Adobe After Effects vs Autodesk Maya:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Adobe After Effects had more branded searches than Autodesk Maya among animation software worldwide. Adobe After Effects had about 110,000 branded searches, while Autodesk Maya had 49,500. Adobe After Effects made up 7.9% of all animation software searches we track, and Autodesk Maya accounted for 3.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about animation software, Adobe After Effects appeared in three of the five answers and Autodesk Maya in two. Adobe After Effects and Autodesk Maya were each mentioned first in two of the four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Adobe After Effects, about 2 searches for every 1 for Autodesk Maya
Who does AI mention more?
Adobe After Effects, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Autodesk Maya in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.
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Top animation software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Adobe After Effects was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Autodesk Maya was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Adobe After Effects and Autodesk Maya were each listed first in two of the four answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Blender1st
Toon Boom2nd- Adobe Animate3rd
- Adobe After Effects4th
Krita5th
Moho6th
Autodesk Maya7th
OpenToonz8th
Pencil2D9th
Synfig Studio10th- +4 more
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Blender5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Adobe Animate4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- OpenToonz4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Toon Boom4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Moho4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Krita3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Adobe After Effects3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Pencil2D3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Autodesk Maya2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Procreate Dreams2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about animation software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which animation software should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best animation software options?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best animation software for motion graphics?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“animation software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“2d animation software”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.
Is Adobe After Effects or Autodesk Maya more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Adobe After Effects and Autodesk Maya by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 14 animation software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Adobe After Effects, Autodesk Maya. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Krita | Animaker | Adobe After Effects | Adobe Animate | Vyond | OpenToonz | Autodesk Maya | Toon Boom | Pencil2D | Procreate Dreams | Blender | Synfig Studio | TVPaint | Moho |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 34% | 18.6% | 10.2% | 10.2% | 8.3% | 4.6% | 3.7% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.33% |
| Nov 2025 | 35.3% | 19.3% | 8.7% | 10.6% | 7.1% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.52% |
| Dec 2025 | 38% | 17% | 9.3% | 9.3% | 7.6% | 4.2% | 3.4% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.37% |
| Jan 2026 | 38.4% | 14% | 9.4% | 9.4% | 7.7% | 5.2% | 4.2% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.5% | 0.38% |
| Feb 2026 | 28.3% | 12.6% | 8.5% | 23.1% | 6.9% | 4.6% | 3.1% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 1.4% | 1.1% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.62% |
| Mar 2026 | 37.6% | 13.7% | 9.2% | 9.2% | 9.2% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 2.8% | 3.4% | 1.9% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0.45% |
| Apr 2026 | 39.4% | 14.4% | 9.7% | 9.7% | 7.9% | 3.5% | 4.3% | 2.4% | 2.9% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.39% |
| May 2026 | 37.7% | 13.8% | 9.2% | 9.2% | 9.2% | 5.1% | 4.1% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 0.45% |
| Jun 2026 | 37.7% | 11.3% | 9.2% | 9.2% | 11.3% | 6.2% | 4.1% | 2.8% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.45% |
| Jul 2026 | 38.9% | 9.5% | 9.5% | 9.5% | 11.7% | 5.2% | 4.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.7% |
| Aug 2026 | 43.3% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 7.1% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 0.52% |
| Sep 2026 | 48.3% | 9.7% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 5.3% | 3.5% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.58% |
How has the Adobe After Effects and Autodesk Maya comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Adobe After Effects was ahead of Autodesk Maya in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Adobe After Effects’ share of searches among animation software worldwide moved from 10.2% to 7.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 165K to 110K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Autodesk Maya’s share of searches among animation software worldwide moved from 3.7% to 3.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 60.5K to 49.5K.
How did search popularity change for animation software worldwide in September 2026?
3 changes
In September 2026, Animaker overtook Adobe After Effects and Adobe Animate to rank 2nd among animation software worldwide, with 9.7% of the searches.
In September 2026, Adobe After Effects lost share of searches among animation software worldwide, from 8.7% to 7.9%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Autodesk Maya worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 60.5K to 49.5K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Adobe After Effects’ and Autodesk Maya’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Adobe After Effects
1 branded search term
- adobe after effects
Autodesk Maya
1 branded search term
- autodesk maya
Other head-to-heads among animation software
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