Brandwave

Adobe Animate vs Toon Boom:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Adobe Animate had more branded searches than Toon Boom among animation software worldwide. Adobe Animate had about 110,000 branded searches, while Toon Boom had 33,100. Adobe Animate made up 7.9% of all animation software searches we track, and Toon Boom accounted for 2.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about animation software, Adobe Animate and Toon Boom each appeared in four of the five answers. Toon Boom was mentioned before Adobe Animate in three out of five answers.

Among animation software worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Adobe Animate, about 3 searches for every 1 for Toon Boom

Adobe Animate 110K searchesToon Boom 33.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 4 of 5 answers.

Adobe Animate in 4 of 5Toon Boom in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Toon Boom, named ahead of Adobe Animate in 3 of 5 answers

Toon Boom first in 3Adobe Animate 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 Animate and Toon Boom were each mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Toon Boom was listed before Adobe Animate 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 Animate or Toon Boom more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Adobe Animate and Toon Boom 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 Animate and Toon Boom among animation software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Adobe Animate, Toon Boom. 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 Animate and Toon Boom comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Adobe Animate was ahead of Toon Boom in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Adobe Animate’s share of searches among animation software worldwide moved from 10.2% to 7.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 165K to 110K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Toon Boom’s share of searches among animation software worldwide moved from 2.5% to 2.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 40.5K to 33.1K.

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 Animate lost share of searches among animation software worldwide, from 8.7% to 7.9%.

  3. Estimated monthly branded searches for Toon Boom worldwide fell 18.3% over 12 measured months, from 40.5K to 33.1K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Adobe Animate’s and Toon Boom’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 Animate

1 branded search term

  • adobe animate

Toon Boom

1 branded search term

  • toon boom

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among animation software

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

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