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Film & TV · head to head

Adobe After Effects vs Lumion

Adobe After Effects logo

Adobe After Effects

Film & TV

Visual effects and motion graphics software

From
$22.99/month
Rated
-
Lumion logo

Lumion

3D & CAD

Architectural visualization made easy

From
$29/month
Rated
-

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.; Lumion enterprise tier is priced by quote only, labelled Let's talk in the vendor's own pricing data, alongside otherwise self-serve tiers with published dollar and pound figures
  • They diverge on capability: Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Lumion covers Real-time rendering.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Adobe After Effects and Lumion differ
AttributeAdobe After EffectsLumion
Starting price$22.99/month$29/month
PlatformsWindows, MacosWindows
CategoryFilm & TV3D & CAD
Founded19901998

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 Lumion

  • Real-time rendering
  • Content library
  • Effects
  • Video animation
  • VR export
  • LiveSync
  • Revit
  • SketchUp

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

Lumion

  • Architectural visualizationnot Adobe After Effects
  • Client presentationsnot 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.

Lumion

  • Enterprise tier is priced by quote only, labelled Let's talk in the vendor's own pricing data, alongside otherwise self-serve tiers with published dollar and pound figures

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

Lumion

$29/month
  • Standard$1499/month
    • Core features
  • Pro$2999/month
    • Full features
    • More content

Which should you pick?

Choose Adobe After Effects if

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

Choose Lumion if

  • You need real-time rendering.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want content library.

Questions people ask

Is Adobe After Effects or Lumion better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month and Lumion 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 Lumion?
Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month and Lumion at $29/month.
Does Adobe After Effects or Lumion run on more platforms?
Adobe After Effects runs on Windows, Macos. Lumion runs on Windows.
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 Lumion is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe After Effects do that Lumion cannot?
Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Visual effects, 2D and 3D compositing, Animation tools. Lumion covers Real-time rendering, Content library, Effects, Video animation. Both handle Windows support.

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