Brandwave

Adobe After Effects vs Pencil2D:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Adobe After Effects had more branded searches than Pencil2D among animation software worldwide. Adobe After Effects had about 110,000 branded searches, while Pencil2D had 22,200. Adobe After Effects made up 7.9% of all animation software searches we track, and Pencil2D accounted for 1.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about animation software, Adobe After Effects and Pencil2D each appeared in three of the five answers. Adobe After Effects was mentioned before Pencil2D in three out of five answers.

Among animation software worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Adobe After Effects, about 5 searches for every 1 for Pencil2D

Adobe After Effects 110K searchesPencil2D 22.2K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.

Adobe After Effects in 3 of 5Pencil2D in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Adobe After Effects, named ahead of Pencil2D in 3 of 5 answers

Adobe After Effects first in 3Pencil2D first in 2

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Top animation software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Adobe After Effects was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Pencil2D was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Adobe After Effects was listed before Pencil2D in three out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Blender1st
  2. Toon Boom2nd
  3. Adobe Animate3rd
  4. Adobe After Effects4th
  5. Krita5th
  6. Moho6th
  7. Autodesk Maya7th
  8. OpenToonz8th
  9. Pencil2D9th
  10. Synfig Studio10th
  11. +4 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Blender5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Adobe Animate4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • OpenToonz4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Toon Boom4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Moho4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Krita3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Adobe After Effects3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Pencil2D3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Autodesk Maya2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Procreate Dreams2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

+4 more

See every answer about animation software

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is Adobe After Effects or Pencil2D more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Adobe After Effects and Pencil2D by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 14 animation software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Adobe After Effects and Pencil2D among animation software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Adobe After Effects, Pencil2D. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthKritaAnimakerAdobe After EffectsAdobe AnimateVyondOpenToonzAutodesk MayaToon BoomPencil2DProcreate DreamsBlenderSynfig StudioTVPaintMoho
Oct 202534%18.6%10.2%10.2%8.3%4.6%3.7%2.5%2.5%1.4%1.4%1.1%1.1%0.33%
Nov 202535.3%19.3%8.7%10.6%7.1%3.9%3.9%2.6%2.6%1.4%1.4%1.4%1.4%0.52%
Dec 202538%17%9.3%9.3%7.6%4.2%3.4%2.3%2.3%2.3%1.5%1.2%1.2%0.37%
Jan 202638.4%14%9.4%9.4%7.7%5.2%4.2%2.8%2.3%1.9%1.5%1.3%1.5%0.38%
Feb 202628.3%12.6%8.5%23.1%6.9%4.6%3.1%3.8%3.1%1.4%1.1%1.4%1.4%0.62%
Mar 202637.6%13.7%9.2%9.2%9.2%4.1%4.1%2.8%3.4%1.9%1.5%1.5%1.2%0.45%
Apr 202639.4%14.4%9.7%9.7%7.9%3.5%4.3%2.4%2.9%1.6%1.3%1.3%1.3%0.39%
May 202637.7%13.8%9.2%9.2%9.2%5.1%4.1%2.8%2.3%1.9%1.5%1.2%1.5%0.45%
Jun 202637.7%11.3%9.2%9.2%11.3%6.2%4.1%2.8%1.9%1.9%1.5%1.2%1.2%0.45%
Jul 202638.9%9.5%9.5%9.5%11.7%5.2%4.3%2.3%2.3%1.9%1.6%1.3%1.3%0.7%
Aug 202643.3%8.7%8.7%8.7%8.7%7.1%3.9%2.6%2.1%1.7%1.4%1.4%1.2%0.52%
Sep 202648.3%9.7%7.9%7.9%7.9%5.3%3.5%2.4%1.6%1.6%1.3%1.1%1.1%0.58%

How has the Adobe After Effects and Pencil2D comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for animation software worldwide in September 2026?

3 changes

  1. In September 2026, Animaker overtook Adobe After Effects and Adobe Animate to rank 2nd among animation software worldwide, with 9.7% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Adobe After Effects lost share of searches among animation software worldwide, from 8.7% to 7.9%.

  3. In September 2026, Pencil2D lost share of searches among animation software worldwide, from 2.1% to 1.6%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Adobe After Effects’ and Pencil2D’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Adobe After Effects

1 branded search term

  • adobe after effects

Pencil2D

1 branded search term

  • pencil2d

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among animation software

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