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Film & TV · head to head

Adobe After Effects vs Inventor

Adobe After Effects logo

Adobe After Effects

Film & TV

Visual effects and motion graphics software

From
$22.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Inventor logo

Inventor

3D & CAD

Professional-grade 3D mechanical design

From
$29/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.; Inventor autodesk publishes no licence price through UK G-Cloud: every listing found there is reseller delivered training at 750 to 1,500 pounds per day rather than software licensing, and neither AWS Marketplace nor GSA carries the product
  • They diverge on capability: Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Inventor covers Parametric modeling.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Adobe After Effects and Inventor differ
AttributeAdobe After EffectsInventor
Starting price$22.99/month$29/month
PlatformsWindows, MacosWindows
CategoryFilm & TV3D & CAD
Founded19901982

Identical on both: 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 Inventor

  • Parametric modeling
  • Assembly design
  • Sheet metal
  • Simulation
  • Rendering
  • Technical documentation
  • Frame generator
  • AutoCAD

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Adobe After Effects

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

Inventor

  • Mechanical designnot Adobe After Effects
  • Product developmentnot Adobe After Effects
  • Manufacturing documentationnot 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.

Inventor

  • Autodesk publishes no licence price through UK G-Cloud: every listing found there is reseller delivered training at 750 to 1,500 pounds per day rather than software licensing, and neither AWS Marketplace nor GSA carries the product

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

Inventor

$29/month
  • Inventor$2085/month
    • Full mechanical design
    • Simulation
    • Documentation
  • Product Design & Manufacturing Collection$2475/month
    • Inventor + AutoCAD + more

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 Inventor if

  • You need parametric modeling.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want assembly design.
Inventor review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe After Effects or Inventor better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month and Inventor at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adobe After Effects or Inventor?
Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month and Inventor at $29/month.
Does Adobe After Effects or Inventor run on more platforms?
Adobe After Effects runs on Windows, Macos. Inventor runs on 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 Inventor is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe After Effects do that Inventor cannot?
Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Visual effects, 2D and 3D compositing, Animation tools. Inventor covers Parametric modeling, Assembly design, Sheet metal, Simulation. Both handle Windows support.
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