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Entertainment · head to head

Adobe After Effects vs Kdenlive

Adobe After Effects logo

Adobe After Effects

Entertainment

Visual effects and motion graphics software

From
$22.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kdenlive logo

Kdenlive

Video Production

Free, open-source non-linear video editor from the KDE community

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Kdenlive 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.; Kdenlive relies on volunteer development so release cadence and bug fixes can be slower than commercial tools.
  • They diverge on capability: Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Kdenlive covers Multi-track timeline.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Adobe After Effects and Kdenlive differ
AttributeAdobe After EffectsKdenlive
Starting price$22.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Macoswindows, mac, linux
CategoryEntertainmentVideo Production
Founded1990Unknown

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 Kdenlive

  • Multi-track timeline
  • Proxy editing
  • Wide format support
  • Titler tool
  • Effects and transitions
  • Cross-platform

What people use each for

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

Adobe After Effects

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

Kdenlive

  • Free video editing for hobbyistsnot Adobe After Effects
  • Linux-native video productionnot Adobe After Effects
  • Educational video editingnot Adobe After Effects
  • Community/open-source project video worknot 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.

Kdenlive

  • Relies on volunteer development so release cadence and bug fixes can be slower than commercial tools.
  • Lacks built-in advanced VFX/compositing found in tools like DaVinci Resolve.
  • Performance and stability can vary depending on system configuration and GPU drivers.
  • No official cloud collaboration or review features.

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

Kdenlive

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full editor
    • All effects and transitions
    • Community support

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 Kdenlive if

  • You need multi-track timeline.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on windows, mac, linux.
  • You also want proxy editing.
Kdenlive review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe After Effects or Kdenlive better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month and Kdenlive at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adobe After Effects or Kdenlive?
Kdenlive has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $22.99/month for Adobe After Effects and Free for Kdenlive.
Does Adobe After Effects or Kdenlive run on more platforms?
Adobe After Effects runs on Windows, Macos. Kdenlive runs on windows, mac, linux.
Can I use Kdenlive for free?
Yes. Kdenlive 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 Kdenlive is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe After Effects do that Kdenlive cannot?
Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Visual effects, 2D and 3D compositing, Animation tools. Kdenlive covers Multi-track timeline, Proxy editing, Wide format support, Titler tool.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Kdenlive: Is Kdenlive free to use?

Yes, Kdenlive is completely free and open source, distributed under the GPL license with no cost to download or use, though donations to KDE e.V. are welcomed.

Source
Kdenlive: What platforms does Kdenlive support?

Kdenlive runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, and BSD.

Source
Kdenlive: Where can I get help with Kdenlive?

Users can consult the user manual at docs.kdenlive.org, join the community Matrix channel, or ask on the KDE discussion forum.

Source
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