There are a variety of options when it comes to online 3D animation tools. When deciding on which option is best for you, it’s important to think about the following:

• Cost: Traditional software not only requires users to have not only powerful computing capabilities but also a large budget. Industry-standard software such as Cinema 4D could cost consumers thousands, whereas online animation tools tend to offer various subscription options that are gentler on the pocketbook.
• Templates: Pre-made templates give users the ability to create professional-quality animations quickly. Therefore, the ability to create or customize templates is an important consideration.
• Support: Providing customer support is crucial for any project. This makes problem-solving easier and allows the customer to focus on what matters: completing their animation projects.

With these considerations in mind, let’s take a look at our picks!

Clara.io is a web-based application that allows users to create, render, and animate 3D characters and content. Some features that Clara.io is capable of are polygonal modeling, rigging, and keyframe animation, which is a technique that defines the starting and ending points of animated actions.

The online tool also gives users the ability to use a camera and lights, which helps with adjusting and skinning for character animation. Users have access to hundreds of 3D models from their user library, including vehicles, animals, architecture, among many others.

The user interface offers familiarity and simplicity with drag-and-drop and undo-redo functionality. If there’s a project that requires multiple users, Clara offers access for more than one user with different levels of access and editing capability.

Clara is quite flexible in that it can be used across multiple operating systems such as Windows and Linux, and can also run on different web browsers like Chrome and Edge. This application was developed using HTML5 and JavaScript, and doesn’t require additional plug-ins.

There’s a free version, for personal use only, that has limited storage and one hour of rendering time per month. The standard version costs around $10 per month and gives users 10 GB of cloud storage and 10 hours of rendering time per month. Advanced access will cost around $100 per month, offering 50 GB of storage and 200 hours of rendering per month.

• Cost: Free (Basic), ~$10 monthly or ~$100 annually (Standard), ~$100 monthly or ~$1,000 annually (Advanced)
• Templates: Library of 3D models
• Support: Online learning is available to subscribers, but support doesn’t kick in until users pay for a monthly subscription. The support comes in the form of a community forum.

Mixamo is an online animation platform that allows users to create 3D animated characters for films or games. It offers avatar creation, thousands of pre-made animations, and rigging. Further, it uses machine learning to automate the animation process.

The platform’s pre-made animations include many full-body character animations that were created through motion capture. Motion capture is the process of recording the movements of an object or person, and animated characters are placed over them.

Users can upload characters or use characters from Mixamo’s library to create animations. These characters can be fully customized from their hair color to their shoes. Mixamo will also rig the characters, saving the users time in creating their animations.

Mixamo is 100% free, making this an appealing option for any user. Support can be found in the form of community forums and online chats. Users can also access the online education tools for help with editing.

• Cost: Free
• Templates: 3D models and animations featuring a variety of movements including jumping and dancing
• Support: Online technical support as well as support through community forums

Renderforest is a multi-purpose content creation tool that gives users the ability to create videos, logos, and websites. In terms of 3D animation, Renderforest has numerous templates for narrative videos as well as animated logos and visualizers.

The templates include pre-loaded characters or objects that can be edited. A character or object is placed in a scene and text is added. The animation tool also offers options on how to transition between scenes.

Renderforest offers free access with limited storage, low-resolution videos, and watermarks on creations. The Lite package costs around $85 annually and gives users access to HD videos and no watermarks on their creations. The Pro plan for around $240 a year gives subscribers access to over 200 commercial music tracks and the ability to create 30-minute videos.

• Cost: Free with limited access, or ~$85 annually (Lite), ~$120 annually (Amateur),  ~$240 annually (Pro), and ~$600 annually (Agency)
• Templates: Thousands of templates for mockups, logos, and websites
• Support: Online tutorials and videos