Adobe is putting its plan to discontinue Adobe Animate on hold following intense backlash from customers. The company had originally announced it would shut down the 2D animation software, a move that coincided with its increased focus on investments in AI. This initial decision was met with widespread incredulity, disappointment, and anger from users who expressed concerns about the lack of direct alternatives.
In a reversal on Wednesday, the company stated, “We are not discontinuing or removing access to Adobe Animate. Animate will continue to be available for both current and new customers, and we will ensure you continue to have access to your content.” The company clarified there is no longer a deadline for the software’s removal.
Adobe now says Adobe Animate is in maintenance mode for all customers, including individuals, small businesses, and enterprises. This means the company will continue to support the application with security updates and bug fixes but will not be adding new features. The software will remain available for download and use.
The initial announcement, made on Monday, stated Adobe Animate would be discontinued on March 1, 2026. Enterprise customers were to receive technical support through March 1, 2029, while other customers would have support through March of next year. Adobe had explained the decision by noting the software’s 25-year history and the emergence of new technologies and platforms.
The customer reaction was swift and vocal. One user publicly asked Adobe to open source the software instead of abandoning it. Responses on social media ranged from personal distress, with comments like “this is legit gonna ruin my life,” to critiques of the business decision, noting that Animate is a primary reason many users subscribe to Adobe’s services.
Reading between the lines, the original move suggested Animate no longer aligned with Adobe’s current direction, which is now more focused on products incorporating AI technologies. What surprised many was that Adobe could not recommend a single software to fully replace Animate’s functionality. Instead, it suggested customers use a combination of other Adobe apps, like After Effects for complex animation and Adobe Express for animation effects, to replace portions of Animate’s capabilities.
There were earlier hints of this shift when Adobe made no mention of Animate at its annual Max conference and did not release a 2025 version of the software. Prior to the reversal, Adobe had intended for the software to continue working for those who had it downloaded. Typical pricing was $34.49 per month, dropping to $22.99 with an annual commitment, or $263.88 prepaid annually. The company now confirms it will be available to new users under this maintenance model.
Following the original announcement, some users began recommending alternative animation programs such as Moho Animation and Toon Boom Harmony. This post was updated on February 4, 2026, to reflect Adobe’s reversal and the new maintenance mode plan.