Clipchamp vs Animoto
Clipchamp and Animoto 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
Clipchamp vs Animoto at a glance
| Clipchamp | Animoto | smooth.video | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, with Premium or Microsoft 365 for extras | Free plan, then Basic, Professional and Professional Plus | Free, no paid plan |
| Account | Microsoft account required | Required | Not needed |
| Watermark | Never | On the free plan | Never |
| Export resolution | 1080p free, 4K with Premium or Microsoft 365 | 720p free, 1080p on Basic, 4K on Professional | Any size, 4K included |
- Price
- ClipchampFree, with Premium or Microsoft 365 for extras
- AnimotoFree plan, then Basic, Professional and Professional Plus
- smooth.videoFree, no paid plan
- Account
- ClipchampMicrosoft account required
- AnimotoRequired
- smooth.videoNot needed
- Watermark
- ClipchampNever
- AnimotoOn the free plan
- smooth.videoNever
- Export resolution
- Clipchamp1080p free, 4K with Premium or Microsoft 365
- Animoto720p free, 1080p on Basic, 4K on Professional
- smooth.videoAny size, 4K included
As of September 2026. Plans change, so check those of Clipchamp and Animoto before you decide.
Clipchamp
- Formats
- MP4, GIF under 15 seconds, M4A audio
- Transparent video
- No
- Built for
- Editing videos: trimming, transitions, stock footage
- Screen recorder, AI voiceover, subtitles
- Yes
When Clipchamp fits better
You're putting a video together from clips: trimming, arranging, adding transitions, stock footage, an AI voiceover or subtitles, and you already use Windows or Microsoft 365. smooth.video isn't a video editor.
Clipchamp vs smooth.videoAnimoto
- 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.videoWhen smooth.video fits better
You want the text or the logo to move exactly the way you picture it, need a transparent overlay or a 4K export, or you'd rather not sign in to make a ten-second animation.
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.
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
Can I use a smooth.video animation in Clipchamp?
Yes. Export an MP4 and add it to your Clipchamp project like any other clip.
Does it work on Mac, Linux and Chromebook?
Yes. It runs in a recent browser, whatever the computer.
Is it free?
Yes, completely: 4K, transparent WebM and GIF included, with no account.
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.
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