No, After Effects isn't free. Adobe sells it only as part of a Creative Cloud membership, on its own at US$22.99/mo on the annual plan billed monthly, as of October 2026. You can use it free for 7 days with Adobe's free trial, and you get 14 more days after that to cancel for a full refund.
There's no free edition and no free tier. What Adobe does offer is a trial of the full app and a refund window long enough to test it on a real project. Here's how to use both without paying for a year you didn't want.
The ways to use After Effects without paying
| Option | Free for how long | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe's free trial | 7 days | Full version; converts to a paid plan unless you cancel |
| Refund window after the trial | 14 more days | Cancel for a full refund |
| Education plans | Not free | Adobe lists plans for students and teachers |
| A free alternative | Ongoing | A different app, not After Effects |
What After Effects costs
Adobe's product page says you can buy After Effects on its own at US$22.99/mo on the annual, billed monthly plan, as of October 2026. It also offers After Effects inside Creative Cloud Pro, which Adobe lists regularly at US$69.99/mo on the annual plan, with a new-subscriber offer of US$34.99/mo for the first 3 months.
Adobe's page notes that many people use After Effects alongside other Creative Cloud apps such as Premiere and Photoshop, which is the case for the bigger plan. If motion graphics are all you need, the single app is the cheaper route. My page on every Creative Cloud plan and single app lays the options out side by side.
How the free trial works
- Click Free Trial on Adobe's After Effects page and choose a plan.
- Create an account or sign in with your Adobe ID.
- Follow the steps to start the trial; it begins when you check out.
- Download After Effects and use the full version for 7 days.
- Cancel before day 7 if you don't want to pay, or within 14 days after for a refund.
Adobe's FAQ says the trial converts to a paid Creative Cloud Single App membership when it ends unless you cancel, and that only one 7-day free trial is available per person.
How to cancel
Go to your Adobe account page within 7 days of starting the trial, find your plan name, click Manage Plans and then Cancel Plan. Give a reason, click Continue and follow the steps. Keep the confirmation email.
Why the refund window matters
Adobe's subscription terms explain what happens if you leave it too late. On an annual plan billed monthly, you get a full refund if you cancel within 14 days of your initial order. Cancel after that and Adobe charges a lump sum of half your remaining contract obligation, with a different rule for customers in California. For a year-long plan, that's a big bill for an app you stopped using.
Will your computer run it?
After Effects is a heavy app for motion design and visual effects. Before you start the clock on a trial, check Adobe's system requirements for your Mac or Windows PC, because a trial spent waiting for previews to render won't tell you much about whether the app suits you.
Free alternatives worth a look
If you're making simple animated social posts or title cards, you may not need After Effects at all. My guide to After Effects alternatives covers paid and free options, and free animation software focuses on tools that cost nothing.
| You want to... | Best route |
|---|---|
| Learn After Effects for a course or job | Trial, then the single app plan |
| Make the odd animated post | A free alternative |
| Edit video and do motion graphics | Creative Cloud Pro, if you'll use several apps |
| Test it on one client project | Trial plus the 14-day refund window |
How Adobe's cancellation rules differ by plan type
Adobe's subscription terms set out different rules for each way of paying, so check which one you chose at checkout:
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| Plan type | Cancel within 14 days | Cancel after 14 days |
|---|---|---|
| Annual, billed monthly | Full refund | Lump sum of half the remaining contract, different rule in California |
| Annual, prepaid | Full refund | Non-refundable; service continues to the end of the contracted term |
| Monthly | Full refund | Non-refundable; service continues to the end of that month's billing period |
If you're not sure how long you'll need After Effects, check at checkout whether a monthly plan is offered for your region: under Adobe's terms it ends at the end of a billing month with no early exit charge, while the annual, billed monthly plan carries one.
What After Effects is built for
Adobe describes After Effects as motion design and visual effects software. You use it to animate text, graphics and illustrations, from a simple credit roll to an intricate title sequence, and to composite visual effects for film, TV and video. If your work is mostly cutting clips together, that's an editing job rather than a motion graphics one, and a different app may suit you better. If you want animated titles, logo reveals or effects, After Effects is the tool Adobe built for it.
My advice
Don't start the After Effects trial until you've got a project ready and you've checked your computer can handle it. Pick the single app plan at checkout unless you'll use Premiere or Photoshop as well. Set a reminder for day 6. And if you do get billed by mistake, cancel inside the 14 days, because after that an annual plan's early exit costs half of what's left on the contract.
Frequently asked questions
Is After Effects free?
No. Adobe sells After Effects only as part of a Creative Cloud membership, though it offers a 7-day free trial.
How much is After Effects?
Adobe lists After Effects on its own at US$22.99/mo on the annual plan billed monthly, as of October 2026.
How long is the After Effects free trial?
The trial lasts 7 days, and Adobe gives you 14 more days after it ends to cancel for a full refund.
Can I get the After Effects trial twice?
No. Adobe says only one 7-day free trial is available per person.
What happens if I cancel After Effects after 14 days?
On an annual plan billed monthly, Adobe's terms charge a lump sum of half your remaining contract obligation, with a different rule in California.
