Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Stick Nodes vs FlipaClip

Stick Nodes 4.6★ · Free to download 70
Winner Tie
FlipaClip 4.6★ · Free + IAP 65

For beginners looking for a more structured approach to animation, Stick Nodes offers a clearer path, while FlipaClip provides more traditional frame-by-frame drawing, but both are heavily impacted by monetization strategies.

Full reviews: Stick Nodes · FlipaClip

Stick Nodes excels in stick figure animation with features like auto-tweening, making it easier for beginners, but its free version has significant limitations, especially for exporting. FlipaClip offers a more traditional drawing and animation experience, but recent updates have led to an overwhelming number of ads and paywalls for essential features, frustrating many long-time users.

Head to head

Ease of Use for Beginners edge: Stick NodesR1R3R6R10
Stick Nodes Stick Nodes is praised by some for being easy and smooth, especially for stick figure animation, with features like auto-tween making it less tedious than drawing every frame R1R14. However, many new users find it tricky, confusing, and complicated, struggling to understand how the app works or how to create custom characters without a tutorial R3R6R10R13.
FlipaClip FlipaClip is generally considered easy to use and beginner-friendly, with some users starting animation with this app . However, recent updates have made the interface harder to understand for some, particularly when trying to add audio or navigate the new layout .
Features and Functionality (Free Tier) edge: Stick NodesR8R11R12R14
Stick Nodes Stick Nodes allows users to create and add their own characters and offers features like auto-tweening, which is highly valued for simplifying animation R11R14. Users appreciate the ability to get mods and the absence of ads in the free version R11R41. However, key features like exporting as MP4, adding sounds, and advanced editing are locked behind a paywall R8R12R19R24.
FlipaClip FlipaClip offers basic animation tools and the ability to import pictures . However, many essential features, such as adding sound, using more than three layers, accessing different brushes, or extending animation length beyond a few seconds, are restricted to premium or require watching ads .
Reliability and Performance tieR4R9R13R16
Stick Nodes Some users report issues with Stick Nodes not saving work, leading to loss of progress R4. There are also significant complaints about the app crashing, especially on Mac, or not opening on certain iOS versions R9R13R16R22.
FlipaClip FlipaClip users frequently report bugs, lag, and crashing issues, particularly after updates . Some also experience problems with videos or audio not loading .
Monetization and Ads edge: Stick NodesR8R11R12R19
Stick Nodes Stick Nodes is generally praised for having no ads in its free version R11R41. However, some recent reviews mention ads appearing when switching projects . The main frustration is that crucial features like MP4 export and sound are locked behind a paid 'Pro' version R8R12R19R24.
FlipaClip FlipaClip is heavily criticized for its aggressive monetization, with a significant increase in ads and features locked behind paywalls or subscriptions, especially after recent updates . Users who previously paid a one-time fee for an ad-free experience report now seeing ads again .
Pick Stick Nodes if

You are a beginner specifically interested in stick figure animation and prefer a structured approach with auto-tweening, and want an app with fewer ads in its free version R14. You are willing to pay for the 'Pro' version to unlock essential features like MP4 export and sound R19R24.

Pick FlipaClip if

You prefer a more traditional frame-by-frame drawing animation experience and are comfortable with a potentially ad-heavy free tier or are willing to pay for a subscription to remove ads and unlock advanced features .

Evidence note: FlipaClip has a significantly larger number of reviews, and recent reviews are heavily skewed negative due to monetization changes. Stick Nodes has fewer reviews, but also shows a clear split between users who find it easy and those who find it too complex. The free vs. paid asymmetry is very strong for FlipaClip, where many negative reviews stem from free-tier limitations and ad friction.

Frequently asked

Which app is better for beginners?
Stick Nodes is often cited as easier for beginners, especially for stick figure animation due to features like auto-tweening, which simplifies the process compared to drawing every frame R1R14. However, some beginners find it confusing without a tutorial R25R27. FlipaClip is also considered beginner-friendly, but its recent interface changes and paywalls can make it frustrating .
Do these apps have a free version, and what are the limitations?
Both apps offer a free version, but with significant limitations. Stick Nodes' free version is ad-free but restricts essential features like MP4 export and sound to its paid 'Pro' version R11R19R24R41. FlipaClip's free version is heavily criticized for frequent ads and locks many features, such as adding audio, using more than three layers, and advanced brushes, behind paywalls or requiring ad views .
Are there issues with saving or crashing?
Yes, both apps have reported issues with reliability. Stick Nodes users have experienced problems with work not saving and the app crashing, particularly on Mac or older iOS versions R4R9R16R22. FlipaClip also faces frequent complaints about bugs, lag, and crashing, especially after updates, and issues with media not loading .

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] Stick Nodes 1/5 · US Great app!: If you are looking for a animation app that is easy and smooth, this app is perfect! I’ve been using it for years and it’s still really good! 10/10 would recommend :)
  2. [R3] Stick Nodes 3/5 · US Could be better: It’s tricky to figure out and idk how you get more characters.
  3. [R6] Stick Nodes 3/5 · US Confused: I’m very confused on how this app works on animating cause there’s too many buttons
  4. [R10] Stick Nodes 1/5 · US So garbage: Like I don’t even know how to draw hair all these segments and stupid stuff just put an option that says hair and the color you want for it and make options that say shoe and what shoe you want like you make it so difficult I hate this junk ong.
  5. [R8] Stick Nodes 4/5 · US Buena pero: It's good but it lacks more freedom it's very restricted for us to buy the money one
  6. [R11] Stick Nodes 5/5 · US AWESOME: This game is super cool it lets you create your own characters let’s you add characters and present them I really recommend this to anyone who wants to be a animator or a movie creator because this would be great practice and it feels like you are a animator and when your done you great you to show it off and blab about how long it took this game is really awesome to any one read you shou
  7. [R12] Stick Nodes 3/5 · US You can at least make a stick noodles pro free: Quite tired that we have to pay to get stick noodles pro at least make it free for some of us. Can you make it a little bit easier? To animate.
  8. [R14] Stick Nodes 5/5 · US This is so damn good: I used to use other animating apps like FlipaClip (no hate to them) but it was always so hard because evey frame I had to draw it manually. What I like about this app is when you add another frame instead of drawing the previous frame it'll already be there, and it isn't even required in low frames like 5 and my personal settings recommend is 5 fps and auto tween and dark mod
  9. [R4] Stick Nodes 1/5 · US Meh: I would not recommend I was working on a thing and then my phone died then it DIDNT SAVE!! This game SUCKS SO MUCH!!
  10. [R9] Stick Nodes 3/5 · US Not supportive of certain iOS versions: I love the app, but my version of iOS (14.2.2) won’t let me open the app.
  11. [R13] Stick Nodes 1/5 · US To annoying: It made me crash out like what is the point of the game it’s still hard is there a reason that I made this so hard for you gets this game? What are they gonna do? Just keep it on their iPad and do nothing with it. Change the age to like nine or something because what in the heck maybe other people could do this one but no why this is why I gave him one star too annoying
  12. [R16] Stick Nodes 1/5 · US Crashing: Bruh, I want to use this animating app so bad but I can’t use it when I’m on Mac because it keeps crashing. I looks very good but I can’t use it. And I want to use this app in my videos but I can’t.
  13. [R19] Stick Nodes 1/5 · US Why did you made exporting a mp4 COST MONEY: so I was trying to find a app that is easy to animate and doesn’t has ads,and I find this,it was basically just perfect for the animation I. Was about to do,so I downloaded it,and it was easy to use,and I made a good animation after a view minutes,but.. when I tried to exporting to am mp4 I FIND OUT IT COST MONEY,but at least their no ads,BUT STILL,COME
  14. [R25] Stick Nodes 1/5 · US Give a tutorial: It’s literally impossible to play if there was a tutorial I think people would actually be able to play the game if I could I make 0 stars
  15. [R27] Stick Nodes 3/5 · GB Needs tutorial: The game is very good to animate with and recommended by most animators but it is very complicated for a beginner to use and most people end up giving up and using a different app because they don’t know what to do
  16. [R24] Stick Nodes 3/5 · GB Why is export as mp4 PRO!?!?: …This is a very good app, and I REAAALLLYYY LOVE IT… But… WHY THE HELL DOES EXPORTING IT AS A MP4 PRO!? IM NOT SPENDING MONEY JUST SO I CAN PUT IT ON YOURUBE, PLS TELL MEEE WHYYY STICK NODES😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
  17. [R41] Stick Nodes 5/5 · US T: I really love the app especially since the are no adds.
  18. [R22] Stick Nodes 1/5 · US Won’t open: Upon downloading on my MacBook, it literally won’t open and ill be hit with an error

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store