6 Best Motion Graphics Software for Beginners to Experts
6 Best Motion Graphics Software for Beginners to Experts
Last Updated: January 27, 2026
Motion graphics have quietly become part of almost everything we watch online. App screens move, ads animate, logos shift and breathe, and even simple text rarely stays still anymore. At some point, static visuals just don’t feel enough.
That’s where motion graphics software comes in. But picking the right one is something where most people struggle. Some tools are built for clean 2D animation, others lean heavily into 3D motion, and a few are designed specifically for UI and web work.
However, there are also surprisingly powerful free options that don’t feel limiting at all.
In this guide, we have curated a limited but most popular motion design tools list, covering beginner-friendly software, professional-grade platforms, and free motion graphics software. You can choose according to your skill level and budget.
Let’s move…
Compare Motion Graphics Software for Beginners and Professionals
This table compares the top motion graphics software based on use case and skill level to help you choose the right tool quickly.
Motion Graphics Software
Best Use Case
Skill Level
Adobe After Effects
Professional 2D & 3D motion graphics, text animations, and visual effects
Beginner to Advanced
DaVinci Resolve (Fusion)
Cinematic motion graphics and VFX inside a complete video editing workflow
Intermediate to Advanced
Cinema 4D
High-quality 3D motion graphics, logo reveals, and brand animations
Intermediate to Advanced
Autodesk Maya
Advanced 3D motion graphics, procedural animation, and studio-grade visuals
Advanced
Blender
Free 2D & 3D motion graphics, simulations, and creative animations
Beginner to Advanced
Jitter
UI animations, web motion graphics, and product design transitions
Beginner to Intermediate
Top Motion Graphics Softwares: Features, Pros, and Cons
Here, we have kept Adobe After Effects at the top due to its vast range of features and popularity.
1. Adobe After Effects
Adobe After Effects is one of those motion graphics software that you will get suggested by every motion graphic designer.
This tool is perfect if you want to dive deeper into motion graphics, as it has a lot of features. You can animate text, logos, or entire scenes. It gives you the control to shape every frame.
It is widely used all over the world as it’s beginner-friendly, has a number of learning resources, and ready-made templates available. Once you get comfortable, it becomes a powerful playground for creative motion work.
Animate text, shapes, images, and illustrations easily. Create engaging motion graphics for videos, ads, or social media.
Get a true 3D workspace where you can work with 3D objects alongside 2D elements.
Track moving objects in your footage, which makes replacing screens easier. Attach text to subjects, or add effects that move naturally with the video.
Remove unwanted objects using Content-Aware Fill. It will save you tons of hours of manual cleanup.
Extract objects from backgrounds using AI-powered Roto Brush.
Create and share Motion Graphics templates, so you or your team can reuse animated titles and lower thirds directly inside Adobe Premiere Pro.
Faster playback lets you preview your full timeline smoothly, which helps you spot issues early and work more confidently on complex compositions.
Extremely strong for both 2D and 3D motion graphics, which is why professionals rely on it for serious work
Lets you import footage quickly and start building effects without a messy or time-consuming setup
Handles simple text animations and complex visual effects in the same workspace, which keeps workflows flexible
Ready-made templates help speed things up when deadlines are tight, especially for lower thirds and titles
Cons
Not built for basic video editing
Heavy projects often slow systems down, and long render times are common on mid-range machines
Smooth previews usually require a powerful computer, especially for complex animations
The interface can feel overwhelming at first and takes real time to get used to
Pricing may feel expensive for beginners or independent creators who don’t use it daily
Best for: Beginners who want to grow into professional-level motion graphics
Supported platforms: After Effects works on both Windows and macOS.
Adobe After Effects Pricing and Plans:
Plan
Pricing
Notes
Monthly
INR 1,100.94 / month
Cancel anytime, no fee
Annual (Billed Monthly)
INR 733.96 / month
Fee applies if you cancel after 14 days
Annual (Prepaid)
INR 8,425.20 / year
No refund after 14 days
After Effects for Teams
INR 3,019 / month per license
Includes Adobe Express Premium and business features
2. DaVinci Resolve (Fusion)
Fusion is the motion graphics and VFX tool built into DaVinci Resolve.
This motion graphics software is used for creating cinematic animations and complex effects without leaving your edit. You don’t have to switch between different software – editing, motion graphics, color, and audio, all happen in one place.
Fusion works on a node-based system. It looks unfamiliar at first, but once you get used to it, you get much better control over your work.
Work with a node-based system instead of layers, which helps you clearly see how every effect connects.
Design and animate both 2D and 3D titles, including text that extrudes, reflects light, and animates word by word or character by character.
Add motion graphics like lower thirds, infographics, and animated overlays that stick perfectly to moving objects using built-in tracking tools.
Remove unwanted objects and clean up shots using advanced paint, planar tracking, and masking tools.
Work in a true 3D space, letting you combine 3D models, text, lights, cameras, and particles into one realistic scene.
Add cinematic effects like fog, smoke, rain, fire, and particles that move naturally around objects in 3D space.
Key out green and blue screens cleanly and place characters into completely new environments.
Create reusable motion graphics templates so editors can apply your designs without breaking your animation setup.
Automate repetitive animation tasks using scripting
Pros
The free version is capable of helping you with serious motion graphics work.
The interface is easy to use, and once you understand the workflow, you can work very fast.
Autosave and timeline handling are reliable and helpful for large projects.
It’s cost-effective for long term as it has one-time pricing.
Cons
The node-based workflow can feel overwhelming if you’re completely new to motion graphics.
Keyboard shortcuts and controls take time to get used to.
It’s not ideal for beginners who want quick, simple animations.
You need a modern desktop or laptop, as older systems may struggle or glitch.
Best for: Creators and editors who want advanced motion graphics and VFX inside a complete video editing workflow.
Supported platforms: DaVinci Resolve with Fusion works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Plan
Price
Notes
DaVinci Resolve 20
Free
Includes Fusion page with powerful motion graphics and VFX tools
DaVinci Resolve Studio 20
INR 29,980 (one-time)
Includes advanced AI tools, extra effects, and free future upgrades
Since it’s a one-time purchase, you don’t have to worry about monthly subscriptions.
3. Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D is one of the most loved motion graphics software when it comes to 3D motion graphics, especially for broadcast-quality animations.
If your goal is to create smooth logo animations, kinetic typography, or abstract 3D motion graphics, Cinema 4D makes that process feel surprisingly natural. It also integrates with Adobe After Effects, which is a big plus for motion designers.
The MoGraph toolset helps you to duplicate, arrange, and animate objects quickly.
Create procedural animations using Fields. Control motion with shapes, sounds, textures, or even custom data.
Animate typography easily, making it simple to design kinetic text, animated titles, and logo reveals.
Add realistic motion using effectors that control position, scale, rotation, and timing across multiple objects.
Advanced simulations like particles, cloth, fluids, and smoke to add realistic movement and depth to your scenes.
Use spline deformers to create unique effects like waves, pulses, or patterned motion along paths.
Redshift integration for realistic lighting and fast GPU rendering.
Extend your workflow with plugins and render farms to speed up heavy renders and scale large projects.
Pros
The interface is beginner-friendly compared to many other 3D tools.
It’s very stable and reliable, even for complex motion graphics projects.
Strong integration with After Effects and Unreal Engine fits well into modern pipelines.
Has a large community and a number of learning resources to learn and improve skills.
Powerful simulation tools help you add realistic interactions to your animations.
Cons
The pricing is high for individuals, especially freelancers just starting out.
Complex scenes and detailed renders require powerful hardware and longer render times.
The newer UI design can feel less intuitive, with icons that are harder to distinguish.
Best for: Designers and motion artists who want to create high-quality 3D motion graphics, titles, and brand animations with a simple interface.
Supported platforms: Cinema 4D runs on Windows and macOS.
Plan
Monthly Price
Annual Billing
Cinema 4D (with Redshift)
INR 7,389.35 / month
INR 88,672.22 billed annually
Cinema 4D (with Redshift – higher tier)
INR 10,877.88 / month
INR 1,30,534.64 billed annually
4. Autodesk Maya
Autodesk Maya is a high-end 3D software widely used in films, TV, and advanced motion graphics projects. While it’s often known for character animation and VFX, it also offers powerful tools for creating abstract and procedural motion graphics.
This motion graphic software gives you deep control over shapes, movement, and transformations. One can’t say that it’s a simple tool to learn, but once you start learning and get comfortable with it, it opens up creative possibilities.
It combines 3D animation, motion graphics, simulations, and even 2D animation into a single package. You can create everything from abstract motion visuals to full 3D scenes without paying anything.
While every motion graphic tool may look overwhelming at first, once you are comfortable, you can work at a fast pace. A similar thing is with Blender.
Use Geometry Nodes to build procedural and non-destructive motion graphics.
Add realistic motion using built-in physics like cloth, fluids, and rigid bodies to make your animations feel more natural.
Animate using keyframes, the NLA editor, sound sync, and motion paths.
Combine 2D and 3D animation using Grease Pencil, letting you draw directly in the viewport and mix hand-drawn elements with 3D scenes.
Create and animate text easily, including text-on-a-curve and text-as-geometry for logo and title animations.
Control how effects spread across objects using falloffs and fields. It is something that makes complex animations easier to manage.
Duplicate and arrange objects using array modifiers and collection-based setups for grids, radial patterns, or random layouts.
Offers add-ons like Animation Nodes, Mograph, Rigify, and Flip Fluids.
Choose between Eevee for fast previews and Cycles for photoreal renders, depending on your project needs.
Pros
It offers a wide range of tools and plugins
It works smoothly on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Has plenty of free tutorials and a very active community for learning support.
Geometry and simulation nodes help automate tasks and save a lot of manual effort.
Being completely free makes it accessible for students and independent creators.
Cons
It tries to do everything, so some areas can feel less polished than dedicated tools.
The interface and feature set can feel intimidating for beginners.
Performance may slow down on heavy scenes, especially on lower-end systems.
Best for: Creators and motion designers who want a free, all-in-one tool for 2D and 3D motion graphics.
Supported platforms: Blender runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Blender Pricing and Plans: Blender is completely free to use for personal, educational, and commercial projects. It’s released under the GNU General Public License, so you don’t have to worry about subscriptions or usage restrictions.
6. Jitter
Jitter is motion graphics software built specifically for web and UI animations, and it feels very familiar if you already work with graphic design tools like Figma.
You can jump in, import your designs, and start animating within minutes without dealing with complex timelines or keyframes. Jitter works entirely in the browser, making collaboration and quick approvals easy.
If your focus is clean, modern UI motion rather than heavy 3D work, Jitter fits perfectly.
Import designs directly from Figma in one click, which helps you turn static UI screens into animations instantly.
Animate using simple actions instead of complex keyframes
Work on an infinite canvas, so managing multiple sizes, versions, and formats in one place feels effortless.
Reuse animations across layers to stay consistent and move faster on brand-focused projects.
Get a smart timeline that lets you align, stagger, and organize animations with precision.
Create kinetic text animations using presets that animate lines, words, or individual letters.
Add polish with animated gradients, blurs, shadows, masks, and depth effects.
Animate vector paths and morph shapes, which is useful for modern UI transitions.
Import videos, sound effects, and voiceovers to create richer, more engaging animations.
Export in multiple formats like 4K video, GIF, or Lottie, ready to use across websites, apps, and ads.
Pros
Offers easy collaboration to share work with team members.
The interface is very intuitive and requires almost no technical learning.
Pre-built templates are easy to use and help you create animations quickly.
It offers just the right set of features for clean and attractive UI animations.
Browser-based performance is fast with smooth previews and quick exports.
Cons
There is no dark mode or theme customization available.
Export options are limited when it comes to transparent backgrounds or higher resolutions in some plans.
Advanced motion controls like custom easing curves and complex path animations are limited.
Best for: UI/UX designers, product designers, and marketers
Supported platforms: Jitter runs entirely in the web browser, so it works on Windows and macOS without any installation. You just need a modern browser and a stable internet connection.
Jitter Pricing and Plans:
Plan
Price
Free
USD 0
Pro
USD 19 / editor / month
Team
USD 49 / editor / month
Enterprise
Custom
Conclusion
There is no single ‘best’ motion graphics software. The tool, which is perfect for one designer, can be complicated for the other designer.
If you are new to motion design, you can start with motion graphics software for beginners or a free tool. You will learn timing, movement, and visual flow without fighting the software. As your projects grow, you can always move to more advanced motion design software that matches your pace.
In the end, good motion graphics come from ideas and execution – the tool just helps you get there a little faster.
Published On: January 27, 2026
Mehlika Bathla
Mehlika Bathla is a passionate content writer who turns complex tech ideas into simple words. For over 4 years in the tech industry, she has crafted helpful content like technical documentation, user guides, UX content, website content, social media copies, and SEO-driven blogs. She is highly skilled in SaaS product marketing and end-to-end content creation within the software development lifecycle. Beyond technical writing, Mehlika dives into writing about fun topics like gaming, travel, food, and entertainment. She's passionate about making information accessible and easy to grasp. Whether it's a quick blog post or a detailed guide, Mehlika aims for clarity and quality in everything she creates.
