Best Free After Effects Plugins



Cover image via

  1. Best Free After Effects Plugins 2020
  2. Best Free Vst Effects
  3. After Effects Cc 2019 Download
  4. Best Free After Effects Plugins Free

Build up your post production library with the the best free plugins and filters for AE!

That led me to research, discover, try and present the best free VST Effects plugins out there as of 2020. There are tons of excellent, free plugins out there. This post will guide you through some of the best VST Effect Plugins. I will also give you helpful information on typical use and where you can download the VST Plugins. Flair brings eight high-quality effects to Adobe After Effects and Photoshop® compatible programs. Among them are shine, glow, and sparkle effects with 16-bit and multi-CPU support. Curves are a very versatile and precise color-correction tool. The native After Effects version lacks control and accuracy to take full advantage of it. Free Action FX Builder is a 2D animation plugin that helps you create impressive explosions, energy, fire, water, smoke, electricity, and Motion Shape effects. The 2D cartoony style makes this plugin great for creating unique text and transitional effects, as well as creating 2D animated sequences of your own. Distortion Kit – Free After Effects Template A template kit that allows you to create unique distortion effects like a pro. This After Effects template kit includes 9 different settings for creating various distortion effects including noise, flicker, pixel, and more.

Take your After Effects work to the next level with these free plugins and filters. From color presets to advanced lighting and 3D tracking, these free AE effects can enhance your projects and save you time. Let’s dig in…

3DCG – Normality & Atlas

Normalityis a free lighting and shading plugin for After Effects. No longer supported by the developer, but packed with a set of professional features. DOWNLOAD

Normality in Action (from 3DCG)

Atlas is a free tone-mapping/HDR plugin for After Effects – bring out loads of detail in your video footage. DOWNLOAD

Atlas in Action (from 3DCG)

Effects

Digital Anarchy’s Ugly Box

Make your talent uglier! Most editors try to smooth out skin and make talent better looking. Ugly Box is a free After Effects plugin does the exact opposite. Great for Halloween or zombie related content. From the makers of the popular skin smoothing software, Beauty Box. Although free, you will need to register your info to DOWNLOAD

Noise Industries Free AE Plugins

When you install FXFactory by Noise Industries (free) you’ll have access to several free After Effects plugins. You can get more info and download each of these AE plugins here. Note: FXFactory is only supported by Mac/OSX. Let’s highlight a few of these AE effects:

Swish pans are a popular choice for transitions in television programs. Andy’s Swish Transitions brings this effect into AE and won’t cost you a dime:

Pan and Zoom is another FXFactory based After Effects plugin. This effect simplifies the process of creating a slideshow or giving your photos/videos the classic “Ken Burns” effects. Add motion to your images/video in After Effects without having to create keyframes:

CoverFlux 2 is a neat After Effects plugin that allows you to quickly create a coverflow style slideshow – perfect for showcasing images or creating a highlight video. You may recognize the coverflow look from iTunes or Mac OSX Finder:

Create unique effects with the Random Text generator from Luca Visual FX. This free AE plugin is ideal for sci-fi or business projects that require a high tech feel:

Copy Image Plugin for AE

Copy Image is a simple utility plugin that allows you to copy the current composition as a flattened image. By using Copy Image you can paste a ‘screenshot’ of your AE comp in another application (like Photoshop) without having to export out a still image and reopening in another app. DOWNLOAD

VFX Bro: Camera Shake and Camera Shake Pro

Our friend Aaron at VFXBro.com has created several free After Effects plugins for manipulating your footage.

Best Free After Effects Plugins

Real Camera Shake is a preset that can add realistic camera movement to your still video shots. This is ideal for footage that requires a handheld look but may not have been shot that way. Real Camera Shake Pro applies similar effect but to a virtual camera inside of After Effects. DOWNLOAD both here.

Real Camera Shake:

Real Camera Shake Pro:

Coremelt EQ Animator and Plugin Pack

Coremelt makes industry leading plugins for After Effects and video editing apps. Luckily, they give away two products FREE.

VeeYou is an After Effects plugin that reacts to audio in your project. Apply these EQ, VU, analog dials and waveform generators to an audio layer in AE. Watch as the visuals react to the sound. DOWNLOAD

CoremeltFREE is an effects bundle of 39 free plugins for After Effects (also works with FCP, FCPX and Premiere Pro). Included in the pack are color effects, dynamic transitions and filters. See the full list of effects here or DOWNLOAD here.

VideoCopilot Free AE Presets

Aside from being a fantastic online training resource, Andrew Kramer from VideoCopilot.net has made available 15 free After Effects presets. Among the presets are film grains, day for night color preset, a reflection plugin (great for logos) and a tool for better controlling the AE 3D camera. Big bonus: with each of these AE presets you can also view a video tutorial on how to use them. Head over to VideoCopilot to check them out and DOWNLOAD.

AEFlame: Free Fractal Plugin for AE

Aescripts.com is a great resource for the latest After Effects tools. The following plugin, AE Flame, alows you to create beautiful fractal images in AE. DOWNLOAD

Best Free After Effects Plugins

Cineblur’s Instagram Plugin

Premiumbeat blogger Brent Pierce created a set of AE color filters that mimic the looks popularized by Instagram. With one-click you can apply these looks to your video – great for experimenting with your footage. DOWNLOAD

Digital Typewriter Text Preset

If you’re working on a project with futuristic or Internet-related content this free After Effects plugin may come in handy. Typominal creates a ‘digital typewriter’ look, characteristic of Apple’s Terminal or MS-DOS. See our previous post on this AE plugin or go here to DOWNLOAD.

After Effects makes it easy to add finishing touches to any video project. However, as great as After Effects is, there is no doubt that certain actions take a lot of time. If you’re working with a lot of video files, saving time in your workflow is essential.

That’s exactly where these free After Effect presets come in. They will not only help you save time but also money and allow you to speed up your editing process so you can take on more projects or enjoy more free time.

Quick Jump:Text Effects Presets, Animation Presets, Transition Presets, Special Effect Presets, Design Effect Presets, Color Presets & Light Presets.

How to Install an After Effects Preset

After Effects presets make it easy to create your very own library of different animations and effects for your video editing projects. Here’s a quick tutorial on how to install After Effects presets downloaded from the Internet.

  • Download and unzip After Effects preset you want to use
  • If you’re on a Windows computer, go to Documents > Adobe > After Effects > User Presets
  • Copy the downloaded preset folder into the above folder
  • If you’re on a Mac, go to Applications > Adobe After Effects > Presets
  • Copy the downloaded preset folder into the above folder
  • To use the newly installed preset, launch After Effects
  • Go to Effects and Presets, locate the presets you just installed, select the desired preset, and double-click it to apply it to your composition.

After Effects Free Text Effects Presets

Typominal Typewriter Effect Preset for After Effects

This time and money saving preset suite includes 2 .ffx files that will allow you to fully customize how your text looks and acts in your next project.

Tapered Stroke Preset for After Effects

Use this tapered stroke preset to masterfully and fundamentally change how your text can act for your next video. There is no end to how you can animate your text when you use this fully customizable preset.

70 Glitch Title Animation Presets Pack (with Envato Elements)

Save yourself some time, energy, and money by using this resource for all your glitched text needs. Includes six different types of animation that works with any font and is fully editable.

Stranger Things Text Effect for After Effects

Use this preset when you want to add a bit of flair to your next text effects. No keyframe animation is required. Just a simple and customizable fade in and out using layer in and out points.

Motion Type Text Animation Preset

This awesome text preset allows you to animate with and without the need of keyframes, use in/out mirror parameters, reverse text animation directions and more.

Glitch Text Effects Toolkit (with Envato Elements)

This glitch text effect toolkit gives you 30 different ready to go glitch title animations, 32 different glitch maps to choose from, and is 3D perspective ready for your creative compositing.

10 More Simple After Effects Text Presets

Use this preset to quickly animate your text for any project. You will find 10 unique text presets that you can customize to your liking to give your next video that vibrant and professional look.

10 Free After Effects Text Animation Presets

This preset pack offers up ten wonderfully animated text options that will be perfect in your next video project. Quick and easy to use, this pack will save you time and energy when the crunch is on.

After Effects Free Animation Presets

Squash & Stretch Preset

This preset features handcrafted animations by professional with an intelligent adjustments method that ensures all the animations and behaviors always look good.

Bounce & Drop After Effects Preset

This bounce and drop preset is perfect for your next video project. With simple and easy to use controllers, you will be quickly animating everything from text to shapes.

150 Splatter Animations (with Envato Elements)

Save precious time and money by using this splatter animation resource. With 150 different animations that are easily customized; this resource is the easiest way to get your effects onto video.

Animography Controller Preset

With this controller preset you will be able to quickly and effortlessly animate your text, all in one layer. Just drag and drop in your characters and create your effects within the create controller function.

CounterPro Preset – Count & Animate Numbers

Use this preset to animate any number in any fashion of your choosing. Easily apply, modify, and customize your prefix and suffix signs, create custom timers or countdowns, all without the need for keyframe animations.

Simple Animation Logo (with Envato Elements)

This preset is all you need for your next video title card. Quickly and easily introduce yourself to the world with this vibrant and colorful animated preset. Perfect for your next corporate video.

Mograph Cloner Tool for After Effects

This clever preset recreates the effects of Mograph, found in Cinema 4D, for use in After Effects. Now you don’t need to clone and animate objects in Cinema 4D and then transfer them into After Effects to complete you project, when you can do it all in the shapes layer.

AE Flame – Free Fractal Animation Preset

This preset allows you to explore the depths of mathematical space right in After Effects. Create stunning flames and you delve deeper into this mathematical space.

After Effects Free Transition Presets

Sam Kolder Transitions Preset Pack

Sam Kolder’s transitions pack includes 10 different transitions that are quick, simple, and easy to use. Whether you want to punch in or zoom out, or slide left or rotate right, this pack has you covered for all your needs.

Distorted Transitions (with Envato Elements)

For fans of the glitch, this is the ultimate transition pack. Save time and energy with hundreds of different presets. Includes overlays, light leaks, and tv noises so that your glitched transitions fit wherever you need them.

Collection of 25 Free After Effects Transitions

This collection of transitions is perfect for those who work in video editing or motion graphic animation, who want something that is both appealing and non distracting when a transition is used.

After Effects Free Special Effect Presets

Flicker Freak Horror Flicker Preset

If you want to add some dramatic flair to your videos or if you’re a horror movie enthusiast, this plugin will be right up your alley. Quickly add and customize the amount of flicker and duration of flicker with this plugin.

Ugly Box Plugin

Why be obsessed with beauty when ugly can look just as good but better? This plugin makes it easy to create diseased looking people or those adorable zombies for your next video project.

Film Grain Effect Preset for After Effects

Easily add grain to anything from your videos to still images. The plugin comes with controllers to quickly increase or reduce the amount of grain as well as the saturation density.

Glitch Intro (with Envato Elements)

Save time and energy with this glitch intro pack. Quickly and easily add the glitching effect to your videos or images. The pack is available in 24 and 30 frames per second intervals and is supported in ultra HD, full HD, and HD formats.

Fleko Preset – Stretch Pixels & Distort them Geometrically

This preset enables you to stretch and distort pixels geometrically. Use this preset to create perfect loops, abstract patterns, and keyframe-less animations. The preset is compatible for Adobe CC2014 and up.

15 Camera Shake Presets for After Effects

When you want to add the feeling of a handheld camera shot to your tripod held shot, this preset pack is just the answer. With 4K and HD resolution and 24mm, 35mm, and 50mm camera presets, you will be able to add in everything from a slight shake to heavy movement in a matter of seconds.

PolyNoise Alphabet Animated Typeface (with Envato Elements)

This resource will save you time and money on your next text animation project. Because of the included EasyType script, you will be able to just enter your text and get your results in real time.

Light Saber Preset with Motion Blur Preset

This is the perfect preset to use when you want those epic lightsabers to be used. Control everything from the turning on and off the lightsaber to the thickness amount, color, and vibrating intensity.

Free Anamorphic After Effects Plugin

This plugin allows you to apply a 40mm lens curve effect to all of your 16:9 footage. With 12 control points, you will be able to fully curve your video to give it that anamorphic feel. This plugin is 4k ready.

Glitchin After Effects Preset

This preset makes it quick and easy to add in a glitch effect to your video. Just drop it onto a layer and it will glitch away; without having to worry about keyframes.

Vintage Effects Presets for After Effects

This preset and tutorial combination is all you need to get started with making your own vintage looking videos. You learn the concepts and practice while the presets do all the heavy lifting.

After Effects Free Design Effect Presets

Topo Topographic Preset

Best Free After Effects Plugins 2020

This set of presets allows you to replicate topographic-like designs for landscapes and maps; but you can tweak it further to create great visuals to be used as overlays, maps, or backgrounds. Easily animate your creations with the Evolution and Offset Turbulence parameters.

Simple Gradient Plugin for After Effects

This plugin is exactly what it says it is, a simple two color gradient with a center point, width, and direction dial. This tool makes it easy to control gradient effects and apply a gradient mask where you need it.

Sparkle Photo Toolkit (with Envato Elements)

This time saving resource will help you bring your photos come to life. You will be able to add a unique particle effect without needing any plugins or pre-rendered footage.

45 Free Pattern Presets For After Effects

Best Free Vst Effects

When you want to add in a background pattern quickly and easily, this plugin will save the day. With 45 templates that are fully customizable, you’ll never run out of options for your background needs.

Label Maker Preset

This plugin, when run, scans your selected layers and automatically assigns a colored tile to help speed up your editing or designing workflow. This makes it possible to save time and energy on all of your current and future projects.

After Effects Cc 2019 Download

Dynamic Slideshow (with Envato Elements)

Save time using this resource for your next multimedia project. This resource is perfect for special event openings, as a photo album, or simple slides. Just drop your images or video in, edit your text, add your audio and finally enjoy the show.

Backdrop Designer Plugin

This plugin is a godsend when you need your own photography backdrops. Pick from hundreds of premade digital backdrops or customize your own. This plugin creates beautiful resolution-independent backdrops not unlike the expensive muslin drapes found in photography studious.

Long & Soft Shadow Creator for After Effects

This preset adds a drop shadow to all your text. Fully customize the shadows’ anchorpoint, determine your shadows’ mode, give your shadow a feather and then plaster it with colors.

After Effects Free Color Presets

20 Free Color Presets for After Effects

Picking the correct color grade is not only important for aesthetics, it’s also important for the storytelling process. Good choices will breathe life into your film, bad choices will be distracting and uninspired. With this preset package you’ll get the best colors you can.

15 Free Color Presets For After Effects

With this color preset pack you’ll be adding emotion in your films in no time. With 15 distinct presets, this pack makes it easy for you to apply an effect and breathe life into your film.

After Effects Free Light Presets

Auto Bright Lens Flare After Effects Preset

This preset gives you complete control over your lens flare. Put it in where you need it, apply the strength of the effect and your scene has just transformed from dull to interesting.

Free Light Leaks Preset Pack

This preset gives you complete control of the light in your camera. Perfect for adding more personality to a still image, it also works well in motion photography. Use this preset pack to get the most out of your next video or photography project.

Best Free After Effects Plugins Free

From adding more color to creating glitchy text, there is a preset for any situation that can be used in After Effects. Fill up your video editing library with the presets from this list and save time and money on your next project.

You might also like these free After Effects project files or this comprehensive collection of After Effects tutorials.

Related Posts