iMovie is Apple's free video editor for Mac, iPhone and iPad, with nothing to buy and no watermark on what you export. What decides whether it suits you is whether you need a simple, single-camera editor for personal or casual footage, since it is built for that rather than for professional production work.
What is iMovie?
iMovie is made by Apple. It installs on Mac, and a matching version runs on iPhone and iPad; there is no Windows version and no browser version. It edits locally on your device and does not require an account to use.
Editing in iMovie
iMovie is a single-camera timeline editor built for straightforward cuts rather than a multi-angle production tool. Color work is a single tool for adjusting a clip's color rather than a full grading suite with wheels, curves or scopes. Effects run to a manual green-screen tool plus picture-in-picture and split-screen combinations for putting two clips together.
Working with other people
iMovie runs on Mac, iPhone and iPad. It includes built-in sound effects and music, along with Apple-designed themes and trailer templates for adding a soundtrack and titles without hunting for outside assets.
iMovie pricing: what you actually pay
iMovie is free on Mac, iPhone and iPad, and nothing else is sold for it: there is no subscription, no one-time purchase and no in-app purchase. It edits and exports at resolutions up to 4K, and exports carry no watermark.
Privacy and support
iMovie edits on your own device, so your footage stays local, and no Apple Account is required to edit. Support is available by phone, through live chat in the Apple Support app, and through Apple's community forums.
Who iMovie suits
iMovie suits anyone on Mac, iPhone or iPad who wants a free, simple editor for personal videos, home movies or quick social clips, with themes, trailer templates and one-step audio cleanup already built in.
It suits less well anyone who needs multicam editing, color grading with scopes, camera raw formats or third-party plugins, since none of those are part of iMovie, and anyone not on an Apple device, since it does not run on Windows.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does iMovie cost?
Nothing. iMovie is free on Mac, iPhone and iPad, with no subscription, one-time purchase or in-app purchase.
What machines does iMovie run on?
iMovie runs on Mac, iPhone and iPad; there is no Windows version.
Can iMovie edit footage from more than one camera at once?
No. iMovie is a single-camera timeline editor, so footage from separate cameras has to be cut in individually rather than synced on one multicam timeline.
Does iMovie keep my footage private?
Yes, since editing happens on your device rather than in the cloud, and no Apple Account is required to edit.
