Best Runway Alternatives for Motion Graphics in 2026
Runway can generate impressive moving visuals, but motion graphics — the disciplined art of animated text, shapes, logos, and data visualisations — requires a different kind of tool. Purpose-built motion graphics software gives you the precision, repeatability, and brand control that generative AI alone can't reliably deliver. Here are the best alternatives for motion graphics work.
Quick Comparison
| Tool | Pricing | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe After Effects | Free plan $22.99/month (annual) or $34.99/month (monthly) | 4.7 |
| Cavalry | Free plan Indie $32/month, Pro $57/month | 4.3 |
| Rive | Free plan Team $25/editor/month, Enterprise custom pricing | 4.4 |
| Jitter | Free plan Pro $19/month, Team $29/editor/month | 4.1 |
| Fable | Free plan Pro $15/month, Team $20/editor/month | 4 |
Detailed Reviews
Adobe After Effects
The undisputed industry standard for motion graphics, compositing, and visual effects, now enhanced with AI-powered rotoscoping, motion tracking, and generative features.
Pros
- +Deepest motion graphics toolset available — expressions, shape layers, 3D, the lot
- +AI-powered Roto Brush and Content-Aware Fill save hours of manual work
- +Massive ecosystem of plugins, templates, and community resources
Cons
- -Steep learning curve that takes months to become proficient
- -Subscription-only pricing adds up significantly over time
- -Performance can be sluggish with complex compositions on modest hardware
Pricing
Cavalry
A modern, node-based motion graphics application built for procedural and data-driven animation with a workflow designed for the 2020s.
Pros
- +Node-based workflow makes complex procedural animations intuitive
- +Excellent for data-driven motion graphics and dynamic visualisations
- +Significantly more performant than After Effects for heavy 2D work
Cons
- -Smaller community means fewer tutorials and third-party resources
- -No 3D compositing capabilities — strictly 2D motion graphics
- -Plugin ecosystem is tiny compared to After Effects
Pricing
Rive
A real-time interactive animation tool that creates motion graphics playable in apps, games, and websites with tiny file sizes and runtime interactivity.
Pros
- +Animations are interactive and run in real-time on web, iOS, and Android
- +State machine system creates complex interactive behaviours without code
- +File sizes are a fraction of video — ideal for web and app performance
Cons
- -Focused on interactive/UI animation, not traditional broadcast motion graphics
- -Learning the state machine system requires a paradigm shift
- -Less suitable for long-form or cinematic motion design
Pricing
Jitter
A browser-based motion graphics tool designed for marketers and designers who need polished animated content without learning After Effects.
Pros
- +Runs entirely in the browser — no software to install or update
- +Figma-like interface is immediately familiar to designers
- +Template library helps non-animators produce professional results fast
Cons
- -Far less powerful than After Effects for complex animation
- -Export options are limited compared to desktop applications
- -Browser-based means performance depends on connection and device
Pricing
Fable
A collaborative, browser-based motion design tool that combines real-time collaboration with professional animation capabilities.
Pros
- +Real-time collaboration lets teams animate together like Google Docs
- +Professional keyframe animation with proper easing and graph editor
- +Imports Lottie and SVG files for seamless design workflow integration
Cons
- -Feature set is still maturing compared to After Effects
- -Complex animations can hit performance limits in the browser
- -Smaller template library than competitors like Jitter
Pricing
Our Verdict
For serious motion graphics work, Adobe After Effects remains king — nothing matches its depth and ecosystem. But if After Effects feels like overkill, Jitter is the fastest path to polished animated content for marketers, while Cavalry is a revelation for anyone doing data-driven or procedural work. Rive is in a category of its own for interactive motion graphics on the web.