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Adobe After Effects vs Toon Boom Harmony

Adobe After Effects logo

Adobe After Effects

Entertainment

Visual effects and motion graphics software

From
$22.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Toon Boom Harmony logo

Toon Boom Harmony

Video Production

Creating worlds of Animation

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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.; Toon Boom Harmony licensing is subscription only across Essentials, Advanced and Premium tiers, with no perpetual license option offered on the pricing page

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Adobe After Effects and Toon Boom Harmony actually diverge.

Attributes where Adobe After Effects and Toon Boom Harmony differ
AttributeAdobe After EffectsToon Boom Harmony
Starting price$22.99/monthOn request
PlatformsWindows, MacosWeb
CategoryEntertainmentVideo Production
Founded1990Unknown

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 Toon Boom Harmony

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 Toon Boom Harmony
  • Visual effects compositingnot Toon Boom Harmony
  • Title sequencesnot Toon Boom Harmony
  • Commercial advertisingnot Toon Boom Harmony
  • Social media contentnot Toon Boom Harmony

Toon Boom Harmony

  • Traditional frame by frame animation productionnot Adobe After Effects
  • Cut-out character animation with rigsnot Adobe After Effects
  • Studio animation pipelines on the Premium editionnot 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.

Toon Boom Harmony

  • Licensing is subscription only across Essentials, Advanced and Premium tiers, with no perpetual license option offered on the pricing page
  • Access beyond the 14 day free trial requires purchasing a subscription through the shop

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

Toon Boom Harmony

On request
  • Harmony Essentials$null/month
    • Fundamental drawing, painting, and animation tools
    • Designed for enthusiasts
  • Harmony Advanced$null/month
    • Full traditional, paperless style animation
    • Simple cut-out style animation
    • Designed for students and professional animators and studios
  • Harmony Premium$null/month
    • Sophisticated cut-out rigs
    • Natural and realistic character movement
    • Unlimited special effects for any style of animation

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 Toon Boom Harmony if

Nothing in the data separates Toon Boom Harmony from Adobe After Effects on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Toon Boom Harmony review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe After Effects or Toon Boom Harmony better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month and Toon Boom Harmony at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adobe After Effects or Toon Boom Harmony?
Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month and Toon Boom Harmony at On request.
Does Adobe After Effects or Toon Boom Harmony run on more platforms?
Adobe After Effects runs on Windows, Macos. Toon Boom Harmony runs on Web.
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 Toon Boom Harmony is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe After Effects do that Toon Boom Harmony cannot?
Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Visual effects, 2D and 3D compositing, Animation tools.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Toon Boom Harmony: What tiers are available for Toon Boom Harmony?

Toon Boom Harmony is available in three subscription editions: Essentials (with fundamental drawing and painting tools for enthusiasts), Advanced (with full traditional and simple cut-out animation for students and professionals), and Premium (with sophisticated cut-out rigs and unlimited special effects, recommended for studios and educational institutions).

Source
Toon Boom Harmony: What does the Harmony Premium tier add?

The Harmony Premium tier adds sophisticated cut-out rigs, very natural and realistic character movement, and unlimited special effects for any animation style. It is recommended for professional studios, freelancers, and educational institutions, whereas Advanced is more suited for students and professional animators.

Source
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