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AR/VR & Metaverse · head to head

A-Frame vs Adobe After Effects

A-Frame logo

A-Frame

AR/VR & Metaverse

Web framework for building VR experiences

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Adobe After Effects logo

Adobe After Effects

Film & TV

Visual effects and motion graphics software

From
$22.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only A-Frame has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: A-Frame requires WebXR-capable browser; not supported on older browsers or devices without WebXR implementation; Adobe After Effects the Internet Archive's capture of Adobe's After Effects page on 1 January 2022 priced the standalone app at US$20.99 per month, with the full Creative Cloud All Apps bundle at US$52.99 per month; current prices may differ.
  • They diverge on capability: A-Frame covers Declarative HTML, Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which A-Frame and Adobe After Effects actually diverge.

Attributes where A-Frame and Adobe After Effects differ
AttributeA-FrameAdobe After Effects
Starting priceFree$22.99/month
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb (via WebXR), VR headsets, AR-capable mobile devicesWindows, Macos
CategoryAR/VR & MetaverseFilm & TV
Founded20151990

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in A-Frame

  • Declarative HTML
  • Entity-component system
  • WebXR support
  • Cross-platform
  • Three.js
  • AR.js
  • Physics engines
  • Networking

Only in Adobe After Effects

  • Motion graphics
  • Visual effects
  • 2D and 3D compositing
  • Animation tools
  • Keying and rotoscoping
  • Color correction
  • Text animation
  • Particle systems

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

A-Frame

  • Virtual reality web experiencesnot Adobe After Effects
  • Augmented reality applicationsnot Adobe After Effects
  • 3D web visualisationsnot Adobe After Effects
  • Interactive 3D content for web browsersnot Adobe After Effects

Adobe After Effects

  • Motion graphics creationnot A-Frame
  • Visual effects compositingnot A-Frame
  • Title sequencesnot A-Frame
  • Commercial advertisingnot A-Frame
  • Social media contentnot A-Frame

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

A-Frame

  • Requires WebXR-capable browser; not supported on older browsers or devices without WebXR implementation

Adobe After Effects

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Adobe's After Effects page on 1 January 2022 priced the standalone app at US$20.99 per month, with the full Creative Cloud All Apps bundle at US$52.99 per month; current prices may differ.

Pricing, plan by plan

A-Frame

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the A-Frame review.

Adobe After Effects

$22.99/month
  • After Effects Single App$22.99/month
    • Motion graphics and VFX
    • 3D design space
    • Data-driven animation

Which should you pick?

Choose A-Frame if

  • You need declarative html.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web (via WebXR), VR headsets, AR-capable mobile devices.
  • You also want entity-component system.
A-Frame review

Choose Adobe After Effects if

  • You need motion graphics.
  • You work on Windows, Macos.
  • You also want visual effects.
Adobe After Effects review

Questions people ask

Is A-Frame or Adobe After Effects better?
Neither clearly leads. A-Frame starts at Free and Adobe After Effects at $22.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, A-Frame or Adobe After Effects?
A-Frame has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for A-Frame and $22.99/month for Adobe After Effects.
Does A-Frame or Adobe After Effects run on more platforms?
A-Frame runs on Web (via WebXR), VR headsets, AR-capable mobile devices. Adobe After Effects runs on Windows, Macos.
Can I use A-Frame for free?
Yes. A-Frame has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month.
What is A-Frame best used for?
A-Frame is most often used for virtual reality web experiences, augmented reality applications, 3d web visualisations, interactive 3d content for web browsers. Of those, virtual reality web experiences and augmented reality applications are not what Adobe After Effects is typically brought in for.
What can A-Frame do that Adobe After Effects cannot?
A-Frame covers Declarative HTML, Entity-component system, WebXR support, Cross-platform. Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Visual effects, 2D and 3D compositing, Animation tools.
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