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.

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After Effects vs FlexClip at a glance

After EffectsFlexClipsmooth.video
PriceFrom US$22.99 a month on an annual plan, 7-day free trialFree plan, then Plus at US$11.99 a month billed yearlyFree, no paid plan
AccountAdobe account requiredRequired to save projectsNot 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.video

FlexClip

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.video

When 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.

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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. Keep as many as you want in your browser, and save any of them as a .smooth file.