Pencil2D
An easy, free and open-source tool for hand-drawn 2D animation.
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.2Visit
Desktop App
OpenToonz
Free, open-source 2D animation software based on the Toonz used by Studio Ghibli.
Built with love by Shushant Lakhyani. Building bestproductivityresources.com
What is OpenToonz?
OpenToonz is free, open-source 2D animation software based on Toonz, developed by Digital Video in Italy and customised and used for years by Studio Ghibli. It can be used free of charge for commercial and non-commercial projects, with source code under the New BSD licence. It runs on Windows and macOS; the latest release is OpenToonz 1.8.0 (June 2026).
Pros
- Professional studio pedigree
- Free for commercial work (BSD licence)
- Strong tools for traditional and scanned animation
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- No official Linux build
Who should use OpenToonz
Serious 2D animators who want studio-grade tools for free.
Who may not need it
Beginners who want something simple.
OpenToonz alternatives
Similar resources to OpenToonz, picked from the directory.
Synfig
Free, open-source 2D animation software for vector and bitmap artwork.
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
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Free, open-source 3D creation suite for modelling, animation, VFX and 2D animation.
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An interactive cheatsheet tool for the command-line.
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Free and open-source AI image upscaler for Linux, macOS and Windows.
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Free alternatives to OpenToonz
Free resources that cover similar ground.
Krita
A free, open-source painting program made by artists for artists.
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.7Visit
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Free, open-source AirDrop for every device on your Wi-Fi.
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
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Audacity
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Bento
The office suite that fits in a file.
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brag
Turn the project you just built into a shareable launch video with one command.
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