Alternatives to Adobe After Effects

Adobe's desktop application for motion graphics, visual effects compositing and animation for film, TV and web. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as Adobe After Effects.

  • DaVinci Resolve

    Professional editing, colour grading, visual effects and audio post in one program, with a free version that is genuinely capable.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinux

    DaVinci Resolve combines visual effects with editing, colour and audio in one program, has a free version without watermark, and adds Linux support, though it demands capable hardware.

  • Glaxnimate

    Vector animation and motion design application.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    Glaxnimate is free, open source and runs on Linux too, but it focuses on vector shape animation with Lottie export rather than offering a general motion graphics and compositing suite.

  • Tahoma2D

    2D drawing and stop-motion animation software based on OpenToonz.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    Tahoma2D is free and open source 2D drawing and stop-motion animation software for Windows, macOS and Linux, covering frame animation rather than compositing or visual effects work.

  • Fusion

    A node-based compositing program for visual effects, motion graphics and 3D work.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinux

    Fusion replaces layer-based work with node-based compositing, runs on Linux as well as Windows and macOS, and offers a freemium model instead of a subscription.

  • Nuke

    Node-based compositing software from Foundry used for visual effects in film, TV and animation.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinux

    Nuke is node-based compositing software aimed at studios, with deep compositing and OpenEXR and USD support, a Linux version and commercial pricing.

  • Natron

    An open-source, node-based video compositing application similar in scope to After Effects and Nuke.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    Natron is a free, open-source node-based compositor for Windows, macOS and Linux with Python scripting, though its ecosystem is smaller than After Effects.

  • Cavalry

    A procedural, real-time 2D animation and motion design application for macOS and Windows.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    Cavalry focuses on procedural, real-time 2D motion design with spreadsheet data import and Lottie export, and has a freemium model, but it does not cover VFX compositing.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.