The Free app has limitations but it has all the standard features that you need to get started, and its nice that you can work in HD without a watermark on your final video. Here’s what you get for free:

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• Onion skinning

• Change frame speed

• Variable frame shape

• SD and HD

• cut, delete, copy, past,

• overlay, grid, frame-in-frame

• record voice

• timelapse (timer for taking frames)

This is the free branded app for the StikBot toys. These figures have suction caps on their feet and arms and have articulated limbs. You can save in HD quality, add sound and edit shots together, all from a free app.

As well as the expected onion skinning, basic editing, and altering playback speed, the main features are:

• Export HD movies

• Green screen capability, with backdrop designs to add in

• Record your own voice-over on the video

• Multiple Audio sounds (music, sound effects, voice recording)

• A library of sound effects

• Add funny cartoon stickers to your Stikbots.

• Tutorial videos to help you expand your movie-making skills

I Can Animate has a free lite version and a premium version. Let’s start with the light version. It has all the features you’d expect and need to get you started with some stop motion, (onion skinning, some basic editing), as well as the following:

• Adjust exposure, white balance and focus automatically or manually lock the settings.

• Copy and paste sequences and reorder frames

• Connect a bluetooth keyboard and capture frames without returning to, or tapping the device (iOS7+).

• Help guide included, informative help manual

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Unfortunately the Lite version has a watermark on the end product and may contain an embedded intro sequence, also you can’t change the playback speed, but you can pay for a full version.

Basically the same app as I Can Animate (above), but branded too Aardman. There is almost no difference between these apps. However, if you have kids and they like Aardman films (Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep) they will love this app. The main benefit is that Aardman have loads of resources and help on their website “Animate It!”. Here you can find competitions, gallery and lots of how to resources to get you started and keep you going.