# Page 2 | Adobe After Effects Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra > Page 2 - Is Adobe After Effects the right Animation solution for you? Explore 445 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/233259/Adobe-After-Effects/reviews --- Adobe After Effects 4.7 (445) [View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/233259/Adobe-After-Effects/alternatives/) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated March 13th, 2026 # Page 2 - Reviews of Adobe After Effects ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 26-50 of 445 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use Inès I. Internal Communication Manager Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Vos effets spéciaux pour pimper vos vidéos" January 24, 2026 4.0 Pros Un outil immanquable sur la suite adobe lorsqu'on fait du montage vidéo ! After effect comme indique son nom permet de réaliser des effets spéciaux qui peuvent après être intégré à Premier pro. Ce que j'adore c'est qu'on peut importer nos illustrations illustrator et les animer après sur after effect par exemple son logo ou une icon ! C'est la solution qui peut permettre de rendre votre vidéo plus dynamique et apporter une touche de fun ! Si vous avez également accès à adobe stock, vous pourrez y trouver plein de templates que vous pouvez personnaliser à vos couleurs ! Cons Attention ce n'est pas un outil facile d'utilisation. Il est nécessaire de se former à minima en regardant des tutos et des vidéos Review Source CT Chris T. Senior Creative Design Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Top Quality Motion Graphics and Animation software" February 28, 2025 5.0 After Effects takes time to learn, but it is worth putting in the hours. You are always learning new things and they are always trying to improve the workflow. Its is the go to programme for animation and motion graphics. Pros I use After Effects on a daily basis for animation and motion graphics. It has everything a creative needs to make professional animations and videos for social media or TV. The possibilities are endless and the amount of adds-on and plugins are very vast and enable you create stunning VFX and motion graphics. Cons The updates to After Effects can mean that you need to have a fast machine to be able to preview some complex clips. They keep making it better however you need to have a good machine to be able to keep up. Review Source CF Cyle F. Motion Designer Media Production Used the software for: 2+ years ### "There really isn't anything else like it in the motion graphics space" July 25, 2025 5.0 Overall, I've had a reasonably positive experience with After Effects. If you spend enough time learning the software, you can create all kinds of dynamic visuals. There are some basic quality-of-life features that they still have yet to implement, though. Pros It's the most fully featured motion graphics program available at this time. There are tons of plugins and scripts available that expand the base program's capabilities even further and allow you to customize and optimize your workflow. Cons Having to pay for an ongoing Adobe Creative Cloud subscription is a major downside to all Adobe apps. It's way too expensive, and they make it difficult to cancel your subscription. If there were a comparable alternative, I'd absolutely switch. Review Source EJ Emily J. Operations Manager and Designer Consumer Services Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Great for heavy editing " December 13, 2025 4.0 It’s a great tool when you need highly edited elements in your videos. If you just want light level editing this isn’t the best. Pros Great tool for adding effects and text to edited videos. We primarily used to add motion graphic text to videos and worked great. Cons There is a large learning curve like any Adobe product, and it did take some time to learn how to use. The way the subscription works is also frustrating. Review Source JM Jon M. Motion Designer Design Used the software for: 2+ years ### "All in one animation software" March 31, 2025 5.0 Pros After Effects allows creation of pretty and attractive animations. For this price, that’s normal, it provides many plugins that simplify the process Cons The learning curve is long, it takes a while to learn how to extremely use it Review Source JAC John Angelo C. Video Editing Marketing and Advertising Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Why did I avoid this for so long?!" February 2, 2025 5.0 Adobe After Effects is a game-changer, I've been using Adobe Premiere Pro for 11 years and not touching Adobe After Effects because it looks hard but I decided to try and it's not that hard when you have knowledge in editing. Been using this for 2 years now and counting. Pros This software makes every editing idea, possible. Cons Need a powerful pc, my old pc can't keep up so I decided to get a new one. Review Source KW Keely W. Photographer Media Production Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "After Effects sets in motion" April 16, 2025 5.0 Pros I have used it sometimes in a simple way. It's complete for animations. While I use it, it gives me better results than products like Canva Cons It's not for beginners and requires some time to learn it. I spent months to understand the basic concepts and until now I cannot claim to be a pro Review Source JT James T. Art Director Health, Wellness and Fitness Used the software for: 2+ years ### "After Effects is the key to great motion video. " October 28, 2024 5.0 Fantastic! After Effects has become the core of any audio video presentation! Pros The versatility. I like how easy it is to import footage and begin adding effects immediately Cons I wish there was greater alignment between After Effects and other Adobe products. Review Source JB Jatin B. Fashion Consultant Retail Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Overview about AE" February 4, 2026 4.0 For now on I'm gonna say it's very helpful for me and the use of AI it's excellent it's taking on the next level Pros Now they are adding there AI automation in the after Effects are very Affective and very easy to learn Cons It's now lagging more than ever since i was using it's take so much time to load the system and animations Review Source RN Rumbani N. Creative Director Media Production Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "The Focused Swiss Army Knife of Video Work" January 22, 2025 5.0 AE has been a great tool in my Arsenal. VFX, Video Editing and grading in one app is still a tough combo o beat. Plus the templates available make it easier to use when in a bind. Pros The VFX capabilities of After Effects have been a game changer. Being able to edit video and apply color grades and do vfx work has set it apart from most of the competition. Cons AE eats up many machines for lunch when files get bulky. Review Source AG Andrew G. CEO Entertainment Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Extremely Powerful But Poor Performance Stiffles Creativity" October 16, 2024 4.0 Overall, despite the horrific performance, it's my go to for video editing as there simply isn't a better tool. Pros The pros are numerous. It might be the most powerful video editing tool available. There are many add-ons and mods available to simplify daily routine tasks and take animations to the next level. The user interface could use some work, but overall it's not that complicated once you get used to it. Cons The biggest problem is pre-renders in the timeline. One tiny adjustment and the entire timeline has to re-render and each time long form content has to re-render can take as long as an hour. Imagine waiting an hour for every edit to pre-render so you can see the result. Yeah, that makes After Effects almost unusable. It's so bad that I have to structure how I film and often break up renders into multiple projects otherwise I would never get anything done. Alternatives considered [Wwise](https://www.capterra.com/p/234948/Wwise/)[Ci Media Cloud](https://www.capterra.com/p/10002102/Ci-Media-Cloud/) Reason for choosing Adobe After Effects I have been using Adobe products since 1991. Review Source CM Carl M. Director of Visuals Media Photography Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Take your visuals to the next level" February 18, 2025 4.0 Overall I will be using After Effects in my business because of the professionalism and exclusiveness the software recommending this app Pros I love the creative things you can create, and the plugins that make it extremely easy to do. I also love the quality of the image you get from the software. Cons The software is not the easiest to use. There are a lot of different features and there is no way of learning all of them, unless you do outside research. Review Source Leah G. Auto Detailer Automotive Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "This is amazing… with patience. " September 25, 2024 5.0 Pros I LOVE the possibilities. Pretty much anything you imagine can be brought to live in living color. Cons Ease of use. I understand that this is a technical program with a serious learning curve but I do feel like some features could be a little easier to execute. Switched from [Final Cut Pro](https://www.capterra.com/p/233399/Final-Cut-Pro/) The animations you can make on after effects are not possible on FCPro Review Source DV Devon V. Training Manager Consumer Goods Used the software for: 2+ years ### "A great tool" September 12, 2024 4.0 I've used this for intro video creations and adding small effects to videos. Pros It's a nice tool to add smaller effects into videos and also create unique and interesting designs, font, and animated text or titles. Cons I don't have anything particularly least to like. Review Source AW Alexander W. Senior staff engineer International Trade and Development Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Effets Visuels de Premier Ordre" September 17, 2024 5.0 Pros After Effects est mon outil de prédilection pour créer des graphismes animés et des effets visuels époustouflants. La gamme d'outils et la flexibilité sont incomparables pour n'importe quel projet de design. Cons Il est très gourmand en ressources, et le rendu peut être lent si vous n'avez pas une machine puissante. Review Source NO Nicolas O. Designer Computer Software Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Unleashing Creativity" April 15, 2024 5.0 Pros After Effects boasts an incredible range of tools for motion graphics, visual effects, and compositing. It allows me to create anything I can imagine, from subtle animations to mind-blowing VFX. The vast library of third-party plugins extends After Effects' capabilities even further. I can find tools for specific tasks or unique effects, making my workflow more efficient and creative. Cons After Effects has a complex interface and a wealth of features. It can be overwhelming for beginners. However, there are plenty of tutorials and resources available to help you climb the learning curve. While powerful, After Effects can be demanding on your computer's resources. Complex projects might require a powerful machine for smooth editing and rendering. Review Source JB Joel B. Art Director Design Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Adobe After Effects is a must have for any serious filmmaker." July 1, 2024 5.0 Ae has been a blast to work with! It is so inspirational in that I can always create more and more sophisticated works. It allows me to evolve my work and I can grow as a visual artist. It is exciting to see what else I may create! I love this program! It makes you feel that there are limitless possibilities! Pros I love the level of detail with which you can manipulate each layer. Color is so critical in my film work and I need intense saturated color as well as subtle delicate realness, both of which are easy to achieve with the After Effects programing. It allows me to achieve an exquisite level of conformity between all scenes when I need them to relate and yet I can created dynamic contrasts when I need to illustrate a counter point. Ae really compliments my desired level of sophistication as a visual storyteller. Cons I tend to max out the programs memory capabilities even though my iMac has 25GB of memory available. I wish After Effects had more dedicated memory and could handle more computational abilities, so I didn't have to constantly save and or restart my mac to maintain workflow. Switched from [iMovie](https://www.capterra.com/p/207187/iMovie/) I wanted more flexibility and greater creative options along with more powerful computing and rendering. Review Source Tchameni C. Creative Motion Graphic Designer And WordPress Web Designer Design Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Versatile and powerful software for motion graphic animation" October 14, 2023 5.0 It helps me with motion animation both for business and fun. It's a great tool to use Pros I sued After Effects for creating visual effects, motion graphics, and animation.- It enables me to create advanced motion graphics and animations using keyframes, expressions, and effects. It provides a powerful timeline-based interface for precise control over animation timing and movement.- 3D integration which enables me to import and easily manipulate 3D models, and apply lighting and camera effects to create more realistic 3D environments. - Visual effects and compositing that allow me to easily combine multiple elements such as 3D renders, raw footage, and visual effects seamlessly. Precise visual effects integration like chroma-keying, and motion tracking make the process even more enthusiastic.- It also supports a wide range of extensive effects and plugins which provide extra flexibility and allow me to enhance my projects with particle animations, special effects, color grading, and more.- It seamlessly integrates with other Adobe products like Premier Pro, Photoshop, and Illustrator when I need to create GIFs or any other form of vector animation. With After Effects, I can potentially animate anything. Cons \-After Effects can be hard to learn as there are advanced concepts to explore.- It requires devices with high memory to function properly Review Source Carlos T. Designer Graphic Design Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "The After Effects of using Adobe After Effects " December 3, 2023 4.0 I lose time and forget my troubles when i use after effects. It draws you in and allows you to bring your imagination to life. I love it. Pros The ease of use stands out. Ifcourse there is a learning curve if youre new to the software, but thats to be expected. They have thousands of hours of instruction online from various instructors. Cons I honestly have nothing bad to say. At first, its a bit scary, but once you lern it..... youre golden ..... and addicted. Review Source Samuel I. Founder and CEO Internet Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Adobe Effects Industry Standard Video Editing Tool." June 14, 2024 5.0 Adobe After Effects is the right software for all video editing needs. It gives us all the tools we need for creating industry standard videos for clients and promotional purpose. Pros Value for money. You can employ professionals for Gigs. Used for multiple editing purpose, animation. You can create effects or purchase effects online. Can extract and export audio. Cons Might consume RAM on your PC depending on your PC Specification. Not easy to use as Adobe Premiere Pro. Videos exported are large in size and needs to be compressed by other softwares. Alternatives considered [Filmora](https://www.capterra.com/p/186540/Filmora/)[Adobe Premiere Pro](https://www.capterra.com/p/233456/Adobe-Premiere-Pro/)[Adobe Illustrator](https://www.capterra.com/p/227125/Adobe-Illustrator/) Reason for choosing Adobe After Effects Videos can be edited without limits. You can create effects and sell. Review Source NR Nordin R. Graphic designer Design Used the software for: 2+ years ### "After Effects for graphic designers" October 7, 2022 4.0 I love the product and I won't change it but it only needs a little bit of adjustments and improvements to help us designers craft more contemporary designs & works. Pros What i love about the software is the huge library of tools & effects that allows you to craft beautiful work that gets lot of engagements since we as designers we get hired for building connection between brands & people so this software helps us a lot to communicate a brand's purpose & concept in motion. Cons What i do not like about the software is that it's kind of limited & hard to use at the same time . You'll literally struggle a little bit at your first year of using the product but after that you'll find your self in it. Also it needs a good computer to run without crashes. Its a multidiscipline software thats why it uses a lot of CPU. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Interactive Experiences Architect Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "The best creative visual compositing tool" October 7, 2022 5.0 Motion graphics for many kinds of products and services. We create animations that go into videos, games and we also use it to post-process 3D animations. Pros The kind of integration that it has with many formats and standards make this a swiss-knife tool for motion graphics. It is an indispensable software for any animation studio. Cons I still do not find a feature that I don't like. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Graphic designer E-Learning Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Easy to use and useful software and value of the money " August 10, 2022 5.0 I wil use every day. I love it. Pros It is very easy to edit the videos and create animations, easily removable of green screen, move over we can easily create 3d text. Cons Some plug-in are missing in it. If some are available. It will be very good. Review Source Roldan A. Senior Graphic Desinger Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Best Compositing, Video Editing and Effects Software so far. Except..." November 16, 2022 5.0 Superb! I Have lots of profitable and memorable projects done with Adobe After Effects. If there is one software you need who can do Effects and Video Editing, After Effects is one whole package to root from. Highly recommended software for enthusiasts and aspirants. Pros \- Major major pros for after effects is I guess it is one of a kind compositing software in the world that can act as effects composer and video editor as well. - Just think of it, it can do it - from MoGraph, to fairy dust effects, to 3D and 2D Animations.- It allegiance with Cimema 4D is one of my most coveted feature here. You won't be banging your head on the wall for simple to complex 3D effects, right there you have it.- Media support support and compatibility specially with Illustrator and Photoshop - seamless! Cons \- Customer support. This software needs to be an American Company again. Customer support are just terrible. They lack product knowledge, lack empathy and they lack the right customer communication.- Steep learning curve. Which is understandable. Beautifully composed effects comes with a price to pay - learning-wise. So pay it!- Expensive. I don't agree with there subscription basis. They should bring back perpetual ownership of the software. Alternatives considered [Camtasia](https://www.capterra.com/p/203013/Camtasia/)[PowerDirector](https://www.capterra.com/p/188496/PowerDirector/) Reason for choosing Adobe After Effects I need to be a pro video editor, so I made a switch After Effects. Some others like Camtasia and PowerDirector are simplistic and obviously for simple projects. Switched from [Camtasia](https://www.capterra.com/p/203013/Camtasia/)[PowerDirector](https://www.capterra.com/p/188496/PowerDirector/) Most video editing out there are good - but After Effects is best - only and only if you are willing to pay the price both the mental labor of learning it as well the as cost of the product. Review Source Joelle L. Senior 2D Animator Animation Used the software for: 2+ years ### "I Tried After Effects..." November 14, 2022 4.0 I used Adobe After Effects (specifically CS5) while in college, because a lot of our classes revolved around the adobe creative suite. Unfortunately, it was pushed on us for animation projects, with minimal training, which has somewhat ruined my view on it. And I don't mean touching up animation projects, I mean animation projects from scratch, start to finish. I ended up cheating and using Harmony to an extent, because After Effects CS5 was not the best for traditional animation methods, and I didn't know enough about its effects and animation features to work based solely on that.That being said, After Effects is often still used for game animation, and certainly has some merit if used for it's intended purpose. Pros Not much really, but I never did the things that After Effects was actually good at. It was pushed on us for animation-related projects in college with minimal training, and it wasn't the best program for animation in my opinion.I remember that it had some pretty cool script-related features and effects, but I unfortunately never got to use those myself. Cons I remember the audio being pretty clunky compared to something like Premiere Pro, and it was not good for the needs of the project. Review Source Similar Products Featured ## Related categories [Animation](https://www.capterra.com/animation-software/)[Video Editing](https://www.capterra.com/video-editing-software/)