Synfig Studio
Free, open-source 2D vector animation app with keyframe tweening and a bone system.
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- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 7
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- 0
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About Synfig Studio
Synfig Studio is a free, open-source 2D animation program built around vectors and keyframes rather than drawing every frame. You set key poses and Synfig calculates the in-between frames, so a shape can morph into another or a character can move without redrawing. A bone system supports cut-out animation with bitmap images or rigged vector artwork, and parameters across layers can be linked, even through math expressions, to build reusable character puppets. It offers more than 50 layer types, from gradients and distortions to filters and fractals. Synfig is licensed under the GPL v3 and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, with both stable and development builds offered. It is community-developed and used by indie projects such as the Morevna Project. The interface is technical and takes some learning, and it is a poor fit for traditional frame-by-frame drawing. It suits explainer videos, cut-out animation and indie shorts.
Best for: Indie animators making vector or cut-out animation who want tweening and rigging for free.
Pros and cons
What works
- Automatic tweening between keyframes saves drawing every frame
- Bones for cut-out animation with vector or bitmap art
- Free and GPL-licensed on Windows, macOS and Linux
Why people leave
- Technical interface with a steep learning curve
- Weak for traditional frame-by-frame hand drawing
- Desktop only, with no iPad or Android app
Top Synfig Studio alternatives
See all 7- 1
OpenToonz66.5Free studio pipeline with xsheets and effects, better for hand-drawn production work.
- 2
Blender66.2Free 3D suite whose Grease Pencil handles 2D animation with strong rigging and a big community.
- 3
Pencil2D62.6Simpler free app for frame-by-frame drawing if you don't need tweening or rigs.
- 4
Rive52.6Design-and-animate tool with state machines, aimed at interactive animations for apps and the web.
- 5
Toon Boom Harmony52.2Commercial tool with far more polished rigging and deformers for professional cut-out work.
Why people left Synfig Studio
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Synfig Studio: common questions
Is Synfig Studio free?
Yes. Synfig Studio is free, open-source software.
Is Synfig Studio open source?
Yes. The source code is on GitHub at synfig/synfig.
What platforms does Synfig Studio run on?
Synfig Studio is available for Windows, macOS and Linux.
What are the best alternatives to Synfig Studio?
The highest-ranked Synfig Studio alternatives right now are OpenToonz, Blender and Pencil2D. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.