. You can use it to create 2D/3D animated texts, shapes, or anything you like for YouTube videos.
The keyframing features will help you make animation effects smooth and precise. When exporting, you can also make it transparent.
Besides, various title templates and transitions are also available for you. Download it now to have a try! Or learn more from Wondershare Video Community .
Key features
- Create various shapes that you like
- Add keyframing to make it move
- Fine-tuning to make it smooth
- Add visual effects/text/color before export it
You can even create photo cut animation which has been very trendy on Tiktok and Instagram. Here is a video to present you how you can do it in Filmora.
Part 1 Best Free Animation Software for Mac
Listed below is free animation software on Mac. Take a look.
01 Synfig Studio - Mac Software to Animate Video
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: You can create many layers once a time and sync audio for your animation.
Con: This one needs much time to learn, especially for beginners.
An open-source 2D animation software that works on Macs, Synfig Studio delivers multiple players while you are creating content. Whether you want to add geometric, filters, distortions, or transformations, it is all possible! And thanks to the high-end bone system, you can create cut-out videos using bitmap images!
The thoughtful part is there are two download versions on the homepage: the stable version and the development version. If you want to enjoy a stable and smooth animation editing experience, choose the stable one. However, the development package gives you access to the use of the latest features.
For a novice, you can learn Synfig from step by step guide in Wikipedia and video tutorials. Four languages are available including English, Russian, Dutch, and French for a video course.
You can free download its latest version 1.3.11. The upcoming version is 1.4.
Features:
- It offers support for many layers within the animation.
- The program’s bone system means that you can easily create animations with bitmap images or vector artwork.
- It allows you to sync your creative work with any sound that you want. Has a full-featured audio editor.
02 Pencil2D Animation - Animation Program for 2D Pencil Lover
Difficulty Level: Easiest
Pro: Easy to start and make animation as the interface is user-friendly for many people.
Con: You need to set your preference every time to open it up, so it takes up some time
Pencil2D Animation is one of the simplest 2D hand-drawn tools available. It will work flawlessly on Mac computers. It is ideal for beginners, as the commands and interface are very easy to understand.
Whether you want to create a simple one, or you want something with many layers for videos on YouTube, you can use Pencil2D animation to get it done. Its timeline is easy to use at first glance. You can add and duplicate different frames on a different track.
The frequency of releasing the new version is very fast as Pencil2D is committed to bringing the lasted features to each user. The newest version is v0.6.4 (as of August 2019). Its user guide is informative with video tutorials, FAQs, and manual material.
Features:
- Lightweight and minimalistic design that makes it very easy for beginners.
- Features raster and vector workflows, with easy switching between them. You can paint and sketch as you want!
- Will run on all platforms - Mac, Windows, and Linux.
- Completely free and open source.
03 TupiTube - Free Animation Application for Mac Users
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: It supports vector illustrations. Besides, various formats are available.
Con: If you want to make 3D animation, it will fail. You can only make 2D effects.
A free software application for YouTube, Tupi will allow you to create 2D animations to your heart’s content. The tool was started by animators who wanted to create something that others could use.
It is an open-source tool, which means that users can make tweaks to the program if they have some interesting ideas. The program works on both Windows and Mac. You need to use Tupi and Papagayo to make lip-sync animation with different mouth shapes.
It also offers a solution for schools with related features including academic license, technical support, and ads-free, so many schools choose to use this one to teach kids how to make an animation video.
Features:
- Support for vector illustrations. You can add rectangles, lines, polygons, and other shapes as you please. To fill areas, just use the paint bucket.
- You can import raster images using this program.
- You can export all your finished images into different file formats.
- Support for tweeting positions, scale, shear, and rotations.
04 Blender - Need Some Time to Learn This Animation Tool
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Really powerful software that you can make for professional users.
Con: It is not easy to make image animation as it focuses on 3D.
Blender is an open-source 3D animation creation suite without a watermark. If you find that 2D is a little bit limiting, we think that you will be very happy with what this free program offers. You can take your projects to a whole new level when you can use this program on your Mac.
You can use Blender to make a video game, modeling, and high-quality animation. However, it involves a steep learning curve. Luckily, there are many tutorials to guide you through the journey. You can also ask for help in the Blender community that millions of talented people like you are there.
Features:
- Creating renders is no problem with this program.
- Modeling, such as sculpting, retopology, and creating curves is not an issue either.
- VFX and animation features are better than any option on the market.
- It offers powerful simulation tools.
- Integration with pipeline tools is easy.
05 K-3D - Best for Animation and Modeling in 3D
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: Ideal for designing simple 3D animations and models.
Con: It has an old-fashioned interface. Also, the built-render (RenderMan) feature is difficult to use by beginners.
K-3D is an animation and 3D modeling software. You can download this tool for free on your Mac. Besides, you can also install and run it on your Windows and Linux systems. If you look at the design, you will find that the software is quite old. But don’t judge a book by its cover. Why so? It is because K-3D is one of the strongest and most versatile tools for 3D artists with many options.
For example, K-3D offers extremely systematic and methodological workflows. You can easily adjust the properties of the features in real-time and get instant results. It has a node-oriented visualization pipeline to enjoy more freedom. That means you can create animation using a variety of combinations.
One of the best things about K-3D is that it has three subdivisions of animation. You can work on your model on one side while showing the other side in a mirrored form. Then, experience the final result combined together. And in case you need to make the changes to the end results, you can simply work on the first subdivision and savor automatic changes to the results.
K-3D has an advanced redo and undo mechanism to ensure you can go back or move forward to make corrections or amendments without limits. Additionally, the tool is developed keeping in mind all the industrial standards. For instance, it has complete support and integration of native RenderMan™ to its user interface. This is an excellent feature because most free animation software for Mac requires third-party render plugins.
Features:
- Parametric workflow.
- 2D and 3D animation tools.
- Allows Python and K3DScript scripting.
06 Krita - For Professional 2D Animators
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Advanced tools with numerous animation options and online training material.
Con: Not suitable for beginners.
If you love 2D animation, then you’ll surely love Krita. It is entirely free software available on Mac, Windows, and Linux. Also, it offers a full platform for drawing and frame-by-frame animation.
The number one reason for adoring Krita is its brush library. There are more than 100 professional brushes to give you a wide range of effects. Moreover, the strokes are pretty amazing and similar to Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator.
Another great thing about Krita is the brush stabilization feature designed for shaky hands. You can add a stabilizer to your chosen brush to smoothen its flow. Besides, there’s a special Dynamic Brush tool to make animation more fun. At the same time, you can also customize your brushes through different brush engines, including filter engines, color smudge engines, and many more.
Apart from the basic brush options, the preloaded vector tools are next to admire. These tools help you make great comic panels. All you need to do is choose and drag the word bubble template on your canvas. Then, make changes with the anchor point to make new shapes. At the same time, you can also add text to your animation by using the text tool.
Last but not least, there’s a wrap-around mode to create seamless patterns and textures. That means the image or drawing makes its own references along the x-axis and y-axis. This gives you the freedom to continue painting and enjoy updates to your animation instantly.
Features:
- HDR painting.
- PSD support.
- Python scripting.
- Selection and transformation tools.
- Proper group, filter, vector, and file layer management.
- Complete color management for extraordinary results.
- Drawing assistant to help you with straight lines and vanishing points.
Part 2 Best Free Animation Software for Windows
Below is free animation software on Windows. Keep reading.
01 Anireel - Easy to Use Animation Software
Difficulty Level: Easy
Anireel is a simple yet powerful Video Creativity tool used to make 2D animated explainer videos. Developed by Wondershare, one of the most popular Windows software and tool developers, Anireel uses rich, ready-to-use, and diverse assets to help one effortlessly make animated videos.
Features:
- There are tons of drag and drop characters, actions, props, text, and audio assets.
- Easy Text-to-Speech conversion via deep studying technology.
- Animate integrated and imported assets.
- Tons of templates that match many script types.
02 DAZ Studio - Free Software for 3D Lovers
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: You can make game animation for fun. It also supports GPU accelerated real-time rendering.
Con: It has a high demand for the device, but owns a steep learning curve.
Daz 3d is a powerful and completely free 3D creation tool that will let you create the short videos that you want. Whether you are using this for business or pleasure, you will find the program is very easy to understand. Within a day, you will be completely used to its interface.
3D effects are the core focus of DAZ Studio. You can build a model, render, and pose animation within the skin texture level. It has a high requirement for the device. For Windows 64 bits, its recommended RAM is 3G.
Features:
- Options for 3D morphing, animation, and rendering.
- GPU accelerated real-time rendering, which delivers the best results.
- Interactive tutorials to help you become a better 3D artist.
- Everything you make is yours, royalty-free!
03 Terragen - Use It to Make CG Animation
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: The recently updated version is the best one. Ray-traced preview is a great function to help us make animation.
Con: The interface looks complicated, but it gets easy to know after you are familiar with it.
A completely free program that you can download and install on all Windows computers and tablets, Terragen is the ideal program for you to create the 3D animations and environments that you want. If you want a photo-realistic CG environment, using Terragen is the best way to do it!
Releasing imagination instantly, Terragen Creative is the one tool you’d like to consider. You can use it to make beautiful scenery.
For advanced tools, you can choose FBX to make animation quickly. The featured image gallery on its homepage will give you a deep understanding of the final outcome you can achieve with Terragen.
Features:
- Ray-traced preview. Without watermark after exporting
- Photo-realistic clouds and ozone simulation
- Rendering is twice as fast as the previous version of the program.
- Adding terrain, objects, and shader to your final product is very easy with the intuitive interface.
04 Anim8or - Free Tool to Make 3D Modeling
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Anim8or supports 3D modeler and TrueType fonts to meet advanced needs.
Con: Beginners will find it difficult to learn.
Anim8or is a free 3D modeling program that will let you create the unique work that you want. It is a personal project from an animator, but the program does get regular updates and troubleshooting.
It is not going to give you the same features as something like Studio Max or Maya, but you will get the basics. Beginners who are getting into animations will love this program.
Anim8or is a great tool to step into 3D animation ff you think other software is too different to start. In some way, it means you need to give up some advanced features. But all in all, it’s still recommended for you.
Features:
- A full 3D modeler that allows you to create spheres, cylinders, platonic solids, and any other objects that you want.
- Features support for TrueType fonts.
- Easy to create 3D scenes and output them as video files or images.
05 Seamless3d - Open-source Free Software
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: It is an open-source 3D modeling package. The good thing is the handy infinite Undo/Redo operation.
Con: Some advanced features are missing like drawing.
Seamless3d, an open-source 3D modeling software that you can download, is among the best animation worktables if you want to create specialized images, animated videos, or 3D characters.
It supports FFmpeg video format, so you can use AVI, MP4, and more. Besides, the forum is not active compared with before, but you still can find answers from many tutorials .
Features:
- It comes with infinite undo and redo options for complete flexibility to correct mistakes.
- It allows for partitioned and seamless texture mapping for YouTube videos.
- Has a specialized tree view interface.
06 OpenToonz - Support Plug in to Make Animation Freely
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: It is open-source software, so you can change the code freely.
Con: The plug-in effects are limited.
This animation program is made for beginners on Windows. It is among the best 2D animation software in the market. You can use plug-in effects to change image style, add lights, and distort details. It supports Windows 7/8/10 only for 64 bit.
Features:
- You can add provisional colors to make your animation more colorful.
- Smooth correction without frame losing.
- Compatible with black-and-white, colored, or without binarization scanning.
7 Stykz - Simple to Use Animation Program for Beginners
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: It is the best stick figure animation if you want to make this kind of video.
Con: The UI is not modern to use and needs time to adapt to using it.
Stykz is completely free to use and without a watermark. If you have used Pivot StickFigure Animator, then you will find Stykz is similar to it, but you can import the previous .stk files to animate it again. You can use it to make animation smooth frame by frame.
With its frame-based feature, Stykz is easy to customize each frame. You can change previous and current frames to get what you want. You can download it to have a try considering its easy-to-use features.
Features:
- There is some animes file on this website, so you can have a reference.
- Edit animation in the software without using another editing window.
- You can share the final work with others including information.
Part 3 FAQ about Animation Software for Windows and Mac
01 Are Macs good for animation?
To be frank, Mac is a better choice to make animation if you want to have a smooth animation experience. For example, screen resolution is a crucial factor to make excellent animation. The good is Mac’s screen will never let you disappointed.
02 What is the best animation software for Mac?
The best animation software on mac includes Synfig Studio, Pencil2D Animation, Tupi, Blender, and more. Mentioned are free-to-use. Maya is also worth considering animation software if you are a professional user. Maya offers a 1-month free trial. After it is ended, the paid plans are month, 1-year, and 3-year.
03 Can you animate in Photoshop?
Yes, you can make basic animation in Photoshop. However, it only supports frame-based animation making. In this case, you need to use other professional software to make animation. But, you still can use Photoshop to meet your needs if you are a beginner.
Conclusion
With any of these free animation maker programs on Mac and Windows, you will have an easy time creating your next 2D or 3D video. Ensure you choose the program that has the features and compatibility that you desire. Then it is up to your creative mind to come up with stunning animations! If you want to make animation easily, you can also find inspiration through classical animated cartoon types with examples .
Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
In your search for quality animation software, you may have found that many of the programs cost a lot of money no matter it is 2D animation software or 3D animation editor. The good news is that you can choose free animation tools to make different animation types easily.
That is why we created a list of the best animation software on both Mac and Windows. Whether you are a professional editor or just a beginner to start making animation, you will find the tools listed below are easy to use without watermark and won’t cost money to improve your skills.
The best part is you will find these free animation programs are also very useful for content creation on Mac and Windows. Besides, we have listed the pros and cons of each software. Keep reading!
- Part 1: Best Free Animation Software for Mac
- Part 2: Best Free Animation Software for Windows
- Part 3: FAQ about Animation Software for Windows and Mac
Here we have made a table of 12 free animation software without watermark on Windows and macOS. Take a look.
6 Free Animation Software for macOS
5K-3DMiddleIt is a great tool for 3D artists6KritaDifficultPerfect software for 2D animation
| Number | Software | Difficulty Level | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Synfig Studio | Easy | Calculate vector shape to animation automatically |
| 2 | Pencil2D Animation | Easiest | Straightforward interface for beginners |
| 3 | Tupi | Middle | Its community is active to offer solutions |
| 4 | Blender | Difficult | It is a powerful animation tool to render and make modeling |
6 Free Animation Software for Windows
| Number | Software | Difficulty Level | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DAZ Studio | Difficult | For professional users with the fast animation process |
| 2 | Terragen | Middle | It can make realistic CG environments |
| 3 | Anim8or | Difficult | 3D animation is Anim8or’s main function |
| 4 | Seamless3d | Easy | It has many features for 3d modeling |
| 5 | OpenToonz | Middle | Make cartoon animation with plugins |
| 6 | Stykz | Easy | Quickly make animation if you have used Pivot StickFigure Animator |
Best Animation Software on Windows and Mac - Filmora
Looking for a simple while powerful Mac video editing tool ? We recommend using Wondershare Filmora. You can use it to create 2D/3D animated texts, shapes, or anything you like for YouTube videos.
The keyframing features will help you make animation effects smooth and precise. When exporting, you can also make it transparent.
Besides, various title templates and transitions are also available for you. Download it now to have a try! Or learn more from Wondershare Video Community .
Key features
- Create various shapes that you like
- Add keyframing to make it move
- Fine-tuning to make it smooth
- Add visual effects/text/color before export it
You can even create photo cut animation which has been very trendy on Tiktok and Instagram. Here is a video to present you how you can do it in Filmora.
Part 1 Best Free Animation Software for Mac
Listed below is free animation software on Mac. Take a look.
01 Synfig Studio - Mac Software to Animate Video
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: You can create many layers once a time and sync audio for your animation.
Con: This one needs much time to learn, especially for beginners.
An open-source 2D animation software that works on Macs, Synfig Studio delivers multiple players while you are creating content. Whether you want to add geometric, filters, distortions, or transformations, it is all possible! And thanks to the high-end bone system, you can create cut-out videos using bitmap images!
The thoughtful part is there are two download versions on the homepage: the stable version and the development version. If you want to enjoy a stable and smooth animation editing experience, choose the stable one. However, the development package gives you access to the use of the latest features.
For a novice, you can learn Synfig from step by step guide in Wikipedia and video tutorials. Four languages are available including English, Russian, Dutch, and French for a video course.
You can free download its latest version 1.3.11. The upcoming version is 1.4.
Features:
- It offers support for many layers within the animation.
- The program’s bone system means that you can easily create animations with bitmap images or vector artwork.
- It allows you to sync your creative work with any sound that you want. Has a full-featured audio editor.
02 Pencil2D Animation - Animation Program for 2D Pencil Lover
Difficulty Level: Easiest
Pro: Easy to start and make animation as the interface is user-friendly for many people.
Con: You need to set your preference every time to open it up, so it takes up some time
Pencil2D Animation is one of the simplest 2D hand-drawn tools available. It will work flawlessly on Mac computers. It is ideal for beginners, as the commands and interface are very easy to understand.
Whether you want to create a simple one, or you want something with many layers for videos on YouTube, you can use Pencil2D animation to get it done. Its timeline is easy to use at first glance. You can add and duplicate different frames on a different track.
The frequency of releasing the new version is very fast as Pencil2D is committed to bringing the lasted features to each user. The newest version is v0.6.4 (as of August 2019). Its user guide is informative with video tutorials, FAQs, and manual material.
Features:
- Lightweight and minimalistic design that makes it very easy for beginners.
- Features raster and vector workflows, with easy switching between them. You can paint and sketch as you want!
- Will run on all platforms - Mac, Windows, and Linux.
- Completely free and open source.
03 TupiTube - Free Animation Application for Mac Users
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: It supports vector illustrations. Besides, various formats are available.
Con: If you want to make 3D animation, it will fail. You can only make 2D effects.
A free software application for YouTube, Tupi will allow you to create 2D animations to your heart’s content. The tool was started by animators who wanted to create something that others could use.
It is an open-source tool, which means that users can make tweaks to the program if they have some interesting ideas. The program works on both Windows and Mac. You need to use Tupi and Papagayo to make lip-sync animation with different mouth shapes.
It also offers a solution for schools with related features including academic license, technical support, and ads-free, so many schools choose to use this one to teach kids how to make an animation video.
Features:
- Support for vector illustrations. You can add rectangles, lines, polygons, and other shapes as you please. To fill areas, just use the paint bucket.
- You can import raster images using this program.
- You can export all your finished images into different file formats.
- Support for tweeting positions, scale, shear, and rotations.
04 Blender - Need Some Time to Learn This Animation Tool
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Really powerful software that you can make for professional users.
Con: It is not easy to make image animation as it focuses on 3D.
Blender is an open-source 3D animation creation suite without a watermark. If you find that 2D is a little bit limiting, we think that you will be very happy with what this free program offers. You can take your projects to a whole new level when you can use this program on your Mac.
You can use Blender to make a video game, modeling, and high-quality animation. However, it involves a steep learning curve. Luckily, there are many tutorials to guide you through the journey. You can also ask for help in the Blender community that millions of talented people like you are there.
Features:
- Creating renders is no problem with this program.
- Modeling, such as sculpting, retopology, and creating curves is not an issue either.
- VFX and animation features are better than any option on the market.
- It offers powerful simulation tools.
- Integration with pipeline tools is easy.
05 K-3D - Best for Animation and Modeling in 3D
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: Ideal for designing simple 3D animations and models.
Con: It has an old-fashioned interface. Also, the built-render (RenderMan) feature is difficult to use by beginners.
K-3D is an animation and 3D modeling software. You can download this tool for free on your Mac. Besides, you can also install and run it on your Windows and Linux systems. If you look at the design, you will find that the software is quite old. But don’t judge a book by its cover. Why so? It is because K-3D is one of the strongest and most versatile tools for 3D artists with many options.
For example, K-3D offers extremely systematic and methodological workflows. You can easily adjust the properties of the features in real-time and get instant results. It has a node-oriented visualization pipeline to enjoy more freedom. That means you can create animation using a variety of combinations.
One of the best things about K-3D is that it has three subdivisions of animation. You can work on your model on one side while showing the other side in a mirrored form. Then, experience the final result combined together. And in case you need to make the changes to the end results, you can simply work on the first subdivision and savor automatic changes to the results.
K-3D has an advanced redo and undo mechanism to ensure you can go back or move forward to make corrections or amendments without limits. Additionally, the tool is developed keeping in mind all the industrial standards. For instance, it has complete support and integration of native RenderMan™ to its user interface. This is an excellent feature because most free animation software for Mac requires third-party render plugins.
Features:
- Parametric workflow.
- 2D and 3D animation tools.
- Allows Python and K3DScript scripting.
06 Krita - For Professional 2D Animators
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Advanced tools with numerous animation options and online training material.
Con: Not suitable for beginners.
If you love 2D animation, then you’ll surely love Krita. It is entirely free software available on Mac, Windows, and Linux. Also, it offers a full platform for drawing and frame-by-frame animation.
The number one reason for adoring Krita is its brush library. There are more than 100 professional brushes to give you a wide range of effects. Moreover, the strokes are pretty amazing and similar to Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator.
Another great thing about Krita is the brush stabilization feature designed for shaky hands. You can add a stabilizer to your chosen brush to smoothen its flow. Besides, there’s a special Dynamic Brush tool to make animation more fun. At the same time, you can also customize your brushes through different brush engines, including filter engines, color smudge engines, and many more.
Apart from the basic brush options, the preloaded vector tools are next to admire. These tools help you make great comic panels. All you need to do is choose and drag the word bubble template on your canvas. Then, make changes with the anchor point to make new shapes. At the same time, you can also add text to your animation by using the text tool.
Last but not least, there’s a wrap-around mode to create seamless patterns and textures. That means the image or drawing makes its own references along the x-axis and y-axis. This gives you the freedom to continue painting and enjoy updates to your animation instantly.
Features:
- HDR painting.
- PSD support.
- Python scripting.
- Selection and transformation tools.
- Proper group, filter, vector, and file layer management.
- Complete color management for extraordinary results.
- Drawing assistant to help you with straight lines and vanishing points.
Part 2 Best Free Animation Software for Windows
Below is free animation software on Windows. Keep reading.
01 Anireel - Easy to Use Animation Software
Difficulty Level: Easy
Anireel is a simple yet powerful Video Creativity tool used to make 2D animated explainer videos. Developed by Wondershare, one of the most popular Windows software and tool developers, Anireel uses rich, ready-to-use, and diverse assets to help one effortlessly make animated videos.
Features:
- There are tons of drag and drop characters, actions, props, text, and audio assets.
- Easy Text-to-Speech conversion via deep studying technology.
- Animate integrated and imported assets.
- Tons of templates that match many script types.
02 DAZ Studio - Free Software for 3D Lovers
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: You can make game animation for fun. It also supports GPU accelerated real-time rendering.
Con: It has a high demand for the device, but owns a steep learning curve.
Daz 3d is a powerful and completely free 3D creation tool that will let you create the short videos that you want. Whether you are using this for business or pleasure, you will find the program is very easy to understand. Within a day, you will be completely used to its interface.
3D effects are the core focus of DAZ Studio. You can build a model, render, and pose animation within the skin texture level. It has a high requirement for the device. For Windows 64 bits, its recommended RAM is 3G.
Features:
- Options for 3D morphing, animation, and rendering.
- GPU accelerated real-time rendering, which delivers the best results.
- Interactive tutorials to help you become a better 3D artist.
- Everything you make is yours, royalty-free!
03 Terragen - Use It to Make CG Animation
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: The recently updated version is the best one. Ray-traced preview is a great function to help us make animation.
Con: The interface looks complicated, but it gets easy to know after you are familiar with it.
A completely free program that you can download and install on all Windows computers and tablets, Terragen is the ideal program for you to create the 3D animations and environments that you want. If you want a photo-realistic CG environment, using Terragen is the best way to do it!
Releasing imagination instantly, Terragen Creative is the one tool you’d like to consider. You can use it to make beautiful scenery.
For advanced tools, you can choose FBX to make animation quickly. The featured image gallery on its homepage will give you a deep understanding of the final outcome you can achieve with Terragen.
Features:
- Ray-traced preview. Without watermark after exporting
- Photo-realistic clouds and ozone simulation
- Rendering is twice as fast as the previous version of the program.
- Adding terrain, objects, and shader to your final product is very easy with the intuitive interface.
04 Anim8or - Free Tool to Make 3D Modeling
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Anim8or supports 3D modeler and TrueType fonts to meet advanced needs.
Con: Beginners will find it difficult to learn.
Anim8or is a free 3D modeling program that will let you create the unique work that you want. It is a personal project from an animator, but the program does get regular updates and troubleshooting.
It is not going to give you the same features as something like Studio Max or Maya, but you will get the basics. Beginners who are getting into animations will love this program.
Anim8or is a great tool to step into 3D animation ff you think other software is too different to start. In some way, it means you need to give up some advanced features. But all in all, it’s still recommended for you.
Features:
- A full 3D modeler that allows you to create spheres, cylinders, platonic solids, and any other objects that you want.
- Features support for TrueType fonts.
- Easy to create 3D scenes and output them as video files or images.
05 Seamless3d - Open-source Free Software
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: It is an open-source 3D modeling package. The good thing is the handy infinite Undo/Redo operation.
Con: Some advanced features are missing like drawing.
Seamless3d, an open-source 3D modeling software that you can download, is among the best animation worktables if you want to create specialized images, animated videos, or 3D characters.
It supports FFmpeg video format, so you can use AVI, MP4, and more. Besides, the forum is not active compared with before, but you still can find answers from many tutorials .
Features:
- It comes with infinite undo and redo options for complete flexibility to correct mistakes.
- It allows for partitioned and seamless texture mapping for YouTube videos.
- Has a specialized tree view interface.
06 OpenToonz - Support Plug in to Make Animation Freely
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: It is open-source software, so you can change the code freely.
Con: The plug-in effects are limited.
This animation program is made for beginners on Windows. It is among the best 2D animation software in the market. You can use plug-in effects to change image style, add lights, and distort details. It supports Windows 7/8/10 only for 64 bit.
Features:
- You can add provisional colors to make your animation more colorful.
- Smooth correction without frame losing.
- Compatible with black-and-white, colored, or without binarization scanning.
7 Stykz - Simple to Use Animation Program for Beginners
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: It is the best stick figure animation if you want to make this kind of video.
Con: The UI is not modern to use and needs time to adapt to using it.
Stykz is completely free to use and without a watermark. If you have used Pivot StickFigure Animator, then you will find Stykz is similar to it, but you can import the previous .stk files to animate it again. You can use it to make animation smooth frame by frame.
With its frame-based feature, Stykz is easy to customize each frame. You can change previous and current frames to get what you want. You can download it to have a try considering its easy-to-use features.
Features:
- There is some animes file on this website, so you can have a reference.
- Edit animation in the software without using another editing window.
- You can share the final work with others including information.
Part 3 FAQ about Animation Software for Windows and Mac
01 Are Macs good for animation?
To be frank, Mac is a better choice to make animation if you want to have a smooth animation experience. For example, screen resolution is a crucial factor to make excellent animation. The good is Mac’s screen will never let you disappointed.
02 What is the best animation software for Mac?
The best animation software on mac includes Synfig Studio, Pencil2D Animation, Tupi, Blender, and more. Mentioned are free-to-use. Maya is also worth considering animation software if you are a professional user. Maya offers a 1-month free trial. After it is ended, the paid plans are month, 1-year, and 3-year.
03 Can you animate in Photoshop?
Yes, you can make basic animation in Photoshop. However, it only supports frame-based animation making. In this case, you need to use other professional software to make animation. But, you still can use Photoshop to meet your needs if you are a beginner.
Conclusion
With any of these free animation maker programs on Mac and Windows, you will have an easy time creating your next 2D or 3D video. Ensure you choose the program that has the features and compatibility that you desire. Then it is up to your creative mind to come up with stunning animations! If you want to make animation easily, you can also find inspiration through classical animated cartoon types with examples .
Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
In your search for quality animation software, you may have found that many of the programs cost a lot of money no matter it is 2D animation software or 3D animation editor. The good news is that you can choose free animation tools to make different animation types easily.
That is why we created a list of the best animation software on both Mac and Windows. Whether you are a professional editor or just a beginner to start making animation, you will find the tools listed below are easy to use without watermark and won’t cost money to improve your skills.
The best part is you will find these free animation programs are also very useful for content creation on Mac and Windows. Besides, we have listed the pros and cons of each software. Keep reading!
- Part 1: Best Free Animation Software for Mac
- Part 2: Best Free Animation Software for Windows
- Part 3: FAQ about Animation Software for Windows and Mac
Here we have made a table of 12 free animation software without watermark on Windows and macOS. Take a look.
6 Free Animation Software for macOS
5K-3DMiddleIt is a great tool for 3D artists6KritaDifficultPerfect software for 2D animation
| Number | Software | Difficulty Level | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Synfig Studio | Easy | Calculate vector shape to animation automatically |
| 2 | Pencil2D Animation | Easiest | Straightforward interface for beginners |
| 3 | Tupi | Middle | Its community is active to offer solutions |
| 4 | Blender | Difficult | It is a powerful animation tool to render and make modeling |
6 Free Animation Software for Windows
| Number | Software | Difficulty Level | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DAZ Studio | Difficult | For professional users with the fast animation process |
| 2 | Terragen | Middle | It can make realistic CG environments |
| 3 | Anim8or | Difficult | 3D animation is Anim8or’s main function |
| 4 | Seamless3d | Easy | It has many features for 3d modeling |
| 5 | OpenToonz | Middle | Make cartoon animation with plugins |
| 6 | Stykz | Easy | Quickly make animation if you have used Pivot StickFigure Animator |
Best Animation Software on Windows and Mac - Filmora
Looking for a simple while powerful Mac video editing tool ? We recommend using Wondershare Filmora. You can use it to create 2D/3D animated texts, shapes, or anything you like for YouTube videos.
The keyframing features will help you make animation effects smooth and precise. When exporting, you can also make it transparent.
Besides, various title templates and transitions are also available for you. Download it now to have a try! Or learn more from Wondershare Video Community .
Key features
- Create various shapes that you like
- Add keyframing to make it move
- Fine-tuning to make it smooth
- Add visual effects/text/color before export it
You can even create photo cut animation which has been very trendy on Tiktok and Instagram. Here is a video to present you how you can do it in Filmora.
Part 1 Best Free Animation Software for Mac
Listed below is free animation software on Mac. Take a look.
01 Synfig Studio - Mac Software to Animate Video
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: You can create many layers once a time and sync audio for your animation.
Con: This one needs much time to learn, especially for beginners.
An open-source 2D animation software that works on Macs, Synfig Studio delivers multiple players while you are creating content. Whether you want to add geometric, filters, distortions, or transformations, it is all possible! And thanks to the high-end bone system, you can create cut-out videos using bitmap images!
The thoughtful part is there are two download versions on the homepage: the stable version and the development version. If you want to enjoy a stable and smooth animation editing experience, choose the stable one. However, the development package gives you access to the use of the latest features.
For a novice, you can learn Synfig from step by step guide in Wikipedia and video tutorials. Four languages are available including English, Russian, Dutch, and French for a video course.
You can free download its latest version 1.3.11. The upcoming version is 1.4.
Features:
- It offers support for many layers within the animation.
- The program’s bone system means that you can easily create animations with bitmap images or vector artwork.
- It allows you to sync your creative work with any sound that you want. Has a full-featured audio editor.
02 Pencil2D Animation - Animation Program for 2D Pencil Lover
Difficulty Level: Easiest
Pro: Easy to start and make animation as the interface is user-friendly for many people.
Con: You need to set your preference every time to open it up, so it takes up some time
Pencil2D Animation is one of the simplest 2D hand-drawn tools available. It will work flawlessly on Mac computers. It is ideal for beginners, as the commands and interface are very easy to understand.
Whether you want to create a simple one, or you want something with many layers for videos on YouTube, you can use Pencil2D animation to get it done. Its timeline is easy to use at first glance. You can add and duplicate different frames on a different track.
The frequency of releasing the new version is very fast as Pencil2D is committed to bringing the lasted features to each user. The newest version is v0.6.4 (as of August 2019). Its user guide is informative with video tutorials, FAQs, and manual material.
Features:
- Lightweight and minimalistic design that makes it very easy for beginners.
- Features raster and vector workflows, with easy switching between them. You can paint and sketch as you want!
- Will run on all platforms - Mac, Windows, and Linux.
- Completely free and open source.
03 TupiTube - Free Animation Application for Mac Users
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: It supports vector illustrations. Besides, various formats are available.
Con: If you want to make 3D animation, it will fail. You can only make 2D effects.
A free software application for YouTube, Tupi will allow you to create 2D animations to your heart’s content. The tool was started by animators who wanted to create something that others could use.
It is an open-source tool, which means that users can make tweaks to the program if they have some interesting ideas. The program works on both Windows and Mac. You need to use Tupi and Papagayo to make lip-sync animation with different mouth shapes.
It also offers a solution for schools with related features including academic license, technical support, and ads-free, so many schools choose to use this one to teach kids how to make an animation video.
Features:
- Support for vector illustrations. You can add rectangles, lines, polygons, and other shapes as you please. To fill areas, just use the paint bucket.
- You can import raster images using this program.
- You can export all your finished images into different file formats.
- Support for tweeting positions, scale, shear, and rotations.
04 Blender - Need Some Time to Learn This Animation Tool
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Really powerful software that you can make for professional users.
Con: It is not easy to make image animation as it focuses on 3D.
Blender is an open-source 3D animation creation suite without a watermark. If you find that 2D is a little bit limiting, we think that you will be very happy with what this free program offers. You can take your projects to a whole new level when you can use this program on your Mac.
You can use Blender to make a video game, modeling, and high-quality animation. However, it involves a steep learning curve. Luckily, there are many tutorials to guide you through the journey. You can also ask for help in the Blender community that millions of talented people like you are there.
Features:
- Creating renders is no problem with this program.
- Modeling, such as sculpting, retopology, and creating curves is not an issue either.
- VFX and animation features are better than any option on the market.
- It offers powerful simulation tools.
- Integration with pipeline tools is easy.
05 K-3D - Best for Animation and Modeling in 3D
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: Ideal for designing simple 3D animations and models.
Con: It has an old-fashioned interface. Also, the built-render (RenderMan) feature is difficult to use by beginners.
K-3D is an animation and 3D modeling software. You can download this tool for free on your Mac. Besides, you can also install and run it on your Windows and Linux systems. If you look at the design, you will find that the software is quite old. But don’t judge a book by its cover. Why so? It is because K-3D is one of the strongest and most versatile tools for 3D artists with many options.
For example, K-3D offers extremely systematic and methodological workflows. You can easily adjust the properties of the features in real-time and get instant results. It has a node-oriented visualization pipeline to enjoy more freedom. That means you can create animation using a variety of combinations.
One of the best things about K-3D is that it has three subdivisions of animation. You can work on your model on one side while showing the other side in a mirrored form. Then, experience the final result combined together. And in case you need to make the changes to the end results, you can simply work on the first subdivision and savor automatic changes to the results.
K-3D has an advanced redo and undo mechanism to ensure you can go back or move forward to make corrections or amendments without limits. Additionally, the tool is developed keeping in mind all the industrial standards. For instance, it has complete support and integration of native RenderMan™ to its user interface. This is an excellent feature because most free animation software for Mac requires third-party render plugins.
Features:
- Parametric workflow.
- 2D and 3D animation tools.
- Allows Python and K3DScript scripting.
06 Krita - For Professional 2D Animators
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Advanced tools with numerous animation options and online training material.
Con: Not suitable for beginners.
If you love 2D animation, then you’ll surely love Krita. It is entirely free software available on Mac, Windows, and Linux. Also, it offers a full platform for drawing and frame-by-frame animation.
The number one reason for adoring Krita is its brush library. There are more than 100 professional brushes to give you a wide range of effects. Moreover, the strokes are pretty amazing and similar to Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator.
Another great thing about Krita is the brush stabilization feature designed for shaky hands. You can add a stabilizer to your chosen brush to smoothen its flow. Besides, there’s a special Dynamic Brush tool to make animation more fun. At the same time, you can also customize your brushes through different brush engines, including filter engines, color smudge engines, and many more.
Apart from the basic brush options, the preloaded vector tools are next to admire. These tools help you make great comic panels. All you need to do is choose and drag the word bubble template on your canvas. Then, make changes with the anchor point to make new shapes. At the same time, you can also add text to your animation by using the text tool.
Last but not least, there’s a wrap-around mode to create seamless patterns and textures. That means the image or drawing makes its own references along the x-axis and y-axis. This gives you the freedom to continue painting and enjoy updates to your animation instantly.
Features:
- HDR painting.
- PSD support.
- Python scripting.
- Selection and transformation tools.
- Proper group, filter, vector, and file layer management.
- Complete color management for extraordinary results.
- Drawing assistant to help you with straight lines and vanishing points.
Part 2 Best Free Animation Software for Windows
Below is free animation software on Windows. Keep reading.
01 Anireel - Easy to Use Animation Software
Difficulty Level: Easy
Anireel is a simple yet powerful Video Creativity tool used to make 2D animated explainer videos. Developed by Wondershare, one of the most popular Windows software and tool developers, Anireel uses rich, ready-to-use, and diverse assets to help one effortlessly make animated videos.
Features:
- There are tons of drag and drop characters, actions, props, text, and audio assets.
- Easy Text-to-Speech conversion via deep studying technology.
- Animate integrated and imported assets.
- Tons of templates that match many script types.
02 DAZ Studio - Free Software for 3D Lovers
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: You can make game animation for fun. It also supports GPU accelerated real-time rendering.
Con: It has a high demand for the device, but owns a steep learning curve.
Daz 3d is a powerful and completely free 3D creation tool that will let you create the short videos that you want. Whether you are using this for business or pleasure, you will find the program is very easy to understand. Within a day, you will be completely used to its interface.
3D effects are the core focus of DAZ Studio. You can build a model, render, and pose animation within the skin texture level. It has a high requirement for the device. For Windows 64 bits, its recommended RAM is 3G.
Features:
- Options for 3D morphing, animation, and rendering.
- GPU accelerated real-time rendering, which delivers the best results.
- Interactive tutorials to help you become a better 3D artist.
- Everything you make is yours, royalty-free!
03 Terragen - Use It to Make CG Animation
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: The recently updated version is the best one. Ray-traced preview is a great function to help us make animation.
Con: The interface looks complicated, but it gets easy to know after you are familiar with it.
A completely free program that you can download and install on all Windows computers and tablets, Terragen is the ideal program for you to create the 3D animations and environments that you want. If you want a photo-realistic CG environment, using Terragen is the best way to do it!
Releasing imagination instantly, Terragen Creative is the one tool you’d like to consider. You can use it to make beautiful scenery.
For advanced tools, you can choose FBX to make animation quickly. The featured image gallery on its homepage will give you a deep understanding of the final outcome you can achieve with Terragen.
Features:
- Ray-traced preview. Without watermark after exporting
- Photo-realistic clouds and ozone simulation
- Rendering is twice as fast as the previous version of the program.
- Adding terrain, objects, and shader to your final product is very easy with the intuitive interface.
04 Anim8or - Free Tool to Make 3D Modeling
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Anim8or supports 3D modeler and TrueType fonts to meet advanced needs.
Con: Beginners will find it difficult to learn.
Anim8or is a free 3D modeling program that will let you create the unique work that you want. It is a personal project from an animator, but the program does get regular updates and troubleshooting.
It is not going to give you the same features as something like Studio Max or Maya, but you will get the basics. Beginners who are getting into animations will love this program.
Anim8or is a great tool to step into 3D animation ff you think other software is too different to start. In some way, it means you need to give up some advanced features. But all in all, it’s still recommended for you.
Features:
- A full 3D modeler that allows you to create spheres, cylinders, platonic solids, and any other objects that you want.
- Features support for TrueType fonts.
- Easy to create 3D scenes and output them as video files or images.
05 Seamless3d - Open-source Free Software
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: It is an open-source 3D modeling package. The good thing is the handy infinite Undo/Redo operation.
Con: Some advanced features are missing like drawing.
Seamless3d, an open-source 3D modeling software that you can download, is among the best animation worktables if you want to create specialized images, animated videos, or 3D characters.
It supports FFmpeg video format, so you can use AVI, MP4, and more. Besides, the forum is not active compared with before, but you still can find answers from many tutorials .
Features:
- It comes with infinite undo and redo options for complete flexibility to correct mistakes.
- It allows for partitioned and seamless texture mapping for YouTube videos.
- Has a specialized tree view interface.
06 OpenToonz - Support Plug in to Make Animation Freely
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: It is open-source software, so you can change the code freely.
Con: The plug-in effects are limited.
This animation program is made for beginners on Windows. It is among the best 2D animation software in the market. You can use plug-in effects to change image style, add lights, and distort details. It supports Windows 7/8/10 only for 64 bit.
Features:
- You can add provisional colors to make your animation more colorful.
- Smooth correction without frame losing.
- Compatible with black-and-white, colored, or without binarization scanning.
7 Stykz - Simple to Use Animation Program for Beginners
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: It is the best stick figure animation if you want to make this kind of video.
Con: The UI is not modern to use and needs time to adapt to using it.
Stykz is completely free to use and without a watermark. If you have used Pivot StickFigure Animator, then you will find Stykz is similar to it, but you can import the previous .stk files to animate it again. You can use it to make animation smooth frame by frame.
With its frame-based feature, Stykz is easy to customize each frame. You can change previous and current frames to get what you want. You can download it to have a try considering its easy-to-use features.
Features:
- There is some animes file on this website, so you can have a reference.
- Edit animation in the software without using another editing window.
- You can share the final work with others including information.
Part 3 FAQ about Animation Software for Windows and Mac
01 Are Macs good for animation?
To be frank, Mac is a better choice to make animation if you want to have a smooth animation experience. For example, screen resolution is a crucial factor to make excellent animation. The good is Mac’s screen will never let you disappointed.
02 What is the best animation software for Mac?
The best animation software on mac includes Synfig Studio, Pencil2D Animation, Tupi, Blender, and more. Mentioned are free-to-use. Maya is also worth considering animation software if you are a professional user. Maya offers a 1-month free trial. After it is ended, the paid plans are month, 1-year, and 3-year.
03 Can you animate in Photoshop?
Yes, you can make basic animation in Photoshop. However, it only supports frame-based animation making. In this case, you need to use other professional software to make animation. But, you still can use Photoshop to meet your needs if you are a beginner.
Conclusion
With any of these free animation maker programs on Mac and Windows, you will have an easy time creating your next 2D or 3D video. Ensure you choose the program that has the features and compatibility that you desire. Then it is up to your creative mind to come up with stunning animations! If you want to make animation easily, you can also find inspiration through classical animated cartoon types with examples .
Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
In your search for quality animation software, you may have found that many of the programs cost a lot of money no matter it is 2D animation software or 3D animation editor. The good news is that you can choose free animation tools to make different animation types easily.
That is why we created a list of the best animation software on both Mac and Windows. Whether you are a professional editor or just a beginner to start making animation, you will find the tools listed below are easy to use without watermark and won’t cost money to improve your skills.
The best part is you will find these free animation programs are also very useful for content creation on Mac and Windows. Besides, we have listed the pros and cons of each software. Keep reading!
- Part 1: Best Free Animation Software for Mac
- Part 2: Best Free Animation Software for Windows
- Part 3: FAQ about Animation Software for Windows and Mac
Here we have made a table of 12 free animation software without watermark on Windows and macOS. Take a look.
6 Free Animation Software for macOS
5K-3DMiddleIt is a great tool for 3D artists6KritaDifficultPerfect software for 2D animation
| Number | Software | Difficulty Level | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Synfig Studio | Easy | Calculate vector shape to animation automatically |
| 2 | Pencil2D Animation | Easiest | Straightforward interface for beginners |
| 3 | Tupi | Middle | Its community is active to offer solutions |
| 4 | Blender | Difficult | It is a powerful animation tool to render and make modeling |
6 Free Animation Software for Windows
| Number | Software | Difficulty Level | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DAZ Studio | Difficult | For professional users with the fast animation process |
| 2 | Terragen | Middle | It can make realistic CG environments |
| 3 | Anim8or | Difficult | 3D animation is Anim8or’s main function |
| 4 | Seamless3d | Easy | It has many features for 3d modeling |
| 5 | OpenToonz | Middle | Make cartoon animation with plugins |
| 6 | Stykz | Easy | Quickly make animation if you have used Pivot StickFigure Animator |
Best Animation Software on Windows and Mac - Filmora
Looking for a simple while powerful Mac video editing tool ? We recommend using Wondershare Filmora. You can use it to create 2D/3D animated texts, shapes, or anything you like for YouTube videos.
The keyframing features will help you make animation effects smooth and precise. When exporting, you can also make it transparent.
Besides, various title templates and transitions are also available for you. Download it now to have a try! Or learn more from Wondershare Video Community .
Key features
- Create various shapes that you like
- Add keyframing to make it move
- Fine-tuning to make it smooth
- Add visual effects/text/color before export it
You can even create photo cut animation which has been very trendy on Tiktok and Instagram. Here is a video to present you how you can do it in Filmora.
Part 1 Best Free Animation Software for Mac
Listed below is free animation software on Mac. Take a look.
01 Synfig Studio - Mac Software to Animate Video
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: You can create many layers once a time and sync audio for your animation.
Con: This one needs much time to learn, especially for beginners.
An open-source 2D animation software that works on Macs, Synfig Studio delivers multiple players while you are creating content. Whether you want to add geometric, filters, distortions, or transformations, it is all possible! And thanks to the high-end bone system, you can create cut-out videos using bitmap images!
The thoughtful part is there are two download versions on the homepage: the stable version and the development version. If you want to enjoy a stable and smooth animation editing experience, choose the stable one. However, the development package gives you access to the use of the latest features.
For a novice, you can learn Synfig from step by step guide in Wikipedia and video tutorials. Four languages are available including English, Russian, Dutch, and French for a video course.
You can free download its latest version 1.3.11. The upcoming version is 1.4.
Features:
- It offers support for many layers within the animation.
- The program’s bone system means that you can easily create animations with bitmap images or vector artwork.
- It allows you to sync your creative work with any sound that you want. Has a full-featured audio editor.
02 Pencil2D Animation - Animation Program for 2D Pencil Lover
Difficulty Level: Easiest
Pro: Easy to start and make animation as the interface is user-friendly for many people.
Con: You need to set your preference every time to open it up, so it takes up some time
Pencil2D Animation is one of the simplest 2D hand-drawn tools available. It will work flawlessly on Mac computers. It is ideal for beginners, as the commands and interface are very easy to understand.
Whether you want to create a simple one, or you want something with many layers for videos on YouTube, you can use Pencil2D animation to get it done. Its timeline is easy to use at first glance. You can add and duplicate different frames on a different track.
The frequency of releasing the new version is very fast as Pencil2D is committed to bringing the lasted features to each user. The newest version is v0.6.4 (as of August 2019). Its user guide is informative with video tutorials, FAQs, and manual material.
Features:
- Lightweight and minimalistic design that makes it very easy for beginners.
- Features raster and vector workflows, with easy switching between them. You can paint and sketch as you want!
- Will run on all platforms - Mac, Windows, and Linux.
- Completely free and open source.
03 TupiTube - Free Animation Application for Mac Users
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: It supports vector illustrations. Besides, various formats are available.
Con: If you want to make 3D animation, it will fail. You can only make 2D effects.
A free software application for YouTube, Tupi will allow you to create 2D animations to your heart’s content. The tool was started by animators who wanted to create something that others could use.
It is an open-source tool, which means that users can make tweaks to the program if they have some interesting ideas. The program works on both Windows and Mac. You need to use Tupi and Papagayo to make lip-sync animation with different mouth shapes.
It also offers a solution for schools with related features including academic license, technical support, and ads-free, so many schools choose to use this one to teach kids how to make an animation video.
Features:
- Support for vector illustrations. You can add rectangles, lines, polygons, and other shapes as you please. To fill areas, just use the paint bucket.
- You can import raster images using this program.
- You can export all your finished images into different file formats.
- Support for tweeting positions, scale, shear, and rotations.
04 Blender - Need Some Time to Learn This Animation Tool
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Really powerful software that you can make for professional users.
Con: It is not easy to make image animation as it focuses on 3D.
Blender is an open-source 3D animation creation suite without a watermark. If you find that 2D is a little bit limiting, we think that you will be very happy with what this free program offers. You can take your projects to a whole new level when you can use this program on your Mac.
You can use Blender to make a video game, modeling, and high-quality animation. However, it involves a steep learning curve. Luckily, there are many tutorials to guide you through the journey. You can also ask for help in the Blender community that millions of talented people like you are there.
Features:
- Creating renders is no problem with this program.
- Modeling, such as sculpting, retopology, and creating curves is not an issue either.
- VFX and animation features are better than any option on the market.
- It offers powerful simulation tools.
- Integration with pipeline tools is easy.
05 K-3D - Best for Animation and Modeling in 3D
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: Ideal for designing simple 3D animations and models.
Con: It has an old-fashioned interface. Also, the built-render (RenderMan) feature is difficult to use by beginners.
K-3D is an animation and 3D modeling software. You can download this tool for free on your Mac. Besides, you can also install and run it on your Windows and Linux systems. If you look at the design, you will find that the software is quite old. But don’t judge a book by its cover. Why so? It is because K-3D is one of the strongest and most versatile tools for 3D artists with many options.
For example, K-3D offers extremely systematic and methodological workflows. You can easily adjust the properties of the features in real-time and get instant results. It has a node-oriented visualization pipeline to enjoy more freedom. That means you can create animation using a variety of combinations.
One of the best things about K-3D is that it has three subdivisions of animation. You can work on your model on one side while showing the other side in a mirrored form. Then, experience the final result combined together. And in case you need to make the changes to the end results, you can simply work on the first subdivision and savor automatic changes to the results.
K-3D has an advanced redo and undo mechanism to ensure you can go back or move forward to make corrections or amendments without limits. Additionally, the tool is developed keeping in mind all the industrial standards. For instance, it has complete support and integration of native RenderMan™ to its user interface. This is an excellent feature because most free animation software for Mac requires third-party render plugins.
Features:
- Parametric workflow.
- 2D and 3D animation tools.
- Allows Python and K3DScript scripting.
06 Krita - For Professional 2D Animators
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Advanced tools with numerous animation options and online training material.
Con: Not suitable for beginners.
If you love 2D animation, then you’ll surely love Krita. It is entirely free software available on Mac, Windows, and Linux. Also, it offers a full platform for drawing and frame-by-frame animation.
The number one reason for adoring Krita is its brush library. There are more than 100 professional brushes to give you a wide range of effects. Moreover, the strokes are pretty amazing and similar to Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator.
Another great thing about Krita is the brush stabilization feature designed for shaky hands. You can add a stabilizer to your chosen brush to smoothen its flow. Besides, there’s a special Dynamic Brush tool to make animation more fun. At the same time, you can also customize your brushes through different brush engines, including filter engines, color smudge engines, and many more.
Apart from the basic brush options, the preloaded vector tools are next to admire. These tools help you make great comic panels. All you need to do is choose and drag the word bubble template on your canvas. Then, make changes with the anchor point to make new shapes. At the same time, you can also add text to your animation by using the text tool.
Last but not least, there’s a wrap-around mode to create seamless patterns and textures. That means the image or drawing makes its own references along the x-axis and y-axis. This gives you the freedom to continue painting and enjoy updates to your animation instantly.
Features:
- HDR painting.
- PSD support.
- Python scripting.
- Selection and transformation tools.
- Proper group, filter, vector, and file layer management.
- Complete color management for extraordinary results.
- Drawing assistant to help you with straight lines and vanishing points.
Part 2 Best Free Animation Software for Windows
Below is free animation software on Windows. Keep reading.
01 Anireel - Easy to Use Animation Software
Difficulty Level: Easy
Anireel is a simple yet powerful Video Creativity tool used to make 2D animated explainer videos. Developed by Wondershare, one of the most popular Windows software and tool developers, Anireel uses rich, ready-to-use, and diverse assets to help one effortlessly make animated videos.
Features:
- There are tons of drag and drop characters, actions, props, text, and audio assets.
- Easy Text-to-Speech conversion via deep studying technology.
- Animate integrated and imported assets.
- Tons of templates that match many script types.
02 DAZ Studio - Free Software for 3D Lovers
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: You can make game animation for fun. It also supports GPU accelerated real-time rendering.
Con: It has a high demand for the device, but owns a steep learning curve.
Daz 3d is a powerful and completely free 3D creation tool that will let you create the short videos that you want. Whether you are using this for business or pleasure, you will find the program is very easy to understand. Within a day, you will be completely used to its interface.
3D effects are the core focus of DAZ Studio. You can build a model, render, and pose animation within the skin texture level. It has a high requirement for the device. For Windows 64 bits, its recommended RAM is 3G.
Features:
- Options for 3D morphing, animation, and rendering.
- GPU accelerated real-time rendering, which delivers the best results.
- Interactive tutorials to help you become a better 3D artist.
- Everything you make is yours, royalty-free!
03 Terragen - Use It to Make CG Animation
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: The recently updated version is the best one. Ray-traced preview is a great function to help us make animation.
Con: The interface looks complicated, but it gets easy to know after you are familiar with it.
A completely free program that you can download and install on all Windows computers and tablets, Terragen is the ideal program for you to create the 3D animations and environments that you want. If you want a photo-realistic CG environment, using Terragen is the best way to do it!
Releasing imagination instantly, Terragen Creative is the one tool you’d like to consider. You can use it to make beautiful scenery.
For advanced tools, you can choose FBX to make animation quickly. The featured image gallery on its homepage will give you a deep understanding of the final outcome you can achieve with Terragen.
Features:
- Ray-traced preview. Without watermark after exporting
- Photo-realistic clouds and ozone simulation
- Rendering is twice as fast as the previous version of the program.
- Adding terrain, objects, and shader to your final product is very easy with the intuitive interface.
04 Anim8or - Free Tool to Make 3D Modeling
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Pro: Anim8or supports 3D modeler and TrueType fonts to meet advanced needs.
Con: Beginners will find it difficult to learn.
Anim8or is a free 3D modeling program that will let you create the unique work that you want. It is a personal project from an animator, but the program does get regular updates and troubleshooting.
It is not going to give you the same features as something like Studio Max or Maya, but you will get the basics. Beginners who are getting into animations will love this program.
Anim8or is a great tool to step into 3D animation ff you think other software is too different to start. In some way, it means you need to give up some advanced features. But all in all, it’s still recommended for you.
Features:
- A full 3D modeler that allows you to create spheres, cylinders, platonic solids, and any other objects that you want.
- Features support for TrueType fonts.
- Easy to create 3D scenes and output them as video files or images.
05 Seamless3d - Open-source Free Software
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: It is an open-source 3D modeling package. The good thing is the handy infinite Undo/Redo operation.
Con: Some advanced features are missing like drawing.
Seamless3d, an open-source 3D modeling software that you can download, is among the best animation worktables if you want to create specialized images, animated videos, or 3D characters.
It supports FFmpeg video format, so you can use AVI, MP4, and more. Besides, the forum is not active compared with before, but you still can find answers from many tutorials .
Features:
- It comes with infinite undo and redo options for complete flexibility to correct mistakes.
- It allows for partitioned and seamless texture mapping for YouTube videos.
- Has a specialized tree view interface.
06 OpenToonz - Support Plug in to Make Animation Freely
Difficulty Level: Middle
Pro: It is open-source software, so you can change the code freely.
Con: The plug-in effects are limited.
This animation program is made for beginners on Windows. It is among the best 2D animation software in the market. You can use plug-in effects to change image style, add lights, and distort details. It supports Windows 7/8/10 only for 64 bit.
Features:
- You can add provisional colors to make your animation more colorful.
- Smooth correction without frame losing.
- Compatible with black-and-white, colored, or without binarization scanning.
7 Stykz - Simple to Use Animation Program for Beginners
Difficulty Level: Easy
Pro: It is the best stick figure animation if you want to make this kind of video.
Con: The UI is not modern to use and needs time to adapt to using it.
Stykz is completely free to use and without a watermark. If you have used Pivot StickFigure Animator, then you will find Stykz is similar to it, but you can import the previous .stk files to animate it again. You can use it to make animation smooth frame by frame.
With its frame-based feature, Stykz is easy to customize each frame. You can change previous and current frames to get what you want. You can download it to have a try considering its easy-to-use features.
Features:
- There is some animes file on this website, so you can have a reference.
- Edit animation in the software without using another editing window.
- You can share the final work with others including information.
Part 3 FAQ about Animation Software for Windows and Mac
01 Are Macs good for animation?
To be frank, Mac is a better choice to make animation if you want to have a smooth animation experience. For example, screen resolution is a crucial factor to make excellent animation. The good is Mac’s screen will never let you disappointed.
02 What is the best animation software for Mac?
The best animation software on mac includes Synfig Studio, Pencil2D Animation, Tupi, Blender, and more. Mentioned are free-to-use. Maya is also worth considering animation software if you are a professional user. Maya offers a 1-month free trial. After it is ended, the paid plans are month, 1-year, and 3-year.
03 Can you animate in Photoshop?
Yes, you can make basic animation in Photoshop. However, it only supports frame-based animation making. In this case, you need to use other professional software to make animation. But, you still can use Photoshop to meet your needs if you are a beginner.
Conclusion
With any of these free animation maker programs on Mac and Windows, you will have an easy time creating your next 2D or 3D video. Ensure you choose the program that has the features and compatibility that you desire. Then it is up to your creative mind to come up with stunning animations! If you want to make animation easily, you can also find inspiration through classical animated cartoon types with examples .
Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Shanoon Cox
Discover the Best 3D Video Editing Programs for Professionals
Best Video Editor for Beginners on Windows and Mac
Wondershare Filmora is one of the most popular video editing software among YouTubers , download and have a try.
3D videos are in trend these days. If you want to give a three-dimensional effect to your videos, it’s time to look for the best 3D video makers. It’s not just the film industry that uses 3D video editors, but you will see companies, brands, and video makers creating 3D videos as well to showcase their products, services, and more. So, to join this bandwagon, you will first have to find the best 3d video makers, and if that’s what you are looking for, you are in for a treat because this post will introduce you to the top 10 3D video editors. Keep reading to know what these apps are.
In this article
01 Best 3D Video Makers You Should Know [Free and Paid]
Part 1: Best 3D Video Makers You Should Know [Free and Paid]
1. Blender
Supported System: Windows, macOS, and Linux
Blender is a leading 3D video editor and is preferred by many. This is an open-source 3D video editor and is free to use. This award-winning 3D animation tool is extremely popular within the animation creation communities. It works seamlessly on Windows, macOS, and Linux. If you have any queries about how it works or want some advice on what else you can do, Blender has a massive community that is always willing to help you out. You can adjust the layouts, colors, font size, and more. It’s a professional tool and is not recommended for novice 3D video makers.
Key Features
- Blender is an open-source video editing tool with tons of features.
- The edited videos are always of high quality.
- Keyframes, transitions, adjustment layers, and more.
2. Xara 3D Maker
Supported Systems: Mac OS and Windows
Unlike the traditional 3D video editors, Xara 3D Maker makes things easy for you. It lets you create high-quality 3D graphics and tests. Whether you want to create a 3D video for a web page, movie, presentation, etc., with Xara 3D Maker, you will have no difficulty. You can do extrude, real-time positioning, pick an animation type, and more. The interface is easy to understand and comes with all the functionalities needed to create a 3D video. A free trial is available.
Key Features
- Xara 3D Maker provides you with more than 700 templates.
- You can choose a few objects to make it animated or the complete video.
- You can move the 3D objects as per your requirements.
3. Aurora 3D Animation Maker
Supported Systems: Mac OS and Windows
Aurora 3D Animation Maker is not a free 3D video maker and is fully equipped with multiple features that will let you create fantastic 3D videos without investing a lot of time. Whether you are a novice or a professional video maker, you will not face any difficulty in using Aurora 3D Animation Maker. The 3D graphics mode feature is fantastic because it lets you change the animation mode swiftly, meaning you can switch from 3D to 2D and vice versa. However, you will have to buy a license to use Aurora 3D Animation Maker. One license will cost you $69.95.
Key Features
- Keyframe animation lets you control different aspects of animation efficiently.
- The tool is equipped with multiple animation templates.
- The 3D graphic mode allows you to change from 3D to 2D.
4. Maxon
Supported Systems: Windows, macOS, and Linux
Maxon is a fantastic 3D video editor that allows users to quickly create a stunning 3D video. This powerful tool is easy to use, and the interface is petty intuitive. This is a Microsoft 3D movie maker, and you need to pay $149.00 per month if billed monthly, but if you choose the annual plan, you will pay $99.91 per month. Maxon is an ideal 3D movie maker for both professionals and novices. Some of the features you will get with Maxon are 3D animation, motion design, VFX, GPU rendering.
Key Features
- It works fast and is a powerful 3D video editing and making tool.
- It is equipped with GPU-accelerated rendering permits.
- The global illumination feature lets you create more realistic and accurate visuals.
5. Adobe Character Animator
Supported Systems: Windows and macOS
If you want to create animated characters based on someone’s facial expressions and faces, Adobe Character Animator will be an ideal choice for you. Adobe Character Animator is designed to help users create professional 3D videos. You can use the webcam to use your face and facial expressions on the animated character. Not just this, you can even add voice lines to the animated videos, and that too in real-time. Adobe Character Animator will cost you $54.41/month.
Key Features
- Adobe Character Animator lets you do full-body animation efficiently.
- You can add audio to your 3D animation videos.
- You can start a project by using a predesigned character as well.
6. Autodesk MotionBuilder
Supported Systems: Windows and Linux
Autodesk MotionBuilder is an intelligent and professional 3D video editor and maker that allows you to work on skeletal and facial animation. So, whether you want to create animated animals or characters, Autodesk MotionBuilder will let you do it all. The best part about MotionBuilder is that it allows you to create movements and actions in real-time. The only drawback of MotionBuilder is its price. It costs $1950 per year. So, if you don’t have a budget issue and want to invest in a high-quality 3D video maker, go for it.
Key Features
- It is equipped with a real-time 3D engine to create realistic character movements.
- The tools let you do motion capture editing.
- For easy access to data transfer, the files get saved in FBX format.
7. Jahshaka Studio
Supported Systems: Linux and Windows
Jahshaka comes with multiple royalty-free assets and scenes. In addition, this open-source 3D video maker allows you to do 3D animation in real-time. This open-source software works seamlessly on Windows and Linux. You can download Jahshaka today and start making creative 3D films, animations, and VRs. This is an immersive 3D content creation tool with multiple features.
Key Features
- Jahshaka comes equipped with playback and preview buttons.
- You can use it to create different characters and avatars.
- You will find multiple 3D content creation materials and effects.
8. Tipard video converter
Supported Systems: macOS and Windows
Whether you have 3D animation editing knowledge or not, Tipard video converter will make things easy for you. This 3D animation editor is available for both Windows and Mac users, and for Mac, you get a 90-day money-back guarantee. It’s essentially a video converter but comes with multiple video editing features, one of them being the 3D animation feature. The animated video that you will create can be converted to various formats. Once you download the software, you just need to select the 3D Master tool and get started. One month’s license for Tipard video converter will cost you $28.00.
Key Features
- Tipard video converter allows you to create fantastic 3D animation videos.
- The software comes along with robust editing features.
- You can convert the animated video to different video formats.
9. Vidmore Video Converter
Supported Systems: macOS and Windows
Vidmore Video Converter is available for $19.95 per month for one PC. It comes along with a multicore processor and can easily create 3D films. This is a lightweight video editing tool with standard features, such as effects, crop, rotate, trim, and much more. You can edit your favorite 3D video on the go and quickly save it in different video formats, such as MOV, MKV, MP4, etc.
Key Features
- Vidmore Video Converter allows you to edit videos quickly and even compress them to a smaller size.
- The edited file won’t lose its original video quality.
- Vidmore Video Converter is equipped with robust video editing tools.
10. EaseFab 3D Video Converter
Supported Systems: macOS and Windows
EaseFab 3D video converter allows you to make 3D video from 2D video easily. All you need to do is upload the source 2D video, and then choose the 3D output format to start the conversion. This video converter can convert almost all popular formats to 5 types of 3D videos, including Anaglyph(Red/Cyan), Side by Side, Side by Side (half-width), Top and Bottom, and Top and Bottom (half-height).
Keyfeatures:
- EaseFab allows you to convert standard 2D video to 3D video, or convert 3D video to 2D;
- Supports multimedia players on iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, etc.
So, these are the ten best 3D video makers that you can try. All of them come with unique features, and each one of them allows you to work on 3D videos without any hassle.
Part 2: FAQs About 3D Movie Makers
1. Which 3D Movie Maker software is the easiest to use?
All the video editing tools you can see here are easy to use. However, Autodesk MotionBuilder and Blender are better for people who are experienced. Beginners can try Vidmore Video Converter and Tipard video converter.
2. Should I use 3D Movie Maker freeware or paid ones?
It depends on your requirements. Both paid and freeware video editing tools will allow you to edit your 3D animation videos, but if you have additional requirements and looking for an advanced video editing tool, paid ones will be better suitable. Consider the video requirements you have, and accordingly choose a paid or freeware 3D video editor.
3D videos are in trend these days. If you want to give a three-dimensional effect to your videos, it’s time to look for the best 3D video makers. It’s not just the film industry that uses 3D video editors, but you will see companies, brands, and video makers creating 3D videos as well to showcase their products, services, and more. So, to join this bandwagon, you will first have to find the best 3d video makers, and if that’s what you are looking for, you are in for a treat because this post will introduce you to the top 10 3D video editors. Keep reading to know what these apps are.
In this article
01 Best 3D Video Makers You Should Know [Free and Paid]
Part 1: Best 3D Video Makers You Should Know [Free and Paid]
1. Blender
Supported System: Windows, macOS, and Linux
Blender is a leading 3D video editor and is preferred by many. This is an open-source 3D video editor and is free to use. This award-winning 3D animation tool is extremely popular within the animation creation communities. It works seamlessly on Windows, macOS, and Linux. If you have any queries about how it works or want some advice on what else you can do, Blender has a massive community that is always willing to help you out. You can adjust the layouts, colors, font size, and more. It’s a professional tool and is not recommended for novice 3D video makers.
Key Features
- Blender is an open-source video editing tool with tons of features.
- The edited videos are always of high quality.
- Keyframes, transitions, adjustment layers, and more.
2. Xara 3D Maker
Supported Systems: Mac OS and Windows
Unlike the traditional 3D video editors, Xara 3D Maker makes things easy for you. It lets you create high-quality 3D graphics and tests. Whether you want to create a 3D video for a web page, movie, presentation, etc., with Xara 3D Maker, you will have no difficulty. You can do extrude, real-time positioning, pick an animation type, and more. The interface is easy to understand and comes with all the functionalities needed to create a 3D video. A free trial is available.
Key Features
- Xara 3D Maker provides you with more than 700 templates.
- You can choose a few objects to make it animated or the complete video.
- You can move the 3D objects as per your requirements.
3. Aurora 3D Animation Maker
Supported Systems: Mac OS and Windows
Aurora 3D Animation Maker is not a free 3D video maker and is fully equipped with multiple features that will let you create fantastic 3D videos without investing a lot of time. Whether you are a novice or a professional video maker, you will not face any difficulty in using Aurora 3D Animation Maker. The 3D graphics mode feature is fantastic because it lets you change the animation mode swiftly, meaning you can switch from 3D to 2D and vice versa. However, you will have to buy a license to use Aurora 3D Animation Maker. One license will cost you $69.95.
Key Features
- Keyframe animation lets you control different aspects of animation efficiently.
- The tool is equipped with multiple animation templates.
- The 3D graphic mode allows you to change from 3D to 2D.
4. Maxon
Supported Systems: Windows, macOS, and Linux
Maxon is a fantastic 3D video editor that allows users to quickly create a stunning 3D video. This powerful tool is easy to use, and the interface is petty intuitive. This is a Microsoft 3D movie maker, and you need to pay $149.00 per month if billed monthly, but if you choose the annual plan, you will pay $99.91 per month. Maxon is an ideal 3D movie maker for both professionals and novices. Some of the features you will get with Maxon are 3D animation, motion design, VFX, GPU rendering.
Key Features
- It works fast and is a powerful 3D video editing and making tool.
- It is equipped with GPU-accelerated rendering permits.
- The global illumination feature lets you create more realistic and accurate visuals.
5. Adobe Character Animator
Supported Systems: Windows and macOS
If you want to create animated characters based on someone’s facial expressions and faces, Adobe Character Animator will be an ideal choice for you. Adobe Character Animator is designed to help users create professional 3D videos. You can use the webcam to use your face and facial expressions on the animated character. Not just this, you can even add voice lines to the animated videos, and that too in real-time. Adobe Character Animator will cost you $54.41/month.
Key Features
- Adobe Character Animator lets you do full-body animation efficiently.
- You can add audio to your 3D animation videos.
- You can start a project by using a predesigned character as well.
6. Autodesk MotionBuilder
Supported Systems: Windows and Linux
Autodesk MotionBuilder is an intelligent and professional 3D video editor and maker that allows you to work on skeletal and facial animation. So, whether you want to create animated animals or characters, Autodesk MotionBuilder will let you do it all. The best part about MotionBuilder is that it allows you to create movements and actions in real-time. The only drawback of MotionBuilder is its price. It costs $1950 per year. So, if you don’t have a budget issue and want to invest in a high-quality 3D video maker, go for it.
Key Features
- It is equipped with a real-time 3D engine to create realistic character movements.
- The tools let you do motion capture editing.
- For easy access to data transfer, the files get saved in FBX format.
7. Jahshaka Studio
Supported Systems: Linux and Windows
Jahshaka comes with multiple royalty-free assets and scenes. In addition, this open-source 3D video maker allows you to do 3D animation in real-time. This open-source software works seamlessly on Windows and Linux. You can download Jahshaka today and start making creative 3D films, animations, and VRs. This is an immersive 3D content creation tool with multiple features.
Key Features
- Jahshaka comes equipped with playback and preview buttons.
- You can use it to create different characters and avatars.
- You will find multiple 3D content creation materials and effects.
8. Tipard video converter
Supported Systems: macOS and Windows
Whether you have 3D animation editing knowledge or not, Tipard video converter will make things easy for you. This 3D animation editor is available for both Windows and Mac users, and for Mac, you get a 90-day money-back guarantee. It’s essentially a video converter but comes with multiple video editing features, one of them being the 3D animation feature. The animated video that you will create can be converted to various formats. Once you download the software, you just need to select the 3D Master tool and get started. One month’s license for Tipard video converter will cost you $28.00.
Key Features
- Tipard video converter allows you to create fantastic 3D animation videos.
- The software comes along with robust editing features.
- You can convert the animated video to different video formats.
9. Vidmore Video Converter
Supported Systems: macOS and Windows
Vidmore Video Converter is available for $19.95 per month for one PC. It comes along with a multicore processor and can easily create 3D films. This is a lightweight video editing tool with standard features, such as effects, crop, rotate, trim, and much more. You can edit your favorite 3D video on the go and quickly save it in different video formats, such as MOV, MKV, MP4, etc.
Key Features
- Vidmore Video Converter allows you to edit videos quickly and even compress them to a smaller size.
- The edited file won’t lose its original video quality.
- Vidmore Video Converter is equipped with robust video editing tools.
10. EaseFab 3D Video Converter
Supported Systems: macOS and Windows
EaseFab 3D video converter allows you to make 3D video from 2D video easily. All you need to do is upload the source 2D video, and then choose the 3D output format to start the conversion. This video converter can convert almost all popular formats to 5 types of 3D videos, including Anaglyph(Red/Cyan), Side by Side, Side by Side (half-width), Top and Bottom, and Top and Bottom (half-height).
Keyfeatures:
- EaseFab allows you to convert standard 2D video to 3D video, or convert 3D video to 2D;
- Supports multimedia players on iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, etc.
So, these are the ten best 3D video makers that you can try. All of them come with unique features, and each one of them allows you to work on 3D videos without any hassle.
Part 2: FAQs About 3D Movie Makers
1. Which 3D Movie Maker software is the easiest to use?
All the video editing tools you can see here are easy to use. However, Autodesk MotionBuilder and Blender are better for people who are experienced. Beginners can try Vidmore Video Converter and Tipard video converter.
2. Should I use 3D Movie Maker freeware or paid ones?
It depends on your requirements. Both paid and freeware video editing tools will allow you to edit your 3D animation videos, but if you have additional requirements and looking for an advanced video editing tool, paid ones will be better suitable. Consider the video requirements you have, and accordingly choose a paid or freeware 3D video editor.
3D videos are in trend these days. If you want to give a three-dimensional effect to your videos, it’s time to look for the best 3D video makers. It’s not just the film industry that uses 3D video editors, but you will see companies, brands, and video makers creating 3D videos as well to showcase their products, services, and more. So, to join this bandwagon, you will first have to find the best 3d video makers, and if that’s what you are looking for, you are in for a treat because this post will introduce you to the top 10 3D video editors. Keep reading to know what these apps are.
In this article
01 Best 3D Video Makers You Should Know [Free and Paid]
Part 1: Best 3D Video Makers You Should Know [Free and Paid]
1. Blender
Supported System: Windows, macOS, and Linux
Blender is a leading 3D video editor and is preferred by many. This is an open-source 3D video editor and is free to use. This award-winning 3D animation tool is extremely popular within the animation creation communities. It works seamlessly on Windows, macOS, and Linux. If you have any queries about how it works or want some advice on what else you can do, Blender has a massive community that is always willing to help you out. You can adjust the layouts, colors, font size, and more. It’s a professional tool and is not recommended for novice 3D video makers.
Key Features
- Blender is an open-source video editing tool with tons of features.
- The edited videos are always of high quality.
- Keyframes, transitions, adjustment layers, and more.
2. Xara 3D Maker
Supported Systems: Mac OS and Windows
Unlike the traditional 3D video editors, Xara 3D Maker makes things easy for you. It lets you create high-quality 3D graphics and tests. Whether you want to create a 3D video for a web page, movie, presentation, etc., with Xara 3D Maker, you will have no difficulty. You can do extrude, real-time positioning, pick an animation type, and more. The interface is easy to understand and comes with all the functionalities needed to create a 3D video. A free trial is available.
Key Features
- Xara 3D Maker provides you with more than 700 templates.
- You can choose a few objects to make it animated or the complete video.
- You can move the 3D objects as per your requirements.
3. Aurora 3D Animation Maker
Supported Systems: Mac OS and Windows
Aurora 3D Animation Maker is not a free 3D video maker and is fully equipped with multiple features that will let you create fantastic 3D videos without investing a lot of time. Whether you are a novice or a professional video maker, you will not face any difficulty in using Aurora 3D Animation Maker. The 3D graphics mode feature is fantastic because it lets you change the animation mode swiftly, meaning you can switch from 3D to 2D and vice versa. However, you will have to buy a license to use Aurora 3D Animation Maker. One license will cost you $69.95.
Key Features
- Keyframe animation lets you control different aspects of animation efficiently.
- The tool is equipped with multiple animation templates.
- The 3D graphic mode allows you to change from 3D to 2D.
4. Maxon
Supported Systems: Windows, macOS, and Linux
Maxon is a fantastic 3D video editor that allows users to quickly create a stunning 3D video. This powerful tool is easy to use, and the interface is petty intuitive. This is a Microsoft 3D movie maker, and you need to pay $149.00 per month if billed monthly, but if you choose the annual plan, you will pay $99.91 per month. Maxon is an ideal 3D movie maker for both professionals and novices. Some of the features you will get with Maxon are 3D animation, motion design, VFX, GPU rendering.
Key Features
- It works fast and is a powerful 3D video editing and making tool.
- It is equipped with GPU-accelerated rendering permits.
- The global illumination feature lets you create more realistic and accurate visuals.
5. Adobe Character Animator
Supported Systems: Windows and macOS
If you want to create animated characters based on someone’s facial expressions and faces, Adobe Character Animator will be an ideal choice for you. Adobe Character Animator is designed to help users create professional 3D videos. You can use the webcam to use your face and facial expressions on the animated character. Not just this, you can even add voice lines to the animated videos, and that too in real-time. Adobe Character Animator will cost you $54.41/month.
Key Features
- Adobe Character Animator lets you do full-body animation efficiently.
- You can add audio to your 3D animation videos.
- You can start a project by using a predesigned character as well.
6. Autodesk MotionBuilder
Supported Systems: Windows and Linux
Autodesk MotionBuilder is an intelligent and professional 3D video editor and maker that allows you to work on skeletal and facial animation. So, whether you want to create animated animals or characters, Autodesk MotionBuilder will let you do it all. The best part about MotionBuilder is that it allows you to create movements and actions in real-time. The only drawback of MotionBuilder is its price. It costs $1950 per year. So, if you don’t have a budget issue and want to invest in a high-quality 3D video maker, go for it.
Key Features
- It is equipped with a real-time 3D engine to create realistic character movements.
- The tools let you do motion capture editing.
- For easy access to data transfer, the files get saved in FBX format.
7. Jahshaka Studio
Supported Systems: Linux and Windows
Jahshaka comes with multiple royalty-free assets and scenes. In addition, this open-source 3D video maker allows you to do 3D animation in real-time. This open-source software works seamlessly on Windows and Linux. You can download Jahshaka today and start making creative 3D films, animations, and VRs. This is an immersive 3D content creation tool with multiple features.
Key Features
- Jahshaka comes equipped with playback and preview buttons.
- You can use it to create different characters and avatars.
- You will find multiple 3D content creation materials and effects.
8. Tipard video converter
Supported Systems: macOS and Windows
Whether you have 3D animation editing knowledge or not, Tipard video converter will make things easy for you. This 3D animation editor is available for both Windows and Mac users, and for Mac, you get a 90-day money-back guarantee. It’s essentially a video converter but comes with multiple video editing features, one of them being the 3D animation feature. The animated video that you will create can be converted to various formats. Once you download the software, you just need to select the 3D Master tool and get started. One month’s license for Tipard video converter will cost you $28.00.
Key Features
- Tipard video converter allows you to create fantastic 3D animation videos.
- The software comes along with robust editing features.
- You can convert the animated video to different video formats.
9. Vidmore Video Converter
Supported Systems: macOS and Windows
Vidmore Video Converter is available for $19.95 per month for one PC. It comes along with a multicore processor and can easily create 3D films. This is a lightweight video editing tool with standard features, such as effects, crop, rotate, trim, and much more. You can edit your favorite 3D video on the go and quickly save it in different video formats, such as MOV, MKV, MP4, etc.
Key Features
- Vidmore Video Converter allows you to edit videos quickly and even compress them to a smaller size.
- The edited file won’t lose its original video quality.
- Vidmore Video Converter is equipped with robust video editing tools.
10. EaseFab 3D Video Converter
Supported Systems: macOS and Windows
EaseFab 3D video converter allows you to make 3D video from 2D video easily. All you need to do is upload the source 2D video, and then choose the 3D output format to start the conversion. This video converter can convert almost all popular formats to 5 types of 3D videos, including Anaglyph(Red/Cyan), Side by Side, Side by Side (half-width), Top and Bottom, and Top and Bottom (half-height).
Keyfeatures:
- EaseFab allows you to convert standard 2D video to 3D video, or convert 3D video to 2D;
- Supports multimedia players on iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, etc.
So, these are the ten best 3D video makers that you can try. All of them come with unique features, and each one of them allows you to work on 3D videos without any hassle.
Part 2: FAQs About 3D Movie Makers
1. Which 3D Movie Maker software is the easiest to use?
All the video editing tools you can see here are easy to use. However, Autodesk MotionBuilder and Blender are better for people who are experienced. Beginners can try Vidmore Video Converter and Tipard video converter.
2. Should I use 3D Movie Maker freeware or paid ones?
It depends on your requirements. Both paid and freeware video editing tools will allow you to edit your 3D animation videos, but if you have additional requirements and looking for an advanced video editing tool, paid ones will be better suitable. Consider the video requirements you have, and accordingly choose a paid or freeware 3D video editor.
3D videos are in trend these days. If you want to give a three-dimensional effect to your videos, it’s time to look for the best 3D video makers. It’s not just the film industry that uses 3D video editors, but you will see companies, brands, and video makers creating 3D videos as well to showcase their products, services, and more. So, to join this bandwagon, you will first have to find the best 3d video makers, and if that’s what you are looking for, you are in for a treat because this post will introduce you to the top 10 3D video editors. Keep reading to know what these apps are.
In this article
01 Best 3D Video Makers You Should Know [Free and Paid]
Part 1: Best 3D Video Makers You Should Know [Free and Paid]
1. Blender
Supported System: Windows, macOS, and Linux
Blender is a leading 3D video editor and is preferred by many. This is an open-source 3D video editor and is free to use. This award-winning 3D animation tool is extremely popular within the animation creation communities. It works seamlessly on Windows, macOS, and Linux. If you have any queries about how it works or want some advice on what else you can do, Blender has a massive community that is always willing to help you out. You can adjust the layouts, colors, font size, and more. It’s a professional tool and is not recommended for novice 3D video makers.
Key Features
- Blender is an open-source video editing tool with tons of features.
- The edited videos are always of high quality.
- Keyframes, transitions, adjustment layers, and more.
2. Xara 3D Maker
Supported Systems: Mac OS and Windows
Unlike the traditional 3D video editors, Xara 3D Maker makes things easy for you. It lets you create high-quality 3D graphics and tests. Whether you want to create a 3D video for a web page, movie, presentation, etc., with Xara 3D Maker, you will have no difficulty. You can do extrude, real-time positioning, pick an animation type, and more. The interface is easy to understand and comes with all the functionalities needed to create a 3D video. A free trial is available.
Key Features
- Xara 3D Maker provides you with more than 700 templates.
- You can choose a few objects to make it animated or the complete video.
- You can move the 3D objects as per your requirements.
3. Aurora 3D Animation Maker
Supported Systems: Mac OS and Windows
Aurora 3D Animation Maker is not a free 3D video maker and is fully equipped with multiple features that will let you create fantastic 3D videos without investing a lot of time. Whether you are a novice or a professional video maker, you will not face any difficulty in using Aurora 3D Animation Maker. The 3D graphics mode feature is fantastic because it lets you change the animation mode swiftly, meaning you can switch from 3D to 2D and vice versa. However, you will have to buy a license to use Aurora 3D Animation Maker. One license will cost you $69.95.
Key Features
- Keyframe animation lets you control different aspects of animation efficiently.
- The tool is equipped with multiple animation templates.
- The 3D graphic mode allows you to change from 3D to 2D.
4. Maxon
Supported Systems: Windows, macOS, and Linux
Maxon is a fantastic 3D video editor that allows users to quickly create a stunning 3D video. This powerful tool is easy to use, and the interface is petty intuitive. This is a Microsoft 3D movie maker, and you need to pay $149.00 per month if billed monthly, but if you choose the annual plan, you will pay $99.91 per month. Maxon is an ideal 3D movie maker for both professionals and novices. Some of the features you will get with Maxon are 3D animation, motion design, VFX, GPU rendering.
Key Features
- It works fast and is a powerful 3D video editing and making tool.
- It is equipped with GPU-accelerated rendering permits.
- The global illumination feature lets you create more realistic and accurate visuals.
5. Adobe Character Animator
Supported Systems: Windows and macOS
If you want to create animated characters based on someone’s facial expressions and faces, Adobe Character Animator will be an ideal choice for you. Adobe Character Animator is designed to help users create professional 3D videos. You can use the webcam to use your face and facial expressions on the animated character. Not just this, you can even add voice lines to the animated videos, and that too in real-time. Adobe Character Animator will cost you $54.41/month.
Key Features
- Adobe Character Animator lets you do full-body animation efficiently.
- You can add audio to your 3D animation videos.
- You can start a project by using a predesigned character as well.
6. Autodesk MotionBuilder
Supported Systems: Windows and Linux
Autodesk MotionBuilder is an intelligent and professional 3D video editor and maker that allows you to work on skeletal and facial animation. So, whether you want to create animated animals or characters, Autodesk MotionBuilder will let you do it all. The best part about MotionBuilder is that it allows you to create movements and actions in real-time. The only drawback of MotionBuilder is its price. It costs $1950 per year. So, if you don’t have a budget issue and want to invest in a high-quality 3D video maker, go for it.
Key Features
- It is equipped with a real-time 3D engine to create realistic character movements.
- The tools let you do motion capture editing.
- For easy access to data transfer, the files get saved in FBX format.
7. Jahshaka Studio
Supported Systems: Linux and Windows
Jahshaka comes with multiple royalty-free assets and scenes. In addition, this open-source 3D video maker allows you to do 3D animation in real-time. This open-source software works seamlessly on Windows and Linux. You can download Jahshaka today and start making creative 3D films, animations, and VRs. This is an immersive 3D content creation tool with multiple features.
Key Features
- Jahshaka comes equipped with playback and preview buttons.
- You can use it to create different characters and avatars.
- You will find multiple 3D content creation materials and effects.
8. Tipard video converter
Supported Systems: macOS and Windows
Whether you have 3D animation editing knowledge or not, Tipard video converter will make things easy for you. This 3D animation editor is available for both Windows and Mac users, and for Mac, you get a 90-day money-back guarantee. It’s essentially a video converter but comes with multiple video editing features, one of them being the 3D animation feature. The animated video that you will create can be converted to various formats. Once you download the software, you just need to select the 3D Master tool and get started. One month’s license for Tipard video converter will cost you $28.00.
Key Features
- Tipard video converter allows you to create fantastic 3D animation videos.
- The software comes along with robust editing features.
- You can convert the animated video to different video formats.
9. Vidmore Video Converter
Supported Systems: macOS and Windows
Vidmore Video Converter is available for $19.95 per month for one PC. It comes along with a multicore processor and can easily create 3D films. This is a lightweight video editing tool with standard features, such as effects, crop, rotate, trim, and much more. You can edit your favorite 3D video on the go and quickly save it in different video formats, such as MOV, MKV, MP4, etc.
Key Features
- Vidmore Video Converter allows you to edit videos quickly and even compress them to a smaller size.
- The edited file won’t lose its original video quality.
- Vidmore Video Converter is equipped with robust video editing tools.
10. EaseFab 3D Video Converter
Supported Systems: macOS and Windows
EaseFab 3D video converter allows you to make 3D video from 2D video easily. All you need to do is upload the source 2D video, and then choose the 3D output format to start the conversion. This video converter can convert almost all popular formats to 5 types of 3D videos, including Anaglyph(Red/Cyan), Side by Side, Side by Side (half-width), Top and Bottom, and Top and Bottom (half-height).
Keyfeatures:
- EaseFab allows you to convert standard 2D video to 3D video, or convert 3D video to 2D;
- Supports multimedia players on iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, etc.
So, these are the ten best 3D video makers that you can try. All of them come with unique features, and each one of them allows you to work on 3D videos without any hassle.
Part 2: FAQs About 3D Movie Makers
1. Which 3D Movie Maker software is the easiest to use?
All the video editing tools you can see here are easy to use. However, Autodesk MotionBuilder and Blender are better for people who are experienced. Beginners can try Vidmore Video Converter and Tipard video converter.
2. Should I use 3D Movie Maker freeware or paid ones?
It depends on your requirements. Both paid and freeware video editing tools will allow you to edit your 3D animation videos, but if you have additional requirements and looking for an advanced video editing tool, paid ones will be better suitable. Consider the video requirements you have, and accordingly choose a paid or freeware 3D video editor.
Windows Movie Maker Tutorial: Editing Videos Like a Pro
How to Edit Videos in Windows Live Movie Maker
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Microsoft has released Windows Live Movie Maker on August 19, 2009 as part of a refresh to their Windows Live Essentials download. Windows Live Movie Maker is the first application designed for Windows 7 and is built to make beautiful movies from your photos and videos. And the latest version is Windows Live Movie Maker 2011.
Update in 2017: Microsoft has stopped the Windows Essentials Suite support on January 10, 2017. It is claimed that it is no longer available for download. If you are looking for an alternative to windows essentials movie maker, or windows movie maker, try Filmora video editor, which is available on both Windows7, Windows8 and Windows 10.
Part 1: Best Alternative to Windows Movie Maker: Filmora [Windows7/8/10 & Mac]
Windows Live Movie Maker is a little bit limiting for video editing. In most cases, you need to run Windows 7. Fortunately, you do have other options. There is plenty of software which will do the same thing but better than Windows Live Movie Maker for you to edit your videos and burn videos to DVD. Among many of them, we recommend one Wondershare Filmora. You may wonder what’s so special with this Video Editor. First of all, it supports almost all kinds of video formats, such as AVI, MP4, MPG, MPEG, 3GP, WMV, ASF, RM, RMVB, DAT, MOV, MKV and HD video formats: MTS, M2TS(AVCHD ), TS(MPEG-2), HD MKV(, MPEG-2 HD), HD WMV(VC-1), and HD MOV(, MPEG-4). Secondly, it provides powerful video editing function, such as crop, trim, adjust video effect, add watermark, etc. Also, there are various title and text templates, filter/transition and effects presets for you to choose from. Thirdly, Windows Live Movie Maker can only generate WMV files directly, but this video editor supports burn video to DVD disc, DVD Folder and ISO file or save the video to most of the popular formats.
Part 2: How to Edit Videos in Windows Live Movie Maker [Step by Step]
1.Add Videos and Photos
While you are adding videos to Windows Live Movie Maker, you may encounter a problem like 3GP files can’t be added to Windows Live Movie Maker. Or it can’t be played in Window Live Movie Maker. And many other video files as well, such as RM, RMVB, DAT and HD video formats: MTS, TS, HD MKV, HD WMV, and HD MOV, etc. It’s quite necessary to get familiar with what all those files that could be imported to Windows Live Movie Maker.
Notes
- Video and music files that are protected with digital rights management (DRM) can’t be used in Windows Live Movie Maker.
- Support for using MPEG-2 and Microsoft Recorded TV Show video files in your movie is available only if your computer is running one of the following editions of Windows Vista or Windows 7: Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Enterprise, or Windows 7 Ultimate.
- AVCHD video files that contain Dolby Digital audio can be used in Windows Live Movie Maker if your computer is running one of the following editions of Windows 7: Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Enterprise, or Windows 7 Ultimate.
- MPEG-4 video files that contain audio can be used if you’re using Movie Maker on a computer running Windows 7.
- Some MPEG-4 video files can be used when you’re using Movie Maker on a computer running Windows Vista if the necessary audio and video codecs are installed.
After adding your photos or videos, you can also add audio or background music to your video clips by clicking the Add music option.
Learn details about How to Add and Edit Music in Windows Movie Maker
2. Video Editing
As we said before, Windows Live Movie Maker (later named Windows Movie Maker) is a simple and easy video editing software for Windows, it can complete some basic video editing and become a good choice for novices. Here, I will share with you about the basic video editing tutorial in the Movie Maker.
Cut & Trim & Split video in Windows Movie Maker
After adding videos and photos to the storyboard, you can now keep the useful sections and remove unwanted parts. To trim video, just place the playhead to the target position and right click the clip to select the Trim Set Start Point and move the playhead again to then end point and right click to select Set End Point. You can also go to the Edit tab and click the Split menu to split the video into parts. You can then delete and cut out unwanted sections or move it to the proper position.
Add Audio to Video: Record and add voiceover or Music
Windows Movie Maker also allows you to add narrations and background music to video footage. Just click the Add Music option and you can add music from online music libraries such as AudioMicro, Free Music Archive, and Vimeo or add music from the computer.
Add auto movie themes to Video
There is a built-in AutoMovie themes library in Movie Maker. You can use some popular themes such as Contemporary, Cinematic, Fade, Pan and Zoom, Black and White and Sepia.
Add texts &titles to Video
You can add titles, captions, and credits to video with windows movie maker, but it seems hard to add subtitles and customize its position. For more details about the text and title editing, check
Learn more details about How to Add Text to Video with Windows Movie Maker
Apply transitions & animations to video
The Movie Maker features lots of transitions under Animations tab. You can choose from wipes, cinematics, shatters, sweeps and curls, patterns and shapes, reveals, diagonals and dissolves.
Note: if you use the default themes, you won’t see all these transitions. Check the detailed steps about How to Add Transitions in Windows Movie Maker
Apply visual effects to video
We’ve introduced some of the best visual effects software before, but in Windows Movie Maker, you can also add effects such as 3D Ripple, Black and White, Blur, pixelate, mirrors, motions and fade effects.
Change video speed of video
The Movie Maker Edit tab allows you to adjust video volume, add fade in and fade out effects to video, or change video speed.
Learn more details about How to Speed Up Video in Windows Movie Maker
3. Save Video
After finish editing, you can upload your video clips to Facebook, YouTube, and other social media, or burn your videos to DVD with Windows DVD maker. You can also save your video clips on your computer.
You may also like: Windows Movie Maker VS Windows Live Movie Maker: What’s the Difference
While, if you find the windows movie maker editing features are limited based on your editing skills, you can try Wondershare Filmora. Below is a video tutorial about how to edit videos with Filmora.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Microsoft has released Windows Live Movie Maker on August 19, 2009 as part of a refresh to their Windows Live Essentials download. Windows Live Movie Maker is the first application designed for Windows 7 and is built to make beautiful movies from your photos and videos. And the latest version is Windows Live Movie Maker 2011.
Update in 2017: Microsoft has stopped the Windows Essentials Suite support on January 10, 2017. It is claimed that it is no longer available for download. If you are looking for an alternative to windows essentials movie maker, or windows movie maker, try Filmora video editor, which is available on both Windows7, Windows8 and Windows 10.
Part 1: Best Alternative to Windows Movie Maker: Filmora [Windows7/8/10 & Mac]
Windows Live Movie Maker is a little bit limiting for video editing. In most cases, you need to run Windows 7. Fortunately, you do have other options. There is plenty of software which will do the same thing but better than Windows Live Movie Maker for you to edit your videos and burn videos to DVD. Among many of them, we recommend one Wondershare Filmora. You may wonder what’s so special with this Video Editor. First of all, it supports almost all kinds of video formats, such as AVI, MP4, MPG, MPEG, 3GP, WMV, ASF, RM, RMVB, DAT, MOV, MKV and HD video formats: MTS, M2TS(AVCHD ), TS(MPEG-2), HD MKV(, MPEG-2 HD), HD WMV(VC-1), and HD MOV(, MPEG-4). Secondly, it provides powerful video editing function, such as crop, trim, adjust video effect, add watermark, etc. Also, there are various title and text templates, filter/transition and effects presets for you to choose from. Thirdly, Windows Live Movie Maker can only generate WMV files directly, but this video editor supports burn video to DVD disc, DVD Folder and ISO file or save the video to most of the popular formats.
Part 2: How to Edit Videos in Windows Live Movie Maker [Step by Step]
1.Add Videos and Photos
While you are adding videos to Windows Live Movie Maker, you may encounter a problem like 3GP files can’t be added to Windows Live Movie Maker. Or it can’t be played in Window Live Movie Maker. And many other video files as well, such as RM, RMVB, DAT and HD video formats: MTS, TS, HD MKV, HD WMV, and HD MOV, etc. It’s quite necessary to get familiar with what all those files that could be imported to Windows Live Movie Maker.
Notes
- Video and music files that are protected with digital rights management (DRM) can’t be used in Windows Live Movie Maker.
- Support for using MPEG-2 and Microsoft Recorded TV Show video files in your movie is available only if your computer is running one of the following editions of Windows Vista or Windows 7: Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Enterprise, or Windows 7 Ultimate.
- AVCHD video files that contain Dolby Digital audio can be used in Windows Live Movie Maker if your computer is running one of the following editions of Windows 7: Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Enterprise, or Windows 7 Ultimate.
- MPEG-4 video files that contain audio can be used if you’re using Movie Maker on a computer running Windows 7.
- Some MPEG-4 video files can be used when you’re using Movie Maker on a computer running Windows Vista if the necessary audio and video codecs are installed.
After adding your photos or videos, you can also add audio or background music to your video clips by clicking the Add music option.
Learn details about How to Add and Edit Music in Windows Movie Maker
2. Video Editing
As we said before, Windows Live Movie Maker (later named Windows Movie Maker) is a simple and easy video editing software for Windows, it can complete some basic video editing and become a good choice for novices. Here, I will share with you about the basic video editing tutorial in the Movie Maker.
Cut & Trim & Split video in Windows Movie Maker
After adding videos and photos to the storyboard, you can now keep the useful sections and remove unwanted parts. To trim video, just place the playhead to the target position and right click the clip to select the Trim Set Start Point and move the playhead again to then end point and right click to select Set End Point. You can also go to the Edit tab and click the Split menu to split the video into parts. You can then delete and cut out unwanted sections or move it to the proper position.
Add Audio to Video: Record and add voiceover or Music
Windows Movie Maker also allows you to add narrations and background music to video footage. Just click the Add Music option and you can add music from online music libraries such as AudioMicro, Free Music Archive, and Vimeo or add music from the computer.
Add auto movie themes to Video
There is a built-in AutoMovie themes library in Movie Maker. You can use some popular themes such as Contemporary, Cinematic, Fade, Pan and Zoom, Black and White and Sepia.
Add texts &titles to Video
You can add titles, captions, and credits to video with windows movie maker, but it seems hard to add subtitles and customize its position. For more details about the text and title editing, check
Learn more details about How to Add Text to Video with Windows Movie Maker
Apply transitions & animations to video
The Movie Maker features lots of transitions under Animations tab. You can choose from wipes, cinematics, shatters, sweeps and curls, patterns and shapes, reveals, diagonals and dissolves.
Note: if you use the default themes, you won’t see all these transitions. Check the detailed steps about How to Add Transitions in Windows Movie Maker
Apply visual effects to video
We’ve introduced some of the best visual effects software before, but in Windows Movie Maker, you can also add effects such as 3D Ripple, Black and White, Blur, pixelate, mirrors, motions and fade effects.
Change video speed of video
The Movie Maker Edit tab allows you to adjust video volume, add fade in and fade out effects to video, or change video speed.
Learn more details about How to Speed Up Video in Windows Movie Maker
3. Save Video
After finish editing, you can upload your video clips to Facebook, YouTube, and other social media, or burn your videos to DVD with Windows DVD maker. You can also save your video clips on your computer.
You may also like: Windows Movie Maker VS Windows Live Movie Maker: What’s the Difference
While, if you find the windows movie maker editing features are limited based on your editing skills, you can try Wondershare Filmora. Below is a video tutorial about how to edit videos with Filmora.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Microsoft has released Windows Live Movie Maker on August 19, 2009 as part of a refresh to their Windows Live Essentials download. Windows Live Movie Maker is the first application designed for Windows 7 and is built to make beautiful movies from your photos and videos. And the latest version is Windows Live Movie Maker 2011.
Update in 2017: Microsoft has stopped the Windows Essentials Suite support on January 10, 2017. It is claimed that it is no longer available for download. If you are looking for an alternative to windows essentials movie maker, or windows movie maker, try Filmora video editor, which is available on both Windows7, Windows8 and Windows 10.
Part 1: Best Alternative to Windows Movie Maker: Filmora [Windows7/8/10 & Mac]
Windows Live Movie Maker is a little bit limiting for video editing. In most cases, you need to run Windows 7. Fortunately, you do have other options. There is plenty of software which will do the same thing but better than Windows Live Movie Maker for you to edit your videos and burn videos to DVD. Among many of them, we recommend one Wondershare Filmora. You may wonder what’s so special with this Video Editor. First of all, it supports almost all kinds of video formats, such as AVI, MP4, MPG, MPEG, 3GP, WMV, ASF, RM, RMVB, DAT, MOV, MKV and HD video formats: MTS, M2TS(AVCHD ), TS(MPEG-2), HD MKV(, MPEG-2 HD), HD WMV(VC-1), and HD MOV(, MPEG-4). Secondly, it provides powerful video editing function, such as crop, trim, adjust video effect, add watermark, etc. Also, there are various title and text templates, filter/transition and effects presets for you to choose from. Thirdly, Windows Live Movie Maker can only generate WMV files directly, but this video editor supports burn video to DVD disc, DVD Folder and ISO file or save the video to most of the popular formats.
Part 2: How to Edit Videos in Windows Live Movie Maker [Step by Step]
1.Add Videos and Photos
While you are adding videos to Windows Live Movie Maker, you may encounter a problem like 3GP files can’t be added to Windows Live Movie Maker. Or it can’t be played in Window Live Movie Maker. And many other video files as well, such as RM, RMVB, DAT and HD video formats: MTS, TS, HD MKV, HD WMV, and HD MOV, etc. It’s quite necessary to get familiar with what all those files that could be imported to Windows Live Movie Maker.
Notes
- Video and music files that are protected with digital rights management (DRM) can’t be used in Windows Live Movie Maker.
- Support for using MPEG-2 and Microsoft Recorded TV Show video files in your movie is available only if your computer is running one of the following editions of Windows Vista or Windows 7: Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Enterprise, or Windows 7 Ultimate.
- AVCHD video files that contain Dolby Digital audio can be used in Windows Live Movie Maker if your computer is running one of the following editions of Windows 7: Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Enterprise, or Windows 7 Ultimate.
- MPEG-4 video files that contain audio can be used if you’re using Movie Maker on a computer running Windows 7.
- Some MPEG-4 video files can be used when you’re using Movie Maker on a computer running Windows Vista if the necessary audio and video codecs are installed.
After adding your photos or videos, you can also add audio or background music to your video clips by clicking the Add music option.
Learn details about How to Add and Edit Music in Windows Movie Maker
2. Video Editing
As we said before, Windows Live Movie Maker (later named Windows Movie Maker) is a simple and easy video editing software for Windows, it can complete some basic video editing and become a good choice for novices. Here, I will share with you about the basic video editing tutorial in the Movie Maker.
Cut & Trim & Split video in Windows Movie Maker
After adding videos and photos to the storyboard, you can now keep the useful sections and remove unwanted parts. To trim video, just place the playhead to the target position and right click the clip to select the Trim Set Start Point and move the playhead again to then end point and right click to select Set End Point. You can also go to the Edit tab and click the Split menu to split the video into parts. You can then delete and cut out unwanted sections or move it to the proper position.
Add Audio to Video: Record and add voiceover or Music
Windows Movie Maker also allows you to add narrations and background music to video footage. Just click the Add Music option and you can add music from online music libraries such as AudioMicro, Free Music Archive, and Vimeo or add music from the computer.
Add auto movie themes to Video
There is a built-in AutoMovie themes library in Movie Maker. You can use some popular themes such as Contemporary, Cinematic, Fade, Pan and Zoom, Black and White and Sepia.
Add texts &titles to Video
You can add titles, captions, and credits to video with windows movie maker, but it seems hard to add subtitles and customize its position. For more details about the text and title editing, check
Learn more details about How to Add Text to Video with Windows Movie Maker
Apply transitions & animations to video
The Movie Maker features lots of transitions under Animations tab. You can choose from wipes, cinematics, shatters, sweeps and curls, patterns and shapes, reveals, diagonals and dissolves.
Note: if you use the default themes, you won’t see all these transitions. Check the detailed steps about How to Add Transitions in Windows Movie Maker
Apply visual effects to video
We’ve introduced some of the best visual effects software before, but in Windows Movie Maker, you can also add effects such as 3D Ripple, Black and White, Blur, pixelate, mirrors, motions and fade effects.
Change video speed of video
The Movie Maker Edit tab allows you to adjust video volume, add fade in and fade out effects to video, or change video speed.
Learn more details about How to Speed Up Video in Windows Movie Maker
3. Save Video
After finish editing, you can upload your video clips to Facebook, YouTube, and other social media, or burn your videos to DVD with Windows DVD maker. You can also save your video clips on your computer.
You may also like: Windows Movie Maker VS Windows Live Movie Maker: What’s the Difference
While, if you find the windows movie maker editing features are limited based on your editing skills, you can try Wondershare Filmora. Below is a video tutorial about how to edit videos with Filmora.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Microsoft has released Windows Live Movie Maker on August 19, 2009 as part of a refresh to their Windows Live Essentials download. Windows Live Movie Maker is the first application designed for Windows 7 and is built to make beautiful movies from your photos and videos. And the latest version is Windows Live Movie Maker 2011.
Update in 2017: Microsoft has stopped the Windows Essentials Suite support on January 10, 2017. It is claimed that it is no longer available for download. If you are looking for an alternative to windows essentials movie maker, or windows movie maker, try Filmora video editor, which is available on both Windows7, Windows8 and Windows 10.
Part 1: Best Alternative to Windows Movie Maker: Filmora [Windows7/8/10 & Mac]
Windows Live Movie Maker is a little bit limiting for video editing. In most cases, you need to run Windows 7. Fortunately, you do have other options. There is plenty of software which will do the same thing but better than Windows Live Movie Maker for you to edit your videos and burn videos to DVD. Among many of them, we recommend one Wondershare Filmora. You may wonder what’s so special with this Video Editor. First of all, it supports almost all kinds of video formats, such as AVI, MP4, MPG, MPEG, 3GP, WMV, ASF, RM, RMVB, DAT, MOV, MKV and HD video formats: MTS, M2TS(AVCHD ), TS(MPEG-2), HD MKV(, MPEG-2 HD), HD WMV(VC-1), and HD MOV(, MPEG-4). Secondly, it provides powerful video editing function, such as crop, trim, adjust video effect, add watermark, etc. Also, there are various title and text templates, filter/transition and effects presets for you to choose from. Thirdly, Windows Live Movie Maker can only generate WMV files directly, but this video editor supports burn video to DVD disc, DVD Folder and ISO file or save the video to most of the popular formats.
Part 2: How to Edit Videos in Windows Live Movie Maker [Step by Step]
1.Add Videos and Photos
While you are adding videos to Windows Live Movie Maker, you may encounter a problem like 3GP files can’t be added to Windows Live Movie Maker. Or it can’t be played in Window Live Movie Maker. And many other video files as well, such as RM, RMVB, DAT and HD video formats: MTS, TS, HD MKV, HD WMV, and HD MOV, etc. It’s quite necessary to get familiar with what all those files that could be imported to Windows Live Movie Maker.
Notes
- Video and music files that are protected with digital rights management (DRM) can’t be used in Windows Live Movie Maker.
- Support for using MPEG-2 and Microsoft Recorded TV Show video files in your movie is available only if your computer is running one of the following editions of Windows Vista or Windows 7: Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Enterprise, or Windows 7 Ultimate.
- AVCHD video files that contain Dolby Digital audio can be used in Windows Live Movie Maker if your computer is running one of the following editions of Windows 7: Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Enterprise, or Windows 7 Ultimate.
- MPEG-4 video files that contain audio can be used if you’re using Movie Maker on a computer running Windows 7.
- Some MPEG-4 video files can be used when you’re using Movie Maker on a computer running Windows Vista if the necessary audio and video codecs are installed.
After adding your photos or videos, you can also add audio or background music to your video clips by clicking the Add music option.
Learn details about How to Add and Edit Music in Windows Movie Maker
2. Video Editing
As we said before, Windows Live Movie Maker (later named Windows Movie Maker) is a simple and easy video editing software for Windows, it can complete some basic video editing and become a good choice for novices. Here, I will share with you about the basic video editing tutorial in the Movie Maker.
Cut & Trim & Split video in Windows Movie Maker
After adding videos and photos to the storyboard, you can now keep the useful sections and remove unwanted parts. To trim video, just place the playhead to the target position and right click the clip to select the Trim Set Start Point and move the playhead again to then end point and right click to select Set End Point. You can also go to the Edit tab and click the Split menu to split the video into parts. You can then delete and cut out unwanted sections or move it to the proper position.
Add Audio to Video: Record and add voiceover or Music
Windows Movie Maker also allows you to add narrations and background music to video footage. Just click the Add Music option and you can add music from online music libraries such as AudioMicro, Free Music Archive, and Vimeo or add music from the computer.
Add auto movie themes to Video
There is a built-in AutoMovie themes library in Movie Maker. You can use some popular themes such as Contemporary, Cinematic, Fade, Pan and Zoom, Black and White and Sepia.
Add texts &titles to Video
You can add titles, captions, and credits to video with windows movie maker, but it seems hard to add subtitles and customize its position. For more details about the text and title editing, check
Learn more details about How to Add Text to Video with Windows Movie Maker
Apply transitions & animations to video
The Movie Maker features lots of transitions under Animations tab. You can choose from wipes, cinematics, shatters, sweeps and curls, patterns and shapes, reveals, diagonals and dissolves.
Note: if you use the default themes, you won’t see all these transitions. Check the detailed steps about How to Add Transitions in Windows Movie Maker
Apply visual effects to video
We’ve introduced some of the best visual effects software before, but in Windows Movie Maker, you can also add effects such as 3D Ripple, Black and White, Blur, pixelate, mirrors, motions and fade effects.
Change video speed of video
The Movie Maker Edit tab allows you to adjust video volume, add fade in and fade out effects to video, or change video speed.
Learn more details about How to Speed Up Video in Windows Movie Maker
3. Save Video
After finish editing, you can upload your video clips to Facebook, YouTube, and other social media, or burn your videos to DVD with Windows DVD maker. You can also save your video clips on your computer.
You may also like: Windows Movie Maker VS Windows Live Movie Maker: What’s the Difference
While, if you find the windows movie maker editing features are limited based on your editing skills, you can try Wondershare Filmora. Below is a video tutorial about how to edit videos with Filmora.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Quick Fix: Resizing Your Video to Perfect Proportions
How to Change Ratio of Video in a Quick & Easy Way
An easy yet powerful editor
Numerous effects to choose from
Detailed tutorials provided by the official channel
It is important that how your video appears on the screen and for this aspect ratio is one of the most important factors. Several times, when your video appears awkward or cropped on a certain site or a device, it means that its aspect ratio is not correct and the best solution here is to change the aspect ratio. Using related software and programs this task can be done easily.
The article will throw more light on these tools that can change ratio of video.
In this article
01 [What is Aspect Ratio and Why Does It Matter?](#Part 1)
02 [Difference Between Aspect Ratio and Resolution](#Part 2)
Part 1 What is Aspect Ratio and Why Does It Matter?
Aspect ratio is the relationship between the width and the height of the video and it defines how your video will appear on the screen. The right aspect ratio is important to offer a pleasing viewing experience. With multiple social media sites supporting different aspect ratios, the need for changing them accordingly arises quite often.
The marketing, business, and all other activities have taken an online route and with this, the video content on several social media sites for promotion has also increased. So, if you upload a video with a certain aspect ratio on a different platform, they will look weird with cropped portions, black borders, and other issues that will lead to a negative viewing experience and impact.
Though there is no fixed or standard aspect ratio that can be considered as the best as different values are suitable for different platforms and sites. Some of the commonly used aspect ratios are as below.
● 16:9- This is one of the most widely used aspect ratios and appears in the form of a wide rectangle. The majority of the video players as well as capturing devices use this aspect ratio as their default settings. The best resolution that can be used with this aspect ratio is 3840 X 2160 pixels.
● 1:1- Originally this aspect ratio was used for square TV sets but now it is majorly used for the videos on Instagram and Facebook. A lot of cameras also support this setting.
● 9:16- The setting for this aspect ratio has become popular after the increased use of smartphones. Used for the tall videos, the setting can be seen in the videos posted as an Instagram story, Snapchat, and Facebook.
● 21:9 – This setting of the aspect ratio is used for cinematic widescreen or videos with the anamorphic format. The use of this aspect ratio is very particular and videos supporting this setting generally can be seen in theme parks, special theatres, and museums.
Regarding social media sites, below listed are the popularly used aspect ratio.
● Square (1:1) – Used for Facebook and Instagram feed videos.
● Vertical (9:16) – Best for Instagram story videos and snaps
● Horizontal (16:9) – Used for (9:16 YouTube videos
● Landscape (5:4) – Apt for landscape videos on Facebook and Twitter.
● Portrait (4:5) – Used for the portrait videos to be posted on Twitter and Facebook.
● For the Facebook cover video, 21:9 is the recommended aspect ratio.
Part 2 Difference Between Aspect Ratio and Resolution
Aspect ratio and resolution are interrelated and go hand-in-hand. For a certain aspect ratio, there is several counterparts’ resolution that can be used. While the aspect ratio defines the width and the height relationship, the resolution is the number of pixels on the screen.
To obtain the resolution of a video, you will multiply the height by the width while for the aspect ratio, width is divided by the height. When the height is multiplied by its width times, the results you get represent the square pixels of your screen and this number dented the quality of the video. The higher the pixels, the higher will be the video quality.
5 Quick Ways to Change Video Aspect Ratio on Windows and Mac
To make your videos suitable for different platforms and sites, you would need to change the aspect ratio, and to get this task done there are several windows and Mac-based tools available. Listed below are the top ones that will let process the videos quickly.
● VideoProc Converter
This is a Windows and Mac-based full-featured software that allows performing multiple tasks like changing the aspect ratio, editing videos, converting files, and more. Using the program, you can easily change the aspect ratio without any quality loss and without adding any black bars or video stretching. Further video customization as needed can also be done using the tool.
Steps to change the aspect ratio
Step 1. Download, install, and run the software on your system and select the Video option.
Step 2. To add the video, click on the + Video button. Next, choose the target format for the video.
Step 3. Next to change the aspect ratio of the video you can either resize the video or can crop it. While resizing the video, you will need to change the resolution from the Codec section. Alternatively, you can also use the Crop toolbar for selecting the desired aspect ratio from the supported options.
Step 4. Finally, choose the output folder and then click on the RUN button to start the file processing.
● AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate
This is a widely used video editing tool that supports multiple functions and features for video customization. Using this program on your Windows and Mac system you can change the aspect ratio of the videos using the pre-set options or manually. All popular video formats are supported by the software and the files are processed in lossless quality.
Steps to change the aspect ratio
Step 1. Run the installed software and add the video by clicking on the +Add Files button.
Step 2. Click on the Edit icon and a pop-up editing window will open. Go to the Crop section and expand the drop-down list at the Aspect Ratio. Choose the desired option. You can also change the aspect ratio manually by moving the crop box. Click on the OK button when selected.
Step 3. Next, choose the output folder, target format, and then finally click on the Convert All button to start the processing.
● MediaCoder
This is among the early transcoding tools and is known for its support of rich features for video customization. Several video parameters including aspect ratio can be adjusted using the tool and it also supports functions like conversion, disc ripping, video enhancement, and more. A wide range of formats for processing is supported by the software that is available for the Windows system.
Step to change the aspect ratio
Step 1. Launch the software and add the desired video from the File tab.
Step 2. After the video is added, choose the Picture tab at the bottom menu.
Step 3. At the Aspect Ratio section, pull the menu and choose from the available options. Other parameters can also be changed as needed.
Step 4. Choose the output folder and start processing the file.
● iMovie
To change the aspect ratio of a video on your Mac systems without installing any third-party software, iMovie works as the best tool. Using the program, you can even do basic editing simply and quickly. You can resize the videos in iMovie by simply cropping or exporting them using pre-set aspect ratio options.
Steps for iMovie aspect ratio change
Step 1. Open the iMovie on your system and tap on the Create New button at the top-left corner.
Step 2. Choose the Movie option from the drop-down menu.
Step 3. To add the video, click on the Import Media button and then tap on the Crop icon present on the top toolbar.
Step 4. Move the edges of the video and when done tap on the blue-tick icon present at the top-right corner.
Step 5. Next, click on the Share icon at the top-right corner and then the video can be saved to the desired location.
Using iMovie you can also change aspect ratio iphone video.
Wondershare Filmora Video Editor is an excellent Windows and Mac-based software for changing the aspect ratio of your videos and editing it using a variety of functions. The files can be processed in lossless quality using the tool and the interface is also user-friendly. There are multiple ways by which you can change the aspect ratio using the software and these include - changing it from the starting interface, under project settings, while editing, while exporting, and with the Auto reframe option.
Wondershare Filmora
Get started easily with Filmora’s powerful performance, intuitive interface, and countless effects!
Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Learn More >
The simplest of all ways is by changing the video aspect ratio from the starting interface and the steps for the same are enlisted below.
Step 1. Launch the installed software on your system.
Step 2. At the starting interface, you can choose the desired aspect ratio from the available options – 16:9, 4:3, 1:1, and 9:16.
Step 3. After the selection is done, you can add the video by clicking on the New Project and then edit the file as required using several features.
The above steps can be used to change aspect ratio MP4 as well as all other popular formats.
Step 4. After the video settings are done you can process it and save it at the desired location.
To edit the aspect ratio using other ways, you can check out the detailshere .
Key Takeaways from This Episode
● Aspect ratio defines how a video will appear on a different screen, social media sites, and platforms.
● To use the same video on multiple platforms, you need to change its aspect ratio and for this, good software is needed.
● An array of aspect ratio changer tools for Windows and Mac are available. Wondershare Filmora is one such feature-packed tool that can process your files in lossless quality with added features.
It is important that how your video appears on the screen and for this aspect ratio is one of the most important factors. Several times, when your video appears awkward or cropped on a certain site or a device, it means that its aspect ratio is not correct and the best solution here is to change the aspect ratio. Using related software and programs this task can be done easily.
The article will throw more light on these tools that can change ratio of video.
In this article
01 [What is Aspect Ratio and Why Does It Matter?](#Part 1)
02 [Difference Between Aspect Ratio and Resolution](#Part 2)
Part 1 What is Aspect Ratio and Why Does It Matter?
Aspect ratio is the relationship between the width and the height of the video and it defines how your video will appear on the screen. The right aspect ratio is important to offer a pleasing viewing experience. With multiple social media sites supporting different aspect ratios, the need for changing them accordingly arises quite often.
The marketing, business, and all other activities have taken an online route and with this, the video content on several social media sites for promotion has also increased. So, if you upload a video with a certain aspect ratio on a different platform, they will look weird with cropped portions, black borders, and other issues that will lead to a negative viewing experience and impact.
Though there is no fixed or standard aspect ratio that can be considered as the best as different values are suitable for different platforms and sites. Some of the commonly used aspect ratios are as below.
● 16:9- This is one of the most widely used aspect ratios and appears in the form of a wide rectangle. The majority of the video players as well as capturing devices use this aspect ratio as their default settings. The best resolution that can be used with this aspect ratio is 3840 X 2160 pixels.
● 1:1- Originally this aspect ratio was used for square TV sets but now it is majorly used for the videos on Instagram and Facebook. A lot of cameras also support this setting.
● 9:16- The setting for this aspect ratio has become popular after the increased use of smartphones. Used for the tall videos, the setting can be seen in the videos posted as an Instagram story, Snapchat, and Facebook.
● 21:9 – This setting of the aspect ratio is used for cinematic widescreen or videos with the anamorphic format. The use of this aspect ratio is very particular and videos supporting this setting generally can be seen in theme parks, special theatres, and museums.
Regarding social media sites, below listed are the popularly used aspect ratio.
● Square (1:1) – Used for Facebook and Instagram feed videos.
● Vertical (9:16) – Best for Instagram story videos and snaps
● Horizontal (16:9) – Used for (9:16 YouTube videos
● Landscape (5:4) – Apt for landscape videos on Facebook and Twitter.
● Portrait (4:5) – Used for the portrait videos to be posted on Twitter and Facebook.
● For the Facebook cover video, 21:9 is the recommended aspect ratio.
Part 2 Difference Between Aspect Ratio and Resolution
Aspect ratio and resolution are interrelated and go hand-in-hand. For a certain aspect ratio, there is several counterparts’ resolution that can be used. While the aspect ratio defines the width and the height relationship, the resolution is the number of pixels on the screen.
To obtain the resolution of a video, you will multiply the height by the width while for the aspect ratio, width is divided by the height. When the height is multiplied by its width times, the results you get represent the square pixels of your screen and this number dented the quality of the video. The higher the pixels, the higher will be the video quality.
5 Quick Ways to Change Video Aspect Ratio on Windows and Mac
To make your videos suitable for different platforms and sites, you would need to change the aspect ratio, and to get this task done there are several windows and Mac-based tools available. Listed below are the top ones that will let process the videos quickly.
● VideoProc Converter
This is a Windows and Mac-based full-featured software that allows performing multiple tasks like changing the aspect ratio, editing videos, converting files, and more. Using the program, you can easily change the aspect ratio without any quality loss and without adding any black bars or video stretching. Further video customization as needed can also be done using the tool.
Steps to change the aspect ratio
Step 1. Download, install, and run the software on your system and select the Video option.
Step 2. To add the video, click on the + Video button. Next, choose the target format for the video.
Step 3. Next to change the aspect ratio of the video you can either resize the video or can crop it. While resizing the video, you will need to change the resolution from the Codec section. Alternatively, you can also use the Crop toolbar for selecting the desired aspect ratio from the supported options.
Step 4. Finally, choose the output folder and then click on the RUN button to start the file processing.
● AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate
This is a widely used video editing tool that supports multiple functions and features for video customization. Using this program on your Windows and Mac system you can change the aspect ratio of the videos using the pre-set options or manually. All popular video formats are supported by the software and the files are processed in lossless quality.
Steps to change the aspect ratio
Step 1. Run the installed software and add the video by clicking on the +Add Files button.
Step 2. Click on the Edit icon and a pop-up editing window will open. Go to the Crop section and expand the drop-down list at the Aspect Ratio. Choose the desired option. You can also change the aspect ratio manually by moving the crop box. Click on the OK button when selected.
Step 3. Next, choose the output folder, target format, and then finally click on the Convert All button to start the processing.
● MediaCoder
This is among the early transcoding tools and is known for its support of rich features for video customization. Several video parameters including aspect ratio can be adjusted using the tool and it also supports functions like conversion, disc ripping, video enhancement, and more. A wide range of formats for processing is supported by the software that is available for the Windows system.
Step to change the aspect ratio
Step 1. Launch the software and add the desired video from the File tab.
Step 2. After the video is added, choose the Picture tab at the bottom menu.
Step 3. At the Aspect Ratio section, pull the menu and choose from the available options. Other parameters can also be changed as needed.
Step 4. Choose the output folder and start processing the file.
● iMovie
To change the aspect ratio of a video on your Mac systems without installing any third-party software, iMovie works as the best tool. Using the program, you can even do basic editing simply and quickly. You can resize the videos in iMovie by simply cropping or exporting them using pre-set aspect ratio options.
Steps for iMovie aspect ratio change
Step 1. Open the iMovie on your system and tap on the Create New button at the top-left corner.
Step 2. Choose the Movie option from the drop-down menu.
Step 3. To add the video, click on the Import Media button and then tap on the Crop icon present on the top toolbar.
Step 4. Move the edges of the video and when done tap on the blue-tick icon present at the top-right corner.
Step 5. Next, click on the Share icon at the top-right corner and then the video can be saved to the desired location.
Using iMovie you can also change aspect ratio iphone video.
Wondershare Filmora Video Editor is an excellent Windows and Mac-based software for changing the aspect ratio of your videos and editing it using a variety of functions. The files can be processed in lossless quality using the tool and the interface is also user-friendly. There are multiple ways by which you can change the aspect ratio using the software and these include - changing it from the starting interface, under project settings, while editing, while exporting, and with the Auto reframe option.
Wondershare Filmora
Get started easily with Filmora’s powerful performance, intuitive interface, and countless effects!
Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Learn More >
The simplest of all ways is by changing the video aspect ratio from the starting interface and the steps for the same are enlisted below.
Step 1. Launch the installed software on your system.
Step 2. At the starting interface, you can choose the desired aspect ratio from the available options – 16:9, 4:3, 1:1, and 9:16.
Step 3. After the selection is done, you can add the video by clicking on the New Project and then edit the file as required using several features.
The above steps can be used to change aspect ratio MP4 as well as all other popular formats.
Step 4. After the video settings are done you can process it and save it at the desired location.
To edit the aspect ratio using other ways, you can check out the detailshere .
Key Takeaways from This Episode
● Aspect ratio defines how a video will appear on a different screen, social media sites, and platforms.
● To use the same video on multiple platforms, you need to change its aspect ratio and for this, good software is needed.
● An array of aspect ratio changer tools for Windows and Mac are available. Wondershare Filmora is one such feature-packed tool that can process your files in lossless quality with added features.
It is important that how your video appears on the screen and for this aspect ratio is one of the most important factors. Several times, when your video appears awkward or cropped on a certain site or a device, it means that its aspect ratio is not correct and the best solution here is to change the aspect ratio. Using related software and programs this task can be done easily.
The article will throw more light on these tools that can change ratio of video.
In this article
01 [What is Aspect Ratio and Why Does It Matter?](#Part 1)
02 [Difference Between Aspect Ratio and Resolution](#Part 2)
Part 1 What is Aspect Ratio and Why Does It Matter?
Aspect ratio is the relationship between the width and the height of the video and it defines how your video will appear on the screen. The right aspect ratio is important to offer a pleasing viewing experience. With multiple social media sites supporting different aspect ratios, the need for changing them accordingly arises quite often.
The marketing, business, and all other activities have taken an online route and with this, the video content on several social media sites for promotion has also increased. So, if you upload a video with a certain aspect ratio on a different platform, they will look weird with cropped portions, black borders, and other issues that will lead to a negative viewing experience and impact.
Though there is no fixed or standard aspect ratio that can be considered as the best as different values are suitable for different platforms and sites. Some of the commonly used aspect ratios are as below.
● 16:9- This is one of the most widely used aspect ratios and appears in the form of a wide rectangle. The majority of the video players as well as capturing devices use this aspect ratio as their default settings. The best resolution that can be used with this aspect ratio is 3840 X 2160 pixels.
● 1:1- Originally this aspect ratio was used for square TV sets but now it is majorly used for the videos on Instagram and Facebook. A lot of cameras also support this setting.
● 9:16- The setting for this aspect ratio has become popular after the increased use of smartphones. Used for the tall videos, the setting can be seen in the videos posted as an Instagram story, Snapchat, and Facebook.
● 21:9 – This setting of the aspect ratio is used for cinematic widescreen or videos with the anamorphic format. The use of this aspect ratio is very particular and videos supporting this setting generally can be seen in theme parks, special theatres, and museums.
Regarding social media sites, below listed are the popularly used aspect ratio.
● Square (1:1) – Used for Facebook and Instagram feed videos.
● Vertical (9:16) – Best for Instagram story videos and snaps
● Horizontal (16:9) – Used for (9:16 YouTube videos
● Landscape (5:4) – Apt for landscape videos on Facebook and Twitter.
● Portrait (4:5) – Used for the portrait videos to be posted on Twitter and Facebook.
● For the Facebook cover video, 21:9 is the recommended aspect ratio.
Part 2 Difference Between Aspect Ratio and Resolution
Aspect ratio and resolution are interrelated and go hand-in-hand. For a certain aspect ratio, there is several counterparts’ resolution that can be used. While the aspect ratio defines the width and the height relationship, the resolution is the number of pixels on the screen.
To obtain the resolution of a video, you will multiply the height by the width while for the aspect ratio, width is divided by the height. When the height is multiplied by its width times, the results you get represent the square pixels of your screen and this number dented the quality of the video. The higher the pixels, the higher will be the video quality.
5 Quick Ways to Change Video Aspect Ratio on Windows and Mac
To make your videos suitable for different platforms and sites, you would need to change the aspect ratio, and to get this task done there are several windows and Mac-based tools available. Listed below are the top ones that will let process the videos quickly.
● VideoProc Converter
This is a Windows and Mac-based full-featured software that allows performing multiple tasks like changing the aspect ratio, editing videos, converting files, and more. Using the program, you can easily change the aspect ratio without any quality loss and without adding any black bars or video stretching. Further video customization as needed can also be done using the tool.
Steps to change the aspect ratio
Step 1. Download, install, and run the software on your system and select the Video option.
Step 2. To add the video, click on the + Video button. Next, choose the target format for the video.
Step 3. Next to change the aspect ratio of the video you can either resize the video or can crop it. While resizing the video, you will need to change the resolution from the Codec section. Alternatively, you can also use the Crop toolbar for selecting the desired aspect ratio from the supported options.
Step 4. Finally, choose the output folder and then click on the RUN button to start the file processing.
● AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate
This is a widely used video editing tool that supports multiple functions and features for video customization. Using this program on your Windows and Mac system you can change the aspect ratio of the videos using the pre-set options or manually. All popular video formats are supported by the software and the files are processed in lossless quality.
Steps to change the aspect ratio
Step 1. Run the installed software and add the video by clicking on the +Add Files button.
Step 2. Click on the Edit icon and a pop-up editing window will open. Go to the Crop section and expand the drop-down list at the Aspect Ratio. Choose the desired option. You can also change the aspect ratio manually by moving the crop box. Click on the OK button when selected.
Step 3. Next, choose the output folder, target format, and then finally click on the Convert All button to start the processing.
● MediaCoder
This is among the early transcoding tools and is known for its support of rich features for video customization. Several video parameters including aspect ratio can be adjusted using the tool and it also supports functions like conversion, disc ripping, video enhancement, and more. A wide range of formats for processing is supported by the software that is available for the Windows system.
Step to change the aspect ratio
Step 1. Launch the software and add the desired video from the File tab.
Step 2. After the video is added, choose the Picture tab at the bottom menu.
Step 3. At the Aspect Ratio section, pull the menu and choose from the available options. Other parameters can also be changed as needed.
Step 4. Choose the output folder and start processing the file.
● iMovie
To change the aspect ratio of a video on your Mac systems without installing any third-party software, iMovie works as the best tool. Using the program, you can even do basic editing simply and quickly. You can resize the videos in iMovie by simply cropping or exporting them using pre-set aspect ratio options.
Steps for iMovie aspect ratio change
Step 1. Open the iMovie on your system and tap on the Create New button at the top-left corner.
Step 2. Choose the Movie option from the drop-down menu.
Step 3. To add the video, click on the Import Media button and then tap on the Crop icon present on the top toolbar.
Step 4. Move the edges of the video and when done tap on the blue-tick icon present at the top-right corner.
Step 5. Next, click on the Share icon at the top-right corner and then the video can be saved to the desired location.
Using iMovie you can also change aspect ratio iphone video.
Wondershare Filmora Video Editor is an excellent Windows and Mac-based software for changing the aspect ratio of your videos and editing it using a variety of functions. The files can be processed in lossless quality using the tool and the interface is also user-friendly. There are multiple ways by which you can change the aspect ratio using the software and these include - changing it from the starting interface, under project settings, while editing, while exporting, and with the Auto reframe option.
Wondershare Filmora
Get started easily with Filmora’s powerful performance, intuitive interface, and countless effects!
Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Learn More >
The simplest of all ways is by changing the video aspect ratio from the starting interface and the steps for the same are enlisted below.
Step 1. Launch the installed software on your system.
Step 2. At the starting interface, you can choose the desired aspect ratio from the available options – 16:9, 4:3, 1:1, and 9:16.
Step 3. After the selection is done, you can add the video by clicking on the New Project and then edit the file as required using several features.
The above steps can be used to change aspect ratio MP4 as well as all other popular formats.
Step 4. After the video settings are done you can process it and save it at the desired location.
To edit the aspect ratio using other ways, you can check out the detailshere .
Key Takeaways from This Episode
● Aspect ratio defines how a video will appear on a different screen, social media sites, and platforms.
● To use the same video on multiple platforms, you need to change its aspect ratio and for this, good software is needed.
● An array of aspect ratio changer tools for Windows and Mac are available. Wondershare Filmora is one such feature-packed tool that can process your files in lossless quality with added features.
It is important that how your video appears on the screen and for this aspect ratio is one of the most important factors. Several times, when your video appears awkward or cropped on a certain site or a device, it means that its aspect ratio is not correct and the best solution here is to change the aspect ratio. Using related software and programs this task can be done easily.
The article will throw more light on these tools that can change ratio of video.
In this article
01 [What is Aspect Ratio and Why Does It Matter?](#Part 1)
02 [Difference Between Aspect Ratio and Resolution](#Part 2)
Part 1 What is Aspect Ratio and Why Does It Matter?
Aspect ratio is the relationship between the width and the height of the video and it defines how your video will appear on the screen. The right aspect ratio is important to offer a pleasing viewing experience. With multiple social media sites supporting different aspect ratios, the need for changing them accordingly arises quite often.
The marketing, business, and all other activities have taken an online route and with this, the video content on several social media sites for promotion has also increased. So, if you upload a video with a certain aspect ratio on a different platform, they will look weird with cropped portions, black borders, and other issues that will lead to a negative viewing experience and impact.
Though there is no fixed or standard aspect ratio that can be considered as the best as different values are suitable for different platforms and sites. Some of the commonly used aspect ratios are as below.
● 16:9- This is one of the most widely used aspect ratios and appears in the form of a wide rectangle. The majority of the video players as well as capturing devices use this aspect ratio as their default settings. The best resolution that can be used with this aspect ratio is 3840 X 2160 pixels.
● 1:1- Originally this aspect ratio was used for square TV sets but now it is majorly used for the videos on Instagram and Facebook. A lot of cameras also support this setting.
● 9:16- The setting for this aspect ratio has become popular after the increased use of smartphones. Used for the tall videos, the setting can be seen in the videos posted as an Instagram story, Snapchat, and Facebook.
● 21:9 – This setting of the aspect ratio is used for cinematic widescreen or videos with the anamorphic format. The use of this aspect ratio is very particular and videos supporting this setting generally can be seen in theme parks, special theatres, and museums.
Regarding social media sites, below listed are the popularly used aspect ratio.
● Square (1:1) – Used for Facebook and Instagram feed videos.
● Vertical (9:16) – Best for Instagram story videos and snaps
● Horizontal (16:9) – Used for (9:16 YouTube videos
● Landscape (5:4) – Apt for landscape videos on Facebook and Twitter.
● Portrait (4:5) – Used for the portrait videos to be posted on Twitter and Facebook.
● For the Facebook cover video, 21:9 is the recommended aspect ratio.
Part 2 Difference Between Aspect Ratio and Resolution
Aspect ratio and resolution are interrelated and go hand-in-hand. For a certain aspect ratio, there is several counterparts’ resolution that can be used. While the aspect ratio defines the width and the height relationship, the resolution is the number of pixels on the screen.
To obtain the resolution of a video, you will multiply the height by the width while for the aspect ratio, width is divided by the height. When the height is multiplied by its width times, the results you get represent the square pixels of your screen and this number dented the quality of the video. The higher the pixels, the higher will be the video quality.
5 Quick Ways to Change Video Aspect Ratio on Windows and Mac
To make your videos suitable for different platforms and sites, you would need to change the aspect ratio, and to get this task done there are several windows and Mac-based tools available. Listed below are the top ones that will let process the videos quickly.
● VideoProc Converter
This is a Windows and Mac-based full-featured software that allows performing multiple tasks like changing the aspect ratio, editing videos, converting files, and more. Using the program, you can easily change the aspect ratio without any quality loss and without adding any black bars or video stretching. Further video customization as needed can also be done using the tool.
Steps to change the aspect ratio
Step 1. Download, install, and run the software on your system and select the Video option.
Step 2. To add the video, click on the + Video button. Next, choose the target format for the video.
Step 3. Next to change the aspect ratio of the video you can either resize the video or can crop it. While resizing the video, you will need to change the resolution from the Codec section. Alternatively, you can also use the Crop toolbar for selecting the desired aspect ratio from the supported options.
Step 4. Finally, choose the output folder and then click on the RUN button to start the file processing.
● AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate
This is a widely used video editing tool that supports multiple functions and features for video customization. Using this program on your Windows and Mac system you can change the aspect ratio of the videos using the pre-set options or manually. All popular video formats are supported by the software and the files are processed in lossless quality.
Steps to change the aspect ratio
Step 1. Run the installed software and add the video by clicking on the +Add Files button.
Step 2. Click on the Edit icon and a pop-up editing window will open. Go to the Crop section and expand the drop-down list at the Aspect Ratio. Choose the desired option. You can also change the aspect ratio manually by moving the crop box. Click on the OK button when selected.
Step 3. Next, choose the output folder, target format, and then finally click on the Convert All button to start the processing.
● MediaCoder
This is among the early transcoding tools and is known for its support of rich features for video customization. Several video parameters including aspect ratio can be adjusted using the tool and it also supports functions like conversion, disc ripping, video enhancement, and more. A wide range of formats for processing is supported by the software that is available for the Windows system.
Step to change the aspect ratio
Step 1. Launch the software and add the desired video from the File tab.
Step 2. After the video is added, choose the Picture tab at the bottom menu.
Step 3. At the Aspect Ratio section, pull the menu and choose from the available options. Other parameters can also be changed as needed.
Step 4. Choose the output folder and start processing the file.
● iMovie
To change the aspect ratio of a video on your Mac systems without installing any third-party software, iMovie works as the best tool. Using the program, you can even do basic editing simply and quickly. You can resize the videos in iMovie by simply cropping or exporting them using pre-set aspect ratio options.
Steps for iMovie aspect ratio change
Step 1. Open the iMovie on your system and tap on the Create New button at the top-left corner.
Step 2. Choose the Movie option from the drop-down menu.
Step 3. To add the video, click on the Import Media button and then tap on the Crop icon present on the top toolbar.
Step 4. Move the edges of the video and when done tap on the blue-tick icon present at the top-right corner.
Step 5. Next, click on the Share icon at the top-right corner and then the video can be saved to the desired location.
Using iMovie you can also change aspect ratio iphone video.
Wondershare Filmora Video Editor is an excellent Windows and Mac-based software for changing the aspect ratio of your videos and editing it using a variety of functions. The files can be processed in lossless quality using the tool and the interface is also user-friendly. There are multiple ways by which you can change the aspect ratio using the software and these include - changing it from the starting interface, under project settings, while editing, while exporting, and with the Auto reframe option.
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The simplest of all ways is by changing the video aspect ratio from the starting interface and the steps for the same are enlisted below.
Step 1. Launch the installed software on your system.
Step 2. At the starting interface, you can choose the desired aspect ratio from the available options – 16:9, 4:3, 1:1, and 9:16.
Step 3. After the selection is done, you can add the video by clicking on the New Project and then edit the file as required using several features.
The above steps can be used to change aspect ratio MP4 as well as all other popular formats.
Step 4. After the video settings are done you can process it and save it at the desired location.
To edit the aspect ratio using other ways, you can check out the detailshere .
Key Takeaways from This Episode
● Aspect ratio defines how a video will appear on a different screen, social media sites, and platforms.
● To use the same video on multiple platforms, you need to change its aspect ratio and for this, good software is needed.
● An array of aspect ratio changer tools for Windows and Mac are available. Wondershare Filmora is one such feature-packed tool that can process your files in lossless quality with added features.
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- Title: Unlock Free Animation Top Software for Windows and Mac for 2024
- Author: MdadeLe
- Created at : 2024-05-19 08:27:21
- Updated at : 2024-05-20 08:27:21
- Link: https://smart-video-editing.techidaily.com/unlock-free-animation-top-software-for-windows-and-mac-for-2024/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
