Alternatives to iMovie
Apple's free video editor for making and sharing movies on Mac, iPhone and iPad. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
iMovie
Apple's free video editor for making and sharing movies on Mac, iPhone and iPad.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as iMovie.
Final Cut Pro
Apple's professional video editor for Mac and iPad, with editing, audio, motion graphics and color grading.
Final Cut Pro is Apple's paid professional editor for Mac and iPad, adding motion graphics, colour grading and built-in captions, with a one-time purchase option on Mac.
CapCut
Free video editor with templates, effects, and text overlays for social media.
CapCut is a freemium editor with social media templates on desktop, mobile and web including Windows and Android, but it is owned by ByteDance, which raises data-handling concerns.
LumaFusion
Professional multi-track mobile video editor with color correction and audio mixing.
LumaFusion is a paid iOS editor with a multi-track timeline, colour correction and audio mixing, but it has no Mac or Android version.
VN Video Editor
Free mobile video editor with keyframe animation and a multi-layer timeline.
VN Video Editor is a freemium mobile editor for Android and iOS with keyframe animation and a multi-layer timeline, with some effects gated behind in-app purchases.
DaVinci Resolve
Professional editing, colour grading, visual effects and audio post in one program, with a free version that is genuinely capable.
DaVinci Resolve is a free professional editor for Windows, macOS and Linux with colour grading and effects, but it has a steep learning curve and demanding hardware needs.
OpenShot
A free video editor with unlimited tracks, keyframe animation, transitions and titles, aimed at people who are not professional editors.
OpenShot is a free open source editor for Windows, macOS and Linux aimed at non-professionals, with unlimited tracks and title templates, but no mobile version.
Shotcut
A free cross-platform video editor with a multi-track timeline that edits most formats without importing them first.
Shotcut is a free open source multi-track editor for Windows, macOS and Linux, but it has no phone or tablet version and its panels need arranging.
Clipchamp
Microsoft's video editor that runs in the browser or as a Windows app, with templates and stock media.
Clipchamp runs in the browser or as a Windows app with templates, stock media and automatic subtitles, but it has no macOS desktop app.
Also worth comparing
These listings name iMovie as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Adobe Premiere Elements
A consumer video editor from Adobe with guided edits and automated editing tools.
iMovie is free on Mac, iPhone and iPad for basic home video editing, but it runs only on Apple devices and has no Windows version.
Filmora
A consumer video editor from Wondershare with a timeline, effects, captions and AI features.
iMovie is a free editor for Mac, iPhone and iPad aimed at basic editing, but it works only on Apple devices.
KineMaster
A multi-layer mobile video editor for Android and iOS with templates and cloud project saving.
iMovie is free on iPhone, iPad and Mac with built-in effects, but it has no Android version and targets basic editing.
Movavi Video Editor
A consumer desktop video editor for Windows and macOS with effects, titles and automatic subtitles.
iMovie is free and runs on Mac, iPhone and iPad, but it is limited to Apple devices and has no Windows version.
Splice
A mobile video editing app for iPhone, iPad and Android aimed at social media creators.
iMovie is free on iPhone, iPad and Mac for basic editing, but it does not run on Android.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Subtitle Edit
Creates, retimes, translates and fixes subtitles, with a waveform so you can see where the speech is.
HandBrake
A video converter that turns files and unprotected discs into MP4, MKV or WebM with presets for common devices.
OBS Studio
The standard free tool for recording a screen and for live streaming, built around scenes and sources.
