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Entertainment · head to head

Adobe After Effects vs Maya

Adobe After Effects logo

Adobe After Effects

Entertainment

Visual effects and motion graphics software

From
$22.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Maya logo

Maya

Entertainment

3D animation, modeling, simulation, and rendering software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Maya 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.; Maya complex interface that requires significant training and experience
  • They diverge on capability: Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Maya covers 3D modeling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Adobe After Effects and Maya differ
AttributeAdobe After EffectsMaya
Starting price$22.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, MacosWindows, macOS, Linux
Founded19901982

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

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
  • 2D and 3D compositing
  • Animation tools
  • Keying and rotoscoping
  • Color correction
  • Text animation
  • Particle systems
  • Adobe Premiere Pro

Only in Maya

  • 3D modeling
  • Character animation
  • Simulation
  • Rendering
  • Arnold renderer
  • Mental Ray
  • V-Ray
  • RenderMan

Both cover

  • Visual effects
  • Windows support
  • Macos support

What people use each for

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

Adobe After Effects

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

Maya

  • Film productionnot Adobe After Effects
  • Game developmentnot Adobe After Effects
  • TV animationnot Adobe After Effects
  • VFX creationnot Adobe After Effects
  • Architectural visualizationnot 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.

Maya

  • Complex interface that requires significant training and experience
  • Software crashes and stability issues reported by users
  • Heavy system requirements and resource-intensive processing

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

Maya

Free
  • Monthly Subscription$245/month
    • Full features
  • Annual Subscription$1945/year
    • Full features
  • Indie License$305/year
    • Full features for revenue under $100k
  • Student LicenseFree
    • Free for 3 years (watermarked)

Which should you pick?

Choose Adobe After Effects if

  • You need motion graphics.
  • You work on Windows, Macos.
  • You also want 2d and 3d compositing.
Adobe After Effects review

Choose Maya if

  • You need 3d modeling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want character animation.
Maya review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe After Effects or Maya better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month and Maya at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adobe After Effects or Maya?
Maya has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $22.99/month for Adobe After Effects and Free for Maya.
Does Adobe After Effects or Maya run on more platforms?
Adobe After Effects runs on Windows, Macos. Maya runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Maya for free?
Yes. Maya 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 Maya is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe After Effects do that Maya cannot?
Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, 2D and 3D compositing, Animation tools, Keying and rotoscoping. Maya covers 3D modeling, Character animation, Simulation, Rendering. Both handle Visual effects, Windows support, Macos support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Maya: What is the cost of an annual Maya subscription?

A standard annual Maya subscription costs $1,945 per year, with a monthly option at $245 per month. Indie users with revenue under $100k USD qualify for $305 per year. Educational licenses are free for 3 years but watermark output.

Source
Maya: Does Maya include rendering capabilities?

Yes. Maya includes Arnold, a high-quality rendering engine built into the software for producing photorealistic renders directly within Maya.

Source
Maya: What platforms does Maya run on?

Maya runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Maya 2027 supports Windows 11, macOS versions 26.x through 14.x, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux with Rocky Linux.

Source
Maya: Can students use Maya for free?

Yes. Maya is free for students at registered educational institutions. The license lasts 3 years but is non-commercial only and watermarks exported files.

Source
Maya: Does Maya integrate with other software?

Maya supports many plugins including ZooTools Pro for rigging, RealFlow for simulation, ngSkinTools for character skinning, and MASH for motion graphics, extending its capabilities for production workflows.

Source
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