Free Adobe After Effects Alternatives for Windows

There are many alternatives to Adobe After Effects for Windows if you are looking for a replacement. The best free Windows alternative is Natron, which is also Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Adobe After Effects and 18 are free and available for Windows so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free Windows alternatives to Adobe After Effects are Blender, Blackmagic Design Fusion, Friction and OpenToonz.

filter to find the best alternatives

Adobe After Effects alternatives are mainly Motion Graphics Software, but if you're looking for VFX Software or Animation Makers you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Open Source, Free, Linux, Android, Motion Graphics, Windows + Free and Mac. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Adobe After Effects.
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Alternatives list

  1. Natron icon

    Natron

     207 likes
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    Natron is an open source, cross platform nodal compositing application. It is built around industry standard open source tech such as OpenFX, OpenEXR, OpenColorIO and OpenImageIO. The feature set includes realtime playback/RAM cache, multi-threaded rendering, 2d tracking...

    18 Natron alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Natron screenshot 1
     
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    9
    236
    Comments about Natron as an Alternative to Adobe After Effects
    Top Positive Comment
    Paul
    4

    Free and open-source node based alternative to After Effects. It's pretty similar to Nuke, but doesn't cost anything.

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    10

    Awful documentation (blank page); The versions change so much that the old tutorials don't help at all; Difficult to learn by just messing around; High learning curve.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    ahmed52
    Positive
    2

    free ,open source a bit hard to use at first

    Show more comments
    3 of 9 comments
    Adobe After Effects Icon
    Natron icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Natron is a great Adobe After Effects alternative.

    • Natron is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Adobe After Effects.

    • Natron is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Adobe After Effects.

    • Natron is Free and Open SourceAdobe After Effects is Paid and Proprietary
  2. Blender icon

    Blender

     1743 likes
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    A comprehensive open-source 3D software suite for modeling, UV unwrapping, texturing, rigging, and animating. It supports renderings, simulations including fluid and cloth dynamics, complex compositing, video editing, and Python scripting, running across all major operating systems.

    139 Blender alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    • Steam
    • Flatpak
    • Snapcraft
    Splash Artwork for Blender 4.3
     
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    29
    248
    Comments about Blender as an Alternative to Adobe After Effects
    Comment summary: Blender is mainly recognized as a 3D modeling and animation tool, with capabilities that extend to video editing and compositing. However, many users highlight that its primary focus differs significantly from Adobe After Effects, which is designed for VFX and motion graphics. While Blender is praised for being open-source and versatile, it isn't typically seen as a direct alternative to After Effects for video effects work. Some users appreciate Blender's potential for specific tasks, but note its steep learning curve and differing workflow.
    Top Positive Comment
    sas_ja
    5

    Blender is has a bit different workflow, that doesn't make it worse than AE. People think that Blender is only a 3D program, but it fact it has greasepencil (2d animation tool), and it also includes node-based compositing, video editing and video tracking. With Blender you can combine 2d animations, 3d renderings and video footage without using any external program.

    Top Negative Comment
    danielmichel
    48

    AE's main purpose: Video effect editing. Blender has a whole range of possibilities, but it's hard to get into and it's not designed to be used solely for video effect editing.

    Guest
    Negative
    0

    It’s not a video editor anymore, they removed that feature.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
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    3 of 29 comments
    Adobe After Effects Icon
    Blender icon

    • Some users think Blender is a great Adobe After Effects alternative, some don't.

    • Blender is Free and Open SourceAdobe After Effects is Paid and Proprietary
    • Blender is Customizable, Lightweight and Privacy focusedAdobe After Effects is not according to our users
  4. Blackmagic Design Fusion icon

    Blackmagic Design Fusion

     52 likes
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    Fusion is the world’s most advanced compositing software for visual effects artists, broadcast and motion graphic designers and 3D animators.

    17 Blackmagic Design Fusion alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Blackmagic Design Fusion screenshot 1
     
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    6
    83
    Comments about Blackmagic Design Fusion as an Alternative to Adobe After Effects
    Top Positive Comment
    Paul
    4

    Great software and well integrated with DaVinci Resolve.

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Great node-based alternative if you require an advanced control over your compositions. It supports OFX plugins, macros, and software-specific plugins/scripts(Lua & Python)

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    7

    High level composition software.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
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    3 of 6 comments
    Adobe After Effects Icon
    Blackmagic Design Fusion icon

    • Most users think Blackmagic Design Fusion is a great Adobe After Effects alternative.

    • Blackmagic Design Fusion is Freemium and ProprietaryAdobe After Effects is Paid and Proprietary
  5. Ad
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    CapCut icon
    CapCut

    This free video editing app offers features like cutting, speed adjustments, advanced filters, chroma key, and a vast music library. Enjoy non-destructive editing, keyframe animation, transitions, and 4K support across multiple d...

    https://www.capcut.com
    Learn More
  7. OpenToonz icon

    OpenToonz

     125 likes
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    OpenToonz is an animation program that is a free software version of Toonz, the animation software used by Studio Ghibli, amongst others.

    43 OpenToonz alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    GTS
     
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    1
    6
    Comments about OpenToonz as an Alternative to Adobe After Effects
    shay
    Negative
    3

    while this has video creation functionality, it is intended for animation rather than video editing and compositing. an ae user would find it difficult to do their type of work in this program

    Adobe After Effects Icon
    OpenToonz icon

    • Some users think OpenToonz is a great Adobe After Effects alternative, some don't.

    • OpenToonz is Free and Open SourceAdobe After Effects is Paid and Proprietary
    • OpenToonz is Privacy focusedAdobe After Effects is not according to our users
  8. CapCut icon

    CapCut

     64 likes
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    This free video editing app offers features like cutting, speed adjustments, advanced filters, chroma key, and a vast music library. Enjoy non-destructive editing, keyframe animation, transitions, and 4K support across multiple devices without ads or registration.

    162 CapCut alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    CapCut screenshot 1
     

    • CapCut is the most popular Web-based, Android, iPhone, iPad & Android Tablet alternative to Adobe After Effects.

    • CapCut is Freemium and ProprietaryAdobe After Effects is Paid and Proprietary
    • CapCut is LightweightAdobe After Effects is not according to our users
  10. enve icon

    enve

     38 likes
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    Enve is a free and open-source 2D animation app. It can create both vector and raster animations and even use sound and video files. It has been created with flexibility and expandability in mind.

    56 enve alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    Official Enve Screenshot
     
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    1
    Comments about enve as an Alternative to Adobe After Effects
    groundjet
    Positive
    0

    Free and open source, much easier on the memory; still a lot of bugs and features missing but it is an absolutely amazing piece of software that will hopefully one day do to Adobe what Blender did to Autodesk.

    Adobe After Effects Icon
    enve icon
    • enve is Free and Open SourceAdobe After Effects is Paid and Proprietary
  11. OpenCut icon

    OpenCut

     12 likes
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    The open source video editor that gets the job done. Simple, powerful, and works on any platform.

    56 OpenCut alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Docker
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    OpenCut screenshot 1
     

    • OpenCut is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Adobe After Effects.

    • OpenCut is Free and Open SourceAdobe After Effects is Paid and Proprietary
    • OpenCut is Privacy focusedAdobe After Effects is not according to our users
  12. TiXL icon

    TiXL

     17 likes
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    TiXL is an open-source solution for creating interactive 3d content and animations. It combines the best aspects of animation, compositing, and coding into a lightweight and intuitive UI. Your designs can be shared as executable or rendered to movies.

    10 TiXL alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    TiXL screenshot 1
     
  13. Cavalry icon

    Cavalry

     10 likes
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    Cavalry makes 2d animation smarter, easier and faster to produce. Design in real-time for advertising, mobile, data visualisation, web, broadcast, UI, generative art, experiential, games and more.

    16 Cavalry alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Cavalry screenshot 1
     
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    1
    8
    Comments about Cavalry as an Alternative to Adobe After Effects
    Mosrod
    Positive
    0

    Wow! Cavalry is one of the closest free softwares I have seen with a similar interface and flow to After Effects. Although Cavalry doesn't contain all the bells and whistles of After Effects, it is a great and free software that allows you to create advanced compositions. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to composite within 2d and doesn't want to pay the expensive fee of After Effects.

    Adobe After Effects Icon
    Cavalry icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Cavalry is a great Adobe After Effects alternative.

    • Cavalry is Freemium and ProprietaryAdobe After Effects is Paid and Proprietary
  14. PopcornFX icon

    PopcornFX

     4 likes
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    A suite of tools dedicated to real-time visual effects creation, along with ready-to-run mainstream game engine integrations and a runtime simulation framework for custom integration.

    25 PopcornFX alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Mac
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    PopcornFX screenshot 1
     
  15. Talos VFX icon

    Talos VFX

     2 likes
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    Talos is an open source, node based particle effect editor that can be used in game development. It features a powerful but intuitive, drag-and-drop interface with the ability to import legacy LibGDX files for easy, visual editing.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Java
    Talos VFX screenshot 1
     
12 of 18 Adobe After Effects alternatives