5 Best FREE 3D Animation Software (2025)

3D animation stands for three-dimensional animation, meaning characters and backgrounds in these types of projects are created in a three-dimensional space. 3D Animation Tools help you create models, backgrounds, storyboards and apply effects. You can use these tools to animate characters for commercials, movies, and television.

I have tested over 40 of the best free 3D animation software options. My research process involved evaluating tools based on platforms, features, customer support, and more. Below is my handpicked list of the top 3D animation software, with their popular features and website links. This list includes both open-source (free) and commercial (paid) software. Read more…

Best 3D Animation Software 2024 (Free & Paid)

Name	Platforms	Free Trial	Link
👍 Adobe 3d Animation Suite	Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS	7-Days Free Trial	Learn More
👍 Adobe Character Animator	Windows, and Mac	7-Days Free Trial	Learn More
Daz 3D	Windows and Mac	Basic Free Version	Learn More
Blender	Windows and Linux	30-Days Money Back guarantee	Learn More
Unity	Windows, Linux, and Mac.	Basic Free Version	Learn More

1) Adobe 3d Animation Suite

1) Animate, 2) Character Animator, 3) Illustrator, 4) Illustrator Draw and 5) Photoshop Sketch are Adobe 3d Animation Suite. These comprehensive bunch apps cover all aspects of modern design, layout, animation, and film­making. This is one of the best 3D animation software suites to collaborate quickly and effectively with integrated apps as well as online cloud storage and sharing.

Let’s see the features of all of Adobe 3d Animation Suite tools:

Features:

Adobe Animate:

• Depth Adjustment: It enables you to accentuate or reduce the apparent depth of your animation by adjusting the Perspective Angle.
• Natural Depth: Adobe Animate helped me to stretch my  2D artwork into the distance and create natural depth. It also lets you use the parallax effect to create a sense of space and depth
• Easy editing: I could add, subtract, and combine artwork by building up detailed 3D drawings.
• Define Spatial Placement: You can define the spatial placement of the artwork layers and camera.

Adobe Character Animator:

• Realistic animation: It allows you to add textures, designs, labels, or other surface effects to your 3D objects for a realistic look.
• Editing: Adobe Character Animator helped me add, subtract, and combine artwork with building up detailed 3D drawings.
• Collaborate: Animate or Character Animator lets you collaborate on art projects through your shared Creative Cloud Libraries.

Adobe Illustrator:

• Efficiency: Adobe Illustrator allows you to make functional groupings of your artwork to speed up animation.
• Share on Apps: It helps you export your animation in real time to Facebook Live, YouTube, or other third-party apps.
• Easy Editing: I could easily add, subtract, and combine artwork by creating detailed 3D pictures.

Adobe Illustrator Draw:

• Mobile Compatibility: It allows you to quickly build up sophisticated vector designs on your mobile device.
• Gesture Conversion: This tool helped me to convert my gestures into editable vector artwork and share it using online libraries.

Adobe Photoshop Sketch:

• Efficient: I could use preset, customized brushes and an unlimited palette to create spontaneously.
• Material Variety: You can work in oil paint, watercolor, charcoal, or marker.

Supported platforms: All the above tools support Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS

How to Get Adobe Substance 3D for Free

• Go to https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/tools/3d-animation-software.html
• Click on the “Start free trial” button. Fill in your details to sign up for the 7-day free trial.
• During the free trial, you get 20+ apps, including Photoshop, Illustrator, Adobe Express, Firefly, and Acrobat Pro. Cancel your trial within the first 14 days to avoid any charges. If you do not cancel, you will be billed for the plan you have opted for after the free trial ends.

Visit Adobe Suite >>

7-Day Free Trial

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2) Adobe Character Animator

While reviewing Adobe Character Animator, I noticed it helps you to animate characters in real time. I particularly appreciate how this software allows you to turn any art into animated characters with a webcam. It is a great option for animators to animate projects in real-time.

Features:

• Facial Animation: It helps you create animations that match facial expressions. I was mighty impressed with how accurately it mirrored my facial movements.
• Full-Body Animation: You can animate with arms, legs, and heads. It can capture your entire body movement using the webcam and automatically track all body movements.
• Effortless 3D Animation: It helps create high-quality 3D animation effortlessly. In its free version, I could simply select a puppet, record my own audio, and choose emotion and motion for instant animation.
• Customizable Characters: I received drag-and-drop customizable characters and sets.
• Shot Setup: Set up specific shots like close-ups and zoom.
• Character Movement: Design characters to convey movement and speed.
• Keyframes: I could access keyframes for creating moments.
• Audio Sync: You can easily sync audio to your animation.

How to Get Adobe Animator for Free

• Go to https://www.adobe.com/products/character-animator.html
• Click on the “Start for Free” button.
• Fill in your details to sign up for the 7-day free trial. During the free trial, you get access to basic features to create and export animations in minutes. No fee is charged if you cancel within the trial period.

Visit Adobe Animator

7-Day Free Trial

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3) Daz 3D

As per my review, Daz 3D is a figure posing, animation, and rendering application for animators and designers that helped me easily access advanced tools. It is the best way to create professional animations. This tool enables you to design human models in 3D. The latest version of this tool also allowed me to add light and texture to the image.

Features:

• Animation: It provides 3D motion pictures, posing, and animation. I could design both hyper-realistic models and toon characters. It allowed me to mix and match their outfits, features, accessories, etc.
• Detailing: The models are hand-painted with details so you can create unique characters. You also get 3D props, environments, shaders, lighting, and much more.
• Compatibility: I could import content into other 3D software tools.
• Export Options: You can export in COLLADA, Universal 3D, BVH, and FBX.
• Customization: It lets you customize any kind of character type as much as you like.
• Lipsync: Daz 3D Studio automatically syncs lips to the character.
• Lighting: This tool provides virtual lights.
• Figure Transfer: I could transfer figures to Maya software with a few clicks.

How to Get Daz Studio for Free

• Go to https://www.daz3d.com/get_studio
• Register for your free Daz 3D Account and download Daz Studio for FREE.

Link: https://www.daz3d.com/get_studio

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4) Blender

According to my review of Blender, it is a 3D computer graphics software application that allows you to develop visual effects, animated movies, games, and more. I particularly liked its extensive tools that helped me create high-quality animation. This free 3D animation software allows you to import or export videos in MPEG, QuickTime, and AVI file formats.

Features:

• Animation Creation: This tool helps turn still characters into animations. Its animation toolset includes character poses, non-linear animation, and forward and inverse kinematics for fast poses.
• Realistic Rendering: It has a path tracer for realistic rendering. I could access motion path tools, shape keys, constraints, and more. 
• Python API: This tool provides a Python API for scripting. 
• Shortcut Customization: You can customize the shortcuts easily for more efficiency.
• Model Editing: It allowed me to edit and sculpt models effortlessly.
• Real-Time Preview: This software can offer you a real-time preview of 3D scenes.

How to Get Blender for Free

• Go to https://www.blender.org/
• Click on the Download Blender button, and you can use it for free.

Link: https://www.blender.org/features/animation/

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5) Unity

While conducting my evaluation of Unity, I particularly liked its fully integrated development game engine. It allowed me to create games and other interactive 3D content, making it a solution for developers. This 3D creator helps you to assemble art and assets into scenes and environments. It is the best 3D animation solution for building, rendering, and animating realistic natural environments.

Features:

• Versatility: This tool is a great choice for both 2D and 3D development. You can create characters and games across 20+ platforms that can run on billions of different types of devices.
• Customization: It allows you to modify props, textures, animations, and environments. You get creation tools, enterprise support and powerful tools for creating apps, etc. 
• Ease of Use: It helped me access user interfaces intuitively and quickly.
• Realism: Unity provides realistic ozone simulation.
• Shading: This software includes shaders to add shades to images.
• Extensibility: I could extend the Unity editor with numerous other tools.
• Compatibility: Use models made in third-party software like Blender, etc.
• Efficiency: It helped me fine-tune my scenes instantly without any effort.
• Cross-Platform: Can be used on Windows, Linux, and Mac.
• Collaboration: It enables collaboration with others.

How to Get Unity for Free

• Go to https://unity.com/
• Click on the “Download” button, and you can use the Personal plan for free.

Link: https://unity.com/

Other Best FREE 3D Animation Tools

1. MotionBuilder: This is a 3D character animation software developed by Autodesk. It can be used for motion capture, virtual cinematography, and traditional keyframe animation.
   Link: https://www.autodesk.com/products/motionbuilder/overview
2. Clip Studio: Clip Studio Paint is one of the best free 3D animation programs that allows you to paint and draw with a natural brush. It helps you capture every detail in your drawing. This tool has built-in rulers for drawing lines.
   Link: https://www.clipstudio.net/en/
3. Keyshot: KeyShot is a rendering software to create 3D visuals. It includes support for over 35 leading file formats. This tool provides free plugins that offer one-click loading. It is compatible platforms such as Windows and macOS.
   Link: https://www.keyshot.com/
4. Mari: Mari is a 3D painting tool that enables you to add texture around any object. It is one of the best 3D animation apps that provides more than hundreds of HD textures. This tool has Python to automate workflows and studios.
   Link: https://www.foundry.com/products/mari/non-commercial
5. Houdini: This is a 3D animation software application developed by SideFX. It helps artists work freely, create multiple iterations, and share workflows with colleagues. It provides a grooming tool to create quick curves.
   Link: https://www.sidefx.com/products/houdini/

What is 3D Animation Software?

A 3D Animation software is an application that helps you create three-dimensional models, backgrounds, and storyboards and apply effects on them. You can use 3D animation software to animate characters for commercials, movies, and television. As one of the best software for 3D animation, it also allows you to transform images into real-time 3D models.

How to use 3D Animation Software?

Here is how you can use the best free 3D animation software:

• Step 1) Download and install any software from the above-given list.
• Step 2) Open the software; once installed.
• Step 3) Go to File> New Project to create a fresh project to work on.
• Step 4) Now, create a 3D object using given tools or you can also import pre-built 3D objects to your existing project from File>Import or drag and drop it.
• Step 5) Once imported, give effects and animation to your 3D model.
• Step 6) Go to File>Save as and name your project to save your project work for the future.

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Verdict:

In this review, you got acquainted with some of the best 3D animation software. All of them have their advantages and disadvantages. To help you take the final call, I have created this verdict.

• Adobe 3D Animation Suite enabled me to craft professional-grade animations with its extensive range of tools, perfect for both simple and complex projects.
• Adobe Character Animator made character animation straightforward and fun, allowing me to produce engaging and lifelike animations without a steep learning curve.