Animoto vs Placeit
Animoto and Placeit 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.
- Free
- No signup
- No watermark
Animoto vs Placeit at a glance
| Animoto | Placeit | smooth.video | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free plan, then Basic, Professional and Professional Plus | Single purchases, or a subscription from US$89.69 a year | Free, no paid plan |
| Watermark | On the free plan | On previews, until you buy | Never |
- Price
- AnimotoFree plan, then Basic, Professional and Professional Plus
- PlaceitSingle purchases, or a subscription from US$89.69 a year
- smooth.videoFree, no paid plan
- Watermark
- AnimotoOn the free plan
- PlaceitOn previews, until you buy
- smooth.videoNever
As of September 2026. Plans change, so check those of Animoto and Placeit before you decide.
Animoto
- Account
- Required
- Export resolution
- 720p free, 1080p on Basic, 4K on Professional
- How you build
- Templates made of drag-and-drop blocks
- Licensed music and Getty Images stock
- Yes
- Screen and webcam recording
- Yes
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.
Animoto vs smooth.videoPlaceit
- What you can change
- Text, colors, images and music in the template
- Formats
- MP4 for videos, PNG for designs
- Product mockups and logo generator
- Yes
When Placeit fits better
You sell merch and need photo mockups of your designs on shirts, mugs and phones, or want a logo generated for you along with matching assets. smooth.video only animates.
Placeit vs smooth.videoWhen 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.
You need one intro or logo animation rather than a subscription, want it to move your way, or need it on a transparent background.
Open the editor- 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.
Start from a template
See all 203 templatesOpen one, change the words, export. Every element stays editable.
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.
Can I use my own logo?
Yes. Import it as an image, remove its background in one click if it has one, and animate it.
Does smooth.video make mockups?
No. It animates: intros, logo reveals, titles and social posts. For product mockups, Placeit is the better tool.
Or skip the decision.
smooth.video is free, opens in a tab and exports without a watermark. Try it while you compare.
Open the editor- Free
- No signup
- No watermark