Best Adobe After Effects CS4 Alternatives in 2025
Looking for alternatives to Adobe After Effects CS4? In this comparison, we take a closer look at Adobe After Effects CS4 alongside similar software solutions including Adobe After Effects CS4, OpenShot Video Editor, VideoProc Converter, VSDC Free Video Editor, Adobe Photoshop CS4, PowerDirector, Blender, DaVinci Resolve, Pinnacle Studio, Adobe Photoshop CS5 and Windows Movie Maker.
Our detailed comparison table highlights key features, pricing, and performance of these leading solutions, empowering you to make an informed decision. Whether you're seeking robust functionality, user-friendly design, or cost-effective alternatives, explore how Adobe After Effects CS4, OpenShot Video Editor, VideoProc Converter, VSDC Free Video Editor, Adobe Photoshop CS4, PowerDirector, Blender, DaVinci Resolve, Pinnacle Studio, Adobe Photoshop CS5 and Windows Movie Maker stack up to find the perfect software for your goals.
License Model
 Adobe After Effects CS4
|
One-time purchase |
 OpenShot Video Editor
|
Free and open-source |
 VideoProc Converter
|
Paid software with free trial and lifetime license option |
 VSDC Free Video Editor
|
Free version available without hidden fees |
 Adobe Photoshop CS4
|
Subscription-based model with free trial |
 PowerDirector
|
Free trial available, paid versions with additional features |
 Blender
|
Free and open-source |
 DaVinci Resolve
|
Free version and paid version available |
 Pinnacle Studio
|
Trial version available with paid full versions |
 Adobe Photoshop CS5
|
Trial version and purchase required, subscription-based pricing |
 Windows Movie Maker
|
Freeware |
Platform Compatibility
|
Adobe After Effects CS4
|
Windows and Mac OS X |
|
OpenShot Video Editor
|
Linux, Windows, Mac |
|
VideoProc Converter
|
Windows and Mac |
|
VSDC Free Video Editor
|
Windows only |
|
Adobe Photoshop CS4
|
Windows and Mac |
|
PowerDirector
|
Windows |
|
Blender
|
Windows, Mac OS X, Linux |
|
DaVinci Resolve
|
Windows, Mac |
|
Pinnacle Studio
|
Windows |
|
Adobe Photoshop CS5
|
Windows and Mac |
|
Windows Movie Maker
|
Windows only |
Key Features
|
Adobe After Effects CS4
|
Powerful compositing and animation capabilities, digital visual effects, new unified camera tool, designed for video post-production workflow. |
|
OpenShot Video Editor
|
Simple and intuitive user interface, multi-track editing, various audio and video effects, free and open-source with some occasional bugs. |
|
VideoProc Converter
|
Built-in video editor with cropping, merging, trimming, screen recording, hardware acceleration support, suitable for beginners. |
|
VSDC Free Video Editor
|
Non-linear video editing interface, advanced video editing features including motion tracking and color correction tools, |
|
Adobe Photoshop CS4
|
Advanced photo editing functionality including layers, masks, content-aware scaling; some video editing capabilities. |
|
PowerDirector
|
Video editing software supporting 360-degree and 4K video editing, built-in screen recording, multi-camera editing. |
|
Blender
|
Free 3D creation suite including modeling, animation, game engine integration; steep learning curve. |
|
DaVinci Resolve
|
Professional video editing combined with advanced color correction and grading features; collaborative workflow support. |
|
Pinnacle Studio
|
High-quality video editing with multi-track timeline, chroma key tools, motion tracking; supports 4K and 360-degree videos. |
|
Adobe Photoshop CS5
|
Advanced image manipulation tools including content-aware fill and 3D capabilities; supports extensive file formats. |
|
Windows Movie Maker
|
Basic video editing features such as trimming, blurring, captions; user-friendly interface but limited advanced tools. |
Choosing the right software isn’t just about features. Size, license type, user ratings, and popularity also matter.
This quick comparison shows how Adobe After Effects CS4 stacks up against Adobe After Effects CS4, OpenShot Video Editor, VideoProc Converter, VSDC Free Video Editor, Adobe Photoshop CS4, PowerDirector, Blender, DaVinci Resolve, Pinnacle Studio, Adobe Photoshop CS5 and Windows Movie Maker in these key areas—helping you find the best alternative for your needs.
Size
|
Adobe After Effects CS4
|
|
|
OpenShot Video Editor
|
188.3MB |
|
VideoProc Converter
|
175.1MB |
|
VSDC Free Video Editor
|
98.1MB |
|
Adobe Photoshop CS4
|
|
|
PowerDirector
|
|
|
Blender
|
|
|
DaVinci Resolve
|
2054.3MB |
|
Pinnacle Studio
|
|
|
Adobe Photoshop CS5
|
|
|
Windows Movie Maker
|
140.5MB |
License
|
Adobe After Effects CS4
|
Commercial |
|
OpenShot Video Editor
|
Open Source |
|
VideoProc Converter
|
Commercial |
|
VSDC Free Video Editor
|
Freeware |
|
Adobe Photoshop CS4
|
Commercial |
|
PowerDirector
|
Commercial |
|
Blender
|
Open Source |
|
DaVinci Resolve
|
Commercial |
|
Pinnacle Studio
|
Commercial |
|
Adobe Photoshop CS5
|
Commercial |
|
Windows Movie Maker
|
Freeware |