Side by side
Cavalry vs Natron
Both stand on visual effects software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan MacWindows
Cavalry offers a broad set of 2D animation tools and free individual access without stated usage limits. Account for its Canva sign-in requirement and lack of mobile availability before choosing it.
Visit Cavalry
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
Natron provides a broad node-based compositing and scripting toolkit at no cost. Its lack of a 3D workspace and stated system requirements should be checked against your workflow and hardware.
Visit NatronThe facts
| Cavalry | Natron | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Mac, Windows | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Maker | Cavalry | Not published |
| Website | cavalry.studio | natrongithub.github.io |
| On visual effects software | #3 of 37 | #7 of 37 |
Cavalry: what it does well
- Free individual use has no stated usage restrictions.
- Includes character rigging and procedural rigs.
- Connects spreadsheets for data-driven animation.
- Exports Lottie, SVG, video, and image formats.
What to know first
- Requires a Canva account.
- Not available on mobile devices.
- Legacy refunds remove Pro features in versions 2.6.1 and earlier.
Natron: what it does well
- Free and open-source under the GNU GPL.
- Node-based workflow with more than 100 nodes.
- Supports OpenFX plugins and Python scripting.
- Includes headless rendering and render-farm integration.
- Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
What to know first
- Does not have a 3D workspace.
- Requires at least 3 GB RAM.
- Requires 5 GB free disk space.
- Latest listed release is from 2022.
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