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Film & TV · head to head

Adobe After Effects vs Canva

Adobe After Effects logo

Adobe After Effects

Film & TV

Visual effects and motion graphics software

From
$22.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Canva logo

Canva

All industries

Design anything. Publish anywhere.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Canva has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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.; Canva requires active internet connection, no offline editing capability
  • They diverge on capability: Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Canva covers Drag-and-drop editor.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Adobe After Effects and Canva differ
AttributeAdobe After EffectsCanva
Starting price$22.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, MacosWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryFilm & TVAll industries
Founded19902013

Identical on both: 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 Canva

  • Drag-and-drop editor
  • Templates library
  • Stock photos & elements
  • Text effects
  • Animation
  • Collaboration
  • Brand kit
  • Resize tool

What people use each for

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

Adobe After Effects

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

Canva

  • Social media graphicsnot Adobe After Effects
  • Presentationsnot Adobe After Effects
  • Marketing materialsnot Adobe After Effects
  • Documentsnot Adobe After Effects
  • Video editingnot 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.

Canva

  • Requires active internet connection, no offline editing capability
  • No vector pen tool or advanced vector editing features
  • No CMYK color management or print-ready bleed controls
  • Cannot export to PSD (Photoshop) or AI (Illustrator) formats
  • Large user base means many templates see repeated use, reducing design uniqueness

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

Canva

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1.6M+ templates
    • 5GB storage
    • 50 AI credits/month
  • Pro$18/month
    • 141M+ premium assets
    • Magic Studio
    • 500 AI credits/month
  • Business$25/user-month
    • Unlimited brand kits
    • Team collaboration

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 Canva if

  • You need drag-and-drop editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want templates library.
Canva review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe After Effects or Canva better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month and Canva at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adobe After Effects or Canva?
Canva has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $22.99/month for Adobe After Effects and Free for Canva.
Does Adobe After Effects or Canva run on more platforms?
Adobe After Effects runs on Windows, Macos. Canva runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Canva for free?
Yes. Canva has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month.
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 Canva is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe After Effects do that Canva cannot?
Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Visual effects, 2D and 3D compositing, Animation tools. Canva covers Drag-and-drop editor, Templates library, Stock photos & elements, Text effects.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Canva: Is Canva really free?

Yes. The free plan is permanent with no trial or credit card required. It includes 1.6M+ templates, 5GB storage, 50 Magic Studio AI credits/month, and basic collaboration.

Source
Canva: What requires internet connection?

Canva is web-based and requires an active internet connection to use. It cannot be used offline and may experience slowness or freezing on poor connections.

Source
Canva: Can I export to professional formats like PSD or AI?

No. Canva does not support export to Adobe PSD or Illustrator AI formats. Export options are limited to PNG, PDF, MP4, and other basic formats.

Source
Canva: How many AI credits do I get?

Free tier includes 50 Magic Studio credits per month for AI image generation, copywriting, and background removal. Pro and higher tiers get 500 credits/month.

Source
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Related pages

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