TL;DR: Not better, just different and cheaper, with a free way in. Physics Now! is a mature, well-liked tool in the same spirit as MatterAE. If you want to compare them on your own footage, MatterAE is free to try and costs less. ;)
This one is closer to home than the Newton comparison, because Physics Now! and MatterAE share a philosophy: keep physics integrated inside After Effects, tag layers as dynamic or static, simulate, and bake to the timeline. Physics Now! is a polished, established plugin with a loyal following, and that is well earned.
What they have in common
Both live inside AE rather than shipping you off to another app. Both let you tag layer behaviour and simulate directly against your comp. Both create keyframes you can edit afterwards. Both are sold direct on Gumroad. If you have used one, the other will feel familiar.
Where they part ways
Physics Now! is the more established option, currently around $89 in its v2, with features like joints, randomize, text-splitting and a debug layer. MatterAE is younger and leans into a few specific things: a dockable real-time panel, collision groups, frame-accurate collision markers for sound design, vertex-accurate hitboxes with chamfer and padding, and a kinematic hold-then-release workflow. It also comes in cheaper at $35, and it is free to try, so putting it through its paces costs nothing.
| MatterAE | Physics Now! v2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $35 one-time | around $89 one-time |
| Free option | Free, 3-second bake cap | - |
| Integrated in AE | Yes, dockable panel | Yes |
| Real-time preview | Yes | Yes |
| Bakes keyframes | Yes | Yes |
| Collision groups and SFX markers | Yes | Check current docs |
| Maturity | Younger, fast-moving | Established |
So, which one?
If you are already happy in Physics Now!, there is no reason to switch for the sake of it. It is a good tool. If you are choosing fresh, want the lowest cost, or just want to try real physics on a real project without paying first, MatterAE makes that easy. The fairest answer is: run it free on something you actually have to deliver, and let the work decide.
No-risk comparison
Grab the free download and put it head to head on your own footage. That beats any table I could write.