Pencil2D vs TVPaint:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Pencil2D had more branded searches than TVPaint among animation software worldwide. Pencil2D had about 22,200 branded searches, while TVPaint had 14,800. Pencil2D made up 1.6% of all animation software searches we track, and TVPaint accounted for 1.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about animation software, Pencil2D appeared in three of the five answers and TVPaint in two. Pencil2D was mentioned before TVPaint in two out of three answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Pencil2D, about 50% more searches than TVPaint
Who does AI mention more?
Pencil2D, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, TVPaint in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
Pencil2D, named ahead of TVPaint in 2 of 3 answers
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Top animation software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and 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. TVPaint was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. Pencil2D was listed before TVPaint in two out of three 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
- +1 more
TVPaint11th- +3 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
- TVPaint2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 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 TVPaint more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Pencil2D and TVPaint 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 Pencil2D, TVPaint. 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 TVPaint comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Pencil2D was ahead of TVPaint in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 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, TVPaint’s share of searches among animation software worldwide held steady at 1.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 18.1K to 14.8K.
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 TVPaint worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 18.1K to 14.8K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Pencil2D’s and TVPaint’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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