Can I use Apple's Motion as a "stand-alone" program?

I’m looking for an After Effects competitor. I don’t shoot or edit video; I like to animate – photos, designs, and the like. So that’s the thing – does Motion only import from Final Cut, or can I use it alone – meaning, importing my own images, etc.? I also want to animate text. I can do this with After Effects, but it’s maddeningly expensive! Does anyone have experience with 1, or both and can give me a “heads-up?”