Rive vs Synfig Studio
Rive
rive.appSynfig Studio
synfig.orgSide by side
| Figure | Rive | Synfig Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $9/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 4 | 1 |
| Spec score · Animation Software | 9.4 (#1) | 8.3 (#32) |
| Character rigging | Yes | Yes |
| Export formats | RIV,REV,MP4,GIF,PNG sequence,WebM | bitmap images,video formats,animated GIF,MPG,PNG image sequences |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Supported platforms | web,windows,macos,linux,ios,android | windows,linux,macos |
| 2D animation tools | Yes | Yes |
Plans
In their own words
Rive
Rive is a tool for designing 2D animations, motion graphics, and rigged characters, with an editor for building animated content. The editor is available as a desktop app, and command-line support is listed for macOS, Linux, and Windows. Rive content can run natively on mobile, desktop, web, consoles, TVs, and vehicles; integrations include Web, iOS, macOS, Android, Flutter, React, React Native, Unity, and Unreal. Export formats are RIV, REV, MP4, GIF, PNG sequence, and WebM. The Editor can be used free to explore, learn, and build. The Free plan is $0 per seat per month and includes three collaborative files, one project, and a 10 MB imported-asset limit. Cadet is $9 a month in the annual view, with up to three seats and unlimited files. Voyager is $32 a month in the annual view, with up to 25 seats and an Agent with advanced models. Free and Cadet include an Agent with limits. Enterprise includes SSO, SOC2 Type II, dedicated support, onboarding, training, custom storage, and custom runtime options.
Synfig Studio
Synfig Studio is free, open-source software for making 2D animation from vector and bitmap artwork. Its tweening system calculates intermediate frames after key positions are set. More than 50 layer types cover geometric, gradient, filter, distortion, transformation, and fractal work. A bone system supports cutout animation with bitmap images and control of vector artwork, while layer parameters can connect directly or through mathematical expressions. Exports include bitmap images, video formats, animated GIF, MPG, and PNG image sequences. Synfig runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS; listed requirements include a dual-core 2 GHz-or-better processor and at least 2 GB of RAM. Stable builds target everyday use, while development builds contain experimental features and bug fixes. Documentation, video courses in four languages, and forums are available. The project uses GNU GPL v3, with source code on GitHub.