Use Premiere Pro, which Adobe now simply calls Adobe Premiere, to edit video: cutting clips, building a story, adding captions and grading colour. Use After Effects to create motion graphics and visual effects, such as animated logos, titles and 3D elements, that you then drop into your edit. They aren't really rivals, and plenty of projects use both. If you only make talking-head videos, social clips or YouTube edits, Premiere on its own is usually enough.
It's easy to buy the wrong one of these two first. I read Adobe's product pages for Premiere and After Effects and the Creative Cloud plans page to set out what each app is for and how they fit together.
Premiere and After Effects side by side
| Adobe Premiere | Adobe After Effects | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Video editing and production | Motion graphics and visual effects |
| Typical tasks | Cutting, sequencing, captions, colour | Animated logos, titles, 3D shapes, effects |
| Standout tools | Text-Based Editing, three-point editing, Color Mode (beta) | True 3D workspace, AI mattes, Substance 3D materials |
| Devices | Desktop, iPhone and Android | Desktop |
| Free option | Free trial | Free trial |
| How you buy it | Single-app plan or Creative Cloud Pro | Single-app plan or Creative Cloud Pro |
Adobe quietly renamed Premiere Pro
Here's something older comparisons won't mention. Adobe's product page and plans page now call the editor Adobe Premiere, and the page says it's available on iPhone and Android as well as the desktop. The plans page describes it as professional video and film editing on desktop and iPhone. Search habits haven't caught up, which is why people still type Premiere Pro, but it's the same editing app.
After Effects hasn't changed its name or its purpose. Adobe sums it up in one line: create motion graphics, animate a logo or character and add eye-catching visual effects to any video project.
What Premiere is for
Adobe pitches Premiere as the go-to for pro video. Its editing tools include three-point editing, Text-Based Editing that lets you trim and reorder clips by editing a transcript like a text document, and footage search to find the right shot quickly. The newest addition on the product page is Color Mode, a colour grading system built for editors, currently in beta. If your job is turning raw footage into a finished video, this is the app.
What After Effects is for
After Effects is where you build things that move. Adobe lists animated text and graphics, cinematic title sequences and credit rolls, a true 3D workspace where you combine shapes with Substance 3D materials and realistic lighting, and visual effects work such as AI-powered mattes made in seconds. It also offers native 3D shapes with over 1,300 free textures, and you can mix 2D and 3D elements in the same scene.
Which one to start with
- You edit interviews, tutorials, podcasts or social clips: start with Premiere.
- You design animated logos, lower thirds or explainer graphics: start with After Effects.
- You edit on your phone as well as a computer: Premiere has iPhone and Android apps.
- You need both regularly: Creative Cloud Pro includes 20+ apps, so compare it with two single-app plans.
- You're unsure: use the free trials and see which tool you open most in a week.
If you're still weighing up Adobe's video apps, my guide on which Adobe video software suits a small business goes wider, and these tips on picking video editing software for professional results help you compare it with other tools.
My advice on Premiere Pro or After Effects
For most business owners making marketing videos, Premiere is the one to learn first: it covers editing, captions and colour, and it now runs on your phone. Add After Effects when you want branded animations, title sequences or effects that a template can't give you. If you outsource motion design, you may never need After Effects yourself, so don't pay for an app you won't open.
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Do you make video editing or motion design tools? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place in comparisons like this one.
Frequently asked questions
Is After Effects a video editor?
Not mainly. Adobe describes After Effects as motion graphics software for animation and visual effects. Premiere is Adobe's video editing app.
Did Adobe rename Premiere Pro?
Adobe's product and plans pages now call the editor Adobe Premiere. It's the same professional video editing app.
Can I use Premiere on my phone?
Yes. Adobe says Premiere is available on iPhone and Android, and the plans page lists editing on desktop and iPhone.
Do I need both Premiere and After Effects?
Only if you edit video and also create motion graphics or effects. Many people who make social or YouTube videos only need Premiere.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. Adobe offers free trials for both Premiere and After Effects on their product pages.
