After Effects vs FlexClip
After Effects and FlexClip side by side, as of September 2026: what each one costs, what it's made for, and when smooth.video, a free animation tool that runs in your browser with no account, does the job instead.
After Effects vs FlexClip at a glance
| After Effects | FlexClip | smooth.video | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | From US$22.99 a month on an annual plan, 7-day free trial | Free plan, then Plus at US$11.99 a month billed yearly | Free, no paid plan |
| Account | Adobe account required | Required to save projects | Not needed |
As of September 2026. Plans change, so check those of After Effects and FlexClip before you decide.
After Effects
- Install
- Desktop app
- How you animate
- Keyframes, graph editor, effects and expressions across compositions
- Transparent video
- Yes
- 3D, visual effects, tracking
- Yes
- Plugins and scripting
- Yes
When After Effects fits better
You need 3D, particles, motion tracking, rotoscoping, compositing over footage, expressions or plugins, or you hand project files to a studio that works in After Effects. smooth.video does none of that.
After Effects vs smooth.videoFlexClip
- Watermark
- On free plan exports
- Export resolution
- 720p free, 1080p on Plus, 4K on Business
- Projects
- 12 saved projects on the free plan
- GIF export
- 120p, 240p or 480p
- Motion
- In, Out and Loop animation presets
- Stock library, AI subtitles, voices, avatars
- Yes
When FlexClip fits better
You assemble marketing videos from stock clips and music, need AI subtitles, a voiceover or an avatar, or record your screen for a tutorial. smooth.video has no stock library and no AI tools.
FlexClip vs smooth.videoWhen smooth.video fits better
You need a title, a lower third, a logo sting or an animated stat for this week's video, you don't open After Effects every day, and a monthly subscription for a few seconds of animation doesn't add up.
You're animating a logo, a title, a product or a stat, want to set the motion yourself, and need a sharp GIF or a 4K video without paying for a plan.
Open the editorStart from a template
See all 172 templatesQuestions
- Can I open After Effects or Premiere Pro projects?
- No. smooth.video opens its own .smooth projects, and imports images, video, audio and layered PSD files.
- Can I use the exports in Premiere Pro or After Effects?
- Yes, as regular video files. MP4 imports everywhere; for transparency, export a WebM and check that your version reads it.
- Is it really free?
- Yes. It runs in your browser with no server doing the work, so there's no subscription and no watermark.
- Can I make a sharp GIF?
- Yes. The GIF comes out at the size of your scene, whatever you set it to. Keep it short so the file stays light.
- Can I use my own music?
- Yes. Add an audio file, and it's included in the MP4 or WebM you export.
- Is there a limit on projects?
- No. Keep as many as you want in your browser, and save any of them as a .smooth file.