After Effects vs Filmora: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for After Effects and Filmora side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, After Effects leads on higher user rating; Filmora leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
After Effects
Motion graphics and visual effects
Best for you if:
- • You want industry standard
Filmora
Edit video like a pro with AI-powered tools and creative assets.
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
| At a Glance | After Effects | Filmora |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $22.99/mo, billed monthly After Effects plan | Free plan, paid from $49.99/year Annual plan |
Category | Video Editing Animation | Video Editing AI Video Generation |
Rating | 4.6/5 G2 4.6 1,093 reviews | 4.0/5 Capterra 4.5 · G2 4.4 · SourceForge 2.1 1,362 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Perpetual license does NOT include major version upgrades, Filmora 15 → 16 is a new purchase. |
Choose After Effects or Filmora?
Choose After Effects if
- You want industry standard
- You want powerful features
Choose Filmora if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want easy video editing
- You want good for beginners
In-Depth Analysis
After Effects
Motion graphics and visual effects
Adobe's After Effects pricing is fair for individual users at $22.99/month (annual), offering essential features.
Strengths
- Pro: Industry standard
- Pro: Powerful features
- Pro: Huge plugin ecosystem
Weaknesses
- Con: Steep learning curve
- Con: Subscription cost
- Con: Resource intensive
Key features
Filmora
Edit video like a pro with AI-powered tools and creative assets.
Filmora is the oddball on this list, it's not an AI video generator, it's a full video editor with generative AI features bolted on.
Watch out
Perpetual license does NOT include major version upgrades, Filmora 15 → 16 is a new purchase.
Strengths
- Pro: Easy video editing
- Pro: Good for beginners
- Pro: Many effects
- Pro: Fair pricing
- Pro: Templates
Weaknesses
- Con: Watermark on free
- Con: Pro features expensive
- Con: Effects can be cheesy
- Con: Performance varies
- Con: Not for professionals
Key features
Plans and prices: After Effects vs Filmora
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| After Effects |
| adobe.com/products/aftereffects.html read Oct 31, 2026 |
| Filmora |
| filmora.wondershare.com read Sep 29, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on After Effects pricing and Filmora pricing.
Key Takeaways
After Effects
- Higher user rating: 4.6/5 vs 4.0/5
Filmora
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, After Effects leads on higher user rating; Filmora leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- After Effects has the higher user rating (4.6/5 from 1,093 reviews for After Effects, 4.0/5 from 1,362 reviews for Filmora).
- Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: After Effects $22.99/mo, billed monthly; Filmora $49.99/year.
- Only Filmora has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do After Effects and Filmora compare in 2026?
On the data below, After Effects leads on higher user rating; Filmora leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. After Effects has the higher user rating (4.6/5 from 1,093 reviews for After Effects, 4.0/5 from 1,362 reviews for Filmora). Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: After Effects $22.99/mo, billed monthly; Filmora $49.99/year. Only Filmora has a free plan.
What are After Effects and Filmora used for?
After Effects: Motion graphics and visual effects. Filmora: Edit video like a pro with AI-powered tools and creative assets.
What does After Effects cost vs Filmora?
After Effects's cheapest paid plan is After Effects at $22.99/mo, billed monthly. Filmora's cheapest paid plan is Annual at $49.99/year; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 31, 2026.
What's the main difference between After Effects and Filmora?
After Effects's main strength: industry standard. Filmora's main strength: easy video editing.