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Updated 2024 Approved Final Cut Pro X Captioning A Step-by-Step Guide
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Final Cut Pro X Captioning: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to Add Subtitles/Captions in Final Cut Pro X?
Benjamin Arango
Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions
Adding Final Cut Pro subtitles and captions is a great thing to expand your audience base, and thus the trend of adding captions and subtitles is becoming relevant day by day. There is a whole process to add Final Cut Pro captions and subtitles, which we are going to discuss below.
Let’s check if there is any difference between captions and subtitles used in FCPX. Even though both these texts tend to appear at the bottom of the video screen, they have different purposes.
As we all know, subtitles depict foreign languages other than the language shown in the actual video. So, they are used to appearing on-screen frequently as the speaker speaks.
On the other hand, the captions display every kind of audio information, including sound effects, music, and background noises (see how to remove background noise in FCPX here) . Every Caption represents that viewer hasn’t any audio clues and thus displays them over the video.
You may also want to see this: What Makes the Best Lower Thirds in Final Cut Pro X?
Part 1: How to Add Subtitles/Captions in Final Cut Pro X?
Before you study the steps required to add subtitles to Final Cut Pro, here are some quick facts about the format of captions supported by FCPX.
- ITT (iTunes Timed Text)
It is required to deliver the contents of Caption to the iTunes store.
- CEA-608 (SCC)
It is a standard caption format for web videos and broadcasts.
- SRT (SubRip)
It is a simple and popular format used in online videos.
Steps to Add Subtitles or Captions in FCPX
Step 1: Create Caption Roles
You need first to create caption roles to start adding captions to the timeline. Go to Modify > Edit Roles and then select Captions. Then, select CEA-608, choose your language, and hit the Apply button.
Step 2: Add Captions
Position the playhead to where you have to set the Caption in the timeline. You need to hit the Edit tab and then select Captions > Add Caption.
Select the drop-down menu across the language and select CEA-608.
Now, you can add captions in the preview window or the Captions Text given alongside.
Also, you can adjust the duration of the Caption by dragging it in the timeline.
Step 3: Export a Caption Role
Press Command + E or go to File > Export to open the Export preview window. Now, you can select the name and save your video in standard export options. Hit the Roles tab given at the top.
Then, click the small Captions icon to reveal the menu. Select the subtitles or captions to import alongside the Burn in Captions tab. Hit the OK button and proceed with export as usual.
Thus, similar steps are required even if you want to add subtitles.
Too many steps? Then try a beginner-friendly editing tool, Filmora!
Part 2: Free Subtitles Plugins for Final Cut Pro X
Let’s list some incredibly efficient and free subtitles tools that you can use for Final Cut Pro X.
Veed is one of the best video editing tools if you are looking for something like automatic subtitles. You are only required to upload your audio or video into this online software and hit the Subtitles tab to get quick captions. Thus, you will only need to import those subtitles or captions and save your time from manual typing.
The Quick Caption is another free tool available in Mac App Store to automatically transcribe your audio or video clips. It quickly creates FCPXML and SRT format captions. It also records the ending and starting timestamp for every Caption for further reference. You also get the facility to customize these subtitles based on shadow, font, style, and face color in the Style Editor.
It is the go-to free plugin by Stupid Raisins to display the text in animated templates. It generally depicts different kinds of paragraph titles, which you can edit as per the subtitles. It is one of the ideal plugins to impart professionalism into your videos with catchy descriptions. There are lots of templates available to select among them. Also, the simple drag and drop feature won’t let you down in any scenario of adding subtitles or captions effectively.
Part 3: Tips for adding Subtitles/Captions in Final Cut Pro X
Given below are some quick tips to add Final Cut Pro captions or subtitles.
- Use YouTube
You can use the transcriptions feature of YouTube to import captions file into your footage quickly. It will also save lots of time typing the same text. You need to upload footage on YouTube as a private video and then download it as a .srt file. Now, you can use this file as a base to correct and adjust your captions.
- Exporting
Every Caption set must export individually in Final Cut Pro X. However; there is a shortcut to it using the Compressor feature. Send your captions to Compressor by clicking the File> Send to Compressor.
Some may wonder, what is Compressor exactly? Click here to learn how to use the Compressor in FCPX.
- Use the keyboard shortcut keys
You can use various keyboard shortcut keys to add the subtitles and captions into the video quickly. There are shortcut keys available at each step of adding these captions or subtitles in Final Cut Pro X.
Click here for some best shortcuts we summarised for you!
Conclusion
So, this is all about adding Final Cut Pro subtitles and captions via the step-by-step guide. Captions and Subtitles are an excellent way to expand your audience base across all regions globally since it removes the limitations or boundaries set by one language.
Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango
Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions
Adding Final Cut Pro subtitles and captions is a great thing to expand your audience base, and thus the trend of adding captions and subtitles is becoming relevant day by day. There is a whole process to add Final Cut Pro captions and subtitles, which we are going to discuss below.
Let’s check if there is any difference between captions and subtitles used in FCPX. Even though both these texts tend to appear at the bottom of the video screen, they have different purposes.
As we all know, subtitles depict foreign languages other than the language shown in the actual video. So, they are used to appearing on-screen frequently as the speaker speaks.
On the other hand, the captions display every kind of audio information, including sound effects, music, and background noises (see how to remove background noise in FCPX here) . Every Caption represents that viewer hasn’t any audio clues and thus displays them over the video.
You may also want to see this: What Makes the Best Lower Thirds in Final Cut Pro X?
Part 1: How to Add Subtitles/Captions in Final Cut Pro X?
Before you study the steps required to add subtitles to Final Cut Pro, here are some quick facts about the format of captions supported by FCPX.
- ITT (iTunes Timed Text)
It is required to deliver the contents of Caption to the iTunes store.
- CEA-608 (SCC)
It is a standard caption format for web videos and broadcasts.
- SRT (SubRip)
It is a simple and popular format used in online videos.
Steps to Add Subtitles or Captions in FCPX
Step 1: Create Caption Roles
You need first to create caption roles to start adding captions to the timeline. Go to Modify > Edit Roles and then select Captions. Then, select CEA-608, choose your language, and hit the Apply button.
Step 2: Add Captions
Position the playhead to where you have to set the Caption in the timeline. You need to hit the Edit tab and then select Captions > Add Caption.
Select the drop-down menu across the language and select CEA-608.
Now, you can add captions in the preview window or the Captions Text given alongside.
Also, you can adjust the duration of the Caption by dragging it in the timeline.
Step 3: Export a Caption Role
Press Command + E or go to File > Export to open the Export preview window. Now, you can select the name and save your video in standard export options. Hit the Roles tab given at the top.
Then, click the small Captions icon to reveal the menu. Select the subtitles or captions to import alongside the Burn in Captions tab. Hit the OK button and proceed with export as usual.
Thus, similar steps are required even if you want to add subtitles.
Too many steps? Then try a beginner-friendly editing tool, Filmora!
Part 2: Free Subtitles Plugins for Final Cut Pro X
Let’s list some incredibly efficient and free subtitles tools that you can use for Final Cut Pro X.
Veed is one of the best video editing tools if you are looking for something like automatic subtitles. You are only required to upload your audio or video into this online software and hit the Subtitles tab to get quick captions. Thus, you will only need to import those subtitles or captions and save your time from manual typing.
The Quick Caption is another free tool available in Mac App Store to automatically transcribe your audio or video clips. It quickly creates FCPXML and SRT format captions. It also records the ending and starting timestamp for every Caption for further reference. You also get the facility to customize these subtitles based on shadow, font, style, and face color in the Style Editor.
It is the go-to free plugin by Stupid Raisins to display the text in animated templates. It generally depicts different kinds of paragraph titles, which you can edit as per the subtitles. It is one of the ideal plugins to impart professionalism into your videos with catchy descriptions. There are lots of templates available to select among them. Also, the simple drag and drop feature won’t let you down in any scenario of adding subtitles or captions effectively.
Part 3: Tips for adding Subtitles/Captions in Final Cut Pro X
Given below are some quick tips to add Final Cut Pro captions or subtitles.
- Use YouTube
You can use the transcriptions feature of YouTube to import captions file into your footage quickly. It will also save lots of time typing the same text. You need to upload footage on YouTube as a private video and then download it as a .srt file. Now, you can use this file as a base to correct and adjust your captions.
- Exporting
Every Caption set must export individually in Final Cut Pro X. However; there is a shortcut to it using the Compressor feature. Send your captions to Compressor by clicking the File> Send to Compressor.
Some may wonder, what is Compressor exactly? Click here to learn how to use the Compressor in FCPX.
- Use the keyboard shortcut keys
You can use various keyboard shortcut keys to add the subtitles and captions into the video quickly. There are shortcut keys available at each step of adding these captions or subtitles in Final Cut Pro X.
Click here for some best shortcuts we summarised for you!
Conclusion
So, this is all about adding Final Cut Pro subtitles and captions via the step-by-step guide. Captions and Subtitles are an excellent way to expand your audience base across all regions globally since it removes the limitations or boundaries set by one language.
Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango
Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions
Adding Final Cut Pro subtitles and captions is a great thing to expand your audience base, and thus the trend of adding captions and subtitles is becoming relevant day by day. There is a whole process to add Final Cut Pro captions and subtitles, which we are going to discuss below.
Let’s check if there is any difference between captions and subtitles used in FCPX. Even though both these texts tend to appear at the bottom of the video screen, they have different purposes.
As we all know, subtitles depict foreign languages other than the language shown in the actual video. So, they are used to appearing on-screen frequently as the speaker speaks.
On the other hand, the captions display every kind of audio information, including sound effects, music, and background noises (see how to remove background noise in FCPX here) . Every Caption represents that viewer hasn’t any audio clues and thus displays them over the video.
You may also want to see this: What Makes the Best Lower Thirds in Final Cut Pro X?
Part 1: How to Add Subtitles/Captions in Final Cut Pro X?
Before you study the steps required to add subtitles to Final Cut Pro, here are some quick facts about the format of captions supported by FCPX.
- ITT (iTunes Timed Text)
It is required to deliver the contents of Caption to the iTunes store.
- CEA-608 (SCC)
It is a standard caption format for web videos and broadcasts.
- SRT (SubRip)
It is a simple and popular format used in online videos.
Steps to Add Subtitles or Captions in FCPX
Step 1: Create Caption Roles
You need first to create caption roles to start adding captions to the timeline. Go to Modify > Edit Roles and then select Captions. Then, select CEA-608, choose your language, and hit the Apply button.
Step 2: Add Captions
Position the playhead to where you have to set the Caption in the timeline. You need to hit the Edit tab and then select Captions > Add Caption.
Select the drop-down menu across the language and select CEA-608.
Now, you can add captions in the preview window or the Captions Text given alongside.
Also, you can adjust the duration of the Caption by dragging it in the timeline.
Step 3: Export a Caption Role
Press Command + E or go to File > Export to open the Export preview window. Now, you can select the name and save your video in standard export options. Hit the Roles tab given at the top.
Then, click the small Captions icon to reveal the menu. Select the subtitles or captions to import alongside the Burn in Captions tab. Hit the OK button and proceed with export as usual.
Thus, similar steps are required even if you want to add subtitles.
Too many steps? Then try a beginner-friendly editing tool, Filmora!
Part 2: Free Subtitles Plugins for Final Cut Pro X
Let’s list some incredibly efficient and free subtitles tools that you can use for Final Cut Pro X.
Veed is one of the best video editing tools if you are looking for something like automatic subtitles. You are only required to upload your audio or video into this online software and hit the Subtitles tab to get quick captions. Thus, you will only need to import those subtitles or captions and save your time from manual typing.
The Quick Caption is another free tool available in Mac App Store to automatically transcribe your audio or video clips. It quickly creates FCPXML and SRT format captions. It also records the ending and starting timestamp for every Caption for further reference. You also get the facility to customize these subtitles based on shadow, font, style, and face color in the Style Editor.
It is the go-to free plugin by Stupid Raisins to display the text in animated templates. It generally depicts different kinds of paragraph titles, which you can edit as per the subtitles. It is one of the ideal plugins to impart professionalism into your videos with catchy descriptions. There are lots of templates available to select among them. Also, the simple drag and drop feature won’t let you down in any scenario of adding subtitles or captions effectively.
Part 3: Tips for adding Subtitles/Captions in Final Cut Pro X
Given below are some quick tips to add Final Cut Pro captions or subtitles.
- Use YouTube
You can use the transcriptions feature of YouTube to import captions file into your footage quickly. It will also save lots of time typing the same text. You need to upload footage on YouTube as a private video and then download it as a .srt file. Now, you can use this file as a base to correct and adjust your captions.
- Exporting
Every Caption set must export individually in Final Cut Pro X. However; there is a shortcut to it using the Compressor feature. Send your captions to Compressor by clicking the File> Send to Compressor.
Some may wonder, what is Compressor exactly? Click here to learn how to use the Compressor in FCPX.
- Use the keyboard shortcut keys
You can use various keyboard shortcut keys to add the subtitles and captions into the video quickly. There are shortcut keys available at each step of adding these captions or subtitles in Final Cut Pro X.
Click here for some best shortcuts we summarised for you!
Conclusion
So, this is all about adding Final Cut Pro subtitles and captions via the step-by-step guide. Captions and Subtitles are an excellent way to expand your audience base across all regions globally since it removes the limitations or boundaries set by one language.
Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango
Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions
Adding Final Cut Pro subtitles and captions is a great thing to expand your audience base, and thus the trend of adding captions and subtitles is becoming relevant day by day. There is a whole process to add Final Cut Pro captions and subtitles, which we are going to discuss below.
Let’s check if there is any difference between captions and subtitles used in FCPX. Even though both these texts tend to appear at the bottom of the video screen, they have different purposes.
As we all know, subtitles depict foreign languages other than the language shown in the actual video. So, they are used to appearing on-screen frequently as the speaker speaks.
On the other hand, the captions display every kind of audio information, including sound effects, music, and background noises (see how to remove background noise in FCPX here) . Every Caption represents that viewer hasn’t any audio clues and thus displays them over the video.
You may also want to see this: What Makes the Best Lower Thirds in Final Cut Pro X?
Part 1: How to Add Subtitles/Captions in Final Cut Pro X?
Before you study the steps required to add subtitles to Final Cut Pro, here are some quick facts about the format of captions supported by FCPX.
- ITT (iTunes Timed Text)
It is required to deliver the contents of Caption to the iTunes store.
- CEA-608 (SCC)
It is a standard caption format for web videos and broadcasts.
- SRT (SubRip)
It is a simple and popular format used in online videos.
Steps to Add Subtitles or Captions in FCPX
Step 1: Create Caption Roles
You need first to create caption roles to start adding captions to the timeline. Go to Modify > Edit Roles and then select Captions. Then, select CEA-608, choose your language, and hit the Apply button.
Step 2: Add Captions
Position the playhead to where you have to set the Caption in the timeline. You need to hit the Edit tab and then select Captions > Add Caption.
Select the drop-down menu across the language and select CEA-608.
Now, you can add captions in the preview window or the Captions Text given alongside.
Also, you can adjust the duration of the Caption by dragging it in the timeline.
Step 3: Export a Caption Role
Press Command + E or go to File > Export to open the Export preview window. Now, you can select the name and save your video in standard export options. Hit the Roles tab given at the top.
Then, click the small Captions icon to reveal the menu. Select the subtitles or captions to import alongside the Burn in Captions tab. Hit the OK button and proceed with export as usual.
Thus, similar steps are required even if you want to add subtitles.
Too many steps? Then try a beginner-friendly editing tool, Filmora!
Part 2: Free Subtitles Plugins for Final Cut Pro X
Let’s list some incredibly efficient and free subtitles tools that you can use for Final Cut Pro X.
Veed is one of the best video editing tools if you are looking for something like automatic subtitles. You are only required to upload your audio or video into this online software and hit the Subtitles tab to get quick captions. Thus, you will only need to import those subtitles or captions and save your time from manual typing.
The Quick Caption is another free tool available in Mac App Store to automatically transcribe your audio or video clips. It quickly creates FCPXML and SRT format captions. It also records the ending and starting timestamp for every Caption for further reference. You also get the facility to customize these subtitles based on shadow, font, style, and face color in the Style Editor.
It is the go-to free plugin by Stupid Raisins to display the text in animated templates. It generally depicts different kinds of paragraph titles, which you can edit as per the subtitles. It is one of the ideal plugins to impart professionalism into your videos with catchy descriptions. There are lots of templates available to select among them. Also, the simple drag and drop feature won’t let you down in any scenario of adding subtitles or captions effectively.
Part 3: Tips for adding Subtitles/Captions in Final Cut Pro X
Given below are some quick tips to add Final Cut Pro captions or subtitles.
- Use YouTube
You can use the transcriptions feature of YouTube to import captions file into your footage quickly. It will also save lots of time typing the same text. You need to upload footage on YouTube as a private video and then download it as a .srt file. Now, you can use this file as a base to correct and adjust your captions.
- Exporting
Every Caption set must export individually in Final Cut Pro X. However; there is a shortcut to it using the Compressor feature. Send your captions to Compressor by clicking the File> Send to Compressor.
Some may wonder, what is Compressor exactly? Click here to learn how to use the Compressor in FCPX.
- Use the keyboard shortcut keys
You can use various keyboard shortcut keys to add the subtitles and captions into the video quickly. There are shortcut keys available at each step of adding these captions or subtitles in Final Cut Pro X.
Click here for some best shortcuts we summarised for you!
Conclusion
So, this is all about adding Final Cut Pro subtitles and captions via the step-by-step guide. Captions and Subtitles are an excellent way to expand your audience base across all regions globally since it removes the limitations or boundaries set by one language.
Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Benjamin Arango
Discover the Best Free Animation 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.
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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
‘S Best Free AVI Video Rotators: A Comprehensive Review
Top 5 Best Free AVI Video Rotators
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Rotating the audio and video files is quite a challenging task though, but the arrival of some of the well known video rotators has solved this problem. However, there are numbers of video rotating software programs that support multiple audio and video file formats; the current article covers the video rotating tools that support the AVI file formats along with many others. Given below is the list of efficient AVI video rotators that are available free of cost.
- Avidemux
- Video Rotator
- Free Video Flip and Rotate
- Freemake Video Converter
- Any Video Converter
- Recommended: Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor)
#1. Avidemux
Besides cutting and filtering video files, Avidemux allows the users to flip and rotate the video file with ease. It supports popular video formats like MPEG, AVI, WMV, MOV and many more. It allows the user to set audio codec, video dimension and quality to get the desired output. Avidemux has made it’s easier to add a video file and make changes using various options available in the menu tab.
Pros:
- Useful presets for common output tasks;
- Different video editing functions.
Cons:
- Outdated interface.
#2. Video Rotator
Video rotator is easy to use software that offers a particular task to perform which is none other than video rotation. The user can easily use its drag and drop menu to select and rotate the video. It takes multiple video formats as input and produces output in the specified format. It fixes the orientation and preserves high video quality.
Pros:
- Facilitates batch processing;
- User friendly interface;
- A compact video rotating tool;
- Also works as an efficient video converter.
Cons:
- Crashed occasionally;
- Few editing controls.
#3. Free Video Flip and Rotate
Free video flip and rotate is a handy application that allows he users to rotate the video files in multiple formats like AVI, WMV and MPG. However, it takes input files in multiple formats but supports only AVI format as output. It has a preview screen that offers various playback buttons on it. The user can use this software individually or can also install applications suite free of cost.
Pros:
- Easy to Use;
- Lightweight;
- Offers compatibility.
Cons:
- Cannot create presets;
- AVI output only.
#4. Freemake Video Converter
This software includes different video editing features that can rotate MPG, ASF, WMV and AVI files in a convenient manner. It enables the users to rotate the video at any degree they want to rotate the file; they can save the file using either same or different file name. Direct video rotate functionalities are available for both compressed and uncompressed AVI files.
Pros:
- Easy & intuitive to Use;
- Simple features;
- Impressive number of video formats.
Cons:
- Limited editing abilities;
- Few Extra Features.
#5. Any Video Converter
Any Video Converter is a compatible tool that supports different video formats including AVI, MOV, MPG and WMV files. It is recognized as one of the most useful video rotating software that comes with many features including the choice of rotation; it enables the users to rotate the file at 90, 180 ad 270 degrees with ease. Its user friendly interface and quality output have attracted the users in an efficient and effective manner.
Pros:
- Supports almost any video formats;
- Different video editing functions.
Cons:
- Can’t convert audio files.
Recommended: Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor)
If you want to rotate different types of video files video editor,Wondershare Filmora is a great choice. Just place the video files on the timeline and then you can rotate your videos 90 degrees clockwise or anticlockwise or spin them vertically and horizontally.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Rotating the audio and video files is quite a challenging task though, but the arrival of some of the well known video rotators has solved this problem. However, there are numbers of video rotating software programs that support multiple audio and video file formats; the current article covers the video rotating tools that support the AVI file formats along with many others. Given below is the list of efficient AVI video rotators that are available free of cost.
- Avidemux
- Video Rotator
- Free Video Flip and Rotate
- Freemake Video Converter
- Any Video Converter
- Recommended: Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor)
#1. Avidemux
Besides cutting and filtering video files, Avidemux allows the users to flip and rotate the video file with ease. It supports popular video formats like MPEG, AVI, WMV, MOV and many more. It allows the user to set audio codec, video dimension and quality to get the desired output. Avidemux has made it’s easier to add a video file and make changes using various options available in the menu tab.
Pros:
- Useful presets for common output tasks;
- Different video editing functions.
Cons:
- Outdated interface.
#2. Video Rotator
Video rotator is easy to use software that offers a particular task to perform which is none other than video rotation. The user can easily use its drag and drop menu to select and rotate the video. It takes multiple video formats as input and produces output in the specified format. It fixes the orientation and preserves high video quality.
Pros:
- Facilitates batch processing;
- User friendly interface;
- A compact video rotating tool;
- Also works as an efficient video converter.
Cons:
- Crashed occasionally;
- Few editing controls.
#3. Free Video Flip and Rotate
Free video flip and rotate is a handy application that allows he users to rotate the video files in multiple formats like AVI, WMV and MPG. However, it takes input files in multiple formats but supports only AVI format as output. It has a preview screen that offers various playback buttons on it. The user can use this software individually or can also install applications suite free of cost.
Pros:
- Easy to Use;
- Lightweight;
- Offers compatibility.
Cons:
- Cannot create presets;
- AVI output only.
#4. Freemake Video Converter
This software includes different video editing features that can rotate MPG, ASF, WMV and AVI files in a convenient manner. It enables the users to rotate the video at any degree they want to rotate the file; they can save the file using either same or different file name. Direct video rotate functionalities are available for both compressed and uncompressed AVI files.
Pros:
- Easy & intuitive to Use;
- Simple features;
- Impressive number of video formats.
Cons:
- Limited editing abilities;
- Few Extra Features.
#5. Any Video Converter
Any Video Converter is a compatible tool that supports different video formats including AVI, MOV, MPG and WMV files. It is recognized as one of the most useful video rotating software that comes with many features including the choice of rotation; it enables the users to rotate the file at 90, 180 ad 270 degrees with ease. Its user friendly interface and quality output have attracted the users in an efficient and effective manner.
Pros:
- Supports almost any video formats;
- Different video editing functions.
Cons:
- Can’t convert audio files.
Recommended: Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor)
If you want to rotate different types of video files video editor,Wondershare Filmora is a great choice. Just place the video files on the timeline and then you can rotate your videos 90 degrees clockwise or anticlockwise or spin them vertically and horizontally.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Rotating the audio and video files is quite a challenging task though, but the arrival of some of the well known video rotators has solved this problem. However, there are numbers of video rotating software programs that support multiple audio and video file formats; the current article covers the video rotating tools that support the AVI file formats along with many others. Given below is the list of efficient AVI video rotators that are available free of cost.
- Avidemux
- Video Rotator
- Free Video Flip and Rotate
- Freemake Video Converter
- Any Video Converter
- Recommended: Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor)
#1. Avidemux
Besides cutting and filtering video files, Avidemux allows the users to flip and rotate the video file with ease. It supports popular video formats like MPEG, AVI, WMV, MOV and many more. It allows the user to set audio codec, video dimension and quality to get the desired output. Avidemux has made it’s easier to add a video file and make changes using various options available in the menu tab.
Pros:
- Useful presets for common output tasks;
- Different video editing functions.
Cons:
- Outdated interface.
#2. Video Rotator
Video rotator is easy to use software that offers a particular task to perform which is none other than video rotation. The user can easily use its drag and drop menu to select and rotate the video. It takes multiple video formats as input and produces output in the specified format. It fixes the orientation and preserves high video quality.
Pros:
- Facilitates batch processing;
- User friendly interface;
- A compact video rotating tool;
- Also works as an efficient video converter.
Cons:
- Crashed occasionally;
- Few editing controls.
#3. Free Video Flip and Rotate
Free video flip and rotate is a handy application that allows he users to rotate the video files in multiple formats like AVI, WMV and MPG. However, it takes input files in multiple formats but supports only AVI format as output. It has a preview screen that offers various playback buttons on it. The user can use this software individually or can also install applications suite free of cost.
Pros:
- Easy to Use;
- Lightweight;
- Offers compatibility.
Cons:
- Cannot create presets;
- AVI output only.
#4. Freemake Video Converter
This software includes different video editing features that can rotate MPG, ASF, WMV and AVI files in a convenient manner. It enables the users to rotate the video at any degree they want to rotate the file; they can save the file using either same or different file name. Direct video rotate functionalities are available for both compressed and uncompressed AVI files.
Pros:
- Easy & intuitive to Use;
- Simple features;
- Impressive number of video formats.
Cons:
- Limited editing abilities;
- Few Extra Features.
#5. Any Video Converter
Any Video Converter is a compatible tool that supports different video formats including AVI, MOV, MPG and WMV files. It is recognized as one of the most useful video rotating software that comes with many features including the choice of rotation; it enables the users to rotate the file at 90, 180 ad 270 degrees with ease. Its user friendly interface and quality output have attracted the users in an efficient and effective manner.
Pros:
- Supports almost any video formats;
- Different video editing functions.
Cons:
- Can’t convert audio files.
Recommended: Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor)
If you want to rotate different types of video files video editor,Wondershare Filmora is a great choice. Just place the video files on the timeline and then you can rotate your videos 90 degrees clockwise or anticlockwise or spin them vertically and horizontally.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Rotating the audio and video files is quite a challenging task though, but the arrival of some of the well known video rotators has solved this problem. However, there are numbers of video rotating software programs that support multiple audio and video file formats; the current article covers the video rotating tools that support the AVI file formats along with many others. Given below is the list of efficient AVI video rotators that are available free of cost.
- Avidemux
- Video Rotator
- Free Video Flip and Rotate
- Freemake Video Converter
- Any Video Converter
- Recommended: Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor)
#1. Avidemux
Besides cutting and filtering video files, Avidemux allows the users to flip and rotate the video file with ease. It supports popular video formats like MPEG, AVI, WMV, MOV and many more. It allows the user to set audio codec, video dimension and quality to get the desired output. Avidemux has made it’s easier to add a video file and make changes using various options available in the menu tab.
Pros:
- Useful presets for common output tasks;
- Different video editing functions.
Cons:
- Outdated interface.
#2. Video Rotator
Video rotator is easy to use software that offers a particular task to perform which is none other than video rotation. The user can easily use its drag and drop menu to select and rotate the video. It takes multiple video formats as input and produces output in the specified format. It fixes the orientation and preserves high video quality.
Pros:
- Facilitates batch processing;
- User friendly interface;
- A compact video rotating tool;
- Also works as an efficient video converter.
Cons:
- Crashed occasionally;
- Few editing controls.
#3. Free Video Flip and Rotate
Free video flip and rotate is a handy application that allows he users to rotate the video files in multiple formats like AVI, WMV and MPG. However, it takes input files in multiple formats but supports only AVI format as output. It has a preview screen that offers various playback buttons on it. The user can use this software individually or can also install applications suite free of cost.
Pros:
- Easy to Use;
- Lightweight;
- Offers compatibility.
Cons:
- Cannot create presets;
- AVI output only.
#4. Freemake Video Converter
This software includes different video editing features that can rotate MPG, ASF, WMV and AVI files in a convenient manner. It enables the users to rotate the video at any degree they want to rotate the file; they can save the file using either same or different file name. Direct video rotate functionalities are available for both compressed and uncompressed AVI files.
Pros:
- Easy & intuitive to Use;
- Simple features;
- Impressive number of video formats.
Cons:
- Limited editing abilities;
- Few Extra Features.
#5. Any Video Converter
Any Video Converter is a compatible tool that supports different video formats including AVI, MOV, MPG and WMV files. It is recognized as one of the most useful video rotating software that comes with many features including the choice of rotation; it enables the users to rotate the file at 90, 180 ad 270 degrees with ease. Its user friendly interface and quality output have attracted the users in an efficient and effective manner.
Pros:
- Supports almost any video formats;
- Different video editing functions.
Cons:
- Can’t convert audio files.
Recommended: Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor)
If you want to rotate different types of video files video editor,Wondershare Filmora is a great choice. Just place the video files on the timeline and then you can rotate your videos 90 degrees clockwise or anticlockwise or spin them vertically and horizontally.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Unlock Chromecast’s Full Potential: Streaming Local Videos From Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS Devices
How to Stream Local Video to Chromecast on Windows/Mac/Android/iOS
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Get below a detailed Chromecast app list. It tells you how to stream local files to TV through Chromecast from PC, Mac, Android, or iPhone, iPad and more. Now the Google cast supported video formats are limited to MP4 and WebM. If you have the format incompatibility issue, just use Video Converter to convert your video to be supported by Chrome.
To stream local files to TV from PC or Mac, there are totally 4 ways to choose from. Just get the 4 solutions below.
- Solution 1: Cast Chrome browser to TV
- Solution 2: Cast with Wondershare Video Converter
- Solution 3: Cast with Plex for Chromecast
- Solution 4: Cast with Videostream for Google Chromecast
Solution 1: Cast Chrome browser to TV
Step 1. Install Chrome browser and Chromecast extension
Make sure that you have the latest version of Chrome. You can check by clicking Settings > About Google Chrome to update your chrome.
Step 2: Connect Chromecast with TV
Plug in Chromecast in the HDMI input on your TV, and then plug the USB cord on the other end of the Chromecast to power it.
Step 3.Connect WiFi
Make sure that your computer and TV are connected in the same network. You should be connected to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi network.
If your Chromecast can’t be connected to the Wi-Fi network, please check the Chromecast router compatibility here .
Step 4.Install Google cast extension
Please download Google cast extension here . After installation, there will be a Cast tab on the Chrome browser. You can click the option button to set video quality as Extreme (720p high bitrate) or High (720p) for your HD TV.
Step 5. Play local Video or music
Drag your local files to chrome browser, or press Ctr + O to browse and import your files. And then your video will be played in Chrome’s built-in video viewer. Then click the Cast current tab on your browser to stream media files to Chromecast and then play it on TV.
Also you can choose Cast entire screen to share your desktop screen instead of a Chrome tab to TV.
Note:
1. If your videos can’t be streamed, that’s because Chromecast doesn’t support these formats. You can check all the supported media here . If you really want to cast any format, check the second solution.
2. Stream video in background: When you stream video to your TV, you can use the 2 Windows short cuts to stream local video to Chromecast in background.
Alt+Tab: It lets you do other things by switching to other opened programs/apps
Ctrl+Esc: You can start a new program by pressing the 2 buttons to pop up the Star menu.
Solution 2: Cast with Wondershare Video Converter
Step 1. Install Wondershare UniConverter
<
Download and install Wondershare UniConverter Video Converter from its official website page.
Step 2. Import any video to the software
Make sure your Chromecast and PC are located in the same network. Then click the “Add Files” button or directly drag-n-drop to import your video to the program. After that, click the “Stream” pane on the right side and choose your Chromecast as the streaming device. When everything is ready, hit the “Stream” button at the bottom.
Step 3. Start streaming
In the pop up window, click the “Play To TV” button to stream your video to Chromecast. Then after a few seconds, you can enjoy your video right on the big screen. You can also control the playback process by clicking the perspective buttons in the streaming window. That’s done!
Solution 3: Cast with Plex for Chromecast
Plex is a Chromecast app for PC, Mac and Linux. It is designed to stream local homemade videos and movies to your TV through Chromecast. To use this app, you need to subscribe the PlexPass and pay $4.99 for Plex app. After everything is prepared, just hit play and tap on the Chromecast button, and then your local videos can be successfully streamed to your TV. It supports MP4 and WebM.
More Information about How to use Plex for Chromecast .
Solution 4: Cast with Videostream for Google Chromecast
Videostream for Google Chromecast is a free Chrome extension. To install it, the version of Chrome 32.0 is required. You can use it to free play local videos on Chromecast from your PC - Subtitles supported! Its supported format is MP4 and WebM.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Get below a detailed Chromecast app list. It tells you how to stream local files to TV through Chromecast from PC, Mac, Android, or iPhone, iPad and more. Now the Google cast supported video formats are limited to MP4 and WebM. If you have the format incompatibility issue, just use Video Converter to convert your video to be supported by Chrome.
To stream local files to TV from PC or Mac, there are totally 4 ways to choose from. Just get the 4 solutions below.
- Solution 1: Cast Chrome browser to TV
- Solution 2: Cast with Wondershare Video Converter
- Solution 3: Cast with Plex for Chromecast
- Solution 4: Cast with Videostream for Google Chromecast
Solution 1: Cast Chrome browser to TV
Step 1. Install Chrome browser and Chromecast extension
Make sure that you have the latest version of Chrome. You can check by clicking Settings > About Google Chrome to update your chrome.
Step 2: Connect Chromecast with TV
Plug in Chromecast in the HDMI input on your TV, and then plug the USB cord on the other end of the Chromecast to power it.
Step 3.Connect WiFi
Make sure that your computer and TV are connected in the same network. You should be connected to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi network.
If your Chromecast can’t be connected to the Wi-Fi network, please check the Chromecast router compatibility here .
Step 4.Install Google cast extension
Please download Google cast extension here . After installation, there will be a Cast tab on the Chrome browser. You can click the option button to set video quality as Extreme (720p high bitrate) or High (720p) for your HD TV.
Step 5. Play local Video or music
Drag your local files to chrome browser, or press Ctr + O to browse and import your files. And then your video will be played in Chrome’s built-in video viewer. Then click the Cast current tab on your browser to stream media files to Chromecast and then play it on TV.
Also you can choose Cast entire screen to share your desktop screen instead of a Chrome tab to TV.
Note:
1. If your videos can’t be streamed, that’s because Chromecast doesn’t support these formats. You can check all the supported media here . If you really want to cast any format, check the second solution.
2. Stream video in background: When you stream video to your TV, you can use the 2 Windows short cuts to stream local video to Chromecast in background.
Alt+Tab: It lets you do other things by switching to other opened programs/apps
Ctrl+Esc: You can start a new program by pressing the 2 buttons to pop up the Star menu.
Solution 2: Cast with Wondershare Video Converter
Step 1. Install Wondershare UniConverter
<
Download and install Wondershare UniConverter Video Converter from its official website page.
Step 2. Import any video to the software
Make sure your Chromecast and PC are located in the same network. Then click the “Add Files” button or directly drag-n-drop to import your video to the program. After that, click the “Stream” pane on the right side and choose your Chromecast as the streaming device. When everything is ready, hit the “Stream” button at the bottom.
Step 3. Start streaming
In the pop up window, click the “Play To TV” button to stream your video to Chromecast. Then after a few seconds, you can enjoy your video right on the big screen. You can also control the playback process by clicking the perspective buttons in the streaming window. That’s done!
Solution 3: Cast with Plex for Chromecast
Plex is a Chromecast app for PC, Mac and Linux. It is designed to stream local homemade videos and movies to your TV through Chromecast. To use this app, you need to subscribe the PlexPass and pay $4.99 for Plex app. After everything is prepared, just hit play and tap on the Chromecast button, and then your local videos can be successfully streamed to your TV. It supports MP4 and WebM.
More Information about How to use Plex for Chromecast .
Solution 4: Cast with Videostream for Google Chromecast
Videostream for Google Chromecast is a free Chrome extension. To install it, the version of Chrome 32.0 is required. You can use it to free play local videos on Chromecast from your PC - Subtitles supported! Its supported format is MP4 and WebM.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Get below a detailed Chromecast app list. It tells you how to stream local files to TV through Chromecast from PC, Mac, Android, or iPhone, iPad and more. Now the Google cast supported video formats are limited to MP4 and WebM. If you have the format incompatibility issue, just use Video Converter to convert your video to be supported by Chrome.
To stream local files to TV from PC or Mac, there are totally 4 ways to choose from. Just get the 4 solutions below.
- Solution 1: Cast Chrome browser to TV
- Solution 2: Cast with Wondershare Video Converter
- Solution 3: Cast with Plex for Chromecast
- Solution 4: Cast with Videostream for Google Chromecast
Solution 1: Cast Chrome browser to TV
Step 1. Install Chrome browser and Chromecast extension
Make sure that you have the latest version of Chrome. You can check by clicking Settings > About Google Chrome to update your chrome.
Step 2: Connect Chromecast with TV
Plug in Chromecast in the HDMI input on your TV, and then plug the USB cord on the other end of the Chromecast to power it.
Step 3.Connect WiFi
Make sure that your computer and TV are connected in the same network. You should be connected to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi network.
If your Chromecast can’t be connected to the Wi-Fi network, please check the Chromecast router compatibility here .
Step 4.Install Google cast extension
Please download Google cast extension here . After installation, there will be a Cast tab on the Chrome browser. You can click the option button to set video quality as Extreme (720p high bitrate) or High (720p) for your HD TV.
Step 5. Play local Video or music
Drag your local files to chrome browser, or press Ctr + O to browse and import your files. And then your video will be played in Chrome’s built-in video viewer. Then click the Cast current tab on your browser to stream media files to Chromecast and then play it on TV.
Also you can choose Cast entire screen to share your desktop screen instead of a Chrome tab to TV.
Note:
1. If your videos can’t be streamed, that’s because Chromecast doesn’t support these formats. You can check all the supported media here . If you really want to cast any format, check the second solution.
2. Stream video in background: When you stream video to your TV, you can use the 2 Windows short cuts to stream local video to Chromecast in background.
Alt+Tab: It lets you do other things by switching to other opened programs/apps
Ctrl+Esc: You can start a new program by pressing the 2 buttons to pop up the Star menu.
Solution 2: Cast with Wondershare Video Converter
Step 1. Install Wondershare UniConverter
<
Download and install Wondershare UniConverter Video Converter from its official website page.
Step 2. Import any video to the software
Make sure your Chromecast and PC are located in the same network. Then click the “Add Files” button or directly drag-n-drop to import your video to the program. After that, click the “Stream” pane on the right side and choose your Chromecast as the streaming device. When everything is ready, hit the “Stream” button at the bottom.
Step 3. Start streaming
In the pop up window, click the “Play To TV” button to stream your video to Chromecast. Then after a few seconds, you can enjoy your video right on the big screen. You can also control the playback process by clicking the perspective buttons in the streaming window. That’s done!
Solution 3: Cast with Plex for Chromecast
Plex is a Chromecast app for PC, Mac and Linux. It is designed to stream local homemade videos and movies to your TV through Chromecast. To use this app, you need to subscribe the PlexPass and pay $4.99 for Plex app. After everything is prepared, just hit play and tap on the Chromecast button, and then your local videos can be successfully streamed to your TV. It supports MP4 and WebM.
More Information about How to use Plex for Chromecast .
Solution 4: Cast with Videostream for Google Chromecast
Videostream for Google Chromecast is a free Chrome extension. To install it, the version of Chrome 32.0 is required. You can use it to free play local videos on Chromecast from your PC - Subtitles supported! Its supported format is MP4 and WebM.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Get below a detailed Chromecast app list. It tells you how to stream local files to TV through Chromecast from PC, Mac, Android, or iPhone, iPad and more. Now the Google cast supported video formats are limited to MP4 and WebM. If you have the format incompatibility issue, just use Video Converter to convert your video to be supported by Chrome.
To stream local files to TV from PC or Mac, there are totally 4 ways to choose from. Just get the 4 solutions below.
- Solution 1: Cast Chrome browser to TV
- Solution 2: Cast with Wondershare Video Converter
- Solution 3: Cast with Plex for Chromecast
- Solution 4: Cast with Videostream for Google Chromecast
Solution 1: Cast Chrome browser to TV
Step 1. Install Chrome browser and Chromecast extension
Make sure that you have the latest version of Chrome. You can check by clicking Settings > About Google Chrome to update your chrome.
Step 2: Connect Chromecast with TV
Plug in Chromecast in the HDMI input on your TV, and then plug the USB cord on the other end of the Chromecast to power it.
Step 3.Connect WiFi
Make sure that your computer and TV are connected in the same network. You should be connected to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi network.
If your Chromecast can’t be connected to the Wi-Fi network, please check the Chromecast router compatibility here .
Step 4.Install Google cast extension
Please download Google cast extension here . After installation, there will be a Cast tab on the Chrome browser. You can click the option button to set video quality as Extreme (720p high bitrate) or High (720p) for your HD TV.
Step 5. Play local Video or music
Drag your local files to chrome browser, or press Ctr + O to browse and import your files. And then your video will be played in Chrome’s built-in video viewer. Then click the Cast current tab on your browser to stream media files to Chromecast and then play it on TV.
Also you can choose Cast entire screen to share your desktop screen instead of a Chrome tab to TV.
Note:
1. If your videos can’t be streamed, that’s because Chromecast doesn’t support these formats. You can check all the supported media here . If you really want to cast any format, check the second solution.
2. Stream video in background: When you stream video to your TV, you can use the 2 Windows short cuts to stream local video to Chromecast in background.
Alt+Tab: It lets you do other things by switching to other opened programs/apps
Ctrl+Esc: You can start a new program by pressing the 2 buttons to pop up the Star menu.
Solution 2: Cast with Wondershare Video Converter
Step 1. Install Wondershare UniConverter
<
Download and install Wondershare UniConverter Video Converter from its official website page.
Step 2. Import any video to the software
Make sure your Chromecast and PC are located in the same network. Then click the “Add Files” button or directly drag-n-drop to import your video to the program. After that, click the “Stream” pane on the right side and choose your Chromecast as the streaming device. When everything is ready, hit the “Stream” button at the bottom.
Step 3. Start streaming
In the pop up window, click the “Play To TV” button to stream your video to Chromecast. Then after a few seconds, you can enjoy your video right on the big screen. You can also control the playback process by clicking the perspective buttons in the streaming window. That’s done!
Solution 3: Cast with Plex for Chromecast
Plex is a Chromecast app for PC, Mac and Linux. It is designed to stream local homemade videos and movies to your TV through Chromecast. To use this app, you need to subscribe the PlexPass and pay $4.99 for Plex app. After everything is prepared, just hit play and tap on the Chromecast button, and then your local videos can be successfully streamed to your TV. It supports MP4 and WebM.
More Information about How to use Plex for Chromecast .
Solution 4: Cast with Videostream for Google Chromecast
Videostream for Google Chromecast is a free Chrome extension. To install it, the version of Chrome 32.0 is required. You can use it to free play local videos on Chromecast from your PC - Subtitles supported! Its supported format is MP4 and WebM.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
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- Author: Amelia
- Created at : 2024-04-29 19:39:07
- Updated at : 2024-04-30 19:39:07
- Link: https://ai-driven-video-production.techidaily.com/updated-2024-approved-final-cut-pro-x-captioning-a-step-by-step-guide/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.