The 35 Best Free Presets for After Effects


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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 can be tedious and time-consuming. 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.

If you would like to learn how to use and add special effects to your video, you should take a look at our extensive collection of After Effects tutorials.



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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

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.

Tapered Stroke Preset for After Effects

70 Glitch Title Animation Presets Pack

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 animated font and is fully editable.

70 Glitch Title Animation Presets Pack

Stranger Things Text Effect for After Effects

Use this preset 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.

Stranger Things Text Effect for After Effects

Motion Type Text Animation Preset

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

Motion Type Text Animation Preset

Glitch Text Effects Toolkit

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.

Glitch Text Effects Toolkit

10 More Simple After Effects Text Presets

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

10 More Simple After Effects Text Presets

10 Free After Effects Text Animation Presets

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

10 Free After Effects Text Animation Presets

After Effects Free Animation Presets

Squash & Stretch Preset

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

Squash Stretch Preset

150 Splatter Animations

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.

150 Splatter Animations

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 your characters and create your effects within the create controller function.

Animography Controller Preset

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.

CounterPro Preset Count & Animate Numbers

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 logo reveal preset. Perfect for your next corporate video.

Simple Animation Logo

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 your project, when you can do it all in the shapes layer.

Mograph Cloner Tool for After Effects

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.

AE Flame - Free Fractal Animation Preset

After Effects Free Transition Presets

Distorted Transitions

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.

Distorted Transitions

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.

Collection of 25 Free After Effects Transitions

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.

Flicker Freak Horror Flicker Preset

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.

Ugly Box Plugin

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.

Film Grain Effect Preset for After Effects

Glitch Intro

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.

Glitch Intro

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 with Adobe CC2014 and up.

Fleko Preset Stretch Pixels Distort them Geometrically

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.

15 Camera Shake Presets for After Effects

PolyNoise Alphabet Animated Typeface

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.

PolyNoise Alphabet Animated Typeface

Light Saber Preset with Motion Blur Preset

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

Light Saber Preset with Motion Blur Preset

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.

Free Anamorphic After Effects Plugin

Glitchin After Effects Preset

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

Glitchin After Effects Preset

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.

Vintage Effects Presets for After Effects

After Effects Free Design Effect Presets

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.

Simple Gradient Plugin for After Effects

Sparkle Photo Toolkit

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

Sparkle Photo Toolkit

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.

Label Maker Preset

Dynamic Slideshow

Save time using this resource for your next multimedia project. This slideshow is perfect for special event openings, such 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.

Dynamic Slideshow

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, unlike the expensive muslin drapes found in photography studios.

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.

Long & Soft Shadow Creator for After Effects

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.

20 Free Color Presets for After Effects

15 Free Color Presets For After Effects

With this color preset pack, you’ll be adding emotion to 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.

15 Free Color Presets For After Effects

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.

Auto Bright Lens Flare After Effects Preset

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.

Free Light Leaks Preset Pack


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.



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