The final deliverable is an After Effects Project file, a rendered animation at 1920x1080 3-4 secs Quicktime ProRes422 and the associated file assets. I will provide an Illustrator vector logo file as the final art for animating. I have a 4 hour budget for this project. The LottieFiles plugin converts your After Effects animation into a Lottie format file for use on the web and mobile. The plugin provides a smooth workflow for rapidly iterating on animations and testing feature support across different platforms. Mar 26, 2021 For commercial use, you can easily collaborate with others as it offers a toolkit for you to make effects no matter where you are. It is customizable with multi-channel processing. You can use it to create movie effects or use it for your own. As an alternative to After Effects, the price is so much higher than its counterparts.

Adobe After Effects sits at the pinnacle of 2D-based animation compositing tools with great motion graphics tools and well-supported communities with a plethora of scripting, plugins, templates, and tutorials for creating spectacular outcomes. However, the demand for Adobe After Effects alternatives is growing because of it's high subscription fee ($20.99/month under an annual plan), random crashes, and the steep learning curve. Thus, I pick up the 10 best Adobe After Effects alternatives, range from free open-source software to comparatively expensive programs, fitting your various demand and budgets. Quick navigations:

1. Adobe After Effects Free Alternative [Natron, Blender, DaVinci Resolve, Cavalry]
2. Online After Effects Alternative [Clara.io]
3. Cheap Software that Can Replace Adobe After Effects [Motion 5]
4. Easy Adobe After Effects Alternative [Hitfilms Pro, Vegas Post]
5. Advanced After Effects Alternatives [Cinema 4D, Nuke]

Adobe After Effects Free Alternatives

#1. Natron - Best After Effects Open Source Alternative

• Price: Free
• Ease of use: ⭐⭐⭐
• Download Link: https://natrongithub.github.io/

Natron is a free and open-source compositor which is capable of generating unlimited layers of masks, matters, and shapes. It can also be utilized to create simple 2D/2.5D animation VFX, but you won't get particle effects to create smoke flow, clouds, and some special visual effects directly. It supports countless open-source plugins as well as commercial add on. Thanks to the support of the 2D planar tracker, you can quickly and accurately accomplish your tracking jobs.

The nitty interface, as well as the node-based compositing workflow of Natron, is nearly the same with the expensive Nuke (an advanced After Effects alternative that we'll talk about later) which enables you to set expressions on animation curves to create animation move objects. Well, it's no wonder why it is considered as the best After Effects open source alternative by many reddit users.

Natron VS After Effects

• Natron wins in: Node-based Compositing, Ease-of-Use, Customizable, Cross-platform.
• After Effects wins in: Title Creation/Generation, Motion Graphics, 3D Compositing, Color Grading, 3D Models Importing, Particle Generators, Simulations, 2D/3D Animation, Render Speed, Rotoscoping, Third-Party Plugins, Audio Editing.

#2. Blender - After Effects Freeware for Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, Windows

• Price: Free
• Ease of Use: ⭐⭐
• Films that used Fusion for production: Cosmos Laundromat, Agent 327
• Download Link: https://www.blender.org/download/

Blender is an open-source 3D animation and modeling program with integrated compositors. That's being said the killer feature of Blender is its capability in creating stunning 3D animation graphics. If your work requires lots of 3D effects, Blender can deliver further more possibilities than After Effects does. And Better yet, everything you can do about 2D-based VFX and composition with After Effects can get accomplished in Blender, though very possibly in a more time-consuming and cumbersome way.

Blender VS After Effects

• Blender wins in: 3D compositing, 3D modeling, Editing Capabilities, Cross Platforms.
• After Effects wins in: 2D animation, Render Speed, 2D Motion Graphic and VFX work, Templates Creation, Title Generation, Rotoscoping, Third-Party Plugins, Text Motion Tracking.

#3. Blackmagic Fusion – Free Alternative to After Effects for Linux, macOS, Windows

• Price: Free
• Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Films that used Fusion for production: Deadpool 2
• Download Link:https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/fusion/

Fusion is developed by Blackmagic Design as a standalone application-Fusion 16, and also an integrated utility in Davinci Resolve 16. As a professional compositing software, it's widely used by broadcast companies, TV-series producers, and commercials to create special visual effects, motion graphics, virtual reality video, camera/planar tracking, animate titles, etc. With the advanced stereoscopic 3D tools, it's capable of loading and rendering 3D models and scenes.

What's more? You can add interactive physical effects like wind and gravity with 2D/3D objects in the scene. Suppose you are using the Fusion tab integrated with the free DaVinci Resolve, you can get access to the advanced audio/video editing toolsets, and the strong color-correction utility as well.

Fusion VS After Effects

• Fusion wins in: Node-based Compositing, Color Grading, Video Editing, Audio Editing, VFX work, Cross-Platform.
• After Effects wins in Stable, 2D/3D animation, Render Speed, 2D Motion Graphic, Templates Creation, Title Generation, Third-Party Plugins, Simulations.

#4. Cavalry - New After Effects Alternative for Windows and macOS

• Price: Free
• Ease of Use：⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Download Link: https://cavalry.scenegroup.co/

Cavalry, first released in 2019, focuses on 2D motion graphics, is also good at data visualization, character animations, FUI, and much more. As a nova in animation software, Cavalry is friendly for armature with a nitty interface and straightforward workflow. For instance, you can simply double click on the keyframe node to adjust the properties. With features like deformation, voxelising shapes, - Users review from Reddit.

After Effects Online Alternative

#5. Clara.io - Free After Effects Online Alternative

• Price: Free (The paid version costs $10/month)
• Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• The Official Site: https://clara.io/scenes

Clara.io is a full-blown 3D modeling, animation, and rendering program. The paid account charges you $20 per month, but the free account already packs all features required by daily needs. As an online animation maker, Clara.io is easy to use but still offers 3D artists and newbies superb results. It is highly compatible with a wide range of supported 3D formats including OBJ, FBX, STL, 3DS, and many more. Also, it responses extremely fast even on a less powerful machine thanks to the application of the V-Ray cloud engine. Moreover, it is supported by +100,000 free 3D models which give beginners lots of possibilities to quickly create 3D animation and modeling.

Clara.io VS After Effects

• Clara.io wins in: Ease of Use, Low Requirement in Computer, 3D Modeling Rendering, and Creating.
• After Effects wins in: 2D Animation Compositing, Motion Graphics, Rich Plugins, Title Generation, Rotoscoping, Motion Tracking, Simulation, VFX/Visual animation effects creation.

Cheap Alternative to Adobe After Effects

#6. Motion 5 - Cheap After Effects Alternative for Mac

• Price: $49.9/permanently usage
• Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Download Link: Apple official site

Motion 5, developed by Apple Inc, is a motion graphic application runs on macOS. It has everything you need for creating 2D/3D animations, smooth transitions, 360° effects/titles, and realistic effects. Besides, the build-in real-time design engine offers you a live view without lagging. Motion is easy to learn and more efficient compared to AE. However, it lacks the support of the raft of plugins and templates that AE has. However, this isn't a deal-breaker for average users as you can use either Apple Motion or After Effects to create or edit simple motion graphics and animation titles as well as composite 2D/3D FOR visual effects.

Motion 5 VS After Effects

• Motion 5 wins in: Ease of Use, Color Grading.
• Adobe After Effects wins in: Third-Party Plugins, 2D Animation Compositing.

Easy Alternative to Adobe After Effects

#7. Hitfilm Pro - Easy Alternative to Adobe After Effects for Windows and macOS

• Price: $299
• Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Download Link: https://fxhome.com/hitfilm-pro

FXhome Hitfilm is an all-in-one app with great features on 3D facilities modeling, motion graphics, and complex procedural animations, graphics compositing, color correction, and advanced video editing. The many quick 3D presets offered by Hitfilm may limit you your creatively but it enables you to create bonfires, falling debris, Fire Explosion, and other amazing 3D effects with a few clicks of a mouse. In addition, it's fast composition workflow allows you to watch the video without rendering. So, basically, you can use Hitfilm Pro as a quicker and easier replacement of After Effects.

Hitfilm Pro VS After Effects

• After Effects wins in: Multi-Cam Editor, Shape Layers, Respond and Render Speed, 2.5D animation creation and Composition, Title Generation.
• Hitfilm Pro: Simulations, Lens Flares, Color Grading, VFX works, 3D composition, Ease of Use, Customization, Thrid Party Plugins, Video Editing.

#8. Vegas Post - Expensive Alternative for After Effects for Windows

• Price: $999
• Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Download Link: https://www.vegascreativesoftware.com/us/vegas-post/

VEGAS POST is a collection of software including VEGAS PRO 17 (editing videos), Vegas Effects (creating and compositing animations and VFX), and VEGAS Image (processing image). A beginner or hobbyist can purchase Vegas Effects separately at the price of $399. You can get most things that are needed in visual effects and compositing, to name a few, 3D model rendering and effects, environment maps, versatile color-grading kits.

Vegas Effects gives you 800 staggering effects, filters, and presets that help you create eye-catching outcomes without having to install extra plugins. Other than that, you can enjoy a smooth playback even when copping with plenty of VFX works own a good deal to the support of threaded rendering.

Vegas Post VS After Effects

• Vegas Post Wins in: Color Correction, Video Editing, Quick Visual Effects Creation.
• After Effects Wins in: Ease of Use, Motion Tracking, 2D/2.5D animations, Title Generation, Third-Party Plugins.

Advanced Alternatives to After Effects

#9. Cinema 4D - App Similar to After Effects for Windows, macOS, Linux (More Advanced)

• Price: $60-120/Month
• Ease of Use: ⭐⭐
• Films that used Hitfilm Pro for production: 2012, Spider-Man
• Download Link: https://www.maxon.net/en/cinema-4d

Cinema 4D, developed by Maxon, is all about creating 3D graphics for Motion and Visual Graphics. It usually collaborates with Adobe After Effects to build breathtaking 3D animations and models for Hollywood films. Certainly, it can be used stand-alone as an industry-level 3D modeling, painting, rendering, and animation program. Cinema 4D responds extremely fast and boasts robust rendering plugins. If all you need is about 3D-based things, Cinema 4D is more desirable than Adobe After Effects.

Cinema 4D VS After Effects

• After Effects wins in almost everything but 3D modeling.

#10. Nuke - Node-based Adobe Effects Alternative for Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, Windows

• Price: $9298
• Ease of use: ⭐
• Download Link: https://www.foundry.com/products/nuke

Nuke is an industry-standard composition program before anything else. Being one of the most advanced node-based compositing tools, it can cope with 1023 channels in a single stream. Therefore, it is widely regarded as an advanced substitution of After Effects for the compositing jobs required by high-end films or TV shows. It is considerably more expensive and has a steeper learning curve, higher requirements on the PC built.

Rotoscoping is easier made and more adjustable in Nuke. The support of third-party plugins allows you to realize endless possibilities when creating VFX effects. Be that as it may, After Effects is still unreplaceable if you are working with multiple cameras, and videos with different durations, resolutions, and formats.

Nuke VS After Effects

• Nuke wins in: Node-based Compositing, 4K Video Compositing, 3D/VFX Compositing, Team Work, Effeciency.
• After Effects wins in: Motion Graphics, Animation, Templates Creation, Title Generation, Ease of Use.

FAQ

Is After Effects free or there a free version?

No, in short. After Effects is a paid-for motion graphics, visual effects, and compositing software that offers no free version.

However, you can get a free trial for 7 days with the capability to use all features. To use After Effect for free, come cover to its official site, click on Free trial to download the .exe file, and have it installed on your pc or mac.

Can you buy After Effects permanently?

There is no access to buy Adobe After Effects permanently from Adobe since 2013. Though you can still purchase some older versions of AE from eBay and many commercial sites without having to pay the subscription fee every month ($19.9/month for the first year, and $29.99/month for next years), more bugs and crashes you would experience. And as such, it's worth going to dip your toes in some cheaper alternative before subscribing After Effects.

What is better than Adobe After Effects?

It's up to your target, personal preferences, machines, source files, skill level, and many other factors. For instance, Node-based visual effects and compositing programs like Fusion, Nuke, and Natron are far more efficient than layer-based Adobe After Effects to process complex composites entailing a vast number of layers. Hitfilm Pro and Vegas Effects have numerous ready-made options for creating spectacular VFX effects, they are better substitutes for After Effects if the project you are working on is time-sensitive. As for 3D rendering or modeling, even the free Blender can easily rival AE.

Which version of After Effects is the best?

Adobe After Effects 17.5 released on Oct 2020 is currently the best version with lots of bug fixed and new/improvement features including Tapered shape strokes, concentric shape repeaters, support of ProRes RAW files, etc.

Adobe After Effects sits at the pinnacle of 2D-based animation compositing tools with great motion graphics tools and well-supported communities with a plethora of scripting, plugins, templates, and tutorials for creating spectacular outcomes. However, the demand for Adobe After Effects alternatives is growing because of it's high subscription fee ($20.99/month under an annual plan), random crashes, and the steep learning curve. Thus, I pick up the 10 best Adobe After Effects alternatives, range from free open-source software to comparatively expensive programs, fitting your various demand and budgets. Quick navigations:

1. Adobe After Effects Free Alternative [Natron, Blender, DaVinci Resolve, Cavalry]
2. Online After Effects Alternative [Clara.io]
3. Cheap Software that Can Replace Adobe After Effects [Motion 5]
4. Easy Adobe After Effects Alternative [Hitfilms Pro, Vegas Post]
5. Advanced After Effects Alternatives [Cinema 4D, Nuke]

Adobe After Effects Free Alternatives

#1. Natron - Best After Effects Open Source Alternative

• Price: Free
• Ease of use: ⭐⭐⭐
• Download Link: https://natrongithub.github.io/

Natron is a free and open-source compositor which is capable of generating unlimited layers of masks, matters, and shapes. It can also be utilized to create simple 2D/2.5D animation VFX, but you won't get particle effects to create smoke flow, clouds, and some special visual effects directly. It supports countless open-source plugins as well as commercial add on. Thanks to the support of the 2D planar tracker, you can quickly and accurately accomplish your tracking jobs.

The nitty interface, as well as the node-based compositing workflow of Natron, is nearly the same with the expensive Nuke (an advanced After Effects alternative that we'll talk about later) which enables you to set expressions on animation curves to create animation move objects. Well, it's no wonder why it is considered as the best After Effects open source alternative by many reddit users.

Natron VS After Effects

• Natron wins in: Node-based Compositing, Ease-of-Use, Customizable, Cross-platform.
• After Effects wins in: Title Creation/Generation, Motion Graphics, 3D Compositing, Color Grading, 3D Models Importing, Particle Generators, Simulations, 2D/3D Animation, Render Speed, Rotoscoping, Third-Party Plugins, Audio Editing.

#2. Blender - After Effects Freeware for Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, Windows

• Price: Free
• Ease of Use: ⭐⭐
• Films that used Fusion for production: Cosmos Laundromat, Agent 327
• Download Link: https://www.blender.org/download/

Blender is an open-source 3D animation and modeling program with integrated compositors. That's being said the killer feature of Blender is its capability in creating stunning 3D animation graphics. If your work requires lots of 3D effects, Blender can deliver further more possibilities than After Effects does. And Better yet, everything you can do about 2D-based VFX and composition with After Effects can get accomplished in Blender, though very possibly in a more time-consuming and cumbersome way.

Blender VS After Effects

• Blender wins in: 3D compositing, 3D modeling, Editing Capabilities, Cross Platforms.
• After Effects wins in: 2D animation, Render Speed, 2D Motion Graphic and VFX work, Templates Creation, Title Generation, Rotoscoping, Third-Party Plugins, Text Motion Tracking.

#3. Blackmagic Fusion – Free Alternative to After Effects for Linux, macOS, Windows

• Price: Free
• Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Films that used Fusion for production: Deadpool 2
• Download Link:https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/fusion/

Fusion is developed by Blackmagic Design as a standalone application-Fusion 16, and also an integrated utility in Davinci Resolve 16. As a professional compositing software, it's widely used by broadcast companies, TV-series producers, and commercials to create special visual effects, motion graphics, virtual reality video, camera/planar tracking, animate titles, etc. With the advanced stereoscopic 3D tools, it's capable of loading and rendering 3D models and scenes.

What's more? You can add interactive physical effects like wind and gravity with 2D/3D objects in the scene. Suppose you are using the Fusion tab integrated with the free DaVinci Resolve, you can get access to the advanced audio/video editing toolsets, and the strong color-correction utility as well.

Fusion VS After Effects

• Fusion wins in: Node-based Compositing, Color Grading, Video Editing, Audio Editing, VFX work, Cross-Platform.
• After Effects wins in Stable, 2D/3D animation, Render Speed, 2D Motion Graphic, Templates Creation, Title Generation, Third-Party Plugins, Simulations.

#4. Cavalry - New After Effects Alternative for Windows and macOS

• Price: Free
• Ease of Use：⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Download Link: https://cavalry.scenegroup.co/

Cavalry, first released in 2019, focuses on 2D motion graphics, is also good at data visualization, character animations, FUI, and much more. As a nova in animation software, Cavalry is friendly for armature with a nitty interface and straightforward workflow. For instance, you can simply double click on the keyframe node to adjust the properties. With features like deformation, voxelising shapes, - Users review from Reddit.

After Effects Online Alternative

#5. Clara.io - Free After Effects Online Alternative

• Price: Free (The paid version costs $10/month)
• Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• The Official Site: https://clara.io/scenes

Clara.io is a full-blown 3D modeling, animation, and rendering program. The paid account charges you $20 per month, but the free account already packs all features required by daily needs. As an online animation maker, Clara.io is easy to use but still offers 3D artists and newbies superb results. It is highly compatible with a wide range of supported 3D formats including OBJ, FBX, STL, 3DS, and many more. Also, it responses extremely fast even on a less powerful machine thanks to the application of the V-Ray cloud engine. Moreover, it is supported by +100,000 free 3D models which give beginners lots of possibilities to quickly create 3D animation and modeling.

Clara.io VS After Effects

• Clara.io wins in: Ease of Use, Low Requirement in Computer, 3D Modeling Rendering, and Creating.
• After Effects wins in: 2D Animation Compositing, Motion Graphics, Rich Plugins, Title Generation, Rotoscoping, Motion Tracking, Simulation, VFX/Visual animation effects creation.

Cheap Alternative to Adobe After Effects

#6. Motion 5 - Cheap After Effects Alternative for Mac

• Price: $49.9/permanently usage
• Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Download Link: Apple official site

Motion 5, developed by Apple Inc, is a motion graphic application runs on macOS. It has everything you need for creating 2D/3D animations, smooth transitions, 360° effects/titles, and realistic effects. Besides, the build-in real-time design engine offers you a live view without lagging. Motion is easy to learn and more efficient compared to AE. However, it lacks the support of the raft of plugins and templates that AE has. However, this isn't a deal-breaker for average users as you can use either Apple Motion or After Effects to create or edit simple motion graphics and animation titles as well as composite 2D/3D FOR visual effects.

Motion 5 VS After Effects

• Motion 5 wins in: Ease of Use, Color Grading.
• Adobe After Effects wins in: Third-Party Plugins, 2D Animation Compositing.

Easy Alternative to Adobe After Effects

#7. Hitfilm Pro - Easy Alternative to Adobe After Effects for Windows and macOS

• Price: $299
• Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Download Link: https://fxhome.com/hitfilm-pro

FXhome Hitfilm is an all-in-one app with great features on 3D facilities modeling, motion graphics, and complex procedural animations, graphics compositing, color correction, and advanced video editing. The many quick 3D presets offered by Hitfilm may limit you your creatively but it enables you to create bonfires, falling debris, Fire Explosion, and other amazing 3D effects with a few clicks of a mouse. In addition, it's fast composition workflow allows you to watch the video without rendering. So, basically, you can use Hitfilm Pro as a quicker and easier replacement of After Effects.

After Effects Free Download

Hitfilm Pro VS After Effects

• After Effects wins in: Multi-Cam Editor, Shape Layers, Respond and Render Speed, 2.5D animation creation and Composition, Title Generation.
• Hitfilm Pro: Simulations, Lens Flares, Color Grading, VFX works, 3D composition, Ease of Use, Customization, Thrid Party Plugins, Video Editing.

#8. Vegas Post - Expensive Alternative for After Effects for Windows

• Price: $999
• Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Download Link: https://www.vegascreativesoftware.com/us/vegas-post/

VEGAS POST is a collection of software including VEGAS PRO 17 (editing videos), Vegas Effects (creating and compositing animations and VFX), and VEGAS Image (processing image). A beginner or hobbyist can purchase Vegas Effects separately at the price of $399. You can get most things that are needed in visual effects and compositing, to name a few, 3D model rendering and effects, environment maps, versatile color-grading kits.

Vegas Effects gives you 800 staggering effects, filters, and presets that help you create eye-catching outcomes without having to install extra plugins. Other than that, you can enjoy a smooth playback even when copping with plenty of VFX works own a good deal to the support of threaded rendering.

Vegas Post VS After Effects

• Vegas Post Wins in: Color Correction, Video Editing, Quick Visual Effects Creation.
• After Effects Wins in: Ease of Use, Motion Tracking, 2D/2.5D animations, Title Generation, Third-Party Plugins.

Advanced Alternatives to After Effects

#9. Cinema 4D - App Similar to After Effects for Windows, macOS, Linux (More Advanced)

• Price: $60-120/Month
• Ease of Use: ⭐⭐
• Films that used Hitfilm Pro for production: 2012, Spider-Man
• Download Link: https://www.maxon.net/en/cinema-4d

Cinema 4D, developed by Maxon, is all about creating 3D graphics for Motion and Visual Graphics. It usually collaborates with Adobe After Effects to build breathtaking 3D animations and models for Hollywood films. Certainly, it can be used stand-alone as an industry-level 3D modeling, painting, rendering, and animation program. Cinema 4D responds extremely fast and boasts robust rendering plugins. If all you need is about 3D-based things, Cinema 4D is more desirable than Adobe After Effects.

Cinema 4D VS After Effects

• After Effects wins in almost everything but 3D modeling.

#10. Nuke - Node-based Adobe Effects Alternative for Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, Windows

• Price: $9298
• Ease of use: ⭐
• Download Link: https://www.foundry.com/products/nuke

Nuke is an industry-standard composition program before anything else. Being one of the most advanced node-based compositing tools, it can cope with 1023 channels in a single stream. Therefore, it is widely regarded as an advanced substitution of After Effects for the compositing jobs required by high-end films or TV shows. It is considerably more expensive and has a steeper learning curve, higher requirements on the PC built.

Free After Effects

Rotoscoping is easier made and more adjustable in Nuke. The support of third-party plugins allows you to realize endless possibilities when creating VFX effects. Be that as it may, After Effects is still unreplaceable if you are working with multiple cameras, and videos with different durations, resolutions, and formats.

Nuke VS After Effects

• Nuke wins in: Node-based Compositing, 4K Video Compositing, 3D/VFX Compositing, Team Work, Effeciency.
• After Effects wins in: Motion Graphics, Animation, Templates Creation, Title Generation, Ease of Use.

FAQ

Is After Effects free or there a free version?

No, in short. After Effects is a paid-for motion graphics, visual effects, and compositing software that offers no free version.

However, you can get a free trial for 7 days with the capability to use all features. To use After Effect for free, come cover to its official site, click on Free trial to download the .exe file, and have it installed on your pc or mac.

Can you buy After Effects permanently?

There is no access to buy Adobe After Effects permanently from Adobe since 2013. Though you can still purchase some older versions of AE from eBay and many commercial sites without having to pay the subscription fee every month ($19.9/month for the first year, and $29.99/month for next years), more bugs and crashes you would experience. And as such, it's worth going to dip your toes in some cheaper alternative before subscribing After Effects.

What is better than Adobe After Effects?

It's up to your target, personal preferences, machines, source files, skill level, and many other factors. For instance, Node-based visual effects and compositing programs like Fusion, Nuke, and Natron are far more efficient than layer-based Adobe After Effects to process complex composites entailing a vast number of layers. Hitfilm Pro and Vegas Effects have numerous ready-made options for creating spectacular VFX effects, they are better substitutes for After Effects if the project you are working on is time-sensitive. As for 3D rendering or modeling, even the free Blender can easily rival AE.

Which version of After Effects is the best?

Adobe After Effects 17.5 released on Oct 2020 is currently the best version with lots of bug fixed and new/improvement features including Tapered shape strokes, concentric shape repeaters, support of ProRes RAW files, etc.