Pros and cons: the 4 best After Effects alternatives

For many years Adobe After Effects has set the benchmark for creating visual effects and motion graphics. But as the industry evolves, so do the tools and technologies available to creative professionals.

For graphic designers and marketing teams, navigating the list of options available may be as daunting. It requires a significant amount of skill and time. Almost as much as it does to achieve the look and feel your animation vision requires.

The long ramp-up time has resulted in many of even the most enthusiastic teams rather outsourcing the work they want to do. But with developments like Linearity Move, the game is changing. Now, it's possible to create custom animations in minutes.  

Whether you're looking for a more accessible entry point or different functionalities, we've curated a list of the top After Effects alternatives that deserve your attention.

Key features of Adobe After Effects

Adobe After Effects is synonymous with professional-grade motion graphics, special effects, and compositing. It was developed by Adobe Systems, the creators of industry-standard design programs Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator.

After Effects also allows users to animate, alter, and for 2D and 3D compositing with various built-in tools and third-party plugins.

Some of the key features of Adobe After Effects include:

• Animation and keyframing: Users can create complex animations using keyframes to define the parameters of motion, opacity, scale, and other properties of objects over time.
• Visual effects: It offers a vast range of visual effects that can be added to layers, enabling the creation of realistic smoke, fire, explosions, as well as 3D motion and mapping effects.
• Motion graphics: After Effects creates complex and dynamic motion graphics, including titles, lower-thirds, and detailed, multi-pronger animated logos.
• Compositing: Combining multiple layers of video and images seamlessly to create a single, cohesive final product. This includes green screen (chroma key) techniques, masking, and blending modes.
• Text animation: It provides extensive tools for animating text in various ways to add emphasis or create engaging title sequences.
• 3D integration: After Effects integrates with Adobe’s 3D content creation tools, allowing for importing and manipulating 3D models and scenes.
• VR and 360 video: Support for creating and editing VR and 360-degree videos for immersive video projects.
• Scripting and Expressions: After Effects offers scripting features to automate complex workflows and create more sophisticated animations and effects.

Adobe After Effects is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite. For a significant additional subscription fee, you can integrate it with other Adobe apps such as Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator, and more. This helps create a workflow between the different video and film production stages. 

Navigating Adobe: a mixed bag

Adobe's suite of products offers a comprehensive toolbox for digital creators, encompassing everything from image editing with Photoshop to digital illustration with Illustrator. While these tools provide intense depth and integration, they require training and can be resource-heavy.

The subscription-based pricing model can be a barrier for some. You can opt for the single app subscription, but might need access to more Adobe tools in future. This can rack up costs over time.

After Effects pros:

• Integration across Adobe Creative Cloud applications.
• Industry-standard tools with advanced features.

After Effects cons:

• Adobe's subscription model can become costly over time.
• Requires professional training.
• Long ramp-up time.
• Can be resource-heavy.

“The Learning Curve can be frustrating. It's a powerful tool, but getting to grips with it can be daunting for newbies. The interface and sheer number of features can be overwhelming, and it takes a good chunk of time to feel comfortable with it.”–Imran O. on G2

At a glance: the big 4 After Effects alternatives

After Adobe: 4 tools for the modern creator

Adobe After Effects has etched its place in design circles, but it's certainly not for everyone. A new age of creativity calls for innovative tools that cater to diverse needs and workflows.

You have many options for vector-based animation.

1. Linearity Move

Launched in 2024, Linearity Move is a pioneering vector animation platform designed with the modern creator in mind. From animation novices to skilled graphic designers and marketing teams, Linearity Move is bridging an invaluable gap in the market.

You can start creating animated content in seconds and cut production costs. The features are easy to use but also give you space to grow into creating more complex, custom animations.

Our Pro plan starts at $7.99/month (billed annually) and includes Linearity Curve graphic design software. A Linearity license is significantly more affordable than Adobe After Effects.  

Linearity Move pros:

• Tailored specifically for vector animation, offering precision and scalability.
• Intuitive interface that lowers the entry barrier for new designers.
• Integrates seamlessly with Linearity Curve (one of the market’s most convenient platforms for efficient, high-quality graphic design) to create a cohesive design ecosystem for your team and workflow.
• Auto Animate brings your designs to life with a single click, allowing you to easily convert static assets into beautiful animations in seconds.
• Easily integrate with your other design software in a single click using the Import function, which quickly imports your designs from Linearity Curve, Figma, Sketch, and other vector tools. 
• 3,000+ customizable templates to fast-forward your design process.
• Priority support on the Pro plan, and a dedicated account manager on the Org plan.
• Automatic software updates as new features are brought online. 
• Regular video and blog tutorials to help you achieve your animation vision.

Linearity Move cons:

• As a specialized tool, it may not cover the breadth of video effects capabilities found in After Effects.
• It's new software, so online forum communities are still developing.

“With Linearity Move, I was able to animate my first illustration in less than 40 minutes without checking any learning materials! It’s really easy to use and the integration with Linearity Curve really helped!”–Kara Bernbeck, Co-founder of Sunbear Studio

2. Canva

Canva has made incorporating animations possible for even the most inexperienced user. It allows subscribers to craft everything from social media graphics to animations easily.

Thanks to its templated design approach and novice-proof interface, Canva’s basic animation tools are highly accessible to beginners.

Canva pros:

• User-friendly, ideal for beginners and non-designers.
• Offers a vast library of templates, graphics, and stock photos.
• Web-based platform, enabling access from any device.

Canva cons:

• More suitable for basic graphic design than complex animations or visual effects.
• Limited customization options compared to specialized software.
• No video masking tools.
• Basic timeline layers.
• No keyframes.

“Canva provides a user-friendly interface with enormous amounts of variety in graphics, videos, and photos. But I believe Canva lacks the professional outlook and can be used only for educational purposes as it’s not that good when used for video editing. Many features require you to have a premium subscription, which reduces various options even when they’re available.”—Vaibhav A on G2

3. Jitter

Jitter is making waves as a powerful yet accessible tool for motion design and interactive animations. Jitter's web-based platform means there's no need for heavy software downloads or high-end computer specs, contrasting with After Effects' more intensive system requirements and desktop-only access.

This accessibility facilitates easier collaboration and sharing, as projects can be accessed and edited from anywhere, a feature particularly appealing in remote and hybrid work environments.

Jitter pros:

• User-friendly interface for mid-level and professional designers.
• Web-based, facilitating collaboration and sharing.
• Offers pre-built components and animations, speeding up the design process.

Jitter cons:

• May lack the depth of features for advanced visual effects work.
• Potential performance issues, such as lag when browsing through extensive template libraries or using the Figma plugin.

“Jitter is a versatile software and takes our graphic designs to the next level with the power of motion design. However, its Figma plugin can make things tricky at times. I also feel it starts to get laggy while you browse the templates.”—Namarata G on G2

4. Apple Motion

Apple Motion emerges as a formidable tool in the realm of motion graphics, uniquely optimized for macOS users and designed to integrate seamlessly with Final Cut Pro.

This synergy creates a streamlined workflow for video editors and motion designers who prefer a Mac ecosystem, offering capabilities that are both powerful and accessible.

Apple Motion pros:

• Highly optimized for macOS, offering a smooth user experience.
• Integrates well with Final Cut Pro software.
• Includes a wide range of tools for text, shapes, 3D objects, and more.

Apple Motion cons:

• May not offer the same depth of features as After Effects for complex animation work.
• Integration primarily with Final Cut Pro: While this is a pro for some, it can be a con for users of other video editing software.
• As noted by users, the software can experience crashes, which can disrupt the workflow and productivity.

“The worst thing about Apple Motion is that it often crashes. Since it's made by the same company that made the hardware and the operating system, I would expect the software to run much more consistently than others in its class. Sadly, that isn't the case here.”—Troy F on G2

In-depth pricing comparison

Choosing the right animation software often comes down to balancing features with cost.

Below is a pricing comparison of Adobe After Effects and its alternatives, providing a clear picture of the investment required for each option.

When comparing the pricing of these animation and motion graphics tools, consider both the upfront costs and the long-term value each provides. It comes down to your specific needs and budget constraints.

Adobe After Effects adopts a subscription-based model, starting at $24.14/month for a single app subscription. It's part of the broader Adobe Creative Cloud suite, which means you'll be paying more to also get access to the comprehensive ecosystem of Adobe's professional-grade tools.

Linearity Move offers a refreshing contrast with a starting price of $7.99/month for its Pro plan (yearly subscription), including the Linearity Curve design platform. This makes it significantly more affordable than Adobe After Effects, particularly for users focused on vector animation.

The lower price point, combined with its specialized toolset, makes Linearity Move an attractive option for digital designers and marketing teams looking for a revolutionary, cost-effective, and powerful animation solution.

Canva offers a basic free version, with its Pro plan starting at $12.95/month. This pricing model is particularly appealing for its simplicity and the wide array of design tools and resources it provides.

Jitter mirrors the SaaS approach with a free basic version. The Pro plan starts at $12/month. While it may lack the depth of features for advanced visual effects work, its user-friendly interface and focus on motion design make it a cost-effective choice for web and UI designers and motion designers seeking an accessible entry into animation.

Apple Motion stands out with its one-time purchase price of $49, offering a compelling value proposition for those invested in the macOS ecosystem.

Moving into the future

When comparing After Effects and Linearity Move, it's essential to look at specific features and pricing to understand what each offers and how they match up to your needs as a graphic designer or marketer.

After Effects is known for its comprehensive features, catering to complex animation and visual effects projects. It's a powerhouse for professionals with a subscription model starting at $24.14/month (single app part of Adobe Creative Cloud).

On the other hand, Linearity Move offers a streamlined experience, focusing on ease of use without sacrificing output quality. It's designed for those who want to bring their designs to life quickly and efficiently.

With features tailored for intuitive vector animation, it suits the fast-paced environment of digital design work. Linearity Move’s pricing is competitive, providing significant value if you find After Effects' comprehensive suite more than needed.

Pricing and accessibility

After Effects: subscription model starts at $24.14/month. While it offers a vast range of features, it can be more than necessary for some projects, making it a pricier option for those who don't use its full capabilities.

Linearity Move: offers a more straightforward pricing structure (exact pricing to be checked on their website), making it accessible for freelancers and small businesses who need powerful animation tools without the complexity or cost.

Ease of use

After Effects: requires a steeper learning curve, given its professional-grade capabilities. It's powerful but overwhelming for beginners or those who need quick results.

Features for modern design needs

After Effects: shines in creating complex visual effects and detailed animations. It's the industry standard for a reason, but it may offer more functionality than some users ever need.

Linearity Move: focuses on providing the essential tools for effective marketing design. It includes vector animation, static and animated templates, and Linearity Curve design software.

If you're looking for a tool that balances functionality with ease of use and cost-effectiveness, Linearity Move is worth considering. It's designed to make the animation process as straightforward as possible, providing a practical alternative for those who find After Effects too complex or expensive for their needs.

Ready to try new and innovative software? Get started with Linearity below.

Frequently asked questions