The best Adobe After Effects alternatives deliver professional VFX tools without a Creative Cloud subscription.
1. Best overall
2. Best free
3. Best for Mac
4. Best for animators
5. Best open-source
6. Best for beginners
7. Best for professionals
8. FAQs
9. How to choose
10. How we test
Just as Premiere Pro is often considered the best video editing software tools in the industry, the FX-focused Adobe After Effects has long offered one of the best VFX software experiences for creatives.
Setting an industry standard, Adobe's popular VFX tool delivers Hollywood-grade special effects, motion graphics, and video compositing for professionals. It includes a wealth of new features for quicker workflows, and its seamless integration with other Creative Cloud apps like Premiere Pro and Photoshop make it a popular choice for content creators.
But Adobe After Effects isn't for everyone. For some, the required Creative Cloud subscription is off-putting and may not add value when working outside the Adobe ecosystem. For others, the software can seem complex, especially for FX newcomers. With Adobe dominating the field, though, it can be tough to identify the best alternatives to After Effects.
To help you kick-start your next project, we've gone hands-on with the best Adobe After Effects alternatives. As part of our review process, we've compared each app's strengths and weaknesses to AE, while assessing user-interface, experience, and ease of use. We've also evaluated performance, features, and rendering quality, alongside price, so you can choose the right app for adding professional-grade post-production polish to your videos.
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Best Adobe After Effects alternative overall
HitFilm Pro offers the ability to edit videos and add compositions in a single tool. You won’t need to switch programs, like you do between AE and Premiere Pro, leading to smoother, more efficient workflows.
Since you’re working within one app, effects are applied onto a non-linear editing timeline, compared to AE’s layer-based system. This makes it easier to learn for those already used to non-linear editing.
And the two-in-one nature of HitFilm Pro doesn’t mean that the effects features are any less deep. When it comes to VFX toolkits, this is a capable rival to After Effects.
HitFilm Pro’s developers claim it has “the world’s biggest VFX software toolkit”. It lives up to that boast, making it one of the best Adobe After Effects alternatives. Some of the best tools include advanced 2D and 3D motion tracking, world-leading particle effects, an excellent chroma key, and over 875 VFX presets.
Price of admission is admittedly high. The $349 / £308.86 price tag likely to sway casual and rookie effects artists. That said, this is a one-off fee rather than a subscription. There’s also a free demo version available that has all the features and no time limit, but exports are given a watermark.
You can also try HitFilm - the FXHome's free video editing software, which includes a handful of free VFX tools.
Read our full HitFilm Pro review
Best free Adobe After Effects alternative
Blackmagic Design’s Fusion is an in-depth visual effects workspace. And the long list of Hollywood productions it’s been used on tells you all you need to know about the strength of its features, which include advanced VR and 3D compositing.
In Fusion’s node-based effects workspace, you can connect various effects and filters together through a visual web of nodes. That pro-level system can appear complex to newcomers. Like After Effects, this free editing software has a steeper learning curve, which takes some time to master. But once you’ve got used to it, it’s a very efficient way to build up combinations of effects.
Fusion is built into the stellar DaVinci Resolve, Blackmagic’s all-in-one post-production program. Like HitFilm Pro, you’re free to edit your project in Resolve’s editing workspace, then click the tabs bar to switch over to Fusion and add effects.
The best thing about this After Effects alternative is that the standard DaVinci Resolve 18 suite is completely free. For some advanced features, such as faster network-based rendering, the premium version, simply called Fusion 18, costs a one-off fee of $295.
Read our full DaVinci Resolve review
Best After Effects alternative for Mac
Apple Motion, Apple’s Mac-only visual effects software, can’t match Adobe After Effects in advanced functionality. It’s simple, limited, and functional. But it pairs superbly well with Final Cut Pro - you can see how Apple's video editor compares to its top rival in our guide to Adobe Premiere Pro vs Apple Final Cut Pro.
Motion features the silky smooth experience you’d expect from the always aesthetically pleasing Apple. Running on macOS, Motion is optimized for Apple hardware. In operation, the easy-flowing interface makes it one of the best alternatives to After Effects if you want a program that’s by far easier to learn.
Power users will delight in the faster rendering times compared to Adobe’s special effects app.
While it lacks the same depth of functionality, falling short when it comes to advanced compositing, for example, the VFX tool still manages to pack some impressive features. Not to be missed is the very comprehensive text design & animation tools.
Motion is available for an affordable one-off fee of $49.99. This gives you the software plus any future updates for a lower cost than a three-month After Effects subscription.
Best alternative to After Effects for animators
Open-source, free alternative to After Effects Blender is tailored to 3D animation. It supports the whole pipeline of 3D modeling, sculpting, animation, compositing, and editing.
Blender’s toolset for designing and animating characters enables a very impressive level of control. However, when it comes to applying visual effects on top of the animations, it’s not the best alternative - After Effects has a depth to it unmatched by Blender.
As a node-based VFX tool, the learning curve is steep and the process slow. It can’t handle 2D graphics or elements like animated text like AE. But there is an extremely supportive online community always willing to help with any issues you might face. The official Blender training hub also houses online courses and workshops led by experts.
That’s the only price animators pay for free 3D modeling software that in some ways is a much more powerful alternative to After Effects.
See what our sister site Creative Bloq thought in their Blender review
Best open-source Adobe After Effects alternative
Natron is a comprehensive open-source VFX program, ideal for innovative creatives on a budget looking for free Adobe After Effects alternatives.
Focusing on 2D and 2.5D effects, Natron delivers professional results through useful features, including powerful keying tools, flexible rotoscoping, and unlimited masks and mattes. Further boosting its toolkit are the wide range of community-created plug-ins available.
However, the node-based visual effects software isn’t built to tackle motion graphics or 3D tools. Development has been undeniably sluggish over the past few years, with no recent major updates. It’s not as stable as the best Adobe After Effects alternatives like HitFilm Pro and Fusion. Some performance issues have been reported, too.
But it is free. It is powerful. It is a capable open-source alternative to After Effects. If you need a professional-grade, 2D node-based editor, Natron is a great choice.
Best alternative to After Effects for beginners
FilmoraPro is one of the best alternatives to After Effects, thanks to a decent set of VFX and motion graphics tools.
Like Wondershare’s consumer-level video editor Filmora - one of the best Adobe Premiere Pro alternatives - FilmoraPro’s drag-and-drop interface is simple and intuitive. You’ll have no problem placing effects on the timeline, and control key A/V elements, from noise reduction to color correction.
That simplicity is deceptive, though. As the name suggests, this is a VFX app designed for professionals. While it’s good for beginners, it’s perfect for intermediate editors and visual effects artists looking to hone their craft.
The quality won’t win any Oscars for professionalism, but it’s a good choice of video editor for YouTubers and indie filmmakers just starting out. Streamers will also get use from FilmoraPro, thanks to the built-in screen recorder.
FilmoraPro is available for a one-time purchase of $149.99 - ideal if you’re looking for After Effects alternatives to avoid paying a subscription. Commercial licenses are also available, starting at $155.88 per user per year.
Hardware requirements are fairly modest for a visual effects tool. Your rig doesn’t have to be the best video editing computer to create impressive visual effects, making it one of the best Adobe After Effects alternatives for low-end PCs
Best After Effects alternative for professionals
Smoke is a Mac-only video effects software that blends timeline- and node-based editing for increased productivity and a more well-rounded workflow.
The user-friendly editor lets you add post-production polish. The high-quality kit includes VFX essentials like keying, compositing, color correction, and 3D effects.
Autodesk, the developer behind Smoke, is also responsible for some of the best architecture software. This is a company adept at creating top-quality, professional-grade graphic design tools for SMEs and enterprises.
The cost reflects this. Smoke costs $225 a month or $1785 a year. And where there’s Smoke, there’s…Flame - with seamless integration with Autodesk’s 3D visual effects suite.
As you’d expect from a top-tier VFX app, results are impressive, rivaling any of the best Adobe After Effects alternatives.
Pricey and professional. If it’s in your budget, Smoke could set your world on fire.
Adobe After Effects alternatives: FAQs
Adobe Premiere Pro vs Adobe After Effects: what’s the difference?
Adobe Premiere Pro vs Adobe After Effects isn’t quite the right way to think about these two video post-production tools.
There are some similarities between Adobe’s industry-standard creative programs - with both earning 5-stars in our hands-on reviews. The tools are incredibly powerful, letting content creators easily cut clips and add effects thanks to that easy user experience Adobe excels at. And both deliver exceptional professional polish to video projects.
What’s the difference between Premiere Pro and After Effects? Adobe Premiere Pro is video editing software for editors. Adobe After Effects is VFX software, used by designers and artists to add special effects to shot footage.
The two tools are best deployed in different parts of the post-production process. Crucially, though, Adobe has designed Premiere Pro and After Effects to work seamlessly together, creating a more efficient workflow for content creators and film & TV professionals who use multiple Adobe Creative Cloud apps.
How to choose the best Adobe After Effects alternative for you
When choosing which alternative to Adobe After Effects is best, start by determining your VFX skills, and how you’ll use the tool. Professional-grade visual effects software offers industry-standard effects, but beginners and enthusiasts may want to start with a simpler, or less expensive option.
Finding the right tool for the right platform is important - particularly if you favor a particular video editing tool, such as Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro. You’ll also need to decide if you want the full visual effects suite, or you need high-performance in a specific area, such as 3D animation. Don't ignore additional extras and nice-to-have's, like those apps with the best screen recording software.
If you’re experienced with the Adobe stack, look for products that mirror After Effects - particularly those with an easy-to-use interface and similar features. It’ll make it easier to get creative with software if you’re already familiar with AE. If you're looking to create animations with the best 3D modeling software, a tool like Blender will better suit your projects.
You'll also want to make sure your computer is capable of running VFX software. These apps can be a bit resource intensive, so you may need to invest in the best video editing laptops, best video editing PCs, or the best video editing Macs if you prefer Apple devices.
Pricing models vary between the best Adobe After Effects alternatives. Creative Cloud subscriptions can be a deal-breaker, so check how you’ll pay. You’ll find similar subscription models, one-off payments, and even free alternatives to After Effects. Select the product that best suits your creative budget.
How we test the best alternatives to Adobe After Effects
Our expert reviewers have tested, reviewed, and rated a range of creative software for when you want to avoid the Adobe ecosystem, including the best Photoshop alternatives and the best Premiere Pro alternatives.
When determining the very best Adobe After Effects alternatives, we review each product based on interface, performance on devices, the size of the toolkit, and how users will actually use the VFX software.
After Effects is famously easy and intuitive to use - like most Adobe programs, once you understand the basics, it’s incredibly powerful. Alternatives to AE should feature experiences that are just as simple to use - even with a steep learning curve, we want to make sure users can navigate and create in a way that makes sense.
We also review how well the VFX software runs, and how rendering effects can impact computer performance.
Recognizing that the best After Effects alternatives are often built for different skill-levels and purposes, we test the software based on its intended use and audience.
Pricing models are also a factor. A Creative Cloud subscription isn’t for everyone - and where one-off purchases replace subscription models, we’ll note this. When it comes to the best free Adobe After Effects alternatives, the software should be genuinely free, without hidden charges or hamstrung performance.
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