How To Make Animated Videos For Free

Do you want to make a free animated video? Sometimes there just isn’t enough budget to create a custom animated video so this article explains several different ways you can make animated videos for free.

If you have a question about making free animated videos that isn’t answered in this article, you can use our contact form to ask your question or click the image below to with a member of our production team:

 

Want to make a free animated video?

Lots of people want to make animated videos for their business, but not everyone has the budget to hire someone to make a custom video for them.  Fortunately, there are some options where you can make animated videos for free or practically nothing if you’re willing to take the time to make it yourself.

How to make a free animated video

GoAnimate (now Vyond), PowToon and Wideo are three sites that you can use to make animated videos yourself. These sites have online animation maker platforms and large libraries of pre-made characters, objects and backgrounds that you can use to lay out different scenes and specify how you want objects to move throughout the scenes. 

You can even add voiceovers and soundtracks to the video.

Most of these sites allow you to create videos for free using their free trial. And if you want to download a copy of your video, it may include their logo as a watermark on the video – unless you pay a small amount to get the high resolution version of the video without their watermark. 

Deep Dive: Learn about the animated video production process.

How to create animated video online free

Animated videos typically require budgets of at least a few thousand dollars to produce. There are a growing number of cheap ways to make animated videos – but they usually require a lot of your time to learn how to use the program and even more time to actually create the videos. In recent months, Facebook has introduced Make-A-Video and Google researchers have introduced DreamFusion – a text to 3D animated video creation AI. These services can be used to make short clips with small pixel dimensions and a moderate amount of photo realism. While they’re still in their infancy, these new services are already generating impressive results.

 

Drawbacks of free animated video services

You can make great quality 2D animated videos using these services, but be aware of the fact that other companies are also using these same images and characters to create videos for their companies. So, if you want to have a video that is completely customized and unique to your brand, I recommend hiring a studio, freelancer or Video Igniter to design a completely custom video for you.

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How to turn your photos into animations for free

As a bonus tip, here’s an interesting way you can use your photos to create unique animations:

How to make low cost animated videos?

Do you have a little bit of a budget to put towards a custom animated video? If so, this article explains a few ways you can make cheap animated videos and includes tips on how to keep your production budget low.

The Best Tools to Make a Free Animated Video (Updated for 2026)

The world of free animated video creation has grown dramatically over the past few years. Whether you’re a business owner, educator, marketer, or hobbyist, there are now dozens of platforms that allow you to create a free animated video without any design or animation background. Some rely on drag-and-drop tools, while others use AI to automatically generate scenes based on your script.

Below are some of the most popular and effective tools for making free animated videos today:

1. Canva’s Free Animation Tools

Canva includes a surprisingly powerful free animation engine. You can animate text, icons, and characters; add transitions; and export simple animated videos at no cost. It’s ideal for social content, short explainer videos, and animated ads.

2. CapCut Web

CapCut offers both a mobile app and browser-based editor with animation presets, motion tracking, sound effects, and templates. It’s not a full animation studio, but you can easily create lightweight animated videos for free.

3. Animaker

Animaker offers a free tier with character rigs, templates, backgrounds, and simple animation tools. Its free export options let you make short animated videos without paying, making it a top choice for educators and small businesses.

4. Blender (100% Free 3D Animation)

For 3D enthusiasts, Blender is one of the most powerful free tools in the world. While it has a steep learning curve, it allows you to create cinematic-quality animated videos for free—perfect for advanced users who want to make animation at no cost.

5. AI-Powered Free Animation Tools

New AI tools are emerging every month. Some of the most interesting free options include:

• Runway Gen-2: Generates short animated videos from text prompts.
• Pika Labs: Produces AI-generated animation clips, with limited free credits.
• Stable Video Diffusion: Converts images into short animations using AI.

These services can generate quick animated clips for free, although they are best used for experimentation rather than commercial-grade video production.

How to Make a Free Animated Video That Looks Professional

You can absolutely make a polished-looking free animated video—if you follow the right process. Here’s a simple framework you can use to improve the quality of any free animated video you produce:

1. Start with a script

The success of your animated video has almost nothing to do with the software you use. It begins with a strong script. Keep these tips in mind:

• Write a clear hook for the first 2–3 seconds.
• Keep sentences short and easy to read on-screen.
• End with a call to action, even if the video is just for fun.

2. Create a simple storyboard

It doesn’t have to be fancy. A 6–10-panel sketch outline helps you visualize:

• What characters appear
• Where they stand
• What actions occur
• How transitions will work

This step prevents the #1 problem beginners face: randomly animated scenes with no visual cohesion.

3. Choose a consistent visual style

Free animated video tools often offer dozens of characters and art styles—but mixing too many styles can make your video look unprofessional.

Stick to:

• One character design family
• One background style
• One consistent color palette

This single step instantly makes your free animated video feel more polished.

4. Add voiceover or text-to-speech

Most free animated video platforms include built-in text-to-speech. For professional results:

• Choose a voice that matches your audience
• Keep narration slow and clear
• Add captions for accessibility

If you prefer human voices, you can record audio on your phone and upload it.

5. Always add music and sound effects

Even a simple music track can make a free animated video feel premium. Use royalty-free sources like:

• YouTube Audio Library
• FreeSound.org
• Mixkit

Most free platforms let you import audio—take advantage of it.

Tips for Making a Free Animated Video Without Watermarks

Many platforms allow you to make free animated videos but only export low-resolution videos with watermarks. If you want to avoid that, here are a few strategies:

Use platforms with watermark-free exports

Some tools, like Canva or Blender, allow exports without watermarks even on the free plan.

Take advantage of free trials

Many paid tools offer:

• 7-day free trials
• Limited free exports
• Temporary watermark-free downloads

You can create your animated video during the trial and export at full quality.

Use screen capture creatively

Some creators record their screen at 4K resolution, then crop and edit the footage. It’s not ideal, but for simple animated videos, this workaround can eliminate watermarks.

Are Free Animated Videos Good Enough for Business Use?

Yes—and no.

Free animated video tools are excellent for:

• Social media posts
• Internal training clips
• School projects
• Simple explainer videos
• Promotional teasers
• Idea validation

However, if you need:

• A unique art style
• Custom characters
• High-quality motion design
• Professional voiceover
• Branding accuracy
• Multiplatform export formats
• Support for commercial campaigns

…a free tool usually won’t be enough.

Free animated video software can get you started, but businesses that need a strong branded impression typically hire a studio or professional animator.

How AI Is Changing the Free Animated Video Landscape

AI-generated animation is one of the most exciting areas for creators who want to make animated videos for free. AI tools can now:

• Generate characters
• Animate scenes
• Add transitions
• Lip-sync voices
• Create 3D movement
• Convert text into full animated clips

While these tools are currently limited in length, consistency, and editing controls, they are rapidly improving. Over the next few years, it’s expected that anyone will be able to produce a high-quality animated video for free using AI—with minimal effort.

That said, AI-generated animation still struggles with:

• Continuity
• Character consistency
• Complex scenes
• Brand-accurate visuals
• Multi-minute scripts

So AI is great for inspiration, but not yet a replacement for custom animation.

When Should You Move Beyond Free Animated Video Tools?

If your video needs to:

• Convert leads
• Drive sales
• Represent your brand visually
• Explain a complex product
• Appear on TV, YouTube ads, or a website
• Compete with other professional brands

…that’s the point at which a paid animated video (or hiring a studio like Video Igniter) becomes the smarter investment.

Free tools are powerful for testing ideas.
Custom production is powerful for achieving results.

Final Thoughts: Free Animated Video vs. Custom Animated Video

Making a free animated video is easier today than ever before—and a great option if you want to experiment, learn animation basics, produce simple content, or test ideas. With a growing number of AI-driven tools, you can create videos in minutes and try endless styles at no cost.

But if you need:

• Unique design
• High production value
• Brand-consistent visuals
• Strategic messaging
• Multiple versions for A/B testing
• Professional results that drive ROI

…a custom animated video will outperform free tools every time.

Fortunately, Video Igniter offers budget-friendly options to help you create professional videos—whether you’re starting with a small budget or ready for a full production.

Hire Video Igniter to Create An Animated Video

World class design talent at prices startups can afford.

We can make any kind of 2D or 3D animated video you can imagine.

+20 reasons companies love hiring us to create animated videos.

Animated Video Demo Reel

 

Success Stories & Testimonials

“I am beyond satisfied with my experience with Video Igniter. The first drafts of the work were almost exactly what I had in my head when developing the concept. After that each step along the way was seamless until arriving at a perfect finished product. And all this at a tremendous value. Anyone who has considered creating a marketing video should check out Video Igniter.”

Anonymous Customer Feedback

“Video Igniter offered us the critical combination of creative value, clear communication, and patience with stakeholder feedback. We ended up with truly high-quality design assets for our video series largely due to the extra level of commitment — and the right balance of efficiencies with flexibility in the process when called for.”

Larry Schlessinger – Sr. Creative Program Manager, Amazon Web Services

“My whole family and everyone on Facebook thinks you are amazing. My whole office is freaking out.”

Patricia Shields – Real Estate Agent

Get in touch

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