After Effects vs DaVinci Resolve: Which Should You Learn First?

"After Effects or DaVinci Resolve?" is one of the most common questions from people just starting out in Video Editing & Motion Graphics. The honest answer: neither is objectively better — but there are considerations that can help you choose based on your needs.

A Quick Look at Both

Both After Effects and DaVinci Resolve are widely used in the creative content and digital media industry, but each has its own strengths and learning curve. Choosing one doesn't mean you'll never need the other — many professionals in this field eventually master both over time, but it's still best to focus on one first.

Learning Curve

The learning curve for both is shaped by your prior background, the complexity of the interface, and how much learning material (tutorials, communities) is available in Indonesian or English. Software with a large community is usually easier to learn on your own, since there are plenty of references when you get stuck, while more niche or enterprise-oriented software often requires more structured learning.

When Should You Choose After Effects?

Consider After Effects if you:

• Already have a clear idea of wanting to work in an environment or industry where After Effects is the standard
• Want to start with a supportive community and beginner-friendly learning resources
• Have a short-term priority of building a portfolio as quickly as possible

When Should You Choose DaVinci Resolve?

Consider DaVinci Resolve if you:

• Are targeting companies or clients that specifically require DaVinci Resolve
• Already have a foundation in similar software and want to go deeper in a more specific direction
• Need features that are DaVinci Resolve's signature strengths for a particular use case

Do You Need to Learn Both?

Not necessarily at the same time, but it's not wrong to end up doing so either. A common pattern is: master one to a reasonably proficient level (able to handle real projects), then learn the second as a complementary skill. Trying to learn both from scratch at the same time usually slows you down, since your learning energy gets split.

Conclusion

There's no universal answer to "After Effects vs DaVinci Resolve" — only the answer that best fits your career goals and current project needs. If you're still unsure, start with whichever has the most supportive learning community for your current level, then build from there.