As a user of Mac or Linux, it gets confusing to find Adobe Premiere Alternative. As it features a series of useful features, allowing you to make stunning edits, create animations, and more.
So if you’re wondering why people would ditch an industry-grade editing tool and look for an alternative, continue reading the post. You won’t only get the answer to this question, but you’ll find the best alternatives with tips for choosing the best option.
Disclaimer
This article has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. Opinions or points of view expressed in this post represent the view of the author. Nothing in this content constitutes legal advice. The sole purpose of providing the information below is to educate users about different editing software.
In this article
Part 1: Why We Look for Alternatives to Industry-standard Adobe Premiere Pro
Whether you’re a newbie or a professional editor, using Adobe Premiere Pro for video editing can be a one-of-its-kind experience. However, most editors often look for other options due to the following factors:
Creates Performance Issue
Users don’t always find Adobe’s performance up to the mark on specific devices. Sometimes, a few of its programs ask for different keyboard shortcuts even when you want to accomplish the same command. And while running it, you need to ensure your pc has the highest speed due to its video resolution requirement.
Complex to Use
If you’re just starting out in the video editing domain, using Adobe might not be the best idea. Since some of its features and functionality are complex, you may end up reaching the help page more often.
Slow Customer Support
Talking about help, know that the software’s customer support service isn’t impressive. As a user, you may have to wait longer than expected to hear back from them.
High-end Editing Tool
Although it does the job with stunning perfection, it’s expensive. If you’re a beginner or freelancer, you might be unable to use it in the long run due to its cost. The reasons are undoubtedly enough to look for an alternative to Adobe.
If you think it’s a challenge, you’re mistaken. Because we’ve got a list of options, take a look and choose the one that aligns with your requirements.
- Wax - a free video editing tool with various useful features.
- Hitfilm - it features editing and composing core technologies.
- Blender is an awesome editor that easily tackles basic and complex editing tasks.
- Natron - a robust digital compositor, perfect for 2D/2.5D requirements.
- Wondershare Filmora - best for beginners (Editor’s Pick).
- Apple Motion - it performs fluid transitions, creates 2D and 3D titles, and more in real-time.
- Eyeon Fusion - a powerful and professional software to fulfill your editing needs.
- NUKE - a user-friendly, customizable, and versatile editing tool.
- Autodesk Smoke - it brings editing and effects together.
- Flame - is a perfect choice for editing, versioning, and heavy VFX work.
Editor’s Top 3 Picks
1. Wondershare Filmora - Best Overall
With a plethora of filters, features, and transitions, Wondershare Filmora can become your go-to video editing software. It comes with import and export options, making the entire editing process super easy for beginners.
Recommendation Star Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars
Price: Starting from $49.99/Year.
2. Blender - Best For Open Source 3D Creation Suite
An open-source 3D suite, it supports animation, modeling, video editing, rendering, simulation, compositing, and more. Give it a go if you’re up to exploring versatile editing features.
Download on Windows
Recommendation Star Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Price: Free under the GNU General Public License
3. NUKE - Best For 3D Effects Artists
Perfect for node-based compositing, review, and editorial, the tool ensures flexibility and collaborative workflows, allowing you to achieve the best result.
Download on Windows
Recommendation Star Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Price $5,518 (purchase price) , $1,919/qtr (rent price)
Part 2: The Best Adobe Premiere Pro Alternatives in 2022
Do you think finding Adobe Premiere Pro Alternative is nearly impossible? If so, let’s take a look at the following options with important information, so you can make an informed decision.
1) Wax
Best free video editing tool.
If you’re hunting for a video compositing tool and special effects software, your search is over. As a high-performance and flexible tool, Wax can easily perform those tasks. It allows you to create 2D and 3D special effects effortlessly. More importantly, this tool is helpful for beginners.
Supported OS: Windows
Key Features
Wax provides you with unlimited video and audio tracks with explosive effects and model loaders. Meanwhile, you can also generate particles and add 3D text to your video. Then comes the filters for file input and output and plug-in adapter technologies.
Price
It’s free.
G2 Ratings: 3.8 out of 5 stars
User Review
The processing speed is fast; it separates the audio and video of a clip into two elements without influencing the original file. However, the tool only imports and exports .avi files which may lead to inconvenience in some cases. - Giang N.
Recommendation Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
2) Hitfilm
Perform VFX compositing and editing in a single software
An all-rounder editing tool, Hitfilm is a 3D and VFX software that artists, independent filmmakers, or even beginners in VFX and editing can use without any hindrance. It allows you to edit, incorporate effects, composite, and export the final product to whichever format you want.
Key Features
You get basic editing features with VFX compositing. Moreover, there are various effects, presets, filters, and color correction features. All this in an intuitive interface.
Price
$349 one-time
Tom’s Guide Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
User Review
It’s easy to use and perfect for beginners. - Greg F.
Recommendation Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
3) Blender
An open-source 3D creation suite.
If you’re looking for a 3D creation suite, look no further than Blender. As an open-source 3D creation suite, it supports modeling, pipeline, animation, rendering, simulation, rigging, compositing, motion tracking, and rendering. What’s more exciting is that the software support game creation, too. With the features it offers, using Blender sounds like a smart choice.
Supported OS: Windows, Mac, Linux
Key Features
Its key features include sculpting, topology, visual effects, and a template library. On top of that, Blender is compatible with OBJ and also contains integrated 3D modeling features.
Price
Free under GNU GPL 3.0 license
G2 Ratings: 4.5 out of 5 stars
User Review
A great open-source editing tool for beginners and animators. You can’t ignore its interactive and excellent game features, such as re-enchantment, collision, and detection. - Vaibhav S.
Recommendation Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars
4) Natron
An open-source option for commercial node-based compositors.
A robust digital compositor, Natron is perfect to fulfill your 2D/2.5D requirements. It’s one of the most flexible tools - thanks to its OIIO file formats and OpenX architecture. Whether you’re running it on Linux or Windows, this software offers unmatched performance across all operating systems.
Supported OS: Windows, Linux, Mac
Key Features
Natron is a video editor that contains a flexible rotoscoping technique, tracker, and keying tools. You also have multiple community plugins with curve and dope-sheet editors. Lastly, it’s also compatible with OFX.
Price
It’s totally Free
G2 Ratings: 3.5 out of 5 stars
User Review
The best is that Natron is full-blown compositing software that users can use free of cost. - Heten D.
Recommendation Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
5) Wondershare Filmora
Your go-to editing software with a wide range of useful features.
With a variety of effects, templates, and transitions, Wondershare Filmora is here to change the entire editing game. Whether you’re a newbie or professional, its features will sure to impress you.
Support OS: Windows, Mac, iPad
Key Features
The unique feature of this amazing video editor is that even 4K resolution videos can be edited without any hassle. Moreover, you get noise removal, color tuning, GIF support, an audio equalizer, and an audio mixer with Filmora. Advanced text editing is also supported on top of other features.
Price
Starting from $49.99/year in the individual plan to $155.88/year in the Team plan.
G2 Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
User Review
It’s user-friendly and super easy to use. From videos to animations, it has templates to meet your requirements. - Arsh G.
Recommendation Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars
6) Apple Motion
A fast software with a better interface to make editing hassle-free.
As a Mac editor, Apple Motion needs to be in your toolkit for its versatility. Be it effects or generators; this tool enables you to do all with absolute perfection.
Supported OS: Mac
Key Features
Apple Motion contains 360 VR motion graphics that provide real-time visualization for a VR headset. Multiple effects are also available with video tilting features. On top of that, you can add 2D and 3D text to your video.
Price
$49.99 one-time
G2 Ratings: 4 out of 5 stars
User Review
Creating titles and motion graphics is a breeze with Apple Motion. It has a powerful yet easy-to-use interface. Integrating it with Final Cut Pro assures a one-of-its-kind experience. - Matt C.
Recommendation Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
7) Eyeon Fusion
An advanced visual effects compositing tool.
With basic to intermediate features, Eyeon Fusion is perfect for individuals or smaller design studios. It’s intuitive, so expect an easy editing process.
Key Features
The features include visual effects, customizable templates & vector shapes, and automatic retime animations. Along with these features, audio animation syncing is also possible with Eyeon Fusion.
Price
DaVinci Resolve 18: Free
Fusion Studio 18: 295$
G2 Ratings: 4.2 out of stars
User Review
It performs professional-grade VFX and Film compositing work on any file, which is great! - Paul S.
Recommendation Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars
8) NUKE
A cutting-edge toolkit that brings the highest-quality results.
For editorial, review, and node-based compositing, Try Nuke’s awesome toolkit. The Nuke ecosystem consists of Nuke, Nuke studio, and NukeX. It can become your go-to software for flexible and collaborative workflows.
Price
$569 one-time
Key Features
Nuke allows you a deep image compositing, rotoscoping, and keying in the video. You also get a nodal toolset, machine learning toolset, 2Dtracker, dope sheet, and wrap effects with this software. Lastly, the stereoscopic workflow also makes your video editing easy and simple.
G2 Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
User Review
As a node-based compositing system, it allows you to reach the beginning and the end of your project quickly. It makes the entire editing process hassle-free and convenient. - Alonzo V.
Recommendation Ratings: 4.5 out of 5 stars
9) Autodesk Smoke
A leading software in 3D design, entertainment, and engineering domain.
Autodesk Smoke is a great blend of editing workflows and a node-based compositing tool available in timeline-centric editing software.
Supported OS: Mac
Key Features
Autodesk Smoke has an instant effect playback feature for previewing your edited video before it’s completed. Moreover you get SonyRaw & ArriRaw formats with different resolution and bit depth options. Then comes the transition effects and image syncing features.
Price
$215 monthly
G2 Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars
User Review
It’s not only good for editing, but it gives you enough room to express yourself. It comes with 3D and color correction options which is great. - Allie K.
Recommendation Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
10) Flame
An excellent VFX, color grading, and 3D compositing tool.
Flame is one of the unique high-end VFX software that you can use to streamline the post production process. Be it color correction or compositing; this tool is sure to handle any task with ease.
Supported OS: Mac
Key Features
The key features of Flame video editor include timeline editing tools, 3D compositing toolset, explorer grade bin, camera tracking, and master grade color tools. The task-base environment allows you to isolate and modify objects without any trouble.
Price
$580 one-time
G2 Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars
User Review
Comes with a plethora of options and tools; you need to get out of your comfort zone to learn and work with this. Overall, Flame offers a powerful package. - Krishna K.
Recommendation Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Part 3: Tips for Choosing an Alternative to After Effects
Whether you don’t want to use After Effects or simply looking for alternatives to experiment with new options, the above options for software will sure to help you.
However, to make an informed decision, it’s best to be clear about what you’re looking for in terms of features and functionality. To help you with this step, here’re a few tips:
What do you want to achieve?
First things first, what is it that you want to achieve with the editing tool? Is it 3D editing? Or is it rot scoping? Knowing your purpose will help you choose the right gear.
UI Design
Another important tip is to look for an easy UI design, especially if you’re just starting out. Because with an intuitive interface or layout, you can carry out a task without struggling even when you’re using it for the first time.
Performance
You should also compare the performances of different editing software. Read reviews online, and look for the toolkit experienced editors use. This way, you’ll get a better understanding of how these editing tools perform.
Compatibility
Be clear on whether or not the software you choose is compatible with other options. For example, Autodesk Smoke is compatible with Autodesk Flame 3D VFX, which ultimately makes the editing seamless.
Pricing
Last but not least, learning about the software cost is essential. You must know how much you’ll be paying monthly or yearly. Or if the estimated amount includes upgrades or not. This way, you’ll find decent software without breaking the bank.
Part 4: FAQs about After Effects Alternative
After exploring the tips about finding After Effects alternatives, let’s look at the answers to some of the frequently asked questions.
1. Is there a free alternative to After Effects?
Yes, as free software, Blender can do the best job. It comes with advanced motion graphics tools to make the entire process hassle-free.
2. Can Blender replace After Effects?
There’s no definite answer, but being an open-source 3D animation tool, it equally benefits beginners and professionals. Plus, it’s evolved to be used as an alternative to 3D platforms, such as Maya, which has made it quite popular among editors.
Final Words
Finding an alternative to After Effect might be a problem before. Today, with a lot of open source and paid options, it’s not a big deal anymore. Currently, the software or tools available for editing and other postproduction tasks offer a wide range of unique features. With these features, you’re sure to create visually interesting footage.
To ease the process further, you can refer to the list of alternatives with essential information and some tips. With the help of this information, you can find your next editing tool with ease.
