The 6 NEW After Effects Alternatives Used By Pros In 2024!

Unleash your creativity with these FREE After Effects alternatives! Say goodbye to expensive subscriptions and hello to limitless possibilities with the same tools, effects, and functionality as After Effects.

February 4, 2024
The 6 NEW After Effects Alternatives Used By Pros In 2024!
"It's Like Video Editing On Steroids!"
- Sebastian Navarro, FreeVisuals Editor
Endorsed by Adobe, Motion Array is the ULTIMATE tool for creating high-quality videos! Browse 15M+ assets for Premiere Pro, After Effects, FCPX & DaVinci!

With the rise of video content on social media and online platforms, having a highly-capable video editing software has become a necessity in 2023. High performance video editing programs allow you to edit and enhance the quality your videos, add additional effects, music, and other elements to make them more engaging.

With that said, Adobe After Effects is the most well-known video compositing and animating software that allows users to create VFX, 2D and 3D animations, and design motion graphics. It's well known because first of all, it's made by Adobe (no surprise) and has all the features, effects and tools you need to effectively produce high quality content.

While After Effects is the most recommended software for any type of video production, it may not be the most suitable video editing program for you. For instance, After Effects can only run on a computer that surpasses the minimum performance requirements set by Adobe. If your hardware is not powerful enough to run the software, you may run into a multitude of issue along the way. Another reason as to why After Effects may not be the best option is because of the expensive subscription price and inability to purchase the software as a whole in one payment.

If you're intending to create professional-quality videos but are unable to use After Effects, this article is what you're looking for.

The softwares on this list offer a range of features and capabilities that can rival Adobe After Effects, and they're suitable for a variety of projects, from basic video editing to more advanced 3D camera tracking and sound-sync effects.

What Are The Alternatives To Adobe After Effects? Ranked From Best To Worst

In this section, we'll be ranking some of the best alternatives to Adobe After Effects, from the top pick to the last. We'll be evaluating how these 10 softwares can assist those with stringent video editing requirements, such as the ability to create 3D renders. We'll also provide reasons as to why each software makes a great alternative to After Effects. We will also describe the disadvantage After Effects has that the alternative software makes up for.

1. HitFilm (Formerly Hitfilm Express/Pro) - And it's FREE!

Hitfilm is a powerful tool that offers a wide range of features, including compositing, keying, and 3D visual effects. The software is easy to use and has a user-friendly interface, making it a great choice for beginners and professionals alike.

Comparison of Hitfilm to After Effects in terms of functionality and ease of use

Unlike After Effects, Hitfilm is a little easier to use. The interface is more simple and outgoing. Everything you need is where you want it to be, and when you switch from the editing timeline to a composition, the workflow view changes automatically. However, Hitfilm's beginner friendliness comes at a cost. One of the reasons why Hitfilm is so easy to use and understand is because it lacks some of the effects tools and other features like shortcuts that After Effects has. For instance, more than a quarter of the native effects found in After Effects cannot be replicated in either the paid or Free version of Hitfilm, though this is expected to change in future updates.

Pros and cons of using Hitfilm as an alternative to After Effects

Pros
  • Easier to use
  • 100% free
  • Low resource consuming
  • Runs on low performance hardware
  • VERY fulfilling video production capabilites
Cons
  • Not as much functionalityu as After Effects
  • Lacks compatibility with other video softwares such as Adobe Media Encoder
  • Limited support for advanced visual effects
  • Limited third-party plugin support

Examples of videos created using Hitfilm

Is There A FREE Alternative To After Effects?

If there was a free alternative to After Effects, this would be it. Hitfilm is essentially a combination of After Effects and Premiere Pro combined into one software. Not only that but some plugins that are commonly used with After Effects (such as Magic Bullet Looks and Boris FX) are also compatible with Hitfilm.

2. Cyberlink Power Director

Power Director is known for its fast rendering and efficient performance, and it offers a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for both beginners and advanced users to navigate. Using this video editor, you'll be able to create videos that look like they were made on After Effects. If you look on their website, you'll see that they have plenty of the features that After Effects has, making it a great video editor for those who don't want to download any storage consuming softwares onto their computer.

Comparison of Power Director to After Effects in terms of functionality and ease of use

Power Director is only capable of doing some of the tasks that After Effects is able to do. This includes masking tools, some basic effects, transitions, basic 3D layering and motion tracking (with AI). Power director does not include several of the famous functions and effects that After Effects is known for. This is perfect for beginner video editors or advanced users who don't require 3D tracking, a multi-tasking workflow and other high-end video compositing features that are included in AE.

Pros and cons of using Power Director as an alternative to After Effects

Pros
  • Cheaper than After Effects
  • Not very resource consuming
  • Has the essential video making effects such as green-screen keying and object detection
  • Plenty of AI for different tasks such as sky replacement effects
  • Very basic layout which makes it easy to understand
Cons
  • Not nearly as many compositing tools and effects
  • Not as much design freedom

3. Adobe Premiere Pro

Premiere Pro is can only be considered to be an alternative to After Effects if your main intention isn't to create VFX, complex animations or any other type of video that requires compositing functionality. While Premiere Pro does have the ability to keyframe animate and apply effects similarly to After Effects the interface is not specially designed to help you do such procedures.

Comparison of Premiere Pro to After Effects in terms of functionality and ease of use

Most users consider Premiere Pro to be more user-friendly compared to After Effects, which is why most new editors start off with PR. PR is generally considered more of an all-around video editing software for professionals, but it's not easy to re-create the same visuals that can be made in AE.

After Effects is more specialized towards creating and compositing animations, 3D effects and other types of visual elements. Most editors use AE to design videos and put them together with Premiere Pro. If you're considering using Premiere Pro as an alternative to After Effects, read our full review between the two softwares to help make a more informed decision.

Pros and cons of using Premiere Pro as an alternative to After Effects

Pros
  • Premiere Pro is more of an all-round program specifically focused towards video editing
  • More user friendly - making it great for beginners
Cons
  • No compositing functionality
  • Consumes more hard drive space

Examples of Videos created using Premiere Pro

4. FlexClip

FlexClip is an AI-powered video editing platform that empowers users to create professional-quality videos with ease. It offers a user-friendly interface and a wide range of features that cater to both beginners and experienced video editors. It also provides a vast library of pre-designed templates, stock photos, videos, and music to help users kickstart their projects.

Comparison of FlexClip to After Effects in terms of functionality and ease of use

FlexClip focuses on providing a user-friendly and intuitive interface. Its drag-and-drop functionality and template library make it easy for beginners to create videos without prior experience. After Effects has a steeper learning curve compared to FlexClip. It offers a more complex and feature-rich environment, which can be overwhelming for beginners.

FlexClip offers basic video editing features such as trimming, splitting, merging, and cropping videos. However, it doesn't have the advanced motion graphics, visual effects, and compositing capabilities that After Effects offers.

Pros and cons of using FlexClip as an alternative to After Effects

Pros
  • FlexClip is a web-based tool, no need for software installation or system requirements.
  • FlexClip provides 5000+ pre-designed templates for various video projects.
  • Both free and paid plans, more affordable and accessible compared to After Effects
Cons
  • No advanced keyframing, tracking, and masking capabilities.
  • May not be suitable for high-end projects.


5. Invideo (But Only For Certain Types Of Videos)

The reason why we've put Invideo as number 3 on this list is because it can effectively replicate animations and motion graphics similar to After Effects. InVideo is a professional online video editing platform. It's perfect for online business owners or dropshippers. People who don't want to spend hours mastering complicated software like Adobe Premiere Pro or After Effects should try Invideo.

Comparison of Invideo to After Effects in terms of functionality and ease of use

After Effects and Invideo have different capabilities and are intended for different types of users. After Effects is a professional-level software that is designed for motion graphics, visual effects, and compositing, while InVideo is an all-around video editing software that is more focused on creating videos for social media, marketing and business use cases. After Effects is more suited for experienced professionals, whereas InVideo is more accessible for beginners and non-technical users.

Pros and cons of using Invideo as an alternative to After Effects

Pros
  • Can be used to make high-quality looking videos
  • Very cheap, yet effective
  • 1000s of templates to choose from
Cons
  • Limited templates
  • Cannot make any type of video - limited gallery of templates
  • Not really an editing program, but more of a drag and drop video maker. (Imagine Canva but for videos)

6 - Filmora Wondershare

Several people think of this as the most annoying editor because it comes up all over the internet for claiming abilities to do do things that it cannot really do. Regardless, Filmora makes a great video editing program for those who want to make basic videos without the necessity to design complex video elements or custom effects.

Comparison of Wondershare to After Effects in terms of functionality and ease of use

Wondershare is a more general-purpose video editing software that is designed to help users create professional-looking videos quickly and easily. It's got a variety of tools for cutting clips, color grading, adding effects, and more. It's also got a library of templates and stock footage that are great for creating content for personal, marketing and business use cases. When it comes to ease of use, After Effects can be a bit tricky for beginners and it's recommended for experts in the field, while Wondershare is more accessible for beginners and users who don't have any past video creation experience.

Pros and cons of using Wondershare as an alternative to After Effects

Pros
  • Significantly easier to use
  • Pre-made templates and stock footage
  • Suitable for a variety of use cases
Cons
  • Limited capabilities (similar functionality as power director)
  • May not be suitable for high-end projects
  • Not many effects and no plugin compatibility

BONUS - Apps Like After Effects For iPhone

If you're a mobile-only user who doesn't have access to a desktop or laptop, there are also several mobile applications on the app store and Google play store which have features and tools similar to those included in After Effects. Some of these apps include: Capcut, iMovie, Kinemaster, ActionDirector, Videoleap. These apps are not as powerful as After Effects, but they are great alternatives for basic to intermediate video editing tasks on iPhone.


After Effects is the best video compositor but it can be a bit pricey and tricky to learn. But don't worry, there are plenty of alternatives out there. HitFilm is a great option if you're an independent filmmaker or YouTuber, it's more user-friendly and has a built-in tutorial system. For those who are looking for a mobile option, there are a bunch of apps like Capcut and Imovie that can help you with your basic to intermediate video editing needs on iPhone. Bottom line, it's all about finding the right fit for your budget and needs. Give a few of these options a try, you might be surprised by what you find.