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Value at a Glance

Averages based on real user reviews.

Time to Implement

3 months

Return on Investment

10 months

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Adobe After Effects Reviews (1,051)

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Adobe After Effects Reviews (1,051)

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4.6
1,051 reviews

Pros & Cons

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Shubham R.
SR
Artist
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Exceptional 3D Camera Tracking and Versatile Creative Power"
What do you like best about Adobe After Effects?

I like 3D camera Tracking about After Effects most, I've used after effects for doing camera tracking most of the time. But I can say that it has was more potential than that, like creating visual effects, motion graphics, animation and more. Time remapping and graph editing is really easy when you know how to do it in After Effects. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Adobe After Effects?

The render time it takes is little more than others, like if I compare this with Premiere Pro, It takes more time to render Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Andres F.
AF
Consulting Chief
Consulting
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Integration and Power are Outstanding, but Preview and Layer Management can be Improved"
What do you like best about Adobe After Effects?

The great advantage that After FX offers is, without a doubt, its integration with the entire Adobe Creative Cloud suite. A fundamental aspect is its compatibility with most available plugins, and being one of the first programs specialized in VFX worldwide, it has undergone significant developments. Among its most important features is the ability to track objects and the ease of performing rotoscoping, which is much simpler in Adobe After FX compared to other programs. Additionally, its ability to read PSD files from Photoshop, import them by layers, and modify them independently saves a lot of time, especially when editing logos or working on Stopmotion or Motion Graphics projects. It is even possible to import Illustrator files and create animations more easily. After Effects, on its own, already offers a wide variety of alternatives and tools, especially regarding layer fusion and some native plugins, particularly those related to blurs, which is one of the functions I like most about the program. Another important point, from my experience, is that it does not require as much hardware or a very powerful machine compared to other programs in the visual effects industry. I have seen After Effects running on relatively new computers and, even at HD resolution, it offers very good results. Finally, I am very impressed by its render engine, which can be adjusted and even integrated with Adobe in Cer, providing many more customization options. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Adobe After Effects?

What I like least about Adobe After Effects, personally, are the problems that arise when working with files from different sources and with different encodings. Specifically, when I need to mix files, such as MP4s, the software tends to get quite complicated. Another aspect that hasn't convinced me is the Preview feature: to get a smooth preview, very powerful hardware is required, meaning a high-level processor, graphics card, and RAM. This is much more demanding compared to other programs, like DaVinci Resolve, where you can even use external hardware to speed up the work. The Preview system in After Effects is complex. Also, although I'm used to the layer system from my experience with Photoshop, I think that in very complex projects, organizing all these layers in the timeline can become extremely complicated. I believe the timeline needs a renovation, with more attractive options, as it has inherited its design from very old versions and hasn't had significant changes. Lastly, the plugin manager in After Effects is also problematic for me, as it often generates conflicts, especially on Windows. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

BM
Engagement Manager
Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)
"Simple and effective - Easily managed for large teams"
What do you like best about Adobe Creative Cloud?

The simplicity and familiarity of each Adobe Creative Cloud app—whether it’s Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, or InDesign—make it incredibly intuitive for users at all levels. Each tool feels instantly recognisable, with a user-friendly interface that mirrors the design standards professionals have come to trust. Yet, beneath that simplicity lies a powerful layer of flexibility: the ability to customise workflows, integrate across apps seamlessly, and adapt to a wide range of creative needs—from quick edits to complex, multi-platform campaigns. This balance of ease and depth empowers creators to focus on what matters most: bringing ideas to life with precision, speed, and creative freedom. Easily managed centrally to manage users and access. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Adobe Creative Cloud?

To run some of the Adobe Creative Cloud programmes effectively—especially resource-intensive apps like Premiere Pro, After Effects, or Photoshop—you’ll need a good laptop or PC with sufficient processing power, memory, and graphics capability. Depending on your subscription tier or software bundle, you may have access to different apps and cloud features, so it’s worth checking what’s included and ensuring your device meets the recommended system requirements. This helps ensure smooth performance and unlocks the full creative potential of the tools. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

SM
Owner, Marketer, Graphic Artist
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Easy Transition to Motion Design Thanks to Adobe's Consistent Interface"
What do you like best about Adobe After Effects?

I don't have a background in motion design, but have been. using Adobe products for a very long time. Because they keep the interfaces similar and different applications use the same or similar tools, it flattens the learning curve a bit and makes it a lot easier to use. Plus, because Adobe products are integrated so well, it is a lot easier to use the same art in multiple applications. And when I have questions, their online training and support is very good and answers are easy to find. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Adobe After Effects?

Even for someone with a lot of Adobe experience, the app isn't as intuitive as some motion graphics packages I use. It is, however, much more powerful, so it's not really a negative. It just has more to offer and, therefore, takes longer to learn. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

shosan .
S
"Powerful Animation Tools, Needs Performance Boost"
What do you like best about Adobe After Effects?

I like most about Adobe After Effects is its powerful plugin support and 3D integration. Plugins help me speed up my work and achieve advanced effects, letting me create smoother animations, faster workflows, and professional looks with less manual effort. The composition-based workflow is another standout, helping me organize complex projects efficiently. The 3D integration is great for working with cameras, lights, and 3D layers, which gives my animations depth and realism, allowing the combination of 2D motion graphics with 3D elements to create more cinematic and visually engaging results. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Adobe After Effects?

One thing that can be improved in After Effects is performance and optimization. It can be slow with heavy compositions, plugins, and 3D layers, especially on mid-range systems. Another improvement area is real-time playback, which often requires frequent previews and caching. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

CM
Integrated Marketing Product Specialist
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Incredible Potential Locked Behind a MASSIVE Learning Curve (& Paywall)"
What do you like best about Adobe After Effects?

The best of the best in motion graphics software. The integration features with programs like Photoshop or Premiere Pro expand the capabilities exponentially and make cross-application editing easier. The software couldn't be easier to implement on your device from Creative Cloud's native app where you just hit download. As long as you have the right specs. To see what people create from the simplest text with stock effects to full blown animations is staggering. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Adobe After Effects?

The program is like learning a foreign language. What is a null object? How do I work the cameras? What do "layers" mean? Where is the effects panel? How do I motion track? How do I do anything in the thousands of sub-menus? Unless you watch specific tutorials, take a class or just go in and start playing per thing you want to do - it's hard to recommend for simple things. Things you can now do in Premiere Pro twice as easy without owning or buying another program. I used to use AE multiple times a week and now only a couple times a year because it's become a little redundant unless you do motion/animation work daily. And of course being behind a subscription makes it all the worse. My hope is to see AE and Premiere Pro rolled into one. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

EZ
Marketing Specialist
Marketing and Advertising
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"An industry leader... for now"
What do you like best about Adobe After Effects?

The integration with other Adobe products is seamless, making it easy to work across different applications. The familiar layer and timeline-based composition also helps streamline the creative process. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Adobe After Effects?

This software is quickly being overtaken by more versatile node-based programs. Its color grading capabilities are lacking, and both performance and rendering leave much to be desired. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Rishabh S.
RS
UI/UX Designer
Internet
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Endless Creative Control, But Can Get Cluttered with Complex Projects"
What do you like best about Adobe After Effects?

I like the freedom in after effects , it has endless creative control. A designer can bring any creative idea into motion with After effects. It has plugin integration which helps in making the workflow faster. Some basic features in After effects are easy to use nowadays. I like the AI features and cloud storage in After effects as well. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Adobe After Effects?

When working on complex animations, I find that After Effects tends to become cluttered. There should be some custom made templates available so that design workflow should get faster, the pricing of the software is also high. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Carla L.
CL
Barf&Co
Computer Software
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Creating animations is powerful but takes patience"
What do you like best about Adobe After Effects?

I love the ability to create complex animations and effects that look professional. The layer-based system is powerful, and I can combine it with Photoshop and Illustrator to bring static designs to life. Expressions and keyframes let me create effects that would take much longer in other programs. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Adobe After Effects?

The program can be very heavy and slow on large projects. The learning curve is steep, especially for expressions or complex animations. Sometimes simple effects take longer than expected if you don’t know the shortcuts or best workflow. Crashes can happen if your system isn’t powerful enough. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Wail A.
WA
"VFX Powerhouse with Easy Learning Curve"
What do you like best about Adobe After Effects?

I have been using Adobe After Effects for 10 years, and what I love about it is how easy it is to delve into creating effects after watching tutorial videos. The interface is user-friendly, making setups straightforward. Compared to other software like VEGAS, After Effects excels with its impressive capability to manipulate speed using graphs and control over complex effects. It’s particularly effective for recreating and sharing presets, offering a depth of standard effects that are both more advanced and versatile for my projects. I also appreciate the ease of customizing and saving workspace configurations, which enhances my efficiency. It's immensely functional for creating visual effects, and its versatility in delivering powerful features makes it stand out as a robust and loaded tool for VFX, making it something I would definitely buy again. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Adobe After Effects?

I find the video conversion process in Adobe After Effects inconvenient because it exports in .avi format, which requires me to use additional software like Handbrake to convert to .mp4 for sharing. The ability to adjust bitrate directly within After Effects would be beneficial. Additionally, I would prefer having more stock effects included with the software instead of needing to download and install third-party plugins. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Pricing Insights

Averages based on real user reviews.

Time to Implement

3 months

Return on Investment

10 months

Average Discount

8%

Perceived Cost

$$$$$

How much does After Effects cost?

Data powered by BetterCloud.

Estimated Price

$$k - $$k

Per Year

Based on data from 6 purchases.

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Integrations
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Format Compatibility
Text Animation
Rotoscoping
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