The short answer
- Use After Effects for character animation, heavy visual effects, compositing footage, or when you depend on its plugins and templates.
- Use Dailies for launch videos, feature announcements and explainers, when you want a plan, a timeline and a team review in one browser tab.
Side by side
| Feature | Dailies | After Effects |
|---|---|---|
| Runs | In the browser: Chrome or Edge on a computer | A desktop app |
| Made for | Product videos | Motion graphics and visual effects of every kind |
| Planning | A Storyboard in the same Project | Usually done in another tool |
| Review | Comments pinned to a moment, and watch links | Usually through another tool |
| AI apps | Claude, ChatGPT, Codex and Cursor connect over MCP | Adobe's own generative features |
| Depth | Keyframes, easing, 3D camera, effects, sound | Far deeper, with decades of plugins and tutorials |
Where Dailies is the better fit
If you make product videos every few weeks, the slow part is rarely the animation. It is deciding what to say, passing files around and collecting feedback. Dailies keeps the Storyboard, the Shots and the comments in one Project, so a teammate can open a link instead of installing anything.
Where After Effects is the better pick
After Effects has a far larger range of effects, a huge plugin and template market, and years of tutorials for almost any look. If you already know it and your work needs that range, keep using it. See Adobe's After Effects page for current plans. Checked 5 November 2026.
Try Dailies
Dailies is in private beta, so you need an invite. Sign in with yours, or ask for one there.