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Entertainment · head to head

Adobe After Effects vs Adobe XD

Adobe After Effects logo

Adobe After Effects

Entertainment

Visual effects and motion graphics software

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

Adobe XD

Design

Design, prototype, and share user experiences

From
$54.99/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 XD standalone subscription eliminated - now requires expensive Creative Cloud All Apps plan
  • They diverge on capability: Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Adobe XD covers Vector design tools.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Adobe After Effects and Adobe XD differ
AttributeAdobe After EffectsAdobe XD
Starting price$22.99/month$54.99/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWindows, MacosWeb, macOS, Windows
CategoryEntertainmentDesign
Founded19902015

Identical on both: 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 XD

  • Vector design tools
  • Responsive resize
  • Auto-animate
  • Voice prototyping
  • 3D transforms
  • Design systems
  • Component states
  • Coediting

What people use each for

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

Adobe After Effects

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

Adobe XD

  • Web designnot Adobe After Effects
  • Mobile app designnot Adobe After Effects
  • Design systemsnot Adobe After Effects
  • Interactive prototypesnot Adobe After Effects
  • User testingnot 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 XD

  • Standalone subscription eliminated - now requires expensive Creative Cloud All Apps plan
  • Mac-first design tool with more limited Windows support
  • Collaboration features are less mature compared to Figma
  • Not open source unlike alternatives like Penpot
  • Higher price point than competing standalone design tools

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 XD

$54.99/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Adobe XD review.

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 XD if

  • You need vector design tools.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want responsive resize.
Adobe XD review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe After Effects or Adobe XD better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month and Adobe XD at $54.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adobe After Effects or Adobe XD?
Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month and Adobe XD at $54.99/month.
Does Adobe After Effects or Adobe XD run on more platforms?
Adobe After Effects runs on Windows, Macos. Adobe XD runs on Web, macOS, Windows.
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 XD is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe After Effects do that Adobe XD cannot?
Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Visual effects, 2D and 3D compositing, Animation tools. Adobe XD covers Vector design tools, Responsive resize, Auto-animate, Voice prototyping.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Adobe XD: Can I use Adobe XD without a full Creative Cloud subscription?

No. Adobe XD is no longer available as a standalone subscription. It is only available as part of Creative Cloud All Apps plan priced from $54.99 to $69.99 per month.

Source
Adobe XD: What file formats does Adobe XD support?

Adobe XD supports XD format natively, with import/export capabilities for other design formats and vector graphics.

Source
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