🎨 Art, music and story makers · 🎬 Video, animation, audio and streaming
Animaker
By Animaker. Visit Animaker
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
A web tool for making cartoon-style explainer videos from ready-made characters, backgrounds and templates. Users drag in characters, give them actions, add text, music and AI voices, and export a video. It is built for businesses and teachers rather than kids, and its terms are written for adults. Some teachers use it for lesson videos, and older students sometimes use the free plan for projects.
Our take: A tool for teachers making lesson videos, not for kids; families wanting a kids' animation app should look at Stop Motion Studio or FlipaClip instead.
| Ages it suits | 18+ by its terms (teachers, older students with a parent) |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | Users must be of legal age (18 in most of the US). A parent may accept the terms for a minor linked to the parent's account. The privacy policy says it is not meant for under-13s but does not age-screen. (terms) |
| Price | Free, with paid extras. Free plan with a watermark. Paid plans from about $15-$25 a month billed yearly up to $43 or more; the site shows different prices on different screens (USD, Oct 2026). Renews automatically. |
| Works on | Web |
| Account | A parent's account |
| Ads | None |
| In-app purchases | Yes |
| The AI in it | AI makes voices from text, subtitles, translations, background removal and generated video clips on paid plans. |
What's good
- Fast way to make a cartoon explainer
- Huge library of characters and templates
- Subtitles and voices in many languages
Watch for
- Terms say 18+; not designed for children
- Watermark on free exports
- Confusing, changing prices and AI credits
- Ad retargeting on the website
Data and privacy
Collects account, billing, usage, device and location data and works with ad networks such as Google, DoubleClick and AdRoll for retargeting. It says it does not sell personal data, and says it does not age-screen users under 13. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
No studies found; the maker shares teacher testimonials only.
Alternatives to Animaker
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Art for Kids Hub
Art For Kids Hub (Rob and family) · ages about 4-12
A great free start for kids who want to learn to draw; use the paid membership if YouTube's ads and autoplay worry you.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Audacity
Muse Group and contributors (open source) · ages about 10+
The standard free tool for a child recording a podcast or voice-over on a computer; tablet users should use GarageBand instead.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Blender
Blender Foundation (open source) · ages about 12+
Ideal for a motivated teen who wants to learn real 3D; younger kids should start with Tinkercad.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
CapCut
ByteDance (Bytedance Pte. Ltd.) · ages 13+ (teens)
A strong free editor for teens 13+ with a parent's OK; families who care about data and ads, and anyone under 13, should pick iMovie or another tool.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
FlipaClip
Visual Blasters LLC · ages about 10-17
Good for tweens and teens who want to animate drawings on a phone; parents of younger kids may prefer an ad-free paid app like Procreate Dreams.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
iMovie
Apple · ages about 6+
The easy first pick for families and schools with Apple devices; Windows, Android and Chromebook users need another editor.
Where these facts come from
- https://www.animaker.com/
- https://www.animaker.com/terms
- https://www.animaker.com/terms-policy
- https://app.animaker.com/pricing
- https://www.animaker.com/educational-video-maker
- Reviews on G2: https://www.g2.com/products/animaker/reviews
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.