Adobe has paused its plans to discontinue Adobe Animate after facing significant backlash from its user base. The company had previously announced intentions to phase out the 2D animation software in favor of increasing investments in artificial intelligence.
In a post on Wednesday, Adobe clarified, “We are not discontinuing or removing access to Adobe Animate. Animate will remain available to both existing and new customers, ensuring continued access to your content.”
The initial announcement on Monday regarding the discontinuation of Animate was met with disbelief, frustration, and anger, as users expressed concerns about the absence of comparable alternatives that match Animate’s capabilities.
On Wednesday, the company revised its position, stating that there would be no “deadline or date by which Animate will no longer be available.”
“Adobe Animate is now in maintenance mode for all customers, including individuals, small businesses, and enterprise clients. Maintenance mode entails continued support for the application, including ongoing security updates and bug fixes, although no new features will be introduced. Animate will remain accessible to both new and existing users; we will not be discontinuing or removing access to Adobe Animate,” the company stated.
One customer voiced their concerns on X, urging Adobe to consider open-sourcing the software rather than abandoning it. Responses within the thread reflected anxiety, with comments such as, “this is genuinely going to ruin my life,” and, “seriously, what are they doing? Animate is a significant reason many users subscribe to Adobe.”
Initially, Adobe updated its support site on Monday and notified existing customers via email, indicating that Adobe Animate would be discontinued on March 1, 2026. During the transition, enterprise customers would continue to receive technical support until March 1, 2029, while other customers could access support through March of the following year.
In an FAQ, Adobe justified its decision to discontinue the program by noting, “Animate has been a product for over 25 years, successfully contributing to the animation ecosystem. As technology progresses, new platforms and paradigms arise that better accommodate users’ needs. Acknowledging this shift, we plan to discontinue support for Animate.”
Observing the situation, it appeared that Adobe was signaling that Animate no longer aligns with the company’s current direction, which now emphasizes AI-integrated products.
It is surprising that Adobe could not recommend any software fully capable of replacing the functionality users will lose with Animate. Instead, they suggested that customers with a Creative Cloud Pro plan utilize other Adobe applications to “replace portions of Animate’s functionality.”
For example, Adobe After Effects can facilitate complex keyframe animations via the Puppet tool, while Adobe Express can be employed for animation effects applicable to photos, videos, text, shapes, and various design elements.
Speculation about this change arose when Animate was absent from Adobe’s annual Max conference, coupled with the lack of a 2025 version of the software.
Prior to the shift to “maintenance mode,” Adobe had planned for the software to remain functional for users who had it downloaded. Typically, Adobe charged $34.49 monthly for the software, which decreased to $22.99 with a 12-month commitment, and the annual prepaid plan was priced at $263.88. The company has now indicated that the software will also be accessible to new users.
Users have started recommending alternative animation programs such as Moho Animation and Toon Boom Harmony as substitutes.
Updated, February 4, 2026, to reflect that Adobe has reversed its decision and announced that the software will enter maintenance mode rather than being discontinued.
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