If you’re a die-hard fan of 3D animation and can’t resist the urge to bring your ideas to life, we’ve got some fantastic news for you! Today, we’re sharing five awesome and completely free 3D animation programs that will help you sharpen your skills and unleash your inner Pixar genius.
Sure, paid software comes with more bells, whistles, and fancy libraries that can take your projects to the next level—but hey, who said great animation has to cost a fortune? These free tools are packed with powerful features and will definitely get you started on your journey to becoming an animation pro. So, roll up your sleeves, fire up your creativity, and let’s bring some magic to the screen!
Free animation software
The programs we’re about to show you are mostly open-source gems or free versions of industry-grade software—because who doesn’t love getting pro-level tools without spending a dime?
Sure, some of them may come with a few tiny limitations (no, they won’t cook you breakfast or make your coffee ), but they’re absolutely perfect for getting your feet wet in the world of 3D animation. Whether you want to craft epic characters, build stunning environments, or just make a 3D cube spin endlessly because it looks cool, these programs have got you covered.
So, buckle up, let your creativity run wild, and get ready to animate like a pro—without breaking the bank!
- Blender
- Clara.io
- Daz3D
- Houdini Apprentice
- Boats Animator
Blender: The most popular open source application for 3D animation
Blender absolutely deserves the top spot on this list. This free and open-source 3D creation tool is a powerhouse designed for professionals—whether you’re diving into modeling, animation, rigging, rendering, simulation, composition, or motion tracking, Blender has got all the bases covered. It’s like a 3D animator’s dream come true. Want to create a super-detailed character or animate an epic scene? No sweat. Blender’s got you.
But here’s the real kicker—Blender isn’t just about creating the 3D stuff; it lets you handle the entire post-production process as well. That’s right, you can edit videos, add composition, and throw in visual effects, all within the same program. Talk about a one-stop-shop! You won’t need to bounce between 10 different programs just to finish your project—Blender has it all in one place.
And here comes the jaw-dropper—the special effects in ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ were created using Blender. Yes, you read that right. A free program, with the same level of power and capability as the fancy, expensive software the pros use in Hollywood. Who knew that the tool you’ve been playing around with could actually help you make a blockbuster? It’s like finding out your favorite underdog actor was secretly nominated for an Oscar. Blender proves that when you have the right skills, the possibilities are endless—no expensive software required.
Technical requirements of the blender
The minimum technical aspects to use Blender are:
- 64-bit quad core CPU
- 16 GB RAM
- Full HD screen (1920 x 1080)
- Three-button mouse or tablet and stylus
- Graphics card with 4 GB RAM
- Works on: Windows, Mac and Linux
- 100% portable: no installation or internet connection required.
- Formats: 3ds, dae, fbx, dxf, obj, x, lwo, svg, ply, stl, vrml, x3d
Clara.io: Website to create animations
This option is a web-based application, meaning you can create, animate, and render 3D content directly from your browser—no need to download heavy software or worry about system requirements. It’s like the cloud version of 3D animation. In its workspace, you’ll find all the essential tools you need for 3D modeling, such as extrusion, bevel, cut, and loop. These tools will help you craft everything from simple objects to more complex, detailed designs.
But here’s the best part: since it’s web-based, you can collaborate in real-time with your team, just like you would on Google Drive. No more endless email chains or waiting for someone to send you the latest version of the file. Everyone can work together, from different locations, on the same model. It’s like having a virtual 3D studio at your fingertips—minus the expensive rent. So, if you’re looking for an easy and collaborative way to dive into 3D modeling, this might just be the perfect tool for you.
This application was developed by Exocortex and a team of collaborators who have worked on some of the most renowned 3D software in the industry, such as Softimage, Maya, and 3ds Max. So, you know you’re in good hands! And the best part? There’s no need to download anything to your PC or Mac—everything is handled in the cloud. That means you can start working on your 3D projects from any device, anywhere, without worrying about storage space or software updates.
Clara.io offers a rich set of features, allowing you to create objects, animate them, and tweak every detail—all from the same web interface. It’s all seamlessly integrated into one platform. What’s more, Clara.io automatically saves your changes and progress directly to its server, so you won’t ever have to worry about losing your work mid-session. And since it’s cloud-based, updates happen automatically, without the usual hassle of waiting for manual installations or worrying about compatibility issues.
So, if you’re looking for a 3D creation tool that’s both powerful and convenient, Clara.io offers a solid, stress-free solution to jump straight into animation and modeling without the typical software headaches.
Clara io technical requirements
Free plan includes:
- 2GB of cloud storage
- Unlimited public scenes
- 1 hour of rendering per month
- Support through a public forum
- You don’t need a credit card
Daz3D: program for beginners
This program is perfect for 3D animation enthusiasts who want to dive into the world of creation and expression. It’s versatile enough to help you create 3D figures, animations, and even handle rendering, making it an excellent choice for animators, designers, and illustrators alike. While the free plan might not have all the bells and whistles that streamline your workflow (such as more advanced features for easy navigation), don’t let that fool you—it still packs a punch.
Despite the slightly limited feature set on the free version, this program offers a wide range of tools that make 3D modeling and animation not only possible but also enjoyable. You can easily get started creating complex models, rigging them for animation, and rendering out stunning visuals—all without breaking the bank. And while the more advanced features are locked behind a paywall, the free version is more than enough to get your creative juices flowing and start experimenting with your own 3D animations. It’s like having a professional toolkit in your hands, but on a beginner’s budget.
The system it uses is a combination of different graphic design platforms, solutions and plugins such as Hexagon, Genesis 8 and Daz Studio that work together to enhance the creation of 3D human models. Likewise, they can create digital environments, animations and illustrations. Provides a figure platform and character engine that enables detailed character production.
Daz3D technical requirements
Recommended technical requirements for Windows/Mac
- Intel Dual Core equivalent or higher / Intel Macintosh®
- 1.6 GHz (2 GHz dual core or higher) / 1.6 GHz min (1.8 GHz or higher)
- Windows 10, 8, or 7 / Mac ™ OS X 10.6 or higher
- 1 GB RAM min (2GB + recommended)
- 1GB free on hard disk for installation
- OpenGL 1.6 compatible graphics card with at least 128MB of RAM
- DirectX 9 (used only for audio processing)
- Available format: obj, fbx, dae, daz
Houdini Apprentice
This program is a well-loved and highly useful tool for both 3D animation and video game development, trusted by professionals and enthusiasts alike. Houdini stands out with its ability to generate complex geometries while maintaining consistent quality. What’s amazing is that you can tweak individual parameters to fine-tune your creations, giving you a high degree of control over your projects. Whether you’re crafting intricate environments or designing dynamic characters, Houdini’s flexibility allows you to achieve impressive results.
One of the most exciting features of Houdini is its self-rigging capability. Unlike many programs where rigging can be a tedious manual process, Houdini has tools that allow you to automate and simplify the rigging workflow. This means you can focus more on the creative aspects of your project, while Houdini handles the heavy lifting of preparing your models for animation. It’s like having a personal assistant who not only carries out the hard tasks but does them with precision.
While Houdini is generally known for being a tool used in professional studios, it has gained popularity with indie developers and hobbyists who appreciate its ability to handle both technical and artistic needs. So, if you’re looking to bring your 3D animations or video game designs to the next level, Houdini is a powerhouse tool that can help you do just that.
Houdini Apprentice is a free version of Houdini FX which can be used by students, artists and hobbyists for the creation of personal non-commercial projects. With this program you can have access to many options that are offered in the paid version to be able to outline and improve your skills to be a 3D animator.
Houdini technical requirements
- Operating system: Windows 10, Windows 8, macOS 10.13 or higher, Ubuntu 16.04+ LTS
- Memory: 4GB required minimum. 64GB for smooth simulations.
- Processor: Intel or AMD x64 CPU with SSE 4.2 required.
- Disk Space: 3 GB required for installation
- Input device: 3-button mouse required and Wacom tablet recommended for Houdini brush-based tools
- Graphics Cards: NVIDIA GeForce GPUs: 440 or better, NVIDIA Quadro GPUs: 440 or better, AMD: 20.Q1 or better, Intel 10.18.10.3958 or better
- Monitor: 1920 x 1200
- Work formats: bgeo, clip, fbx, geo, hip
Boats Animator
This program is specially designed for stop motion animation, making it an excellent choice for those looking to bring physical objects to life frame by frame. Unlike other complex animation tools, the Boats interface is clear, organized, and built with beginners in mind, ensuring that even if you’re new to the world of animation, you’ll feel comfortable navigating its features. You can also see the frames you’ve captured instantly, which is a huge time-saver and adds to the fun of the process, allowing you to make adjustments and tweaks on the fly.
And here’s the best part—it’s free and open source, just like Blender! The program is available for Windows, MacOS, and Linux, making it accessible to just about anyone, no matter what system they’re using. Plus, it’s been released under the GNU General Public License, which means that the community can contribute to its development. If you’re feeling creative, you can even jump into its active GitHub repository and make improvements or share your ideas with the wider user base. It’s like getting access to a collaborative treasure chest where everyone can pitch in to make this already awesome program even better.
So if you’re looking for a fun, intuitive, and beginner-friendly program to start creating your own stop-motion masterpieces, this tool has everything you need to get started, with the added bonus of being free and constantly evolving thanks to its open-source community.
Boats Animator Technical Requirements
- The software works on Windows 7 or higher, MacOS 10.9 or higher and Linux (+ GCC v4.6 & + GTK v2.24).
- Requires an Intel Pentium 4 or higher processor with SSE2 support.
- Format: avi, mov and mpg.
- A usb webcam.
