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Entertainment · head to head

Adobe After Effects vs Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe After Effects logo

Adobe After Effects

Entertainment

Visual effects and motion graphics software

From
$22.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Adobe Premiere Pro logo

Adobe Premiere Pro

Entertainment

Professional video editing 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 Premiere Pro very demanding system requirements, needing 32GB RAM and dedicated GPU for 4K work
  • They diverge on capability: Adobe After Effects covers Visual effects, Adobe Premiere Pro covers Timeline-based editing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro differ
AttributeAdobe After EffectsAdobe Premiere Pro
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Founded19901982

Identical on both: starting price ($22.99/month), free tier (No), platforms (Windows, Macos), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Entertainment).

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

  • Visual effects
  • 2D and 3D compositing
  • Animation tools
  • Keying and rotoscoping
  • Text animation
  • Particle systems
  • Adobe Premiere Pro
  • Adobe Illustrator

Only in Adobe Premiere Pro

  • Timeline-based editing
  • 4K and 8K video support
  • Audio editing
  • Multi-cam editing
  • VR video editing
  • Auto reframe
  • Adobe After Effects
  • Adobe Audition

Both cover

  • Motion graphics
  • Color correction
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Creative Cloud sync
  • Version history
  • Local deployment
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

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

Adobe After Effects

  • Motion graphics creationnot Adobe Premiere Pro
  • Visual effects compositingnot Adobe Premiere Pro
  • Title sequencesnot Adobe Premiere Pro
  • Commercial advertisingnot Adobe Premiere Pro
  • Social media content

Adobe Premiere Pro

  • Professional video editingnot Adobe After Effects
  • Social media content
  • Marketing videosnot Adobe After Effects
  • Documentary productionnot Adobe After Effects
  • Commercial productionnot Adobe After Effects

Both are used for social media content, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

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 Premiere Pro

  • Very demanding system requirements, needing 32GB RAM and dedicated GPU for 4K work
  • Complex interface with many advanced features that require training and expertise to use effectively
  • No live streaming or screen recording capabilities built-in
  • Limited built-in free effects, most advanced effects require purchase
  • Stability issues and occasional crashes, especially on larger projects

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 Premiere Pro

$22.99/month
  • Premiere Pro Individual$22.99/month
    • Premiere Pro only
    • Cloud storage
    • Mobile apps
  • Creative Cloud All Apps$59.99/month
    • All Adobe apps
    • Cloud storage
    • Fonts and assets
  • Creative Cloud Student$19.99/month
    • All Adobe apps
    • Student discount
  • Team Premiere Pro$37.99/user/month
    • Collaboration tools
    • Team libraries

Which should you pick?

Choose Adobe After Effects if

  • You need visual effects.
  • You work on Windows, Macos.
  • You also want 2d and 3d compositing.
Adobe After Effects review

Choose Adobe Premiere Pro if

  • You need timeline-based editing.
  • You work on Windows, macOS.
  • You also want 4k and 8k video support.
Adobe Premiere Pro review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe After Effects or Adobe Premiere Pro better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month and Adobe Premiere Pro 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 Premiere Pro?
Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month and Adobe Premiere Pro at $22.99/month.
Does Adobe After Effects or Adobe Premiere Pro run on more platforms?
Adobe After Effects runs on Windows, Macos. Adobe Premiere Pro runs on Windows, macOS.
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 Premiere Pro is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe After Effects do that Adobe Premiere Pro cannot?
Adobe After Effects covers Visual effects, 2D and 3D compositing, Animation tools, Keying and rotoscoping. Adobe Premiere Pro covers Timeline-based editing, 4K and 8K video support, Audio editing, Multi-cam editing. Both handle Motion graphics, Color correction, Adobe Photoshop, Creative Cloud sync.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Adobe Premiere Pro: How much does Adobe Premiere Pro cost?

Adobe Premiere Pro costs $22.99/month for individuals. Creative Cloud All Apps is $59.99/month. Students/teachers get all apps for $19.99/month. Team licenses start at $37.99/license/month for Premiere Pro or $89.99/month for all apps.

Source
Adobe Premiere Pro: Is there a free trial for Premiere Pro?

Yes, Adobe offers a 7-day free trial, but it requires a credit card. Full desktop access is provided during the trial period.

Source
Adobe Premiere Pro: What are the system requirements for Premiere Pro?

Adobe recommends 32GB RAM and a dedicated GPU with at least 4GB VRAM for stable 4K editing. Premiere Pro is resource-intensive, requiring a powerful system for high-resolution formats.

Source
Adobe Premiere Pro: Does Premiere Pro support all video formats?

No, Premiere Pro has significant file format compatibility limitations. It notably does not support HDR video from iPhones and has restrictions on acceptable formats, which can be frustrating for some workflows.

Source
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