Adobe Animate vs FlexClip

Adobe Animate and FlexClip side by side, as of September 2026: what each one costs, what it's made for, and when smooth.video, a free animation tool that runs in your browser with no account, does the job instead.

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Adobe Animate vs FlexClip at a glance

Adobe AnimateFlexClipsmooth.video
PriceUS$22.99 a month on an annual plan, 7-day free trialFree plan, then Plus at US$11.99 a month billed yearlyFree, no paid plan
AccountAdobe account requiredRequired to save projectsNot needed

As of September 2026. Plans change, so check those of Adobe Animate and FlexClip before you decide.

Adobe Animate

Install
Desktop app for Windows and macOS
Development
Maintenance mode: fixes, no new features
How you animate
Frame-by-frame drawing, tweens, bone rigging
Interactive output
HTML5 Canvas, WebGL, SVG, sprite sheets
Photoshop files
PSD and Illustrator layers imported

When Adobe Animate fits better

You draw frame by frame, rig characters with bones, or deliver interactive HTML5 Canvas content, games or sprite sheets. smooth.video does none of that.

Adobe Animate vs smooth.video

FlexClip

Watermark
On free plan exports
Export resolution
720p free, 1080p on Plus, 4K on Business
Projects
12 saved projects on the free plan
GIF export
120p, 240p or 480p
Motion
In, Out and Loop animation presets
Stock library, AI subtitles, voices, avatars
Yes

When FlexClip fits better

You assemble marketing videos from stock clips and music, need AI subtitles, a voiceover or an avatar, or record your screen for a tutorial. smooth.video has no stock library and no AI tools.

FlexClip vs smooth.video

When smooth.video fits better

You used Animate for banners, animated logos or social posts, you'd rather not pay for a tool that no longer gets new features, and your animation is made of text, images and shapes that move rather than drawings.

You're animating a logo, a title, a product or a stat, want to set the motion yourself, and need a sharp GIF or a 4K video without paying for a plan.

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Questions

Is Adobe Animate discontinued?
No. Adobe announced its end in February 2026 and reversed the decision the next day: Animate stays available, with security and bug fixes but no new features.
Can I open .fla files?
No. Export your artwork from Animate as PNG images, then animate them in smooth.video.
Can I make HTML5 banner ads?
Not as HTML5: smooth.video exports video, GIF and images. Where an ad slot takes a GIF or an MP4, a banner made here works.
Can I make a sharp GIF?
Yes. The GIF comes out at the size of your scene, whatever you set it to. Keep it short so the file stays light.
Can I use my own music?
Yes. Add an audio file, and it's included in the MP4 or WebM you export.
Is there a limit on projects?
No. Keep as many as you want in your browser, and save any of them as a .smooth file.