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Compare Adobe After Effects and Windows Movie Maker

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At a Glance
Adobe After Effects
Adobe After Effects
Star Rating
(1,079)4.6 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (65.1% of reviews)
Information
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about Adobe After Effects
Windows Movie Maker
Windows Movie Maker
Star Rating
(137)4.1 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (58.5% of reviews)
Information
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about Windows Movie Maker

Adobe After Effects vs Windows Movie Maker

When assessing the two solutions, reviewers found Windows Movie Maker easier to use, set up, and administer. However, reviewers preferred doing business with Adobe After Effects overall.

  • Reviewers felt that Adobe After Effects meets the needs of their business better than Windows Movie Maker.
  • When comparing quality of ongoing product support, reviewers felt that Adobe After Effects is the preferred option.
  • For feature updates and roadmaps, our reviewers preferred the direction of Adobe After Effects over Windows Movie Maker.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
Adobe After Effects
No pricing available
Windows Movie Maker
No pricing available
Free Trial
Adobe After Effects
No trial information available
Windows Movie Maker
No trial information available
Ratings
Meets Requirements
9.3
943
8.2
118
Ease of Use
7.2
951
9.2
118
Ease of Setup
8.5
164
9.1
23
Ease of Admin
8.2
123
8.9
19
Quality of Support
8.2
805
7.5
84
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
8.7
120
8.6
14
Product Direction (% positive)
8.8
940
5.2
116
Features by Category
Not enough data
8.3
149
Editing
Not enough data
8.7
15
Not enough data
7.8
15
Not enough data
8.3
15
Not enough data
8.4
15
Not enough data
8.6
15
Not enough data
8.7
15
Not enough data
8.7
15
Platform
Not enough data
8.2
15
Not enough data
8.2
15
Not enough data
7.3
14
Generative AI
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
9.0
841
Not enough data
Compatibility
9.3
96
Not enough data
9.1
95
Not enough data
9.2
97
Not enough data
Functionality
9.7
97
Not enough data
8.6
91
Not enough data
9.5
97
Not enough data
9.1
97
Not enough data
Project Management
8.3
93
Not enough data
8.4
78
Not enough data
Generative AI
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Generative AI
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
Adobe After Effects
Adobe After Effects
Windows Movie Maker
Windows Movie Maker
Adobe After Effects and Windows Movie Maker share no categories
Unique Categories
Adobe After Effects
Adobe After Effects is categorized as Video Effects and Animation
Windows Movie Maker
Windows Movie Maker is categorized as Video Editing
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
Adobe After Effects
Adobe After Effects
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
65.1%
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
23.2%
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
11.7%
Windows Movie Maker
Windows Movie Maker
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
58.5%
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
20.0%
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
21.5%
Reviewers' Industry
Adobe After Effects
Adobe After Effects
Marketing and Advertising
11.3%
Design
9.3%
Graphic Design
8.8%
Media Production
8.2%
Entertainment
4.4%
Other
58.1%
Windows Movie Maker
Windows Movie Maker
Education Management
9.6%
Real Estate
4.4%
Higher Education
4.4%
Writing and Editing
3.7%
Information Technology and Services
3.7%
Other
74.1%
Most Helpful Reviews
Adobe After Effects
Adobe After Effects
Most Helpful Favorable Review
Shane O.
SO
Shane O.
Verified User in Design

I like how After Effects integrates with softwares like Cinema 4D & Redshift, as well as Action VFX and a myraid of other plugins that make compositing workflows easier. In relation to Action VFX I really like their standard passes and masks that make...

Most Helpful Critical Review
Verified User in Computer Software
GC
Verified User in Computer Software

I don't feel like the user interface is very suer friendly.

Windows Movie Maker
Windows Movie Maker
Most Helpful Favorable Review
Hubert W.
HW
Hubert W.
Verified User in Information Technology and Services

Simplicity, ease-of-use and essentially zero-cost are the features I most enjoy. As most of the computers in the company run Windows, it makes sharing much easier than having to make different videos to suit different platforms, This saves me time as well...

Most Helpful Critical Review
Verified User in Military
GM
Verified User in Military

Lack of fine tune adjustments and advanced features in editing, such as overlays, path movements, advanced video quality enhancements and filters, and sound editing options, are missing.

Alternatives
Adobe After Effects
Adobe After Effects Alternatives
Blender
Blender
Add Blender
Unity
Unity
Add Unity
Maya
Maya
Add Maya
Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D
Add Cinema 4D
Windows Movie Maker
Windows Movie Maker Alternatives
Adobe Premiere Pro
Premiere Pro
Add Adobe Premiere Pro
Camtasia
Camtasia
Add Camtasia
iMovie
iMovie
Add iMovie
Final Cut Pro X
Final Cut Pro X
Add Final Cut Pro X
Discussions
Adobe After Effects
Adobe After Effects Discussions
How to Remove unwanted objects from your video with the appropriate fill tool.
8 comments
william r.
WR
It's a fantastic and helpful piece of information. I appreciate you sharing this useful information with us. Please keep us informed in this manner. I just...Read more
What are your top plugins for After Effects?
3 comments
Jed F.
JF
Hey Dani, is there a specific use case you're trying to solve for in a new plugin?Read more
What is the best way to make smoother logo animations?
2 comments
Page W.
PW
I use a third party plugin called Motion by Mt. Mograph for After Effects keyframe refinement. I find that highlighting the keyframes, then keeping dragging...Read more
Windows Movie Maker
Windows Movie Maker Discussions
movie maker
2 comments
Jason W.
JW
It's free.Read more
How do I add photo and videos?
1 comment
Katie S.
KS
I'm sorry I just saw this! On the home tab, there's a place to click near the upper left that says "Add Videos & Photos". That's it. Then just select what...Read more
How good is Windows Movie Maker?
1 comment
Junior L.
JL
When you are self taught and not a professional in the film industry, it is very easy to learn and produces high quality videos. 1080.Read more