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Entertainment · head to head

Adobe After Effects vs Adobe Illustrator

Adobe After Effects logo

Adobe After Effects

Entertainment

Visual effects and motion graphics software

From
$22.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Adobe Illustrator logo

Adobe Illustrator

Design

Professional vector graphics software

From
$22.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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.; Adobe Illustrator listed on UK G-Cloud as part of Adobe Creative Cloud (which bundles Illustrator) at £58 to £80 per licence per month, via reseller ServiceKey
  • They diverge on capability: Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Adobe Illustrator covers Vector drawing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Adobe After Effects and Adobe Illustrator actually diverge.

Attributes where Adobe After Effects and Adobe Illustrator differ
AttributeAdobe After EffectsAdobe Illustrator
PlatformsWindows, MacosWindows, Macos, Ios
CategoryEntertainmentDesign
Founded19901982

Identical on both: starting price ($22.99/month), pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 Adobe After Effects

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

Only in Adobe Illustrator

  • Vector drawing
  • Bezier tools
  • Shape tools
  • Typography
  • Gradients & effects
  • Symbols & instances
  • Artboards
  • 3D capabilities

What people use each for

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

Adobe After Effects

  • Motion graphics creationnot Adobe Illustrator
  • Visual effects compositingnot Adobe Illustrator
  • Title sequencesnot Adobe Illustrator
  • Commercial advertisingnot Adobe Illustrator
  • Social media contentnot Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator

  • Logo designnot Adobe After Effects
  • Vector illustrationnot Adobe After Effects
  • Icon designnot Adobe After Effects
  • Print designnot Adobe After Effects

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Adobe Illustrator

  • Listed on UK G-Cloud as part of Adobe Creative Cloud (which bundles Illustrator) at £58 to £80 per licence per month, via reseller ServiceKey

Pricing, plan by plan

Adobe After Effects

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

Adobe Illustrator

$22.99/month
  • Single App$22.99/month
    • Illustrator desktop app
    • 100GB cloud storage
    • Adobe Fonts
  • All Apps$59.99/month
    • All Creative Cloud apps
    • 100GB cloud storage
    • Adobe Stock trial

Which should you pick?

Choose Adobe After Effects if

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

Choose Adobe Illustrator if

  • You need vector drawing.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Ios.
  • You also want bezier tools.
Adobe Illustrator review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe After Effects or Adobe Illustrator better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month and Adobe Illustrator at $22.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adobe After Effects or Adobe Illustrator?
Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month and Adobe Illustrator at $22.99/month.
Does Adobe After Effects or Adobe Illustrator run on more platforms?
Adobe After Effects runs on Windows, Macos. Adobe Illustrator runs on Windows, Macos, Ios.
What is Adobe After Effects best used for?
Adobe After Effects is most often used for motion graphics creation, visual effects compositing, title sequences, commercial advertising. Of those, motion graphics creation and visual effects compositing are not what Adobe Illustrator is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe After Effects do that Adobe Illustrator cannot?
Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Visual effects, 2D and 3D compositing, Animation tools. Adobe Illustrator covers Vector drawing, Bezier tools, Shape tools, Typography.
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