user643: I use Sony Vegas for video production but would like to be able to create more visual effects. 
Are there any cheaper alternatives for Adobe's After Effects? Or is there an extension for Vegas?

user2994: After Effects is an extremely powerful tool, not just because of the out of box abilities but also its integration with 3rd party plugins...In some degrees I could say it can compete with Nuke which is like 4k, and even more for Nuke X
In terms of Pro-sumer/ boarder-line Professional Software these two are in a league of their own, being both MAC and PC compatible also is a huge advantage for them over, well there really isn't any competition.
After Effects has a 30-day free trial and Nuke has a 15-day free trial, also if you are a student you can get AE for just a couple hundred on its own, and will work great with Vegas, just need to export and import VFX clips.  Same would be for Nuke, however obviously much more expensive and probably not in your budget so...
To simply answer your question, no...Use the 30-day free trial, and if you like it, find someone who is a student (if your not) and get it via the student discount.

user3029: HitFilmFX integrates nicely with Sony Vegas Pro 12. It is much cheaper than AE.
Take a look at Sony Vegas Pro 12 Suite. There is also Boris RED and Boris Continuum Complete for Sony Vegas, GenArts products, NewBlueFX... 

user1950: Blender does have compositing capability, and can be used to do some of the stuff that AE does. It's free, but you have to learn how to use it, so how highly you value your time counts in the final equation.
If you want to see Blender in action as a compositor you can see the "Tears of Steel" short film made with Blender last year.

643: <p>I use Sony Vegas for video production but would like to be able to create more visual effects. </p>

<p>Are there any cheaper alternatives for Adobe's After Effects? Or is there an extension for Vegas?</p>
 2994: <p>After Effects is an extremely powerful tool, not just because of the out of box abilities but also its integration with 3rd party plugins...In some degrees I could say it can compete with Nuke which is like 4k, and even more for Nuke X</p>

<p>In terms of Pro-sumer/ boarder-line Professional Software these two are in a league of their own, being both MAC and PC compatible also is a huge advantage for them over, well there really isn't any competition.</p>

<p>After Effects has a 30-day free trial and Nuke has a 15-day free trial, also if you are a student you can get AE for just a couple hundred on its own, and will work great with Vegas, just need to export and import VFX clips.  Same would be for Nuke, however obviously much more expensive and probably not in your budget so...</p>

<p>To simply answer your question, no...Use the 30-day free trial, and if you like it, find someone who is a student (if your not) and get it via the student discount.</p>
 3029: <p><a href="http://hitfilm.com/" rel="nofollow">HitFilmFX</a> integrates nicely with Sony Vegas Pro 12. It is much cheaper than AE.
Take a look at <a href="http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/vegasprosuite/hitfilm2" rel="nofollow">Sony Vegas Pro 12 Suite</a>. There is also <a href="http://www.borisfx.com/red/" rel="nofollow">Boris RED</a> and <a href="http://www.borisfx.com/sony/bccsvp/" rel="nofollow">Boris Continuum Complete</a> for Sony Vegas, <a href="http://www.genarts.com/software/overview" rel="nofollow">GenArts products</a>, <a href="http://newbluefx.com" rel="nofollow">NewBlueFX</a>... </p>
 1950: <p>Blender does have <a href="http://www.blender.org/education-help/tutorials/compositing/" rel="nofollow">compositing</a> capability, and can be used to do some of the stuff that AE does. It's free, but you have to learn how to use it, so how highly you value your time counts in the final equation.</p>

<p>If you want to see Blender in action as a compositor you can see the "<a href="http://www.tearsofsteel.org/" rel="nofollow">Tears of Steel</a>" short film made with Blender last year.</p>
