Adobe After Effects is the best AI tool for visual effects, with AI Object Matte and Content-Aware Fill from US$22.99/mo. Foundry NukeX is #2 for CopyCat, which trains neural networks on your own shots ($5,219/yr), and DaVinci Resolve is #3 with a free version and a Studio edition listed at $236.
Studios that want suit-free mocap data at optical quality
Pick by what you want
Best overall
Adobe After Effects
Best for custom ML
Foundry NukeX (CopyCat)
Best value
DaVinci Resolve Studio
Best for CG characters
Autodesk Flow Studio (formerly Wonder Studio)
Best for upscaling
Topaz Video
The ranking
1
Adobe After Effects
Answrs VerdictThe default AI-assisted VFX app for most artists.
Price: US$22.99/mo for the Annual, billed monthly planAI Object Matte: Isolates a moving subject with a simple hover and click, with refinement brushes for stray pixelsContent-Aware Fill: Fills in the gaps in every video frame to erase things like a boom mic or background peopleGenerative credits: 25 monthly generative credits with the After Effects plan
After Effects pairs a full compositing toolset with AI Object Matte, which isolates a moving subject with a hover and click, and Content-Aware Fill, which fills the gaps in every video frame. It is US$22.99/mo on the Annual, billed monthly plan and includes 25 monthly generative credits.
Go ifCompositors and motion designers who want AI mattes and object removal inside the app they already use
Skip ifYou want a node-based compositor
Why #1 over #2: Its AI matte and fill live in the app most artists already open, where NukeX costs $5,219/yr.
2
Foundry NukeX (CopyCat)
Answrs VerdictThe strongest trainable AI in a pro compositor.
Price: NukeX is $5,219/yr on the yearly subscriptionCopyCat: A plug-in that lets artists train neural networks to create custom effects for their own image-based tasksTypical jobs: Duplicates sequence-specific effects such as garbage matting, beauty repairs or deblurring from select frames across a full sequenceCattery: A hub of Foundry-converted models, all converted to .cat files ready for use in Nuke
NukeX ships with CopyCat, a plug-in that trains neural networks to create custom effects for your own image-based tasks, such as garbage matting, beauty repairs or deblurring copied from select frames across a full sequence. The Cattery hub adds Foundry-converted .cat models. NukeX is $5,219/yr.
Go ifStudios that want to train their own machine-learning effects on shot data
Skip ifYou need a low price or no pipeline overhead
Why #2 over #3: It trains on your own shots, which Resolve’s built-in Neural Engine features do not.
3
DaVinci Resolve Studio
Answrs VerdictThe best value in AI for VFX and finishing.
Price: Free version; Studio listed as Was $295 Now $236Neural Engine: DaVinci AI Neural Engine uses deep neural networks and machine learning for features such as facial recognition, object detection, smart reframing, speed warp retiming and super scaleMagic Mask: Studio adds magic mask and the DaVinci Neural Engine for automatic AI region trackingVersion: DaVinci Resolve 21
DaVinci Resolve 21 has a free version, and Studio adds the DaVinci AI Neural Engine, which uses deep neural networks for facial recognition, object detection, smart reframing, speed warp retiming and super scale, plus magic mask. Studio is listed as Was $295 Now $236.
Go ifArtists who want AI masking, tracking and upscaling plus Fusion in one low-cost app
Skip ifYou only work in Adobe or Nuke pipelines
Why #3 over #4: Its $236 Studio price undercuts Silhouette’s $875.00 annual subscription.
4
Autodesk Flow Studio (formerly Wonder Studio)
Answrs VerdictThe easiest route to AI-driven CG character shots.
Price: Free $0; Lite $7/month; Standard $30/month; Pro $64/month, all paid annuallyLive action to CG: Animate, light and compose CG characters into live-action footageExports: Export mocap, camera tracking, clean plates and more into Maya, Blender, Unreal or 3ds Max via USDRenamed: Autodesk rebranded Wonder Studio as Autodesk Flow Studio, reported March 14, 2025
Wonder Studio is now Autodesk Flow Studio. It animates, lights and composes CG characters into live-action footage and exports mocap, camera tracking and clean plates to Maya, Blender, Unreal or 3ds Max via USD. Free is $0, Lite $7/month, Standard $30/month and Pro $64/month, paid annually.
Go ifReplacing live actors with CG characters and exporting editable mocap and clean plates
Skip ifYou need a compositing package
Why #4 over #5: It puts CG characters into live action, which Runway’s generative models do not.
5
Runway
Answrs VerdictThe leading generative video tool for VFX previs and plates.
Price: Free $0 with 125 one-time credits; Standard $15 a month ($12 billed annually); Pro $35 ($28 billed annually); Max $95 ($76 billed annually)Models: Standard includes access to all AI video and image models, including Gen-4.5Upscaling: 4K upscaling on Standard; unlimited 4K video upscaling on Pro and MaxMax plan: Studio-grade quality (HDR, ProRes, image sequences)
Runway offers all its AI video and image models, including Gen-4.5, with 4K upscaling from Standard. Free is $0 with 125 one-time credits; Standard is $15 a month ($12 billed annually), Pro $35 ($28) and Max $95 ($76), with HDR, ProRes and image sequences on Max.
Go ifGenerating and extending shots, plates and concepts with video models
Skip ifYou need frame-accurate control over every pixel
Why #5 over #6: Its $15 Standard plan is cheaper than Luma’s $30 Plus.
6
Boris FX Silhouette
Answrs VerdictThe pro roto and paint tool with ML masking.
Price: Annual subscription $875.00 ($72.92/mo for 12 mo.); monthly subscription $165.00/moMask ML: A Mask ML node is shown among the Roto, Paint and Comp toolsIncluded tools: 400+ VFX nodes, including Boris FX Sapphire, Mocha Pro and Particle IllusionML requirement: Machine Learning plug-ins require an Apple silicon integrated GPU on Mac, or run on the CPU with significantly degraded performance
Silhouette is the roto and paint tool with 400+ VFX nodes, including Sapphire, Mocha Pro and Particle Illusion, and a Mask ML node among its tools. It is $875.00 on an annual subscription ($72.92/mo for 12 mo.) or $165.00/mo monthly.
Go ifRotoscoping and paint artists who want machine-learning masks
Skip ifYou only need occasional roto
Why #6 over #7: Its Mask ML node targets roto directly, where Topaz Video enhances finished footage.
7
Topaz Video
Answrs VerdictThe go-to AI enhancer for footage cleanup.
Price: Topaz Video (Mac and PC) $299/yrModels: Over 20 AI enhancement models for upscale, denoise, restore, stabilize, slow mo and interpolateWorkflow: Works as a standalone app or as a plugin for After Effects and DaVinci ResolveRendering: Local rendering keeps files on your computer; cloud rendering uses Cloud Credits
Topaz Video is sold for Mac and PC at $299/yr. It has over 20 AI enhancement models for upscale, denoise, restore, stabilize, slow mo and interpolate, runs standalone or as an After Effects or DaVinci Resolve plugin, and renders locally or in the cloud with Cloud Credits.
Go ifUpscaling, denoising and restoring plates and archival footage
Skip ifYou want generative or compositing tools
Why #7 over #8: It restores footage that Cascadeur does not touch.
8
Cascadeur
Answrs VerdictThe best AI animation tool for character VFX.
Price: Free; Indie $8 per month billed annually; Pro $33 per month billed annuallyAI tools: AI interpolation that instantly generates motion between keyframes, and AI motion generation for running, jumping, combat and moreMocap cleanup: Tools to fix motion capture data, prevent feet sliding, knee pops and geometry penetrationUnreal link: UE Live Link streams animation directly to Unreal Engine
Cascadeur is character animation software with AI interpolation that generates motion between keyframes, AI motion generation for running, jumping and combat, and mocap cleanup tools. UE Live Link streams to Unreal Engine. Free; Indie $8 per month and Pro $33 per month, billed annually.
Go ifKeyframe and mocap-cleanup work on CG characters
Skip ifYou work only on 2D footage
Why #8 over #9: It cleans up and edits mocap, which Luma’s video generation does not.
9
Luma
Answrs VerdictA strong generative option with HDR and EXR output.
Price: Plus $30/month; Pro $90/month; Ultra $300/monthRay3.2: Video model that lists Text-to-Video, Image-to-Video, Video-to-Video, Extend Video and Reframe actionsHDR output: Ray3.2 lists SDR (base), HDR (2×) and HDR+EXR (3×) outputCredits: Plus includes 10,000 credits and commercial use
Luma’s Ray3.2 video model lists Text-to-Video, Image-to-Video, Video-to-Video, Extend Video and Reframe actions, with SDR, HDR (2×) and HDR+EXR (3×) output. Plus is $30/month with 10,000 credits and commercial use, Pro $90/month and Ultra $300/month.
Go ifVideo-to-video edits and HDR or EXR generated shots
Skip ifYou need a fixed, predictable per-shot cost
Why #9 over #10: Its HDR+EXR option reaches pipeline formats that Move AI’s mocap data does not.
10
Move AI
Answrs VerdictThe mocap pick for studio volumes.
Price: Not publishedWhat it is: Markerless motion capture; Move has pioneered markerless motion capture since 2019Genesis: Needs a single Nvidia GPU with 6 - 12 Z cams and lenses and can be mounted in any volume up to 20 x 20mCapture: 1 -8 person capture with full time code support
Move AI is a markerless motion capture company that has pioneered the approach since 2019. Its Genesis system needs a single Nvidia GPU with 6 - 12 Z cams and lenses and fits any volume up to 20 x 20m, with 1 -8 person capture. Price is not published.
Go ifStudios that want suit-free mocap data at optical quality
Skip ifYou want a self-serve price
How we ranked these
We ranked tools by how much of each vendor’s own published AI feature set helps VFX artists with masking, compositing, cleanup, upscaling and character animation, then by each vendor’s published price. Every fact comes from the vendor’s product or pricing page. Wonder Studio is listed under its current name, Autodesk Flow Studio. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
What is the best AI tool for visual effects?
Adobe After Effects is our top pick: AI Object Matte, Content-Aware Fill and 25 monthly generative credits from US$22.99/mo on the Annual, billed monthly plan.
What happened to Wonder Studio?
Autodesk rebranded Wonder Studio as Autodesk Flow Studio, reported March 14, 2025. It has a free tier and paid plans from $7/month.
What is Nuke CopyCat?
CopyCat is a plug-in shipped with NukeX that lets artists train neural networks to create custom effects for their own image-based tasks; NukeX is $5,219/yr.
Is there a free AI VFX tool?
DaVinci Resolve has a free version, Autodesk Flow Studio has a $0 plan, Cascadeur has a free plan and Runway has a free plan with 125 one-time credits.
Lowest paid monthly price as listed (annual billing where stated) at a glance
Autodesk Flow Studio7 USD
Cascadeur8 USD
Runway15 USD
Adobe After Effects22.99 USD
Luma30 USD
Lowest paid monthly price as listed (annual billing where stated), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
