After Effects Alternative Mac Instant

Entirely free and open-source; lightweight compared to Adobe.

Much faster for "mograph" than AE; excellent free tier; clean, modern UI. After Effects Alternative Mac

Free version is incredibly powerful; no subscription (one-time purchase for Studio); native Apple Silicon optimization. Cons: Steep learning curve if you are used to layers. 2. Apple Motion Entirely free and open-source; lightweight compared to Adobe

Cavalry is the "new kid on the block" and is rapidly becoming a favorite for 2D motion designers. It focuses on procedural workflows, making it much faster to create complex, repetitive animations than After Effects. Entirely free and open-source