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OpenToonz vs Toon Boom Harmony: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)

Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for OpenToonz and Toon Boom Harmony side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.

On the data: On the data below, OpenToonz leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.

Data comparison compiled by Toolradar, not hand-reviewed Methodology
Data comparison 31 user reviews compared Pricing checked Nov 3, 2026

Short on time? Here's the quick answer

Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:

OpenToonz

Open-source 2D animation software based on Studio Ghibli's production tool.

Best for you if:

  • • You want a fully free tool (Toon Boom Harmony requires payment)

Toon Boom Harmony

The all-in-one 2D animation software for creating ambitious productions with hand-drawn or rigged characters.

Best for you if:

  • • You want a tool that supports both hand-drawn and rigged character animation styles
At a glance: OpenToonz vs Toon Boom Harmony
At a Glance
OpenToonz OpenToonz
Toon Boom Harmony Toon Boom Harmony
Starts at
Free 100% free
Not published
Category
Animation Video & Media
Animation Video & Media
Rating
3.5/5 G2 4.4 · SourceForge 2.3 9 reviews 4.7/5 G2 4.7 22 reviews
Free plan
Yes No

Choose OpenToonz or Toon Boom Harmony?

OpenToonz

Choose OpenToonz if

  • You want a fully free tool (Toon Boom Harmony requires payment)
Toon Boom Harmony

Choose Toon Boom Harmony if

  • You want a tool that supports both hand-drawn and rigged character animation styles

In-Depth Analysis

OpenToonz OpenToonz

Open-source 2D animation software based on Studio Ghibli's production tool.

Great value

OpenToonz is incredibly generous as it is completely free, offering a professional-grade 2D animation suite without any cost.

Strengths

  • Pro: Free and open-source for all types of use
  • Pro: Proven track record in professional animation studios like Studio Ghibli
  • Pro: Highly customizable through source code modification and SDK
  • Pro: Includes specialized tools developed for production environments
  • Pro: Active user community and developer forums

Weaknesses

  • Con: GTS scan tool is Windows-only
  • Con: May have a learning curve for new users due to professional features
  • Con: System requirements can be demanding for complex projects

Key features

GTS (Ghibli Scan Tool) for efficient sequential scanning Digital painting with anti-aliased lines and independent color palettes Timeline-based interface for animation timing Node-tree GUI for easy effect composition Support for both raster and vector drawing formats SDK for developing custom image processing plugin effects

Toon Boom Harmony Toon Boom Harmony

The all-in-one 2D animation software for creating ambitious productions with hand-drawn or rigged characters.

Weak value

The pricing for Toon Boom Harmony's 'Producer' tier is opaque, as it's 'Contact us' for pricing.

Strengths

  • Pro: Comprehensive toolset for the entire 2D animation pipeline
  • Pro: Supports both hand-drawn and rigged character animation styles
  • Pro: Facilitates collaboration for studios with shared project files
  • Pro: Offers specialized editions for different user levels (enthusiast to professional)
  • Pro: Includes AI-powered assistance for faster iteration and creative focus

Weaknesses

  • Con: No specific cons mentioned in the provided text.

Key features

Drawing and painting tools Character rigging Compositing Traditional paperless animation support Cut-out style animation support Smaller project files

Plans and prices: OpenToonz vs Toon Boom Harmony

Plans and prices of OpenToonz and Toon Boom Harmony, as read on each vendor's pricing page. Each plan keeps its own billing unit.
Tool Plans and prices Source
OpenToonz
  • OpenToonz: Free
opentoonz.github.io read Nov 3, 2026
Toon Boom Harmony
  • Producer: Custom pricing
toonboom.com/pro read Sep 30, 2026

Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on OpenToonz pricing and Toon Boom Harmony pricing.

Key Takeaways

OpenToonz

  • Has a free plan

Toon Boom Harmony

  • Worth considering for animation

What the data shows

On the data below, OpenToonz leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.

  • User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (3.5/5 from 9 reviews for OpenToonz, 4.7/5 from 22 reviews for Toon Boom Harmony; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides).
  • Only OpenToonz has a free plan.

Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate

Frequently Asked Questions

How do OpenToonz and Toon Boom Harmony compare in 2026?

On the data below, OpenToonz leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (3.5/5 from 9 reviews for OpenToonz, 4.7/5 from 22 reviews for Toon Boom Harmony; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides). Only OpenToonz has a free plan.

What are OpenToonz and Toon Boom Harmony used for?

OpenToonz: Open-source 2D animation software based on Studio Ghibli's production tool. Toon Boom Harmony: The all-in-one 2D animation software for creating ambitious productions with hand-drawn or rigged characters.

What does OpenToonz cost vs Toon Boom Harmony?

OpenToonz is free. Toon Boom Harmony has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 3, 2026.

What's the main difference between OpenToonz and Toon Boom Harmony?

OpenToonz's main strength: free and open-source for all types of use. Toon Boom Harmony's main strength: comprehensive toolset for the entire 2D animation pipeline.

Spotted an outdated price or a wrong fact? Suggest a correction: we check it against the vendor's own page. Work for one of these vendors? Claim your listing to update it yourself.

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