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Adobe After Effects vs Unreal Engine VR

Adobe After Effects logo

Adobe After Effects

Software

Visual effects and motion graphics software

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

Unreal Engine VR

Software

AAA-quality VR development with Unreal Engine

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Unreal Engine VR 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 VR steep system requirements with demanding GPU and CPU for rendering high-quality VR experiences
  • They diverge on capability: Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Unreal Engine VR covers Photorealistic rendering.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Adobe After Effects and Unreal Engine VR differ
AttributeAdobe After EffectsUnreal Engine VR
Starting price$22.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, MacosWindows, macOS, Linux
Founded19901995

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

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 VR

  • Photorealistic rendering
  • Physics simulation
  • Blueprint scripting
  • Motion controllers
  • SteamVR
  • Oculus
  • OpenXR
  • PSVR

What people use each for

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

Adobe After Effects

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

Unreal Engine VR

  • VR Gamingnot Adobe After Effects
  • AR Marketingnot Adobe After Effects
  • Virtual Trainingnot Adobe After Effects
  • 3D Visualizationnot Adobe After Effects
  • Immersive 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 VR

  • Steep system requirements with demanding GPU and CPU for rendering high-quality VR experiences
  • Only free with 5% royalty after $1 million in revenue, which may impact indie developers at scale

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 VR

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Unreal Engine VR 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 Unreal Engine VR if

  • You need photorealistic rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want physics simulation.
Unreal Engine VR review

Questions people ask

Is Adobe After Effects or Unreal Engine VR better?
Neither clearly leads. Adobe After Effects starts at $22.99/month and Unreal Engine VR 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 VR?
Unreal Engine VR has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $22.99/month for Adobe After Effects and Free for Unreal Engine VR.
Does Adobe After Effects or Unreal Engine VR run on more platforms?
Adobe After Effects runs on Windows, Macos. Unreal Engine VR runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Unreal Engine VR for free?
Yes. Unreal Engine VR 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 VR is typically brought in for.
What can Adobe After Effects do that Unreal Engine VR cannot?
Adobe After Effects covers Motion graphics, Visual effects, 2D and 3D compositing, Animation tools. Unreal Engine VR covers Photorealistic rendering, Physics simulation, Blueprint scripting, Motion controllers.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Unreal Engine VR: Does Unreal Engine support VR and AR development?

Yes. Unreal Engine provides the highest-quality solution for creating augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) experiences, supporting development for VR, AR, gaming consoles, PCs, and mobile devices.

Source
Unreal Engine VR: Is Unreal Engine 5 free to use?

Unreal Engine 5 is free for most uses with no upfront cost. If a project earns over $1 million, a 5% royalty applies to future sales.

Source
Unreal Engine VR: What platforms does Unreal Engine support for VR development?

Unreal Engine supports macOS and Linux development with some limitations, though Windows 10 (64-bit) is the primary development platform. It supports VR development targeting various VR headsets.

Source
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