Pencil2D vs Toon Boom:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Toon Boom had more branded searches than Pencil2D among animation software worldwide. Toon Boom had about 33,100 branded searches, while Pencil2D had 22,200. Toon Boom made up 2.4% of all animation software searches we track, and Pencil2D accounted for 1.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about animation software, Toon Boom appeared in four of the five answers and Pencil2D in three. Toon Boom was mentioned before Pencil2D in three out of four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Toon Boom, about 49% more searches than Pencil2D
Who does AI mention more?
Toon Boom, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Pencil2D in 3
Who does AI recommend more?
Toon Boom, named ahead of Pencil2D in 3 of 4 answers
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Top animation software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Toon Boom was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Pencil2D was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Toon Boom was listed before Pencil2D in three out of four answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Blender1st- Toon Boom2nd
Adobe Animate3rd- Adobe After Effects4th
Krita5th
Moho6th
Autodesk Maya7th
OpenToonz8th
Pencil2D9th
Synfig Studio10th- +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
See every answer about animation software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which animation software should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best animation software options?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best animation software for motion graphics?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“animation software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“2d animation software”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.
Is Pencil2D or Toon Boom more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Pencil2D 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.
Share of searches by month for Toon Boom, Pencil2D. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Krita | Animaker | Adobe After Effects | Adobe Animate | Vyond | OpenToonz | Autodesk Maya | Toon Boom | Pencil2D | Procreate Dreams | Blender | Synfig Studio | TVPaint | Moho |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 34% | 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 2025 | 35.3% | 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 2025 | 38% | 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 2026 | 38.4% | 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 2026 | 28.3% | 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 2026 | 37.6% | 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 2026 | 39.4% | 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 2026 | 37.7% | 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 2026 | 37.7% | 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 2026 | 38.9% | 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 2026 | 43.3% | 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 2026 | 48.3% | 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 Pencil2D and Toon Boom comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Pencil2D took it in March 2026, Toon Boom took it in May 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pencil2D’s share of searches among animation software worldwide moved from 2.5% to 1.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 40.5K to 22.2K.
- 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?
2 changes
In September 2026, Pencil2D lost share of searches among animation software worldwide, from 2.1% to 1.6%.
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 Pencil2D’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.
Other head-to-heads among animation software
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