Make complex montages and enhance your videos in a snap!
By: Adam Robbins, videographer, blogger, and teacher of editing courses
5.0
Votes: 3(Rated: )
Last updated: 19.01.2024
7 Best iMovie Alternatives for Windows in 2024
iMovie is beloved and recommended by many video editing enthusiasts. It is developed for Apple devices, but can you get iMovie on Windows? Unfortunately not. Its wider availability remains a dream – there are no known plans of releasing it anywhere else yet, and there are no official iMovie downloads for PC and non-Apple gadgets.
However, instead of wondering how to get iMovie on Windows, why not look for something else? There are numerous other programs available for a Windows PC that can be a great substitute for iMovie. We have done our research and are ready to present 7 video editors for Windows that we think are perfect iMovie equivalents for Windows.
What is iMovie?
iMovie is a free video editor from Apple, and it comes pre-installed on most Apple devices. It includes a library of effects and transitions, has neat automatic enhancement features and is available for macOS and iOS alike. It is a popular and very effective tool, but there’s no way you can use iMovie on a PC, hence the quest for its alternatives available on computers with another OS.
Clipify is intended for a more casual user base. You have access to both basic video editing tools, such as cutting, trimming, and cropping, and advanced ones, like color grading, speed adjustment and more. Clipify also allows you to add text, transitions, and various effects. A built-in Video Wizard can automatically make a video from your footage. And to top it off, it is available for free download.
The VSDC Video Editor will serve you great in case a MacBook with iMovie is not available. The application comes with a large built-in library of popular visual effects and filters, as well as color correction tools and object modification. It is also capable of sound processing. VSDC is an excellent free alternative to iMovie for Windows, while there is a paid Pro edition available with more functionality.
OpenShot is a cross-platform open-source alternative to iMovie, also available for Windows users. It has significantly fewer features and functions, but it is absolutely free. OpenShot has a drag-and-drop interface, unlimited tracks, a range of animation effects, and the ability to change the color, contrast, and brightness of the image. It is an excellent learning asset for aspiring editors.
How to Pick an iMovie Alternative for a Windows PC
We have gathered a list of options that we believe to be the best alternatives to iMovie for PC. However, this list is not all-encompassing and there’s a lot of other software that is not mentioned here. If you are willing to look beyond our reviews, here are some things to keep in mind while looking for an iMovie download for windows 10:
Available features
Consider the editing you wish to perform and see if the program you might use is well-equipped for the task. If you require some basic editing capabilities only, software with a plethora of complex functions would be an overkill.
Required skill
If you are a beginner, it is best to pick something beginner-friendly. And if you have plans to keep learning video editing, choose something that has advanced features in store. This way, you won’t have to jump from app to app as you grow.
Operating platform
It is safe to assume that you have a Windows PC if you are reading this. But OS is only one of the factors to consider. The system requirements of a program should match your PC specs– some apps just won’t run well on mid-end machines.
iMovie Alternatives for Windows - Comparison Chart
Clipify is a user-friendly software that has all the essential tools along with some complex ones. You can easily add voice-overs, do deep color correction, stabilize and improve your footage with only a click, and much more. This program also has a ton of amazing effects, transitions, and built-in assets. Using an easy-to-use wizard, Clipify enables you to automatically generate movies and convert your footage into more than 30 different formats. Clipify is designed for casual users and average PCs, so even the least experienced person with a mid-end computer can enjoy video editing with it.
Value for money: .................................10
Overall score: .................................9
Even while VSDC Free Video Editor has exceptionally modest system requirements, it is not feature-light. With a good collection of fundamental and sophisticated editing tools, VSDC is quite user-friendly. It features non-linear editing, modern effects, transitions, and filters, along with chroma key and other video overlay tools. However, it has a clumsy interface and an appetite for CPU resources, especially when processing footage of very high quality.
Value for money: .................................10
Final verdict: .......................................8.6
OpenShot is a great free iMovie alternative. Along with fundamental editing functions, it offers tools like background removal, keyframes, 3D titles, and slow-motion effects. Additionally, it provides an infinite number of audio, video, and picture tracks. Ample color correction options are provided by OpenShot, along with strong audio features. Although the software is generally user-friendly, it could take a newbie an hour or two to get around it.
For those who enjoy using visual effects, HitFilm is a fantastic iMovie substitute. You may add distortion and geometry effects, muzzle and lens flares, and other bells and whistles with it. Additionally, it provides basic editing features, including drag-and-drop transitions and audio synchronization. However, it is too complex for amateurs and not sophisticated enough for experts, making it niche.
Pros:
Extensive effects library
Uncomplicated interface
Easy masking and layering
Effective motion detection
Cons:
Windows 7 and 8 are below the minimum requirements
DaVinci Resolve offers a pro-level toolkit including spatial noise reduction, AI masking effects, and HDR color grading. It also has a UI that is surprisingly comprehensive for a tool with so many features. DaVinci Resolve provides everything you might need from an iMovie for Windows free of charge. And much, much more if you are willing to pay. But it is aimed at advanced users and has a steep learning curve.
VideoPad video editor is like iMovie in many aspects. It is a straightforward program with an intuitive UI. Many novices find VideoPad less scary to use while they learn editing, since it lacks expert tools. Nevertheless, it does include video stabilization, 360-degree editing, and a chroma key feature. You can also preview the smallest changes in a large preview window before making any alterations permanent. However, if you are willing to go pro with the video editing, you may outgrow VideoPad rather quickly.
Shotcut is another freeware open-source iMovie for Windows PC alternative. Shotcut's clean UI with dockable panels is one of its strongest features, along with a large selection of video and audio editing tools. Snapping is another element of the on-screen grid that helps you edit with more precision. It is also quite forgiving to your system. The biggest drawback, quite common among open-source projects, is a general lack of polish.
Pros:
Lots of rendering formats
Chroma key and layering
Customizable interface
Lightweight install
Filter library
Cons:
No effect and transition preview
Apply changes may cause lag
How to Edit Videos in iMovie for Windows
Let’s take a look at the editing process of one of the best iMovie Windows alternatives – Clipify. Just follow this step-by-step guide and see how simple it actually is:
Step1. Install the Program
Click the button below to download the installation file of Clipify. Run this file and follow the on-screen instructions. Then run Clipify from the desktop icon.
Create a blank project, then click Add Videos and Photos and use the file browser to locate the clips. Or just drag and drop your video to the timeline from anywhere on your PC.
Lay the first stone of the future montage
Step 3. Make Some Edits
Now you have multiple options available. You can add more clips to stitch them together. You can enhance your footage with effects, filters, and special settings. You can add footage and music from the built-in library, and that’s not all. Play around with the tools youh have and try different things!
Trim, crop, enhance, and edit things your way
Step 4. Save the Results
Once your montage is done, you can use one of many export options to save your work. You may save it in a format for a certain device, or render it for YouTube. You can also control the output resolution and bitrate.
Save your video for everyone to see
Wrapping Up
The bottom line is this: Can you download iMovie on Windows? No. Are there worthy alternatives? Plenty. However, this is our take on the matter, things may look different from where you stand. What is best is also defined by your needs, skills, and PC prowess. VSDC will not demand much from you and your machine. OpenShot will provide what you need if you are looking for something more complex. And if you need a universal solution for mid-end PCs, Clipify is the way to go.
Looking for a way to replace iMovie for a Windows PC? Then try out this free and equal alternative!
