Can I use smooth.video exports in Final Cut Pro?

Yes. Import the MP4 like any other clip.

Does smooth.video work on a Mac?

Yes, in a recent browser, and just as well on Windows, Linux or a Chromebook.

Yes, with no watermark, no account and no purchase.

Can I animate a chart from a spreadsheet?

No, you type the values in. smooth.video suits a handful of figures; for charts built from real data, Cavalry is the better fit.

Can I open Cavalry projects?

No. smooth.video opens its own .smooth files and imports images, video, audio and layered PSD files.

Do I need to install anything?

No. The editor and every export run in your browser.

Apple Motion vs Cavalry

Apple Motion and Cavalry 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.

Open the editorFree, no signup, nothing to install

Apple Motion vs Cavalry at a glance

	Apple Motion	Cavalry	smooth.video
Price	US$49.99 once, or in Apple Creator Studio at US$12.99 a month	Free for individuals	Free
Install	Desktop app from the Mac App Store	Desktop app for Mac and Windows	Nothing
How you animate	Keyframes, 230+ behaviors, 2D and 3D space	Keyframes plus procedural tools: duplicators, falloffs, behaviours	Presets and keyframes on one timeline
Transparent video	ProRes 4444 and HEVC with alpha	WebM, ProRes 4444, plus APNG, GIF and WebP	WebM

As of September 2026. Plans change, so check those of Apple Motion and Cavalry before you decide.

Apple Motion

Platform: Mac only, macOS 15.6 or later
3D and mask tracking: Yes
Final Cut Pro templates: Yes

When Motion fits better

You edit in Final Cut Pro and want titles and effects your editors adjust in its inspector, or you need 3D, behaviors, mask tracking or ProRes with alpha for a professional pipeline.

Apple Motion vs smooth.video

Cavalry

Account: Canva account required
Animation driven by spreadsheets: Yes
Rigging, dynamics, scripting: Yes
Lottie and SVG export: Yes

When Cavalry fits better

You build complex motion design: hundreds of shapes driven by one rig, charts animated from a spreadsheet, dynamics, scripts, or Lottie and ProRes deliverables. smooth.video has none of that.

Cavalry vs smooth.video

When smooth.video fits better

You're on Windows, Linux or a Chromebook, you edit in something other than Final Cut Pro, or you only need an animated title or logo from time to time and don't want to install anything.

You need an animated title, a logo reveal or a social post today, on any computer, including one where you can't install software, and you don't need procedural systems to get there.

Open the editor

Start from a template

See all 172 templates

Logo reveal

1080×1080

A name that pops into place

Lower third

1920×1080

Name and title, on cue

Bold statement

1080×1920

Three lines, one point

Product drop

1080×1350

An announcement that lands

Count-up stat

1080×1080

A number that climbs

Quote card

1200×630

A line worth sharing

Questions

Can I use smooth.video exports in Final Cut Pro?: Yes. Import the MP4 like any other clip.
Does smooth.video work on a Mac?: Yes, in a recent browser, and just as well on Windows, Linux or a Chromebook.
Is it really free?: Yes, with no watermark, no account and no purchase.
Can I animate a chart from a spreadsheet?: No, you type the values in. smooth.video suits a handful of figures; for charts built from real data, Cavalry is the better fit.
Can I open Cavalry projects?: No. smooth.video opens its own .smooth files and imports images, video, audio and layered PSD files.
Do I need to install anything?: No. The editor and every export run in your browser.