Best 15 After Effects tools you need to use [2025]

Quick comparison table of all After Effects tools

We know that sometimes, all you want is a quick glance to decide what’s worth checking out.

That’s why we put together this side-by-side comparison of the best After Effects tools to help you understand what each one does, how it fits into your workflow, and what you can expect in terms of pricing.

Scroll through the list, see what stands out, and then keep reading for a deeper look into each.

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Top 15 After Effects tools

With so many programs, plugins, and add-ons out there, it’s hard to know which ones are actually worth it. 

So, we narrowed it down to AE tools we’ve either used ourselves or seen our users swear by.

1. LottieFiles

Lottie Files is a web-based tool (plus a plugin) that’s a must-have if you’re working with web animations. It lets you export animations from After Effects as lightweight, scalable JSON files using the Bodymovin plugin, making them perfect for websites, apps, and digital products. You can also export your animations to GIF, MP4, and other common formats.

We’ve seen it used everywhere, from slick micro-interactions in UI design to animated icons in mobile apps. It’s one of those tools that bridges the gap between motion design and development, and it does it seamlessly.

Key features

• Export AE animations to multiple formats (e.g., JSON, GIF, MP4, MOV, etc.)
• Real-time preview across devices and platforms
• Lottie Creator & Editor for quick edits without AE
• Built-in CDN for hosting and distributing animations
• 100,000+ free animations
• Access via AE, Figma, Webflow, Canva & more

Pricing

Lottie Files comes with 3 pricing plans, all billed annually:

• Individual - $19.99/month per user: Best for freelancers and solo designers. Includes unlimited uploads, access to the Lottie Creator & Editor, CDN hosting, and integration with AE, Figma, and Webflow.
• Team - $24.99/month per user: Offers everything in the Individual plan, plus version history, team feedback, file permissions, and centralized billing. It’s ideal for small creative teams.
• Enterprise - Custom pricing: Adds enterprise-grade security, analytics, onboarding, and a dedicated account manager. It’s built for organizations with 10+ members or more complex workflows.

What others say about LottieFiles

‘’LottieFiles is fantastic because it makes animations lightweight, interactive, and easy to implement.’’ - Ravindu M., Software Engineer 

‘’Easy Integration with Figma is the best part of LottieFiles & also has an extensive asset library.’’ - Sangmesh D., Senior UI/UX Designer

2. Overlord 2

The Overlord 2 After Effects plugin is a lifesaver for anyone moving back and forth between Illustrator or Figma and After Effects. It eliminates the need for tedious exporting and importing by creating a direct, live connection between your vector design tools and AE. 

Speaking from personal experience, Overlord has easily saved us hours, especially on projects where assets are constantly being tweaked in Illustrator.

Key features

• Push and pull shapes directly between Illustrator and After Effects
• Transfer paths, strokes, fills, groups, and compound shapes with accuracy
• Keep editable vector layers intact (no need to convert to outlines)
• Supports layer naming, alignment, and grouping across platforms
• Clean, intuitive UI with minimal setup

Pricing

One-time payment of $75. No subscription is required.

What others say about Overlord 2

"I have been using Overlord since 2019 and it's honestly been a game changer for me! I now can't imagine an illustrator + after effects workflow without it!!!" - Emonee Larussa, Motion Graphics Artist

‘’Overlord is basically a necessity for the work I do. You couldn’t catch me ever expanding AI files in AE then deleting the “Outlines” in the layer name. Overlord 2 has just been a smoother, more accurate version of an already awesome tool.’’ - Source: Reddit

3. Plainly

This one’s ours (yes, we’re biased). But after years of creating data-driven videos manually, we knew there had to be a better way. So we built it.

Plainly is a video automation platform that connects directly with your After Effects templates. It lets you generate thousands of video variations automatically using data from a spreadsheet, API, or integration. And since it renders everything in the cloud, your machine stays free for actual creative work instead of grinding through exports all day.

We’ve seen companies use it for dynamic video ads, personalized sales messages, automated news, real estate listings - you name it. If you’re working with repeatable, data-driven video formats, Plainly is how you scale.

Key features

• Upload any After Effects template to automate video production
• Use CSV, API, or 3rd-party integrations to populate dynamic data
• Cloud rendering service
• Set up once and auto-generate videos on demand or in batches
• Integrates with Zapier, Google Drive, Vimeo & more

Pricing

We offer 3 pricing plans, including:

• Usage-Based - Pay-as-you-go based on video minutes rendered, with four available tiers:
  • $69/month for 50 minutes
  • $134/month for 100 minutes
  • $259/month for 200 minutes
  • $649/month for 600 minutes
    

All plans include standard rendering priority, up to 4K exports, thumbnail exports, API access, and 19+ integrations.

• Unlimited - Starts from $1,500/month:  Unlimited video minutes and storage, with high-priority rendering and unlimited team members.
• Enterprise - Custom pricing: Built for large-scale production with advanced options like beyond-4K exports, dedicated rendering nodes, SLAs, premium support, and more.

Not sure if Plainly is for you? No worries! You can try it free for 14 days!

What others say about Plainly

‘’Plainly is just brilliant. It scales effortlessly, performs consistently, and has been rock-solid reliable. Integration with third-party services was quick and straightforward, and getting started was super easy.’’ - Tony S., CTO

‘’Integrating Plainly into our web app was a simple process from day one. The service has allowed us to easily render After Effects templates and provide customized video content.’’ - David C., Co-Founder

4. Cinema 4D

We know it has a ''4D'' in its name, but Cinema 4D is actually a 3D software for motion designers, and luckily, it plays really well with After Effects. 

Thanks to the built-in Cineware integration, you can bring your 3D scenes straight into AE without needing to pre-render or jump through extra hoops.

Key features

• Seamless integration with After Effects via Cineware
• Non-destructive import of 3D scenes (no pre-rendering needed)
• Powerful MoGraph tools for procedural animation
• Native support for Redshift and Physical render engines
• Clean UI with real-time viewport previews
• Cinema 4D Lite bundled with AE

Pricing

Cinema 4D Lite is free with After Effects, but has limited features.

On the other hand, you can purchase a full license for €859.77/year via Maxon.

What others say about Cinema 4D

‘’Cinema 4D is very intuitive, easy to use and there are a lot of videos and tutorials that can help and show how to start and also to advance, becoming as skilled as you want.’’ - Alessio D., PhD Student

‘’Cinema 4D has impressive tools, especially for animation. But what first caught me was the clean and visually comfortable work environment. You can spend hours working on your 3d project without getting tired.’’ - Bruno V., 3D Artist

5. Newton 4

If the name wasn’t a dead giveaway, Newton 4 is all about bringing physics into After Effects. And we’re not just talking gravity.

This plugin adds a full 2D physics engine to AE, allowing you to simulate real-world forces such as gravity, collisions, friction, and bounciness without manually adjusting the motion. 

It’s perfect for kinetic typography, object dynamics, and any animation where you want things to feel like they actually exist in space.

And honestly, it’s super fun to play with!

Key features

• Realistic 2D physics simulation inside After Effects
• Support for gravity, friction, bounce, and collisions
• Create joints (hinge, piston, spring, etc.) for complex motion
• Auto-convert AE layers into rigid bodies
• Bake simulations into keyframes for further editing
• Works with shape layers, masks, and imported artwork, though the latter needs to be converted to a shape layer first

Pricing

One-time payment of:

• $249.99 for a single user license
• $374.99 for a floating server license

What others say about Newton 4

‘’Every time I see this plugin, Iam wondering what wizzardcoding has been done to make complex calculations work so fluently in After Effects.’’ - Source: YouTube

6. KlutzGPT

Have you ever wished ChatGPT could write expressions, fix broken code, or just explain what the heck that one slider is doing? If so, KlutzGPT is your new best friend!!

This plugin brings generative AI into After Effects (through OpenAI’s GPT 3.5 API), so you can prompt it to generate expressions, scripts, or even full setups based on natural language. 

We’ve tested it for things like wiggle variations, time-based triggers, and automation that used to require digging through forums. It’s fast, surprisingly accurate, and honestly feels like a cheat code for non-coders.

Need pre-made expressions? We've also built a free After Effects expression library packed with the best ones you can use right away! It’s perfect for when you need a quick solution or want to learn by example.

Key features

• AI-powered expression and script generation
• Works directly inside After Effects panels
• Supports prompt-based natural language queries
• Fixes broken expressions or generates alternatives
• Great for learning AE scripting basics

Pricing

The plugin is free. However, you can make a donation if you want to support the makers.

What others say about KlutzGPT

‘’Before using this, I had absolutely zero experience with scripting in After Effects, so this is absolutely something that you can do even if you've never touched scripting yourself.’’ - Jake Bartlett, Animation Educator (Source: HyperBrew)

‘’When deadlines get tight, Klutz can be a real-time time-saver. It helps with quick scripting tasks, automating those little things that tend to add up and slow us down. In those moments, having AI handle the tedious work is useful.’’ - Syarafina Kuswahyuni

7. MoBar

If only After Effects had a cleaner interface or a shortcut for... well, everything. Actually, it can - with MoBar, that is.

MoBar is a productivity plugin that adds a customizable toolbar packed with shortcuts for your most-used actions. It declutters your workflow and keeps your favorite tools a single click away.

Key features

• Fully customizable toolbar inside After Effects
• One-click access to common commands and actions
• Dockable UI with drag-and-drop button organization
• Built-in library of 130+ pre-configured tools
• Create your own custom effects, expressions, and scripts

Pricing

MoBar offers flexible pricing depending on how deep you want to go:

• Free: Access to all core features + limited use of pre-built tools
• $1.99/month: Unlimited use of pre-built tools, billed monthly
• $19.99/year: Same perks, just billed annually with a 20% discount
• $99.99 lifetime: One-time payment, all future updates included

What others say about MoBar

‘’It’s the most comprehensive collection of AE tools. Very well put together in a slick sidebar that occupies very little screen space.’’ - Avinash Ramanath (Source: MotionApe)

‘’This plugin was totally worth the money, I have been using it quite a bit since purchase and it has really saved me time with certain tasks that were the equivalent of busywork.’’ - Source: Reddit

8. Motion Tools Pro

You know those small, repetitive tasks in After Effects that slow you down but feel too minor to complain about? Motion Tools Pro was made to fix exactly that.

It’s a plugin packed with utilities to help you manage anchor points, clean up timelines, apply easing, rename layers, and just make AE behave the way you want it to. It won’t dramatically change how your projects look, but it will dramatically change how fast you finish them.

Key features

• Advanced anchor point and transform controls
• Timeline cleanup and organization tools
• Layer renaming, selection, and sorting utilities
• Easing presets and motion curves
• Auto-orientation and alignment features
• Responsive UI panel with drag-and-drop behavior

Pricing

Free

What others say about Motion Tools Pro

‘’Motion has an amazing amount of stuff that's indispensable, particularly the key frame manipulation tools.’’ - Source: Reddit

9. Rubberhose 3

There are a lot of ways to animate characters in After Effects, but most of them feel way harder than they need to be.

If you’ve ever struggled with clunky puppet pins or endless nulls just to make a character’s arm bend naturally, Rubberhose 3 will be a breath of fresh air. This AE plugin simplifies rigging into something that actually makes sense, and gives you bendy limbs, easy controls, and rock-solid results without the usual headaches.

Key features

• Create smooth, bendy limbs with just a few clicks
• Auto-rigging system with parent/child hierarchy
• Customizable hose styles and stroke settings
• Works seamlessly with shape layers
• Add custom controllers, pins, and constraints
  
• Built-in tools for elbows, knees, and IK-style animation
  

Pricing

One-time payment of $65.

What others say about Rubberhose 3

‘’Rubberhose was already a great tool, but the EGP options make it next level for productivity.’’ - Source: YouTube

10. Joysticks n’ Sliders

Joysticks ‘n Sliders is one of the best After Effects tools, a.k.a. a plugin that makes it way easier to create and control complex character rigs using - surprise, surprise - joysticks and sliders. 

Instead of manually animating each frame, you can set up key poses and smoothly blend between them using simple UI controls. It's especially handy for facial animations, head turns, and full-body pose transitions.

Key features

• Create joystick-style UI controls for 2D rigging
• Define and interpolate 5 poses with a single joystick (or combine them with sliders for more complex animations)
• Easy-to-follow rigging system with visual feedback
• Integrates with shape layers, pre-comps, and nulls

Pricing

$39.95 for a single-use license via AE Scripts or $57.93 for a floating server license.

What others say about Joysticks n’ Sliders

‘’The ability to seamlessly morph between five different shapes, alone, makes Joysticks 'n Sliders well worth the purchase.’’ - Morgan Williams, Character Animation Bootcamp instructor

11. Flow

Have you ever opened the AE graph editor, stared at those little handles, and immediately thought ‘’nope’’? Flow is for you.

This plugin gives you an easier, more intuitive way to control easing. Instead of wrestling with keyframe graphs, you can pick from pre-made curves (or make your own) and apply them in one click. It works with everything - position, scale, opacity, whatever - and helps you get smoother, more polished animation.

Key features

• Clean, visual editor that replaces AE’s default easing workflow
• 25+ built-in motion curves (plus the option to save your own)
• Works with all transform properties and effects
• Copy/paste curves between layers with one click

Pricing

A single user license via AE scripts will cost you $35, whereas, for a floating server license, you’ll need to shell out $50.75.

What others say about Flow

‘’I love Flow. Without this plugin, you can only group velocity ease by type. As in, only position keyframes can be eased. With Flow, you can select ALL keyframes in any category, and it will be applied. Def speeds up workflow.’’ - Source: Reddit

12. EaseCopy

If Flow gives you better control over easing curves, EaseCopy gives you the speed.

This free plugin lets you copy easing from one keyframe and paste it onto any other across layers, properties, even comps. It's simple, fast, and removes the hassle of manually trying to match curves, which, let’s be honest, never really works.

Key features

• Copy & paste easing across any property or layer
• Keeps timing and influence intact
• Works between comps
• Perfect for creating consistent motion across projects
• Super lightweight and easy to use

Pricing

Free, though, as is the case with KlutzGPT, you can support the makers with a donation.

What others say about EaseCopy

‘’It's so simple, and so useful I can't even imagine anyone that doesn't have it docked in their workspace. Forever.’’ - Source: Adobe Community

13. Skew Pro

Think Skew Pro helps you warp shapes? Plot twist: it skews timing.

This plugin lets you stagger keyframes and layers with just a few clicks, creating offset animations that feel smooth, dynamic, and intentional.

That said, you can use it to animate text line by line, add rhythm to shape transitions, bring more life to motion sequences, and more - all without manual keyframe nudging.

Key features

• Stagger layers or keyframes in just a few clicks
• Adjust delay, direction, and offset to get the perfect rhythm
• Works with all layer types (text, shapes, solids, precomps)
• Compatible with expressions and parenting setups
• Includes preset styles + real-time preview

Pricing

Expect to pay a one-time fee of $65 if taking a single seat of Skew Pro. 

If taking 2 seats, the plugin will cost you $49 per seat, making for a total of $98.

What others say about Skew Pro

‘’Finally someone made an After Effects plugin I dreamt of making years ago.’’ - Source: X

14. FX Console

Ever find yourself scrolling endlessly through the Effects & Presets panel just to apply a basic blur? FX Console makes that pain go away.

Developed by Video Copilot, this powerful free plugin adds a sleek search bar right inside After Effects, so you can apply effects, presets, and commands with a single click. It also comes with snapshot tools, custom aliases, and workspace shortcuts to keep your flow flowing.

Key features

• Search and apply effects instantly with a single click
• Save & recall snapshots for before/after comparisons
• Assign custom names to effects (e.g., type “blur” instead of “Gaussian Blur”)
• Copy/paste multiple effects at once

Pricing

Completely free with no usage limits.

What others say about FX Console

‘’Even if you barely use After Effects, get the FX console plugin. Saves so much time!’’ - Source: Reddit

15. Ray Dynamic Color

Colors always look fun, until you have to update them manually in 40+ layers across your comp. 

Luckily, Ray Dynamic Color saves the day by giving you centralized color control inside AE. Set your colors once, link them across layers, and update them globally with just one tweak. 

It doesn't matter if you’re working on style frames, animations, templates, or something else; this is the plugin you need to keep your color workflow consistent, flexible, and way less error-prone.

Key features

• Centralized color palette management within AE
• Link fill/stroke colors across multiple layers
• Update linked colors globally in one click
• Import/export palettes from Illustrator and Photoshop
• Create animated color transitions - great for branding work

Pricing

A single-user license will cost you $29.99 via AE Scripts. You can also get a floating license for $43.49.

What others say about Ray Dynamic Color

‘’It's insane that AE doesn't already come with something like this.’’ - Source: YouTube

‘’I’ve been using this script for years with great results.’’ - Michael Foran

Your AE toolbox just got an upgrade

You’ve just seen 15 of our go-to After Effects tools. These are the plugins and add-ons that solve real workflow problems and help you move from idea to execution without the friction.

And if your projects involve producing the same video over and over again? That’s exactly what you’ve got Plainly for!

Book a demo and we’ll show you how to go from template -> data -> 1,000s of video variations - all without touching the render queue.