What is an After Effects template?
An After Effects template is a pre-made animation project built in Adobe After Effects, a professional motion graphics and visual effects program.
How they work
Templates come as a .zip file. You’ll need to extract the contents with a program like WinRAR (Windows) or Archive Utility (Mac).
Inside, you’ll find an .aep file — this is the After Effects project file you can open and edit in Adobe After Effects.
Many contributors also include a ReadMe file with guidance on how to customize text, logos, footage, or images inside the template.
What you need to know
After Effects templates are animation-based, not just video clips. Editing them requires learning your way around After Effects.
While they can take time to master, templates give you access to professional-quality animations without needing to design them from scratch.