Flipaclip vs Toonsquid vs Procreate Dreams: Which Animation App Is Best for Beginners?

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Sophia Willson blog

FlipaClip is the best first animation app for most beginners. It is simple, fast, and friendly. Procreate Dreams is stronger, but it can feel like too much on day one. ToonSquid sits in the middle and costs less than Procreate Dreams in many regions, while Procreate Dreams is listed at $19.99 in the US App Store [source: Apple].

TLDR: Pick FlipaClip if you are brand new and want to make a bouncing ball in 10 minutes. Pick ToonSquid if you use an iPad and want more tools without feeling buried. Pick Procreate Dreams if you already draw in Procreate and want polished scenes. For example, a beginner making 3 short TikTok loops per week will likely finish faster in FlipaClip, while a serious learner may save time later with ToonSquid or Dreams.

Quick winner list

  • Best for total beginners: FlipaClip
  • Best for iPad learners: ToonSquid
  • Best for artists: Procreate Dreams
  • Best for kids: FlipaClip
  • Best for cleaner projects: ToonSquid
  • Best for painterly animation: Procreate Dreams

[ai-img]ipad animation apps, beginner animator, stylus drawing[/ai-img]

FlipaClip: the friendly one

FlipaClip feels like a digital flipbook. That is why beginners like it. You draw one frame. Then the next. Then the next. Press play. Boom. Your doodle moves.

The app uses simple layers, onion skin, basic brushes, and timeline controls. Onion skin lets you see the frame before and after. This helps you move a hand, ball, face, or tail without guessing.

Why beginners love it:

  • It is easy to understand.
  • It works on iPad, iPhone, and Android.
  • It is great for short clips.
  • The buttons are not scary.
  • You can learn frame by frame animation fast.

The annoying bit? Free users may hit limits. Some tools sit behind paid options. Export settings can also feel a bit tight if you want clean, high quality video. It drives me crazy that a tiny test animation can turn into a menu hunt when you only want to save and share it.

Still, FlipaClip is the least scary starting point. If animation apps usually make your brain melt, start here.

ToonSquid: the smart middle choice

ToonSquid is like FlipaClip after a growth spurt. It has more power. But it still feels clear. It is made for iPad, so the Apple Pencil experience is smooth.

You get frame by frame animation, vector tools, raster brushes, keyframes, camera moves, symbols, masks, and audio. That sounds like a lot. It is. But ToonSquid keeps most things tidy.

Best parts:

  • Great timeline.
  • Good drawing tools.
  • Works well with Apple Pencil.
  • Useful for both simple and serious projects.
  • No monthly plan in the usual App Store model.

The catch is that it still takes learning. Expect to waste time on symbols and keyframes at first. Not days. But maybe 20 to 30 minutes of “wait, where did my layer go?” energy.

ToonSquid is best if you already know you want to keep animating. It gives beginners room to grow. You will not outgrow it after one weekend.

[ai-img]animation timeline, onion skin, cartoon character[/ai-img]

Procreate Dreams: the pretty beast

Procreate Dreams is the most beautiful of the three. It is smooth, stylish, and made for artists who care about drawing quality. If you already use Procreate, it feels familiar in some ways. But not all ways.

Dreams is built around scenes, layers, tracks, and performance recording. Performance recording lets you move, scale, or rotate art in real time. The app records that motion. That sounds fun because it is fun.

Where it shines:

  • Painterly animation.
  • Big visual ideas.
  • Camera-style motion.
  • Artists who already draw on iPad.
  • Short films with rich art.

Honestly, it feels like Procreate Dreams wants you to be excited and confused at the same time. Some basic jobs can take more taps than expected. Simple frame by frame work is possible, but it does not feel as direct as FlipaClip.

If you are a beginner who loves drawing more than tech, Dreams can still be a good pick. But if you hate learning new menus, wait a bit.

Which app should you choose?

Choose FlipaClip if:

  • You have never animated before.
  • You want quick wins.
  • You use Android.
  • You want to make memes, loops, or simple cartoons.
  • You are teaching a child or teen.

Choose ToonSquid if:

  • You have an iPad.
  • You want more control.
  • You like clean timelines.
  • You want to learn keyframes.
  • You want one app that can grow with you.

Choose Procreate Dreams if:

  • You already use Procreate.
  • You care a lot about art style.
  • You want smooth camera moves.
  • You plan to make polished clips.
  • You do not mind a learning curve.

Beginner scorecard

  • Ease of use: FlipaClip wins.
  • Best tools for growth: ToonSquid wins.
  • Best drawing feel: Procreate Dreams wins.
  • Best for Android: FlipaClip wins by default.
  • Best for iPad only users: ToonSquid or Dreams.

[ai-img]cartoon workspace, ipad pencil, colorful animation[/ai-img]

Final pick

If you are brand new, start with FlipaClip. Make a ball bounce. Make eyes blink. Make a stick figure wave. Keep it tiny. Tiny projects teach faster.

Move to ToonSquid when you want better control. It is the best long term beginner app for many iPad users.

Choose Procreate Dreams if your art matters most. It is not the easiest first step. But it can make your animation look rich and handmade.

So the simple answer is this: FlipaClip first, ToonSquid next, Procreate Dreams when you want polish.