Pencil2D vs Stop Motion Studio
Pencil2D
pencil2d.org
Stop Motion Studio
stopmotionstudio.comSide by side
| Figure | Pencil2D | Stop Motion Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 8 |
| Spec score · Animation Software | 8.8 (#16) | 9.0 (#12) |
| Documentation | Official documentation includes a user guide, tutorials, FAQ, user manual and a reference manual described as an initial work in progress. | Official support provides a feature manual, tutorials, troubleshooting articles, deployment guides, and contact support. |
| Export formats | MP4,WEBM,AVI,GIF,APNG,PNG image sequence | Projects can be exported as video, GIF, sticker, flipbook, MP4, MOV, 4K output, image sequences, or project files. |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | GetApp reports that no integrations were found for Pencil2D. | Projects can move between devices using iCloud, AirDrop, Dropbox, and the Files app, and finished videos can be shared to YouTube, Instagram, and other social networks. |
| Licence | The GitHub repository identifies the project licence as GPL-2.0. | The software is proprietary commercial software licensed rather than sold, with Cateater retaining ownership and source-code rights. |
| Supported platforms | Windows,macOS,Linux | iOS,Android,macOS,Windows |
| What it does | Pencil2D is a lightweight tool for creating traditional hand-drawn 2D animations. | Stop Motion Studio captures and assembles frame-by-frame animation from LEGO, clay, drawings, and everyday objects. |
Plans
Stop Motion Studio
- FreeFree
- Pro (iPhone and iPad)Price not published
- Pro 2 (Mac)Price not published
- FreeFree
- Stop Motion Studio (free mobile version)Free
- Pro$5.99, paid once
- Stop Motion Studio Pro (iPhone and iPad)$5.99, paid once
- School site licensePrice not published
In their own words
Pencil2D
Pencil2D is free, open-source software for creating hand-drawn 2D animations. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and, according to the homepage, FreeBSD. The project provides stable builds for Windows 7 or later, macOS 10.14 or later on Intel, and both 32-bit and 64-bit Linux. Artists can switch between raster and vector workflows for sketching, inking and painting. A timeline manages keyframes, while dockable tool and color windows accompany an unlimited canvas with a camera field. Onion skin displays drawings before and after the current keyframe, with controls for drawing count and transparency. Sound can be imported through a sound layer, although waveform display is still pending. Exports include MP4, WEBM, AVI, GIF, APNG and PNG image sequences. Video importing, text tools and shape tools are not implemented. Pencil2D is free for commercial use. Help is available through its forum, Discord, tutorials, FAQ and user manual.
Stop Motion Studio
Stop Motion Studio is an app for creating stop-motion animation with frame-by-frame capture and editing. It runs on Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. Camera capture can be automatic or manual, with controls for focus, exposure, ISO, and white balance; the app can create 4K video. Editing tools include a frame-by-frame editor, zoomable timeline, audio, titles, credits, and filters. Onion skinning, composition guides, a path layer, and reference images or video support planning movement and framing. The product page also describes DSLR control with Live View and in-app shutter speed, ISO, and aperture settings. Finished movies can be saved as video, GIF, sticker, or flipbook; raw images can also be exported, and projects transferred to another device. The free mobile version costs nothing and includes core classroom features such as frame-by-frame capture, onion skinning, and video export. Green screen, rotoscoping, 4K export, and other advanced tools require an upgrade. The Pro app for iPhone and iPad is listed at $5.99, paid once, with no subscription. The maker says there is no trial or free version for Windows or macOS.