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.
- Free
- No signup
- No watermark
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 |
- Price
- After EffectsFrom US$22.99 a month on an annual plan, 7-day free trial
- FlexClipFree plan, then Plus at US$11.99 a month billed yearly
- smooth.videoFree, no paid plan
- Account
- After EffectsAdobe account required
- FlexClipRequired to save projects
- smooth.videoNot 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 is 2D only, with no particles, tracking or scripting.
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 editor- Free, full stop
- No plan, no trial, no credits, no export limit.
- No account
- Open the page and the editor is already there.
- Nothing is uploaded
- Your files are read and rendered by your own browser.
- No watermark
- Every export is clean, at any size, 4K included.
Start from a template
See all 203 templatesOpen one, change the words, export. Every element stays editable.
Questions
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. Save each one as a .smooth file and open it again whenever you need it. Only the project you're working on is autosaved in the browser.
Or skip the decision.
smooth.video is free, opens in a tab and exports without a watermark. Try it while you compare.
Open the editor- Free
- No signup
- No watermark