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Film & TV · head to head

Adobe After Effects vs Mudbox

Adobe After Effects logo

Adobe After Effects

Film & TV

Visual effects and motion graphics software

From
$22.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Mudbox logo

Mudbox

3D & CAD

Digital painting and sculpting software

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.; Mudbox a Mudbox subscription license may be installed on up to 3 computers (Internet Archive capture, 12 November 2023)
  • They diverge on capability: Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Mudbox covers Digital sculpting.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Adobe After Effects and Mudbox differ
AttributeAdobe After EffectsMudbox
Starting price$22.99/month$29/month
PlatformsWindows, MacosWindows, MacOS, Linux
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 Mudbox

  • Digital sculpting
  • Texture painting
  • Retopology
  • PTEX support
  • Layer system
  • Stencils
  • Stamps
  • GPU tessellation

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 Mudbox
  • Visual effects compositingnot Mudbox
  • Title sequencesnot Mudbox
  • Commercial advertisingnot Mudbox
  • Social media contentnot Mudbox

Mudbox

  • Character sculptingnot Adobe After Effects
  • Texture creationnot Adobe After Effects
  • Asset detailingnot 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.

Mudbox

  • A Mudbox subscription license may be installed on up to 3 computers (Internet Archive capture, 12 November 2023)
  • Sold as monthly, annual or 3-year subscription terms with no perpetual license option offered on the pricing page (Internet Archive capture, 12 November 2023)

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

Mudbox

$29/month
  • Mudbox$85/month
    • Full sculpting
    • Texture painting
  • M&E Collection$2390/month
    • Mudbox + Maya + 3ds Max + 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 Mudbox if

  • You need digital sculpting.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want texture painting.
Mudbox review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe After Effects or Mudbox better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month and Mudbox 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 Mudbox?
Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month and Mudbox at $29/month.
Does Adobe After Effects or Mudbox run on more platforms?
Adobe After Effects runs on Windows, Macos. Mudbox runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
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 Mudbox is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe After Effects do that Mudbox cannot?
Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Visual effects, 2D and 3D compositing, Animation tools. Mudbox covers Digital sculpting, Texture painting, Retopology, PTEX support. Both handle Windows support.
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