Side by side
Smoovie vs Zu3D
Both stand on stop motion software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Paid iPhone
Smoovie focuses on accessible stop-motion creation with scene and frame editing, camera overlays, audio, and classroom materials. Its single purchase supports iPad animation projects, subject to the stated operating-system requirement.
Visit Smoovie Free trial iPhoneMacWindows
Zu3D combines frame capture, editing, audio, and classroom licensing across Windows, macOS, and iPad. Choose between home, family, kit, or school options based on devices and licence needs.
Visit Zu3DThe facts
| Smoovie | Zu3D | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | A free trial |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | iPhone | iPhone, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Smoovie: $4.99, paid once | Zu3D Annual Family Licence: £60 a year |
| Plans published | 1 | 4 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | openplanetsoftware.com | zu3d.com |
| On stop motion software | #29 of 29 | #25 of 29 |
Smoovie: what it does well
- Instant playback without rendering
- Scene and frame editing with undo
- Onion skinning from either iPad camera
- Audio recording and Music library support
- HD export to Photos and AirPlay Mirroring
What to know first
- iPad app requires iPadOS 15.6 or later
- No free plan
- Costs $4.99, paid once
Zu3D: what it does well
- Captures frames from webcams
- Supports wireless phone or tablet cameras
- Includes onion skinning and timeline editing
- Exports films as MP4
- Offers a seven-day desktop trial
What to know first
- No free plan
- Home perpetual licence covers limited computers
- School licence price is listed per contact
- Cloud companion is separate