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I have two personal favorites when it comes to the best After Effects alternatives.
Best Adobe After Effects alternative overall
1.
Blackmagic Fusion
Our expert review:
Blackmagic Designs Fusion is an in-depth visual effects workspace.
That pro-level system can appear complex to newcomers.
But once youve got used to it, its a very efficient way to build up combinations of effects.
Fusion is built into the stellar DaVinci Resolve, Blackmagics all-in-one post-production program.
The best thing about this After Effects alternative is that the standard DaVinci Resolve 18 suite is completely free.
Read our fullDaVinci Resolve review.
Best general Adobe After Effects alternative platform
2.
HitFilm Pro
HitFilm Pro offers the ability to edit videos and add compositions in a single tool.
This makes it easier to learn for those already used to non-linear editing.
And the two-in-one nature of HitFilm Pro doesnt mean that the effects features are any less deep.
When it comes to VFX toolkits, this is a capable rival to After Effects.
HitFilm Pros developers claim it has the worlds biggest VFX software toolkit.
It lives up to that boast, making it one of the best Adobe After Effects alternatives.
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.
Read our fullHitFilm Pro review.
Best After Effects alternative for Mac
3.
Apple Motion
Apple Motion, Apples Mac-only visual effects software, cant match Adobe After Effects in advanced functionality.
Its simple, limited, and functional.
Motion features the silky smooth experience youd expect from the always aesthetically pleasing Apple.
Running on macOS, Motion is optimized for Apple hardware.
Power users will delight in the faster rendering times compared to Adobes special effects app.
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
4.
Blender
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.
Blenders toolset for designing and animating characters enables a very impressive level of control.
As a node-based VFX tool, the learning curve is steep and the process slow.
It cant 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.
Further boosting its toolkit are the wide range of community-created plug-ins available.
However, the node-based visual effects software isnt built to tackle motion graphics or 3D tools.
Development has been undeniably sluggish over the past few years, with no recent major updates.
Its 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 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
6.
Like Wondershares consumer-level video editorFilmora.
FilmoraPros drag-and-drop interface is simple and intuitive.
That simplicity is deceptive, though.
As the name suggests, this is a VFX app designed for professionals.
Streamers will also get use from FilmoraPro, thanks to the built-in screen recorder.
Commercial licenses are also available, starting at $155.88 per user per year.
Hardware requirements are fairly modest for a visual effects tool.
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 theres Smoke, theres…Flame - with seamless integration with Autodesks 3D visual effects suite.
If its in your budget, Smoke could set your world on fire.
Adobe Premiere ProvsAdobe After Effectsisnt quite the right way to think about these two video post-production tools.
There are some similarities between Adobes industry-standard creative programs - with both earning 5-stars in our hands-on reviews.
And both deliver exceptional professional polish to video projects.
Whats 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.
Don’t ignore additional extras and nice-to-have’s, like those apps boasting thebest screen recorders.
Itll make it easier to get creative with software if youre already familiar with AE.
You’ll also want to ensure your gear is capable of running VFX software.
Pricing models vary between the best Adobe After Effects alternatives.
Creative Cloud subscriptions can be a deal-breaker, so check how youll pay.
Youll find similar subscription models, one-off payments, and even free alternatives to After Effects.
snag the product that best suits your creative budget.
We also review how well the VFX software runs, and how rendering effects can impact computer performance.
Pricing models are also a factor.
A Creative Cloud subscription isnt for everyone - and where one-off purchases replace subscription models, well note this.
It can be an overwhelming app, but theres really very little you cant do with it."
See our guideHow to try Adobe After Effects for free or with Creative Cloud
