Best Adobe After Effects CC Alternatives in 2025
Looking for alternatives to Adobe After Effects CC? In this comparison, we take a closer look at Adobe After Effects CC alongside similar software solutions including Adobe After Effects CC, OpenShot Video Editor, Wondershare Filmora, Adobe Photoshop CC, Adobe Photoshop CS5, Nero Video, Shotcut, Movavi Video Editor, Adobe Photoshop CS4, VSDC Free Video Editor and Adobe Illustrator.
Our detailed comparison table highlights key features, pricing, and performance of these leading solutions, empowering you to make an informed decision. Whether you're seeking robust functionality, user-friendly design, or cost-effective alternatives, explore how Adobe After Effects CC, OpenShot Video Editor, Wondershare Filmora, Adobe Photoshop CC, Adobe Photoshop CS5, Nero Video, Shotcut, Movavi Video Editor, Adobe Photoshop CS4, VSDC Free Video Editor and Adobe Illustrator stack up to find the perfect software for your goals.
Pricing Model
 Adobe After Effects CC
|
Monthly subscription fee |
 OpenShot Video Editor
|
Free and open-source |
 Wondershare Filmora
|
Free trial with watermark, paid version available |
 Adobe Photoshop CC
|
Monthly subscription fee |
 Adobe Photoshop CS5
|
Perpetual license purchase |
 Nero Video
|
Paid, relatively high price, free trial available |
 Shotcut
|
Free and open-source |
 Movavi Video Editor
|
Free 7-day trial version, paid license required |
 Adobe Photoshop CS4
|
Perpetual license purchase with free trial |
 VSDC Free Video Editor
|
Free version with no hidden fees |
 Adobe Illustrator
|
Monthly or annual subscription |
Platform Compatibility
|
Adobe After Effects CC
|
Windows and macOS (64-bit only) |
|
OpenShot Video Editor
|
Windows, Mac, Linux (64-bit OS required) |
|
Wondershare Filmora
|
Windows and Mac |
|
Adobe Photoshop CC
|
Windows and Mac (64-bit) |
|
Adobe Photoshop CS5
|
Windows and Mac |
|
Nero Video
|
Windows 7 SP1 and later (64-bit) |
|
Shotcut
|
Windows, macOS, Linux (cross-platform) |
|
Movavi Video Editor
|
Windows (Windows 7 or newer) and Mac |
|
Adobe Photoshop CS4
|
Windows and Mac (64-bit OS supported) |
|
VSDC Free Video Editor
|
Windows Vista/7/8/10 (32/64-bit) |
|
Adobe Illustrator
|
Windows and Mac |
Main Functionality Focus
|
Adobe After Effects CC
|
Advanced motion graphics and visual effects compositing software |
|
OpenShot Video Editor
|
Basic to intermediate video editing with multi-track timeline |
|
Wondershare Filmora
|
User-friendly video editing suitable for beginners to intermediate users |
|
Adobe Photoshop CC
|
Professional image editing and digital art creation |
|
Adobe Photoshop CS5
|
Advanced photo editing and image manipulation |
|
Nero Video
|
Advanced video editing emphasizing DVD/Blu-ray authoring and various effects |
|
Shotcut
|
Advanced cross-platform video editing with wide format support |
|
Movavi Video Editor
|
Casual to intermediate video editing with built-in effects and filters |
|
Adobe Photoshop CS4
|
Advanced photo editing and some video editing features |
|
VSDC Free Video Editor
|
Non-linear video editing with advanced features including motion tracking |
|
Adobe Illustrator
|
Professional vector graphics creation and illustration |
Choosing the right software isn’t just about features. Size, license type, user ratings, and popularity also matter.
This quick comparison shows how Adobe After Effects CC stacks up against Adobe After Effects CC, OpenShot Video Editor, Wondershare Filmora, Adobe Photoshop CC, Adobe Photoshop CS5, Nero Video, Shotcut, Movavi Video Editor, Adobe Photoshop CS4, VSDC Free Video Editor and Adobe Illustrator in these key areas—helping you find the best alternative for your needs.
Size
|
Adobe After Effects CC
|
|
|
OpenShot Video Editor
|
188.3MB |
|
Wondershare Filmora
|
1.2MB |
|
Adobe Photoshop CC
|
|
|
Adobe Photoshop CS5
|
|
|
Nero Video
|
|
|
Shotcut
|
98.5MB |
|
Movavi Video Editor
|
106.1MB |
|
Adobe Photoshop CS4
|
|
|
VSDC Free Video Editor
|
98.1MB |
|
Adobe Illustrator
|
3MB |
License
|
Adobe After Effects CC
|
Commercial |
|
OpenShot Video Editor
|
Open Source |
|
Wondershare Filmora
|
Commercial |
|
Adobe Photoshop CC
|
Commercial |
|
Adobe Photoshop CS5
|
Commercial |
|
Nero Video
|
Commercial |
|
Shotcut
|
Open Source |
|
Movavi Video Editor
|
Commercial |
|
Adobe Photoshop CS4
|
Commercial |
|
VSDC Free Video Editor
|
Freeware |
|
Adobe Illustrator
|
Commercial |