Pencil2D alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Pencil2D: no bones, rigging or automatic tweening, and few effects and limited sound editing compared with studio tools. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Pencil2D, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. OpenToonz currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Krita	Open source	Yes	Windows, macOS, Linux +1	4 of 4	52.6

1. KritaTop pick
Best for: Illustrators and concept artists who want a free, full-featured painting app
Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Android
52.6
score / 100
Why switch from Pencil2D
Free painting app with a built-in animation timeline and much richer brushes for drawn frames.
Pros
Free and GPL-licensed
Excellent brush engines and drawing assistants
Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android
Cons
Not built for photo editing
Can slow down on very large canvases
No iPad version
Visit Krita Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.346
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Krita a good Pencil2D alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
License
GPL-3.0
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Price
Free
Checked Oct 29, 2026krita.org(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
Checked Oct 29, 2026krita.org(opens source in a new tab)
Android
Google Play builds
Checked Oct 29, 2026krita.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best Pencil2D alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best Pencil2D alternative for most people

OpenToonz

Free studio-grade tool with xsheets, effects and scanning, for when a project outgrows Pencil2D.

Best Pencil2D alternative for a free option

Synfig Studio

Free vector animator with automatic tweening and bones, so you don't draw every frame.

Best Pencil2D alternative for open source

Krita

Free painting app with a built-in animation timeline and much richer brushes for drawn frames.

Best Pencil2D alternative for Mac

Clip Studio Paint

Paid drawing app with strong frame animation tools, popular with comic and anime artists.

Best Pencil2D alternative for Windows

Toon Boom Harmony

Professional paid tool for those moving from hobby animation into studio work.

Best Pencil2D alternative for Linux

Synfig Studio

Free vector animator with automatic tweening and bones, so you don't draw every frame.

Best Pencil2D alternative for iPhone and Android

Clip Studio Paint

Paid drawing app with strong frame animation tools, popular with comic and anime artists.

Pencil2D alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Pencil2D?

OpenToonz ranks first right now. Free studio-grade tool with xsheets, effects and scanning, for when a project outgrows Pencil2D. Synfig Studio and Krita follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Pencil2D?

Yes. OpenToonz (open source), Synfig Studio (open source) and Krita (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Pencil2D?

Yes: OpenToonz, Synfig Studio and Krita.

Which Pencil2D alternatives work on Linux?

Synfig Studio and Krita run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Pencil2D?

The complaints we hear most: no bones, rigging or automatic tweening; few effects and limited sound editing compared with studio tools; current macOS build needs macOS 10.14 or later; older Macs get a legacy build.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Pencil2D, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.