Adobe After Effects AlternativesOnly apps categorised as VFX Software

Alternatives list

1. 

   

   Blender

    1863 likes

   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.

   157 Blender alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source (GPL-3.0)

   Application type

   • 3D Modeler

   Origin

   • Netherlands
   • EU

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux
   • BSD
   • Snapcraft
   • Flathub
   • PortableApps.com
   • Haiku
   • Steam
   • Flatpak

   • Netherlands
   • EU

   

   

   

   +9

   

   More about Blender  

   

   Good alternative?Is Blender a good alternative to Adobe After Effects?

    

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   30comments

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   Blender vs Adobe After Effects Comments

   Top Positive Comment by sas_ja · Jun 14, 2020

   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 by danielmichel · Nov 7, 2017

   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.

   Negative comment by Avoyt · May 6, 2026

   Comparing Blender with After Effects is wild to me. I regularly use both for work, and I can't fathom using one for the other. Like, sure, you can do video editing in both, but neither excel at that.

   3 of 30 comments

   

   

   • Blender is Free and Open SourceAdobe After Effects is Paid and Proprietary
   • Blender is a 3D Modeler Adobe After Effects is a Motion Graphics Software
   • Blender is Customizable, Lightweight and Privacy focusedAdobe After Effects is not according to our users
2. 

   

   Natron

    225 likes

   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...

   24 Natron alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source (GPL-2.0)

   Application typeApplication types

   • VFX
   • Motion Graphics

   Origin

   • France
   • EU

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux
   • FreeBSD
   • Flathub

   • France
   • EU

   

   

   More about Natron  

   

   Good alternative?Is Natron a good alternative to Adobe After Effects?

    

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   9comments

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   Natron vs Adobe After Effects Comments

   Top Positive Comment by Paul · Apr 9, 2020

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

   Top Negative Comment by Guest · Aug 21, 2017

   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.

   Positive comment by ahmed52 · Jan 7, 2022

   free ,open source a bit hard to use at first

   3 of 9 comments

   

   

   • Natron is Free and Open SourceAdobe After Effects is Paid and Proprietary
   • Natron is a VFX Adobe After Effects is a Motion Graphics Software
4. 

   

   EffectCraft

    12 likes

   Motion graphics and visual effects, in pure Rust.

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source (Apache-2.0)

   Application typeApplication types

   • VFX
   • Motion Graphics

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux
   • Flatpak
   • AppImage
   • Online

   

   

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5. 

   

   Blackmagic Design Fusion

    53 likes

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

   26 Blackmagic Design Fusion alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Freemium
   • Proprietary

   Application typeApplication types

   • VFX
   • Video Editor

   Origin

   • Australia

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux

   • Australia

   

   

   

   +1

   

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   6comments

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   Blackmagic Design Fusion vs Adobe After Effects Comments

   Top Positive Comment by Paul · Apr 9, 2020

   Great software and well integrated with DaVinci Resolve.

   Positive comment by Guest · Oct 27, 2023

   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)

   Positive comment by Guest · Sep 19, 2018

   High level composition software.

   3 of 6 comments

   

   

   • Blackmagic Design Fusion is Freemium and ProprietaryAdobe After Effects is Paid and Proprietary
   • Blackmagic Design Fusion is a VFX Adobe After Effects is a Motion Graphics Software
6. 

   

   TiXL

    18 likes

   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.

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source (MIT)

   Application typeApplication types

   • VFX
   • Motion Graphics

   Origin

   • Germany
   • EU

   Platforms

   • Windows

   • Germany
   • EU

   

   More about TiXL  

   

   Good alternative?Is TiXL a good alternative to Adobe After Effects?

    
8. 

   

   NUKE

    36 likes

   NUKE is a powerful compositing application that delivers unparalleled speed, an efficient multi-channel scanline rendering engine, and a first-class feature set that is unrivalled in the desktop market.

   19 NUKE alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free Personal
   • Proprietary

   Application typeApplication types

   • VFX
   • Motion Graphics

   Origin

   • United Kingdom

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux

   • United Kingdom

   

   

   

   +4

   

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   1comment

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   NUKE vs Adobe After Effects Comments

   Positive comment by Guest · Dec 11, 2016

   There is a free commercial version, nuke is also more industry standard for compositing

   1 of 1 comments

   

   

   • NUKE is Free Personal and ProprietaryAdobe After Effects is Paid and Proprietary
   • NUKE is a VFX Adobe After Effects is a Motion Graphics Software
9. 

   

   PopcornFX

    6 likes

   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.

   Cost / License

   • Free Personal
   • Proprietary

   Application typeApplication types

   • VFX
   • 3D Modeler

   Origin

   • France
   • EU

   Platforms

   • Windows
   • Linux
   • Mac
   • Flathub
   • Flatpak

   • France
   • EU

   

   

   

   +3

   

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10. 

    

    Autodesk Flame

     2 likes

    Autodesk Flame software is a powerful finishing and visual effects solution with an integrated environment that accelerates creative workflows.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    • VFX

    Origin

    • United States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    • United States

    

    

    

    +3

    

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11. 

    

    Maxon Autograph

     8 likes

    Maxon Autograph is a digital compositing and motion graphics software used in the post-production industry of movie-making or motion-graphics design video making. It covers a wide range of functionnalities such as 2D animation, Keying, Tracking, 2D and 3D compositing, Audio...

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application typeApplication types

    • VFX
    • Motion Graphics

    Origin

    • Germany
    • EU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows

    • Germany
    • EU

    

    More about Maxon Autograph  

    

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12. 

    

    Talos VFX

     3 likes

    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 (Apache-2.0)

    Application type

    • VFX

    Origin

    • Türkiye

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Java

    • Türkiye

    

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13. 

    

    Lumit

     1 like

    Lumit is a free, open-source compositing and motion graphics app for Windows, macOS and Linux. It works similarly to After Effects, with a familiar feel, and it can open your .aep projects.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source (GPL-3.0)

    Application typeApplication types

    • VFX
    • Video Editor

    Origin

    • United Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • iPhone
    • iPad

    • United Kingdom

    

    

    

    +3

    

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14. 

    

    Notch

     7 likes

    Notch is the game-changing real-time visual creation engine that keeps up with your ideas. From motion graphics to interactive installations to VR experiences to the largest performances on earth, it helps creators rediscover the joy of creating.

    13 Notch alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application typeApplication types

    • VFX
    • Motion Graphics

    Origin

    • United Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Windows

    • United Kingdom

    

    

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