Blender
Free, open-source 3D creation suite for modelling, animation, VFX and 2D animation.
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.8Visit
Desktop App
Cavalry
Professional real-time 2D motion design, free for individuals.
Built with love by Shushant Lakhyani. Building bestproductivityresources.com
What is Cavalry?
Cavalry is professional, real-time 2D animation and motion graphics software built around procedural motion design, with rigging, data import and Lottie export. It is now part of Canva and free for individuals with a Canva account, with no stated usage limits. It runs on macOS (Apple silicon and Intel) and Windows; enterprise access goes through Canva sales.
Pros
- Pro motion design tool, free for individuals
- Procedural animation and data-driven graphics
- Exports Lottie for web and apps
Cons
- Needs a Canva account
- No Linux version
Who should use Cavalry
Motion designers who want a modern, procedural alternative to After Effects.
Who may not need it
People who need compositing for live-action footage.
Cavalry alternatives
Similar resources to Cavalry, picked from the directory.
Bloop
Turn product screenshots and clips into polished motion videos.
Desktop AppFree planmacOS, Windows
4.5Visit
OpenToonz
Free, open-source 2D animation software based on the Toonz used by Studio Ghibli.
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
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Pencil2D
An easy, free and open-source tool for hand-drawn 2D animation.
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
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Synfig
Free, open-source 2D animation software for vector and bitmap artwork.
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
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Annnimate
Production-grade GSAP components for React, Vue and HTML that ship at studio quality.
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Free alternatives to Cavalry
Free resources that cover similar ground.
Kombai Selects
Handpicked interface and motion design from across the web, credited to the designer.
WebsiteFreeWeb
4.5Visit
Viewport UI
A curated gallery of UI designs, interactions and motion studies from designers on X.
WebsiteFreeWeb
4.5Visit
Ghostty
A fast, feature-rich, cross-platform terminal emulator with native UI and GPU acceleration.
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux
4.9Visit
navi
An interactive cheatsheet tool for the command-line.
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.8Visit
Upscayl
Free and open-source AI image upscaler for Linux, macOS and Windows.
Desktop AppFreeLinux, macOS
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Krita
A free, open-source painting program made by artists for artists.
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