13 Best iMovie Alternatives for Windows and Mac Users

iMovie is a popular video editing software among Apple fans as there are both Mac and iOS versions. However, if you’re looking for an alternative because you are a Windows or Android user or don’t like the tool (we’re not here to judge), there are plenty of other options.

In this post, you will find some of the best iMovie alternatives. First, we will provide a primer on iMovie and then dive into the alternatives to help you compare the options.

A bit about iMovie

iMovie is a simple video editing alternative to Apple’s Final Cut Pro. There’s an app for both Macbooks and iOS devices. Anyone, even amateur editors, can use it to create professional-looking videos quickly, and it is entirely free.

Pros

• Seamlessly edit a video on the Macbook, iPad, and iPhone using features such as iCloud and AirDrop
• Tools for trimming, splitting, and deleting help you make simple edits to videos
• Use templates, storyboards, styles, and special effects to create eye-catching videos quickly
• Use the green screen feature to replace backgrounds

Limitations

• Only works on Apple devices
• Lacks advanced features that editors like Adobe Premiere offer

Best suited for: Influencers and video creators looking for an easy-to-use tool.

Pricing: Free.

iMovie alternatives for Windows and Mac

You can compare the above summary of iMovie against the iMovie alternatives we shared below to find the best option for you.

1. InVideo

InVideo is a popular online video maker and editor. You can access the browser version on Windows, iOS, macOS, or Android devices. InVideo also has an app called Filmr for both iOS and Android devices.

Pros

• Easy-to-use editor for people new to video editing and creation
• Includes 5,000+ templates, music library, filters, and assets from iStock media
• Either upload your footage and music or use the library with 8+ million photos, videos, and music tracks
• Easily trim, crop, and delete clips. You can also add transitions, text, and stickers.
• Allows you to add unlimited team members for collaborative video editing

Limitations

• Free verson adds a watermark to videos
• You can’t remove video backgrounds on the free version.

Best suited for: Amateur video editors and social media managers.

Pricing: It starts with a free version. Business and Unlimited plans cost $15 and $30 per month. But you can get its annual deal for $99 on AppSumo.

2. FlexClip

Flexclip is a video maker for creating slideshows, simple videos, and movies. You can either start from scratch or use its library of templates. You can select one and quickly create your videos.

Pros

• Free to use with affordable paid plans
• Access to thousands of templates, 4+ million stock assets, and 3+ million animated text and elements
• Helps you easily trim, cut, and customize your videos
• Screen recorder recording feature is great for creating explainer videos and recording meetings and games

Limitations

• You can only create videos up to one minute long with the free plan.
• You can only download 480p SD videos with the free plan.

Best suited for: YouTubers, media buyers, and social media managers.

Pricing: It starts with a free plan. The Basic, Plus, and Business plans cost $9.99, $19.99, and $29.99 per month. You can also get it for life for a one-time payment of just $49 on AppSumo.

3. Movavi Video Editor

If you’re looking for a more advanced video editing software, Movavi Video Editor is the perfect choice. It allows you to add music, titles, and videos to your project. Plus, you can apply a chroma key effect (green screen) on your footage.

Pros

• The intuitive interface makes it easy for beginners to get started
• Features like slideshow maker, sound effects library, and video stabilizer to improve your footage
• Can apply special effects, transitions, text overlay, and filters on videos
• Can add animated titles to your project

Limitations

• No free version is available
• No 360-degree editing

Best suited for: Beginner editors looking for advanced iMovie for Windows that is still easy to use

Pricing: It costs $54.95 for a 1-year subscription and $74.95 for a lifetime license.

4. WeVideo

WeVideo is a cloud-based video editing tool. You can use the online version or its apps to edit videos. It’s also got some extra features such as a meme maker and screen recorder that help you create various videos.

Pros

• Offers a free plan and a wide variety of affordable paid plans
• Create videos from scratch with your footage or use its library of 1 million music tracks, videos, and images
• Stores all your creations in the cloud for easy access
• Features such as GIF creator, screen recorder, meme maker, and green screens help you make diverse video types
• Lets you record with the webcam and screen simultaneously

Limitations

• You can only create five minutes of video with the free plan every month.
• Adds a watermark to videos made with the free plan

Best suited for: Businesses and schools that want to make educative videos.

Pricing: There’s a free plan and Power, Unlimited, Professional, and Business plans that cost $9.99, $15.99, $39.99, and $73.99 per month.

5. Animoto

Animoto is a popular video maker and editor with over six million users. You can create slideshow videos, promo videos, and social media videos with this one tool. It also has a straightforward editor that lets you customize your videos.

Pros

• Use templates, stock videos, photos, and music tracks to assemble engaging videos quickly
• Has templates for creating formal videos and those for casual occasions such as birthdays
• Add text effects and use different fonts to make your videos more appealing
• Allows you to upload voice-overs or  record them directly on Animoto
• Quickly share videos to YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and other social media

Limitations

• No Android app
• Adds Animoto branding to videos made with the Free and Basic plans

Best suited for: Businesses looking for a simple cloud-based video editor.

Pricing: The Basic, Professional, and Professional Plus plans cost $16, $29, and $79 per month. There’s also a free plan.

6. Kapwing

Kapwing is a collaborative video creation and editing platform. It’s perfect for teams who want to create and edit videos together. It also integrates with tools like Google Drive, Unsplash, Pexels, and many more sites to make it easy to import images.

Pros

• No watermarked videos with the free plan, but you can only export three videos a month
• Upload multiple videos and rearrange, delete, and trim them with the editor
• Automatically generates subtitles that you can quickly add to your videos
• Resize, crop, convert, and reverse videos

Limitations

• No iOS app
• Stores content for only two days on the free plan

Best suited for: YouTubers, content creators, and social media managers.

Pricing: It starts with a free plan. The pro plan costs $24, and the For Teams plan costs $24 per user.

7. Windows Movie Maker

The Windows Movie Maker is the Windows answer to Apple’s iMovie. You can install it on PCs with Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems. It’s great for creating a wide range of videos.

Pros

• Make basic video edits such as cutting, trimming, and joining; and also add music, text, and transition effects
• Create time-lapse videos with the time-lapse quick tool
• Add visual effects like bubbles, confetti, fireworks, and snowflakes
• Available in multiple languages like English, French, Dutch, Spanish, and Portuguese

Limitations

• Only works on PCs with Windows operating systems
• No apps for mobile devices

Best suited for: Windows users looking for a basic, freemium video editing software.

Pricing: There’s a free version and a PRO version that costs $14.99.

8. Shotcut

Shotcut is a free and open-source video editor. It works on Windows, Mac, and Linux, but it doesn’t have mobile versions. It offers many features that most top editors only offer with paid plans.

Pros

• Completely free to use
• Lets you trim, cut, copy, and paste
• Upload videos to edit or capture footage with the webcam and record audio
• Available in various languages, including English, Finnish, Polish, and Swedish
• Supports multiple formats like GIF,  SVG, JPEG, PNG, and BMP

Limitations

• No mobile or web version
• Not the best interface, and it takes some time to get used to it

Best suited for: Businesses and students looking for a free video editor.

Pricing: Free, but you can donate.

9. Vegas Pro

Vegas Pro is another video editing software that exclusively works on Windows devices. It’s an advanced software for professionals, but even amateur editors will find it easy to use.

Pros

• Hundreds of effects, filters, and transitions help you create stand-out videos
• Built-in AI helps with colorization, style transfer, and content upscaling
• Converts text to speech so that you can add it as a voiceover
• Access to royalty-free stock content

Limitations

• No free version
• Doesn’t work on macOS and mobile devices

Best suited for: Professional video editors looking for an affordable editor for Windows.

Pricing: It costs $34.99 per month. But you can get it for $143.88 when you pay annually.

10. Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere is among the best video editing software available. If you’re looking for a tool for making simple clips to detailed movies and don’t mind investing time to master it, this is the software for you.

Pros

• Presets, color matching, and templates help you create attractive videos quickly
• Works well with other Adobe tools such as Adobe Stock, Photoshop, and After Effects
• Automatically converts speech to subtitles that you can easily overlay on videos
• Auto ducking and auto-match ensure that the audio flows smoothly

Limitations

• Steep learning curve
• Requires a high-end computer to function smoothly

Best suited for: Professional editors who want an advanced video editor.

Pricing: It costs $20.99 per month, with a seven-day free trial. Creative Cloud, which includes Adobe Premiere Pro and several other Adobe software such as Adobe Illustrator, costs $52.99 per month.

11. Camtasia

Camtasia is popular for its screen recording capabilities, but it also has a powerful video editor. You can either edit the videos you record with its screen recorder or import footage you recorded with another device.

Pros

• Lets you record any part of your computer screen
• Drag-and-drop video editor makes it easy to edit videos and add effects
• Directly upload videos to hosting platforms like Vimeo, YouTube, and Screencast.com
• PowerPoint integration helps you create professional presentations

Limitations

• Requires a high-end computer to run without crashing
• Pricey; requires a one-time purchase fee and recurring payments for upgrades

Best suited for: Business and infopreneurs who want to create courses and tutorials.

Pricing: It costs $299 with a 30-day trial. Upgrades cost $139, but you can get free upgrades by subscribing to Camtasia Maintenance for $50 per year.

12. DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve is an advanced freemium video editing software. It doesn’t just offer software, but also hardware such as speed editors, editor keyboards, and micro panels that work well with the software.

Pros

• The drag-and-drop video editor is easy to navigate for trimming, splitting and deleting clips.
• Library with hundreds of effects and transitions makes it easy to create eye-catching videos
• Advanced color corrector lets you adjust the temperature, contrast, and saturation
• Collaborative features make it possible for your entire to edit together

Limitations

• Might take a while to figure out
• Can get expensive if you purchase all the hardware with the software

Best suited for: Professionals such as video editors, VFX artists, colorists, and sound engineers.

Pricing: There’s a free version and a paid version that costs $295. Hardware costs extra.

13. Filmora

Filmora is a powerful video editor from Wondershare that works on multiple devices. You can download software for Windows and Mac and the FilmoraGo app for iOS and Android. It also has online tools like the Meme Maker and Video Trimmer.

Pros

• Quickly create videos with smart templates, visual effects, plugins, and stock media
• Auto Beat Sync ensures that the music and video gel
• Use split-screen to combine multiple clips
• Color match and correction ensure your video is aesthetically pleasing

Limitations

• Adds a watermark to videos made with the trial version
• Requires separate licenses for Windows and Mac

Best suited for: Content creators who want to make professional videos.

Pricing: It costs $68.98 per year, with a 30-day free trial. There’s also a Perpetual plan with a one-time fee of $146.95.

Did you find an iMovie alternative?

If you are an Apple user and want a free video editor, iMovie is a great tool. But if you are unsatisfied with the limited features or are a Windows or Linux user, give the above alternatives a try.

Check out the AppSumo store for deals on video editors and video marketing software. You can get several top software for a fraction of the price, for life.