# What is the most used animation software?

> There is no reliable public ranking, and the answer depends on the type of animation. After Effects is the standard for motion graphics, Blender is the most widely used free 3D tool, Toon Boom Harmony is common in 2D TV animation, and Maya in film and game 3D. For UI animation, Figma prototypes, Lottie files (often from After Effects), Rive and code libraries such as Motion are the most common.

Updated November 2026. Source: https://www.exodeui.com/questions/what-is-the-most-used-animation-software/

## Key takeaways

- No trustworthy usage numbers exist; be wary of lists that claim them
- Motion graphics: After Effects
- 3D: Blender (free) and Maya (studios)
- 2D character animation: Toon Boom Harmony, Adobe Animate, TVPaint
- UI: Figma, Lottie, Rive, ExodeUI and code libraries

## Frequently asked questions

### What animation software do studios use?

Commonly Maya and Houdini for 3D, Toon Boom Harmony for 2D, and After Effects and Nuke for compositing.

### What is the best free animation software?

Blender for 3D and 2D, and free plans of Rive, ExodeUI and LottieFiles for UI motion.

### Is Adobe Animate still used?

Yes, for some 2D and web animation, though less than before.

### What do UI designers use for animation?

Figma for prototypes, then After Effects with Lottie, Rive, ExodeUI, ProtoPie or code.

## Related

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