A free alternative to Powtoon
Powtoon makes animated presentations and explainers, with thousands of animated characters and props, PowerPoint import, AI voiceovers and team review. On its free plan, videos carry a watermark, stop at 720p and can't be downloaded as MP4. smooth.video is simpler and free: animate text, images and shapes on a timeline, and download the file at any size.
smooth.video vs Powtoon
| smooth.video | Powtoon | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, no paid plan | Free plan, then Lite from US$15 a month billed yearly |
| Account | Not needed | Required |
| Watermark | Never | On free plan videos, and on all but 5 exports a month on Lite |
| MP4 download | Always | Paid plans only |
| Export resolution | Any size, 4K included | 720p on the free plan, 1080p on paid plans |
| Animated characters and props | No | Thousands, with a character builder |
| PowerPoint import | No | Yes |
| Team review and brand locking | No | Yes |
Powtoon as of September 2026. Plans change, so check theirs before you decide.
How it works
- 1
Open smooth.video. No account to create.
- 2
Add your titles, screenshots, icons and numbers, and animate each one in turn.
- 3
Download an MP4 for your slides, your website or your video, or a GIF for an email.
Start from a template
See all 164 templatesWhen smooth.video fits better
You need a short animated piece, like a title card, a stat, a product demo with a cursor or a social post, and a file you can download right away, with no watermark and no plan.
When Powtoon fits better
You're making an explainer with characters and scenes, turning a PowerPoint deck into a video, or working with a team that reviews videos and locks the brand. smooth.video has no characters, no PowerPoint import and no shared workspace.
Questions
- Can I import my PowerPoint?
- No. Export your slides as images, add them to a scene and animate them there.
- Can I put a smooth.video animation in a presentation?
- Yes. Export an MP4 or a GIF and insert it into PowerPoint, Keynote or Google Slides.
- Is there a watermark?
- No, and the download is free too.