Best Adobe After Effects Alternatives in 2026
Updated
20 tools from animation software ranked against Adobe After Effects on the same published basis.
- 1Adobe After Effects vs Rive
- 2Adobe After Effects vs Houdini
- 3Adobe After Effects vs Live2D Cubism
- 4Adobe After Effects vs Cascadeur
- 5Adobe After Effects vs Animaker
- 6Adobe After Effects vs Blender
- 7Adobe After Effects vs Powtoon
- 8Adobe After Effects vs Rokoko Studio
- 9Adobe After Effects vs OpenToonz
- 10Adobe After Effects vs Spine
- 11Adobe After Effects vs Synfig Studio
- 12Adobe After Effects vs Pixelorama
- 13Adobe After Effects vs Pencil2D
- 14Adobe After Effects vs Bforartists
- 15Adobe After Effects vs Plask Motion
- 16Adobe After Effects vs iClone
- 17Adobe After Effects vs Toon Boom Harmony
- 18Adobe After Effects vs Notch
- 19Adobe After Effects vs Wick Editor
- 20Adobe After Effects vs Aseprite
Adobe After Effects alternatives compared
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rive | 9.1 | Free plan | $9/mo | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 2 | Houdini | 8.9 | Free plan | $7.92/mo | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 3 | Live2D Cubism | 8.9 | No | $5.65/mo | Android, iOS, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 4 | Cascadeur | 8.8 | Free plan | $19/mo | iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 5 | Animaker | 8.7 | Free plan | — | Android, API, iOS, Web |
| 6 | Blender | 8.6 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 7 | Powtoon | 8.5 | Free plan | $8/mo | Android, Browser, iOS, Web |
| 8 | Rokoko Studio | 8.5 | Free plan | $0.83/mo | Mac, Windows |
| 9 | OpenToonz | 8.3 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 10 | Spine | 8.3 | No | $70.83/mo | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 11 | Synfig Studio | 8.2 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 12 | Pixelorama | 8.2 | Free plan | Free | Android, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 13 | Pencil2D | 8.1 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 14 | Bforartists | 8.1 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 15 | Plask Motion | 8.1 | Free plan | $18/mo | Web |
| 16 | iClone | 8.0 | Free plan | Free | Windows |
| 17 | Toon Boom Harmony | 7.9 | No | $6.75/mo | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 18 | Notch | 7.9 | No | $21/mo | Mac, Windows |
| 19 | Wick Editor | 7.9 | Free plan | Free | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 20 | Aseprite | 7.8 | No | $19.99/mo | Linux, Mac, Windows |
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Questions about Adobe After Effects alternatives
What is the best alternative to Adobe After Effects?
Rive, number 1 in animation software with a score of 9.1 out of 10. The others here: Houdini, Live2D Cubism, Cascadeur and 16 more.
What is the best free alternative to Adobe After Effects?
Rive is the best-ranked alternative with a free plan. 15 of the 20 alternatives here publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Is there an open-source alternative to Adobe After Effects?
Yes: Blender.
How are these alternatives ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.