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Entertainment · head to head

Adobe After Effects vs Unreal Engine

Adobe After Effects logo

Adobe After Effects

Entertainment

Visual effects and motion graphics software

From
$22.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Unreal Engine logo

Unreal Engine

Entertainment

The world's most open and advanced real-time 3D creation tool

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Unreal Engine 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.; Unreal Engine 5% royalty triggered on any project exceeding $1 million in gross revenue across all revenue sources
  • They diverge on capability: Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Unreal Engine covers Real-time ray tracing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Adobe After Effects and Unreal Engine differ
AttributeAdobe After EffectsUnreal Engine
Starting price$22.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, MacosPC, macOS, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, VR, AR
Founded19901991

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
  • Visual effects
  • 2D and 3D compositing
  • Animation tools
  • Keying and rotoscoping
  • Color correction
  • Text animation
  • Particle systems

Only in Unreal Engine

  • Real-time ray tracing
  • Nanite geometry
  • Lumen global illumination
  • Blueprint visual scripting
  • C++ programming
  • World composition
  • Animation systems
  • Audio engine

Both cover

  • Local deployment
  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Adobe After Effects

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

Unreal Engine

  • AAA game developmentnot Adobe After Effects
  • Indie game creationnot Adobe After Effects
  • Architectural visualizationnot Adobe After Effects
  • Film and TV productionnot Adobe After Effects
  • VR/AR experiencesnot 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.

Unreal Engine

  • 5% royalty triggered on any project exceeding $1 million in gross revenue across all revenue sources
  • Smaller mobile game ecosystem compared to Unity, with fewer optimized mobile libraries and live-ops services

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

Unreal Engine

Free
  • Game DevelopmentFree
    • Nanite geometry
    • Lumen global illumination
    • Blueprint visual scripting
  • Non-Game Commercial$1850/year
    • No royalties
    • Enterprise features

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 Unreal Engine if

  • You need real-time ray tracing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on PC, macOS, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, VR, AR.
  • You also want nanite geometry.
Unreal Engine review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe After Effects or Unreal Engine better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month and Unreal Engine at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Adobe After Effects or Unreal Engine?
Unreal Engine has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $22.99/month for Adobe After Effects and Free for Unreal Engine.
Does Adobe After Effects or Unreal Engine run on more platforms?
Adobe After Effects runs on Windows, Macos. Unreal Engine runs on PC, macOS, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, VR, AR.
Can I use Unreal Engine for free?
Yes. Unreal Engine 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 Unreal Engine is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe After Effects do that Unreal Engine cannot?
Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Visual effects, 2D and 3D compositing, Animation tools. Unreal Engine covers Real-time ray tracing, Nanite geometry, Lumen global illumination, Blueprint visual scripting. Both handle Local deployment, Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Unreal Engine: What is Unreal Engine's royalty structure?

Unreal Engine is free upfront with a 5% royalty on gross revenue worldwide after a project exceeds $1 million in lifetime gross revenue. This includes in-app purchases, advertising, and direct sales but excludes indirect revenue.

Source
Unreal Engine: What platforms can Unreal Engine target?

Unreal Engine supports PC, VR, AR, gaming consoles, and mobile devices. The royalty fee applies across all platforms.

Source
Unreal Engine: What are Unreal Engine's graphics capabilities?

Unreal Engine 5 features Nanite virtualized geometry and Lumen global illumination, enabling photorealistic AAA workflows. Nanite replaces traditional LOD systems with 128-triangle clusters and software rasterization for superior visual fidelity.

Source
Unreal Engine: Do non-game developers pay royalties?

No. Non-game commercial teams pay $1,850 per seat per year instead of royalties. This covers enterprise use cases outside traditional game development.

Source
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