24 Best After Effects Plugins 🥇 2023 (Free & Premium)

Have you ever struggled to find the best After Effects plugins for your creative projects? With so many options out there, it can be overwhelming to know which ones are truly worth your time and money.

But fret not, because, in this blog post, we’ve got you covered! We’ve scoured the internet to find top-quality After Effects brushes, presets, and plugins that will take your digital art, motion graphics, and video editing skills to new heights.

In this article, we’ll be showcasing the best After Effects plugins that are a must-have for digital artists, motion graphics designers, and video editors.

We understand the importance of having the right tools at your disposal to create unique visual effects and stunning motion graphics.

So, whether you’re looking to add depth to your artwork, enhance your video editing capabilities, or simply elevate the overall quality of your creative projects, these plugins have got you covered.

But why take our word for it? We’ve gathered some compelling statistics and fascinating facts about these After Effects plugins to give you a glimpse of just how powerful and transformative they can be.

From increasing productivity and efficiency to adding stunning visual effects, these plugins have been tried and tested by professionals in the industry. So, get ready to dive into a world of unlimited creativity and possibilities with the best After Effects plugins in the market.

In this first article of our series, we’ll be introducing you to the top After Effects plugins that will revolutionize the way you create digital art, motion graphics, and video edits.

From brush packs that add realistic textures to your artwork, to presets that streamline your workflow, and plugins that bring your visuals to life, we’ve got it all covered.

So, whether you’re a seasoned digital artist or a beginner looking to upgrade your skills, stay tuned for an in-depth exploration of the best After Effects plugins. Get ready to take your creative projects to the next level!

Best Premium After Effects Plugins

Looking to take your After Effects projects to the next level? Look no further! In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the best premium After Effects plugins that are sure to enhance your creative projects. Check them out below and see how they can take your work to new heights!

Design and Development Animation | After Effects is a highly versatile and user-friendly template that is perfect for digital artists, motion graphics designers, and video editors.

With its clean, minimalist, and modern design, this After Effects Plugin for Motion Graphics is packed with features that allow you to create stunning and professional-looking projects.

One of the standout features of this After Effects Plugins for Reddit is its color controls, which give you the flexibility to easily customize and adjust the color scheme to suit your preferences.

Sparks Effects | After Effects is a fantastic plugin for After Effects that brings an array of top-quality brushes, presets, and plugins to enhance your digital art, motion graphics, and video editing projects.

With a file size of just 2.45MB, it seamlessly integrates with After Effects, eliminating the need for any additional plugins.

One of the standout features of Sparks Effects | After Effects is its wide compatibility with various versions of After Effects. Whether you’re using an older version or the latest one, this plugin will work smoothly and seamlessly.

What sets Sparks Effects | After Effects apart is its exceptional collection of brushes, presets, and plugins.

With an extensive library at your disposal, you’ll be able to add captivating visual effects and elements to your projects effortlessly.

Whether you’re looking for stunning light effects, dynamic particle animations, or unique transitions, this After Effects Plugin for Professional Results has you covered.

Transitions – After Effect is a versatile plugin that allows users to add smooth and professional transitions to their videos.

It offers a range of features such as 4K resolution, easy color changes, customization options, and a user-friendly interface, all without the need for additional plugins.

With a helpful video tutorial included, users can quickly learn how to utilize this plugin to enhance their video projects. Please note that the preview background and music are not included.

Vintage for After Effects is a powerful plugin that doesn’t require any additional plugins to work. It is designed specifically for After Effects and has a runtime of 10 minutes with a file size of 25.1MB.

It can be used in any application that supports After Effects and has a resolution of 1920 x 1080. This plugin is perfect for digital artists, motion graphics designers, and video editors looking to add a vintage touch to their creative projects.

With its easy installation process and user-friendly interface, Vintage for After Effects is a must-have tool for enhancing your visual effects with a nostalgic feel.

Lower Thirds | After Effects is a plugin designed to enhance your digital projects by providing top-quality lower thirds graphics.

With a file size of just 4MB and a resolution of 3840 x 2160, this plugin is perfect for digital artists, motion graphics designers, and video editors looking to add a professional touch to their work.

It requires no additional plugins and is compatible with After Effects, making it easy to integrate into your workflow. The plugin offers a wide range of attributes, allowing you to customize your lower thirds to fit your project’s unique style and aesthetic.

Whether you’re creating a video for social media, a corporate presentation, or a documentary, Lower Thirds | After Effects has you covered. Say goodbye to generic lower thirds and elevate your projects with this must-have plugin.

Brush Strokes for After Effects is an incredible tool for digital artists, motion graphics designers, and video editors looking to enhance their creative projects.

This After Effects plugin offers a collection of hand-painted brush stroke textures that can be used in various ways, such as opener scenes, textures, blends or transitions, lower thirds, or as design elements.

One of the best things about this plugin is that it is a 100% After Effects template, meaning you don’t need to install any additional plugins to use it. This makes it incredibly user-friendly and convenient. Additionally, it boasts fast rendering capabilities, allowing you to work efficiently and save time.

Lower Thirds | After Effects is a handy plugin that allows you to add sleek and professional lower thirds to your videos. With a file size of 35.6MB, it offers an extensive range of lower-third options to choose from, making it easy to find the perfect style for your project.

The best part? No additional plugins are required, as it is compatible with After Effects, which is widely used by digital artists, motion graphics designers, and video editors.

With this plugin, you can easily enhance the visual appeal of your videos and make your text stand out with stylish lower thirds.

Lower Thirds | After Effects Free is a plugin designed for After Effects that enhances your video projects with eye-catching lower thirds.

It is compatible with After Effects and does not require any additional plugins. The file size is a manageable 7MB, and it supports a high resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels. With this plugin, you can easily add professional-looking lower thirds to your videos without any hassle.

It’s a great tool for digital artists, motion graphics designers, and video editors looking to elevate their creative projects.

Cyberpunk Opener is an After Effects product that offers a stylish and futuristic way to enhance your creative projects. With a file size of just 15MB, it’s easy to download and use.

You don’t need any additional plugins, making it accessible to all levels of users. The opener has a length of 0:20 and a resolution of 1920 x 1080, ensuring high-quality visuals for your videos.

It’s perfect for digital artists, motion graphics designers, and video editors looking to add a cyberpunk aesthetic to their projects.

Loader | After Effects is a plugin that seamlessly integrates with After Effects and enhances your digital art, motion graphics, and video editing projects.

With a file size of just 5MB, it requires no additional plugins or applications, making it incredibly user-friendly. It supports resolutions up to 3840 x 2160, ensuring top-quality visuals. Let’s dive into its impressive features.

Firstly, Loader | After Effects offers a wide range of brushes, presets, and plugins, allowing you to easily enhance your creative projects. Whether you’re a digital artist, motion graphics designer, or video editor, this plugin has got you covered.

Instagram Stories | After Effects is a handy tool designed to enhance your Instagram story creations.

With a resolution of 2160 x 3840 and compatibility with After Effects, this plugin brings your stories to life. It requires additional plugins and is supported by multiple applications. The file size is a manageable 12MB.

This plugin offers a range of features to elevate your Instagram stories. It provides high-resolution output, ensuring your stories look crisp and vibrant on all devices.

With seamless integration into After Effects, it seamlessly integrates into your existing workflow, making it easy to add special effects, transitions, and animations to your stories.

One of the standout features of Instagram Stories | After Effects is its small file size. With only 12MB, the plugin is lightweight and won’t take up much space on your computer. This is particularly beneficial if you have limited storage capacity or need to work on multiple projects simultaneously.

Infographics | After Effects is a project that offers immense customization options. You have the freedom to easily change the text and colors of each element, as well as adjust the size of each element through the control panel. It’s a hassle-free process that allows you to tailor your project to exactly what you envision.

One of the standout features of this project is the one-click duration adjustment. This means that you can effortlessly change the duration of any scene with just a single click.

Gone are the days of worrying about whether your scenes are the exact length you desire, whether it’s 15 seconds or 2 minutes. With this project, you have full control over the timing.

Transitions for After Effects is a versatile plugin that allows you to enhance your video projects with seamless and eye-catching transitions.

Whether you’re a digital artist, motion graphics designer, or video editor, this plugin offers a range of features to take your creativity to the next level. With its compatibility with After Effects CC 2020 and later, you can easily incorporate these transitions into your projects.

One of the standout features of this plugin is its flexibility. You have the freedom to use any color you desire, whether it’s a gradient or a clear color.

Additionally, you can easily customize the duration of the transitions with just a few clicks. This level of control allows you to tailor the transitions to your specific project needs.

Bacteria for After Effects is a plugin that does not require any additional applications and has a file size of 530MB. It is compatible with After Effects and does not need any extra plugins to function.

This plugin offers a range of unique and customizable bacteria effects that can be easily added to your After Effects projects. With just a few clicks, you can transform your visuals into a vibrant and dynamic composition.

Another great advantage of Bacteria for After Effects is its user-friendly interface. Even if you’re new to After Effects or motion graphics, you’ll find it easy to navigate and experiment with different settings. The plugin provides intuitive controls that allow for effortless adjustments and fine-tuning.

Introducing Editor for After Effects – a must-have tool for digital artists, motion graphics designers, and video editors looking to take their projects to the next level.

This powerful plugin enhances your creative capabilities with a wide range of After Effects brushes, presets, and more.

With a file size of just 53MB, this application seamlessly integrates with After Effects without requiring any additional plugins. Get ready to unlock your creativity and achieve professional-level results!

With Editor for After Effects, you’ll have access to an extensive collection of brushes, presets, and plugins designed to elevate your artistic vision.

Whether you’re looking to add stunning visual effects, create realistic animations, or enhance your motion graphics, this plugin has got you covered.

Confetti no Plugins is a convenient After Effects product that allows users to add vibrant confetti effects to their digital projects without the need for additional plugins.

With a compact file size of 39.8MB, it seamlessly integrates into After Effects and supports a high resolution of 3840 x 2160.

The included confetti effects have a duration of 0:06, adding a burst of color and excitement to any design.

Best Free After Effects Plugins

Looking to enhance your After Effects projects with some top-quality plugins? Look no further! In this article, we’ve curated a collection of the best free After Effects plugins that are sure to take your creativity to the next level.

So, what are you waiting for? Dive in and explore these incredible tools that will revolutionize your motion graphics and video editing experience.

SPACE KIT is a powerful resource for digital artists and motion graphics designers, providing them with a collection of 40+ high-quality space textures and elements to enhance their creative projects.

With 13 stunningly created nebulas and galaxies, 21 realistic star fields, and 13 organically crafted space atmospheres, this pack is a game-changer for anyone looking to create captivating space scenes and graphics.

What sets the SPACE KIT apart is its commitment to delivering top-notch quality while keeping the creative process effortless.

Each texture and element in this pack has been meticulously designed and curated by a team of experts. The result is a comprehensive library that offers a variety of options to suit different artistic visions.

The 13 nebulas and galaxies included in the SPACE KIT are truly mesmerizing. With their vibrant colors and intricate patterns, they bring otherworldly beauty to your projects.

Free Plugins is a collection of top-quality plugins, packs, templates, and scripts for Adobe After Effects.

Compatible with multiple versions of After Effects and other video editing software, these plugins offer a wide range of creative possibilities. With a market value of $225, this collection can save you both time and money.

With the AEJuice Tools collection, you can download and install all the free plugins with just one installer.

This convenient feature saves you the hassle of individually downloading and installing each plugin. Whether you’re a digital artist, motion graphics designer, or video editor, these plugins can enhance your creative projects and streamline your workflow.

One of the standout features of Free Plugins is the Starter Pack. This pack includes a variety of brushes, presets, and effects that can take your After Effects projects to the next level.

From cinematic transitions to animated typography, the Starter Pack provides a versatile toolkit for enhancing your visuals.

The Saber Plug-in is a powerful tool designed for both PC and Mac users. With its advanced core settings and realistic glow falloff, this plugin allows digital artists, motion graphics designers, and video editors to create high-quality energy and light beams in their projects.

The Saber Plug-in also comes with stackable FX, built-in distortion, and 50 presets to choose from, making it a versatile and user-friendly option.

Compatible with After Effects CS5, CS6, and CC+, this plugin is a must-have for anyone looking to enhance their creative projects.

ORB is a powerful plugin for After Effects that brings your creative projects to life with stunning motion blur effects.

It offers advanced UV settings and environment reflection maps, allowing you to create realistic and immersive visual experiences.

The motion blur feature in ORB allows you to add dynamic movement to your designs, making them come alive on the screen.

With customizable settings, you have full control over the intensity and direction of the motion blur, enabling you to achieve the desired visual effect.

Additionally, ORB offers advanced UV settings, allowing you to map textures onto 3D objects with precision and accuracy.

This feature is particularly useful for digital artists and motion graphics designers who want to add intricate details and realistic textures to their creations.

FX Console Plugin is a game-changer for digital artists, motion graphics designers, and video editors who want to streamline their creative process and save valuable time.

This powerful plugin allows you to get things done faster, significantly speeding up your After Effects workflow.

With its user-friendly interface and innovative features, FX Console Plugin is a must-have tool for enhancing your projects.

Displacer Pro is a must-have plugin for digital artists, motion graphics designers, and video editors seeking to take their creative projects to the next level.

With its powerful features, this plugin allows users to displace their visuals with translation, rotation, and scale, creating stunning and immersive effects.

One of the standout features of Displacer Pro is its GPU acceleration and 32-bit per channel support, ensuring smooth and high-quality displacements.

Users can also take advantage of the temporal motion blur and iteration options, making their displacements as smooth as butter.

Compatibility is not an issue with Displacer Pro, as it is compatible with both Windows and macOS, starting from CS6 and up. This means that regardless of the user’s preferred operating system or version of Adobe After Effects, they can seamlessly incorporate this plugin into their workflow.

‘gridRig/free AE script’ is a versatile tool that allows digital artists, motion graphics designers, and video editors to enhance their creative projects in After Effects.

With this script, you have access to a collection of snippets from our work, including odds and ends of projects and spare-time experiments.

This script provides a range of attributes that can take your projects to the next level. Whether you’re looking to add unique effects, experiment with different styles, or simply enhance the overall visual appeal, ‘gridRig/free AE script’ have you covered.

It offers a wide variety of options to choose from, allowing you to tailor your work to your specific needs.

Thicc Stroke is a powerful After Effects plugin that allows you to create bold and trendy visual effects for your projects.

With this tool, you can easily make thick curves and gradient-along paths, adding a unique and eye-catching touch to your designs.

One of the standout features of Thicc Stroke is its infinite customizability. You have complete control over the thickness and style of your strokes, allowing you to achieve the exact look and feel you desire.

Whether you want to create sleek and smooth curves or bold and chunky lines, this plugin has got you covered.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are After Effects plugins?

After Effects plugins are small software add-ons that enhance the functionality of Adobe After Effects, a popular software used in video editing and motion graphics.
These plugins offer additional features, effects, and tools that can help users create more professional and visually stunning videos.

Why should I use After Effects plugins?

Using After Effects plugins can significantly enhance your video editing workflow. They allow you to add unique visual effects, create complex animations, and streamline repetitive tasks.
These plugins can save you time and effort by providing ready-to-use templates, presets, and tools that can take your videos to the next level.

Conclusion

To recap, in this article, we discussed the best After Effects plugins for digital artists, motion graphics designers, and video editors. We explored how these plugins can enhance creative projects and provide top-quality brushes, presets, and effects.

If you’re looking for more tutorials and in-depth information on After Effects plugins, I highly recommend checking out the BetterStudio blog. They have a wealth of resources that can further guide you in integrating these tools into your projects.

Don’t forget to follow BetterStudio on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated on the latest tutorials and tips. They consistently provide valuable content that can help you elevate your After Effects skills.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. If you have any questions or encounter any issues related to the content we discussed, please feel free to leave a comment below. We’re here to help and would love to assist you in any way possible.

Happy creating!