Autodesk MotionBuilder vs Powtoon
Autodesk MotionBuilder
autodesk.com
Powtoon
powtoon.comSide by side
| Figure | Autodesk MotionBuilder | Powtoon |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | $8/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 8 | 10 |
| Spec score · Animation Software | 9.1 (#9) | 9.2 (#6) |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Integrations | MotionBuilder is designed to complement Maya and 3ds Max and exchanges data through Autodesk FBX with applications that support FBX. | Powtoon lists integrations including Salesforce, Articulate 360, Google Drive, Zapier, Google Slides, Figma, HubSpot, Microsoft Teams, PowerPoint, Canva, and LMS platforms. |
| Support | Autodesk lists 24x7 online support options and resources. | All paid plans include 24/7 priority support, while Enterprise includes VIP support and onboarding. |
| What it does | MotionBuilder is Autodesk software for real-time 3D character animation used in games, feature films and television. | Powtoon is a browser-based creation platform built around Powtoon Studio for making animated videos and visual presentations. |
Plans
Autodesk MotionBuilder
- Annual subscriptionPriced on request
- Annual subscriptionPrice not published
- 3-year subscriptionPriced on request
- 3-year subscriptionPrice not published
- MotionBuilder free trialFree
- MotionBuilder 2025$2,145 a year
- Media & Entertainment Collection$2,790 a year
- MotionBuilder subscriptionPrice not published
Powtoon
- FreeFree
- Lite$15 a month
- Professional$40 a month
- Advanced$125 a month
- Education$8 a month
- 125 AI credits$49, paid once
- 300 AI credits$99, paid once
- 450 AI credits$149, paid once
- EnterprisePriced on request
- Institutions & DistrictsPriced on request
In their own words
Autodesk MotionBuilder
Autodesk MotionBuilder is 3D character animation software for capturing, editing, and playing back complex animations. Its real-time character engine automatically creates movements for biped or human skeletons, while manipulation tools let users alter a character’s position and orientation. The listed capabilities include motion capture, motion retargeting, facial animation, animation retargeting, and character retargeting. Autodesk says professional animation and game studios use MotionBuilder to produce animations. It is designed to complement Maya and 3ds Max and exchanges data through Autodesk FBX with applications that support FBX. MotionBuilder is available for Linux and Windows. The stated minimum hardware includes a 64-bit Intel or AMD multi-core processor, 8 GB RAM, 4 GB of free disk space, and a three-button mouse. Autodesk offers a free 30-day trial, but no free plan. A subscription covers installation on up to three devices for one named user, with use limited to one computer at a time, and includes the current version plus three previous versions.
Powtoon
Powtoon is a browser-based platform for creating animated videos and visual presentations in Powtoon Studio. Its editor brings together scene trimming and merging, captions, transitions, animations, brand assets, stock footage, voiceovers and soundtracks. AI tools can turn documents or text into video and support scriptwriting, speech, avatars, captions, translations and image creation. The platform also lists a stock media library of more than four million items and a character builder for changing appearance and gestures. Powtoon Capture records a screen, webcam or both; recordings can run up to 70 minutes and are deleted automatically after three months. It supports web and Chrome extension access, works in Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari, and has a free iOS and Android companion app for uploading media, recording voiceovers, and playing or sharing Powtoons. Plans include a free option and paid plans from $15/mo billed annually. Free videos are limited to three minutes at 720p and carry a Powtoon watermark.