A free alternative to Animoto

Animoto makes slideshows and marketing videos from templates: drag in photos and clips, pick a song from its licensed library, and it arranges them, with Getty Images stock on higher plans. Its free plan exports at 720p with an Animoto watermark. smooth.video gives you a timeline where you place and animate each photo and title yourself, and exports up to 4K for free, with no account.

Open the editor
  • Free
  • No signup
  • No watermark
The Photo slideshow template, playing live. Open it in the editor

smooth.video vs Animoto

Price
smooth.videoFree, no paid plan
AnimotoFree plan, then Basic, Professional and Professional Plus
Account
smooth.videoNot needed
AnimotoRequired
Watermark
smooth.videoNever
AnimotoOn the free plan
Export resolution
smooth.videoAny size, 4K included
Animoto720p free, 1080p on Basic, 4K on Professional
How you build
smooth.videoEvery element on a keyframe timeline
AnimotoTemplates made of drag-and-drop blocks
Licensed music and Getty Images stock
smooth.videoNo, bring your own
AnimotoYes
Screen and webcam recording
smooth.videoNo
AnimotoYes

Animoto as of September 2026. Plans change, so check theirs before you decide.

When smooth.video fits better

You want control over how each photo and title moves, a 4K export, or a clean file, without paying for a plan or creating an account.

When Animoto fits better

You want a slideshow put together in minutes from a pile of photos, with licensed music and stock images included. smooth.video places everything by hand and has no music library.

How it works

  1. Open smooth.video and pick a photo template, or start from an empty canvas.

  2. Swap in your photos, type your titles, add a song, and set when each picture comes in.

  3. Export an MP4 up to 4K, without a watermark.

Start from a template

See all 203 templates

Open one, change the words, export. Every element stays editable.

Logo reveal

1080×1080

A name that pops into place

Bold statement

1080×1920

Three lines, one point

Count-up stat

1080×1080

A number that climbs

Lower third

1920×1080

Name and title, on cue

Quote card

1200×630

A line worth sharing

Product drop

1080×1350

An announcement that lands

Free, full stop
No plan, no trial, no credits, no export limit.
No account
Open the page and the editor is already there.
Nothing is uploaded
Your files are read and rendered by your own browser.
No watermark
Every export is clean, at any size, 4K included.

Questions

Do I place every photo by hand?

Yes, each photo is an element you place and animate. Start from a photo template to go faster: replace the pictures and keep the motion.

Can I add music?

Yes. Add an audio file you have the rights to, and it plays under the animation in the exported MP4.

Is there a watermark?

No, at any resolution.

Animoto compared with other tools

Try it before you settle on Animoto.

It opens in a tab, works without an account, and exports without a watermark.

Open the editor
  • Free
  • No signup
  • No watermark