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Film & TV · head to head

Adobe After Effects vs Instagram AR Effects

Adobe After Effects logo

Adobe After Effects

Film & TV

Visual effects and motion graphics software

From
$22.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Instagram AR Effects logo

Instagram AR Effects

AR/VR & Metaverse

Creative AR effects for Instagram Stories and Reels

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Instagram AR Effects 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.; Instagram AR Effects meta shut down third party AR effect creation tools: "Meta Spark's platform of third party tools and content will no longer be available effective January 14, 2025"
  • They diverge on capability: Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Instagram AR Effects covers Face effects.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Adobe After Effects and Instagram AR Effects differ
AttributeAdobe After EffectsInstagram AR Effects
Starting price$22.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, MacosAr, Ios, Android
CategoryFilm & TVAR/VR & Metaverse
Founded19902004

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 Instagram AR Effects

  • Face effects
  • World effects
  • Interactive filters
  • Beauty effects
  • Spark AR Studio
  • Instagram Stories
  • Reels
  • Ar support

What people use each for

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

Adobe After Effects

  • Motion graphics creationnot Instagram AR Effects
  • Visual effects compositingnot Instagram AR Effects
  • Title sequencesnot Instagram AR Effects
  • Commercial advertisingnot Instagram AR Effects
  • Social media contentnot Instagram AR Effects

Instagram AR Effects

  • VR Gamingnot Adobe After Effects
  • AR Marketingnot Adobe After Effects
  • Virtual Trainingnot Adobe After Effects
  • 3D Visualizationnot Adobe After Effects
  • Immersive Experiencesnot 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.

Instagram AR Effects

  • Meta shut down third party AR effect creation tools: "Meta Spark's platform of third party tools and content will no longer be available effective January 14, 2025"

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

Instagram AR Effects

Free
  • FreeFree
    • AR effects library
    • Effect creation
    • Publishing

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 Instagram AR Effects if

  • You need face effects.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ar, Ios, Android.
  • You also want world effects.
Instagram AR Effects review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe After Effects or Instagram AR Effects better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month and Instagram AR Effects at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adobe After Effects or Instagram AR Effects?
Instagram AR Effects has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $22.99/month for Adobe After Effects and Free for Instagram AR Effects.
Does Adobe After Effects or Instagram AR Effects run on more platforms?
Adobe After Effects runs on Windows, Macos. Instagram AR Effects runs on Ar, Ios, Android.
Can I use Instagram AR Effects for free?
Yes. Instagram AR Effects 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 Instagram AR Effects is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe After Effects do that Instagram AR Effects cannot?
Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Visual effects, 2D and 3D compositing, Animation tools. Instagram AR Effects covers Face effects, World effects, Interactive filters, Beauty effects.
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Related pages

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