Best Adobe Character Animator CC Alternatives in 2025

Looking for alternatives to Adobe Character Animator CC? In this comparison, we take a closer look at Adobe Character Animator CC alongside similar software solutions including Adobe Character Animator CC, Adobe After Effects CC, PhotoMirage, Adobe Animate 2021, Adobe Illustrator and OpenShot Video Editor.

Our detailed comparison table highlights key features, pricing, and performance of these leading solutions, empowering you to make an informed decision. Whether you're seeking robust functionality, user-friendly design, or cost-effective alternatives, explore how Adobe Character Animator CC, Adobe After Effects CC, PhotoMirage, Adobe Animate 2021, Adobe Illustrator and OpenShot Video Editor stack up to find the perfect software for your goals.

	Primary Function	Supported Platforms and System Requirements	Pricing Model	Ease of Use & Target Users
Adobe Character Animator CC	2D character animation and real-time facial expression tracking for live animation and streaming.	Desktop application available on Windows and macOS with high system requirements.	Subscription-based through Adobe Creative Cloud.	User-friendly interface designed to cater to beginners and professionals interested in 2D character animation.
Adobe After Effects CC	Motion graphics, visual effects, and complex compositing for video projects.	Desktop software for Windows and macOS requiring powerful hardware and 64-bit OS.	Monthly subscription fee with free trial available.	Complex interface with steep learning curve suited for advanced users and professionals in motion graphics.
PhotoMirage	Basic animation capabilities focused on animating still images into eye-catching designs.	Available for both Windows and macOS with lower system requirements suitable for casual users.	Paid software with a free trial period; pricing details on Corel website.	Easy-to-use tools focused on casual users and beginners for simple image animations.
Adobe Animate 2021	Creation of interactive animations and vector animations, including HTML5 and game content.	Available on Windows and macOS, requires 64-bit OS and sufficient RAM.	Subscription-based with monthly or yearly plans available.	Robust animation tools but steep learning curve; suitable for animators needing interactive content creation.
Adobe Illustrator	Vector graphics editor for creating detailed illustrations, logos, and graphic designs.	Available for Windows and macOS as part of Adobe Creative Cloud; requires mid to high system specs.	Monthly or annual subscription via Adobe Creative Cloud.	Powerful but steep learning curve; professional graphic designers and illustrators are primary users.
OpenShot Video Editor	Free and open-source video editing software with basic animation and multi-track editing.	Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux; open-source with moderate system requirements.	Free and open-source software with no cost to use.	Simple and intuitive user interface ideal for beginners and budget-conscious users in video editing.

Primary Function

Adobe Character Animator CC	2D character animation and real-time facial expression tracking for live animation and streaming.
Adobe After Effects CC	Motion graphics, visual effects, and complex compositing for video projects.
PhotoMirage	Basic animation capabilities focused on animating still images into eye-catching designs.
Adobe Animate 2021	Creation of interactive animations and vector animations, including HTML5 and game content.
Adobe Illustrator	Vector graphics editor for creating detailed illustrations, logos, and graphic designs.
OpenShot Video Editor	Free and open-source video editing software with basic animation and multi-track editing.

Supported Platforms and System Requirements

Adobe Character Animator CC	Desktop application available on Windows and macOS with high system requirements.
Adobe After Effects CC	Desktop software for Windows and macOS requiring powerful hardware and 64-bit OS.
PhotoMirage	Available for both Windows and macOS with lower system requirements suitable for casual users.
Adobe Animate 2021	Available on Windows and macOS, requires 64-bit OS and sufficient RAM.
Adobe Illustrator	Available for Windows and macOS as part of Adobe Creative Cloud; requires mid to high system specs.
OpenShot Video Editor	Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux; open-source with moderate system requirements.

Pricing Model

Adobe Character Animator CC	Subscription-based through Adobe Creative Cloud.
Adobe After Effects CC	Monthly subscription fee with free trial available.
PhotoMirage	Paid software with a free trial period; pricing details on Corel website.
Adobe Animate 2021	Subscription-based with monthly or yearly plans available.
Adobe Illustrator	Monthly or annual subscription via Adobe Creative Cloud.
OpenShot Video Editor	Free and open-source software with no cost to use.

Ease of Use & Target Users

Adobe Character Animator CC	User-friendly interface designed to cater to beginners and professionals interested in 2D character animation.
Adobe After Effects CC	Complex interface with steep learning curve suited for advanced users and professionals in motion graphics.
PhotoMirage	Easy-to-use tools focused on casual users and beginners for simple image animations.
Adobe Animate 2021	Robust animation tools but steep learning curve; suitable for animators needing interactive content creation.
Adobe Illustrator	Powerful but steep learning curve; professional graphic designers and illustrators are primary users.
OpenShot Video Editor	Simple and intuitive user interface ideal for beginners and budget-conscious users in video editing.

Choosing the right software isn’t just about features. Size, license type, user ratings, and popularity also matter.

This quick comparison shows how Adobe Character Animator CC stacks up against Adobe Character Animator CC, Adobe After Effects CC, PhotoMirage, Adobe Animate 2021, Adobe Illustrator and OpenShot Video Editor in these key areas—helping you find the best alternative for your needs.

	Size	License	Popularity
Adobe Character Animator CC		Commercial	2%
Adobe After Effects CC		Commercial	0%
PhotoMirage	11.6MB	Commercial	11%
Adobe Animate 2021		Commercial	0%
Adobe Illustrator	3MB	Commercial	100%
OpenShot Video Editor	188.3MB	Open Source	48%

Size

Adobe Character Animator CC
Adobe After Effects CC
PhotoMirage	11.6MB
Adobe Animate 2021
Adobe Illustrator	3MB
OpenShot Video Editor	188.3MB

License

Adobe Character Animator CC	Commercial
Adobe After Effects CC	Commercial
PhotoMirage	Commercial
Adobe Animate 2021	Commercial
Adobe Illustrator	Commercial
OpenShot Video Editor	Open Source

Rating

Adobe Character Animator CC
Adobe After Effects CC
PhotoMirage
Adobe Animate 2021
Adobe Illustrator
OpenShot Video Editor

Popularity

Adobe Character Animator CC	2%
Adobe After Effects CC	0%
PhotoMirage	11%
Adobe Animate 2021	0%
Adobe Illustrator	100%
OpenShot Video Editor	48%