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Film & TV · head to head

Adobe After Effects vs Subframe

Adobe After Effects logo

Adobe After Effects

Film & TV

Visual effects and motion graphics software

From
$22.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
S

Subframe

Design Tools

The AI-native design tool built for code

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Subframe 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.; Subframe the free plan is capped at 1 project, 10 pages, and 2 prototypes with limited AI usage and only 24 hour version history, versus unlimited AI on the $29 per editor per month Pro plan, as of August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Adobe After Effects and Subframe differ
AttributeAdobe After EffectsSubframe
Starting price$22.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, MacosWeb
CategoryFilm & TVDesign Tools
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 Subframe

Nothing recorded that Adobe After Effects does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Adobe After Effects

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

Subframe

No use cases recorded yet. See the Subframe review.

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.

Subframe

  • The free plan is capped at 1 project, 10 pages, and 2 prototypes with limited AI usage and only 24 hour version history, versus unlimited AI on the $29 per editor per month Pro plan, as of August 2026.

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

Subframe

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Subframe review.

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 Subframe if

  • You want to start without paying.
Subframe review

Questions people ask

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

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