Powtoon vs Animoto
Powtoon 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
Powtoon vs Animoto at a glance
| Powtoon | Animoto | smooth.video | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free plan, then Lite from US$15 a month billed yearly | Free plan, then Basic, Professional and Professional Plus | Free, no paid plan |
| Account | Required | Required | Not needed |
| Watermark | On free plan videos, and on all but 5 exports a month on Lite | On the free plan | Never |
| Export resolution | 720p on the free plan, 1080p on paid plans | 720p free, 1080p on Basic, 4K on Professional | Any size, 4K included |
- Price
- PowtoonFree plan, then Lite from US$15 a month billed yearly
- AnimotoFree plan, then Basic, Professional and Professional Plus
- smooth.videoFree, no paid plan
- Account
- PowtoonRequired
- AnimotoRequired
- smooth.videoNot needed
- Watermark
- PowtoonOn free plan videos, and on all but 5 exports a month on Lite
- AnimotoOn the free plan
- smooth.videoNever
- Export resolution
- Powtoon720p on the free plan, 1080p on paid plans
- Animoto720p free, 1080p on Basic, 4K on Professional
- smooth.videoAny size, 4K included
As of September 2026. Plans change, so check those of Powtoon and Animoto before you decide.
Powtoon
- MP4 download
- Paid plans only
- Animated characters and props
- Thousands, with a character builder
- PowerPoint import
- Yes
- Team review and brand locking
- Yes
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.
Powtoon 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 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.
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 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.
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.
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