Autograph vs Silhouette

Autograph8.8Visit SSilhouette8.5Visit

Higher score Autograph #6 in Vfx Tools 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Maxon

vs

S Silhouette #8 in Vfx Tools 8.5/10 14-day trial Free trial✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Boris FX

• Autograph fits best

  Artists wanting free modern compositing and motion graphics

• Silhouette fits best

  Roto, paint, and matte specialists

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Side by side

Feature	Autograph 8.8/10 Visit ↗	SSilhouette 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.8	8.5
Ranking	#6 in Vfx Tools	#8 in Vfx Tools
Best for	Artists wanting free modern compositing and motion graphics	Roto, paint, and matte specialists
Pricing model	Free	Paid
Starting price	Free plan	$545/yr
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	14 days
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop, Self-hosted
Platforms	Windows, macOS	Windows, macOS, Linux
Support	Email, Phone, Docs	Tickets, Community, Docs
Integrations	7 integrations	9 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Autograph 0/3 · Silhouette 0/3
Node compositing	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Built-in renderer	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
GPU rendering	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Core workflow	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Supported OS	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Max output resolution	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Combines layered 2D/3D compositing, animation, rotoscoping, and tracking Supports OpenUSD, GPU effects, and real-time Filament rendering Works with OpenFX, Shadertoy, EXR, Photoshop layers, and ProRes	Combines advanced rotoscoping, keying, matte creation, and paint cleanup Includes 400+ compositing nodes and point, planar, and Mocha Pro tracking Available as a standalone application and/or plugin across Windows, macOS, and Linux
Cons	Desktop availability is limited to Windows and macOS Universe and Red Giant OFX tools may require separate licenses Its broad feature set may exceed the needs of artists seeking a narrow tool	Annual subscription starts at $545, with no free plan Its professional VFX focus is a poor fit for consumer background removal Its breadth of specialist tools may be unnecessary for general-purpose compositing
Our verdict	Autograph is Maxon’s desktop software for motion graphics, visual effects, compositing, and 2D/3D projects. It is aimed at motion designers, compositors, and other artists who want these capabilities in one environment, from individuals to… Read the review →	Silhouette is a desktop application and plugin for professional visual-effects artists and studios, especially those working in rotoscoping, paint, and matte creation. Its toolkit also covers keying, tracking, warping, morphing, and… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Autograph — where it wins

  • Combines layered 2D/3D compositing, animation, rotoscoping, and tracking
  • Supports OpenUSD, GPU effects, and real-time Filament rendering
  • Works with OpenFX, Shadertoy, EXR, Photoshop layers, and ProRes

  Where it doesn't

  • Desktop availability is limited to Windows and macOS
  • Universe and Red Giant OFX tools may require separate licenses
  • Its broad feature set may exceed the needs of artists seeking a narrow tool

• Silhouette — where it wins

  • Combines advanced rotoscoping, keying, matte creation, and paint cleanup
  • Includes 400+ compositing nodes and point, planar, and Mocha Pro tracking
  • Available as a standalone application and/or plugin across Windows, macOS, and Linux

  Where it doesn't

  • Annual subscription starts at $545, with no free plan
  • Its professional VFX focus is a poor fit for consumer background removal
  • Its breadth of specialist tools may be unnecessary for general-purpose compositing

• Autograph8.8/10 · Free plan

  A free desktop toolkit for compositing, motion graphics, roto, tracking, and 3D workflows.

  Visit MaxonFull verdict →
• SSilhouette8.5/10 · 14-day trial

  A specialist VFX toolkit with advanced roto, cleanup, tracking, and node compositing.

  Visit Boris FXFull verdict →