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Software · head to head

Adobe After Effects vs Gravity Sketch

Adobe After Effects logo

Adobe After Effects

Software

Visual effects and motion graphics software

From
$22.99/month
Rated
-
Gravity Sketch logo

Gravity Sketch

Software

VR 3D design tool

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Gravity Sketch 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.; Gravity Sketch free plan limited to 150MB cloud storage and 3 simultaneous users per room
  • They diverge on capability: Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Gravity Sketch covers VR design.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Adobe After Effects and Gravity Sketch differ
AttributeAdobe After EffectsGravity Sketch
Starting price$22.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, MacosVR (Meta Quest, Steam, Web)
Founded19902014

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Gravity Sketch

  • VR design
  • Desktop app
  • Surface modeling
  • Collaboration
  • Import/export
  • Presentation mode
  • Rhino
  • Alias

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 Gravity Sketch
  • Visual effects compositingnot Gravity Sketch
  • Title sequencesnot Gravity Sketch
  • Commercial advertisingnot Gravity Sketch
  • Social media contentnot Gravity Sketch

Gravity Sketch

  • Spatial 3D design and conceptualisation in VRnot Adobe After Effects
  • Collaborative product design sessionsnot Adobe After Effects
  • Conceptual model generationnot Adobe After Effects
  • Engineering and design team collaboration in immersive environmentnot 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.

Gravity Sketch

  • Free plan limited to 150MB cloud storage and 3 simultaneous users per room
  • File format support limited to OBJ and STL on free plan; other formats require paid plan
  • Evaluation tools (surface contours, viewpoints, section tool) not available on free tier
  • VR access requires Meta Quest, Steam, or web app; limited to specific platforms
  • Data localisation only available on Enterprise plan

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

Gravity Sketch

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Gravity Sketch review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Adobe After Effects if

  • You need motion graphics.
  • You work on Windows, Macos.
  • You also want visual effects.

Choose Gravity Sketch if

  • You need vr design.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on VR (Meta Quest, Steam, Web).
  • You also want desktop app.

Questions people ask

Is Adobe After Effects or Gravity Sketch better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month and Gravity Sketch at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adobe After Effects or Gravity Sketch?
Gravity Sketch has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $22.99/month for Adobe After Effects and Free for Gravity Sketch.
Does Adobe After Effects or Gravity Sketch run on more platforms?
Adobe After Effects runs on Windows, Macos. Gravity Sketch runs on VR (Meta Quest, Steam, Web).
Can I use Gravity Sketch for free?
Yes. Gravity Sketch 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 Gravity Sketch is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe After Effects do that Gravity Sketch cannot?
Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Visual effects, 2D and 3D compositing, Animation tools. Gravity Sketch covers VR design, Desktop app, Surface modeling, Collaboration. Both handle Windows support.

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