- Verified facts
- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 5
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About iMovie
iMovie is Apple's free consumer video editor, preinstalled or available from the App Store on Macs, iPhones and iPads. It covers the basics well: trimming and arranging clips, titles, transitions, filters, green-screen and picture-in-picture effects, soundtracks and simple colour adjustments, with export up to 4K. Trailer templates turn a set of clips into a Hollywood-style trailer with music and credits, and on iPhone and iPad features such as Magic Movie and Storyboards help assemble videos automatically. Projects can start on an iPhone and continue on a Mac, and they can be moved into Final Cut Pro if you outgrow it. There is no paid tier. It deliberately limits tracks and precise controls, Apple has updated it only lightly in recent years, and it is unavailable on Windows or Android. For family videos, school projects and quick edits on Apple devices, it remains the easiest free option.
Best for: Apple users making family videos, school projects and simple edits for free.
Pros and cons
What works
- Free and simple, with good templates and trailers
- Export up to 4K
- Projects move between iPhone, iPad, Mac and Final Cut Pro
Why people leave
- Apple devices only
- Limited tracks and fine control
- Few meaningful updates in recent years
Top iMovie alternatives
See all 5- 1
Final Cut Pro66.5Apple's pro editor, which can open iMovie projects when you need more.
- 2
CapCut62.6Free with far more effects, captions and templates for social video.
- 3
Microsoft Clipchamp59.6Free browser editor that also works on Windows PCs.
- 4
DaVinci Resolve57.2Free professional editor with full colour and audio tools.
- 5
LumaFusion55.3Multitrack mobile editor for iPhone and iPad users who want more control.
Why people left iMovie
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Reviews
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iMovie: common questions
Is iMovie free?
Yes, iMovie is free to use.
Is iMovie open source?
No, iMovie is not open source.
What platforms does iMovie run on?
iMovie is available for macOS and iOS.
What are the best alternatives to iMovie?
The highest-ranked iMovie alternatives right now are Final Cut Pro, CapCut and Microsoft Clipchamp. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.