Although iMovie is an incredible video editing software, it can be overkilled for its inaccessibility to Windows 11/10/7. And my guess is that Apple wants you to either go all-in on Apple devices, or risk missing out on some key benefits.
If you want to find an iMovie alternative for Windows that's just as powerful as the highly reputable iMovie, take a look at our top picks of best free iMovie equivalent for Windows for you. Let's begin!
1. VideoProc Vlogger
VideoProc Vlogger runs on both Windows and Mac operating systems. It can help you make your video stylish by the ways from basic editing features like cutting and cropping, to adding transition and other effects, to more advanced features like color and audio adjusting.
Key Features
- Free, simple, safe, no watermark.
- Unlimited tracks for videos, audios, effects, and subtitles.
- Numerous preset effects, titles, transitions, and filters.
- Basic editing features: trimming, cutting, rotating, splitting, altering aspect ratio, etc.
- Color correction and color grading.
- Built-in professional motion editor and audio editor.
How to Use VideoProc Vlogger
Step 1. Double-click its icon on your PC desktop to launch it.
Step 2. Create a new project, where please remember set the resolution you prefer.
Step 3. Import the source files into VideoPorc Vlogger: video, audio, image, and others.
Step 4. Drag the source files into the timeline.
Step 5. Then you can edit them on the dashboard, like trimming, adding transition and filters, audio editing, etc.
Step 6. After finishing the editing, you can click on the Export button to save the edited file on your computer.
2. Windows Movie Maker
Windows Movie Maker, a part of Windows Essentials software suite, is a free and popular video editing software made by Microsoft. It's believed that it is one of the best alternatives of iMovie for Windows.
While Microsoft Windows has officially ceased support for Windows Movie Maker on January 10, 2017, and moved its features to Microsoft Photos. But it does not mean it won't work. You still can get it on other sources and use it flawlessly and seamlessly on Windows 11/10.
Key Features
- Basic editing features are available, such as trimming, cutting, rotating, splitting, altering aspect ratio, etc.
- You can add music, titles, transitions, voice-over and other effects to your footage.
- Share to social workflow can be performed within the software.
- 100% free and no watermark.
Download iMovie Alternative Windows Movie Maker:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-essentials-2707b879-5004-4349-c4a4-e5900945f2a9
How to Use Windows Movie Maker
Step 1: Install Windows Movie Maker
If you already have one, launch it following this path: C:/Program Files (x86)/Windows Live/Photo Gallery/MovieMaker.
Note: the free download of Windows Movie Maker offered above is 100% virus-free.
Step 2: Add video/images/audio files
Windows Movie Maker is able to make slideshows or video montages by joining videos/images, and add background music/modify music track.
Step 3: Edit your story
You are allowed to make some simple edits like trimming, splitting, rotating, etc., mixing audio, adding credits/text/transitions as iMovie does. For example, you can Add Credits at the end of the footage in this way.
- Click on the Credits button located in the Home tab. And it will automatically appear at the end of your footage.
- Select the credits and click Format at the top bar, and you can adjust font, background color, duration, effects, etc. here.
- Input text in the field.
Step 4: Save videos
To export video in Movie Maker, Click on Save movie on the home page and select an output setting for your video. You can directly share your video to social as a matter of course.
3. Shotcut
Discussing the best iMovie alternative for windows for those new to video editing, you should not miss Shotcut. It's a free-to-use and open source project, so you can obtain it at no cost. Beyond that, Shotcut has stable upgrades, a forum community, and numerous video editing features as iMovie.
Key Features
- A wide range of import/export options provided: MOV, M4V, 4K, ProRes, DNxHD, HDR, high frame rate and more.
- A rich feature-set that contains stabilization, lens correction, picture in picture, blurring filter, etc.
- Constant maintenance to fix glitches or add new features. More so, you can check its forum community where you can get technical support from other fans like the iMovie community.
Download iMovie Alternative Shotcut: https://shotcut.org/download/
How to Use Shotcut
Step 1: Freely obtain and install Shotcut
It is important to obtain Shotcut from its official site, which can protect from some of the viruses that might damage your computer.
Step 2: Customize your layout
Setting an interface that you are familiar with can speed up your workflow.
Step 3: Start working with your files
Import material from your hard drive or external drive/device. Now, you can start creating your stories using the editing tools. For instance, you can combine different shots in the timeline and add transitions between clips.
Step 4: Export your projects
Choose an output preset that automatically sets up video settings. When rendering is done, you can save it or share it on social as you wish.
4. Movavi
With its well-designed interface and feature-rich applications, Movavi Video Editor has strikingly similar features to iMovie, and even more. From importing video files to transforming them with typical editing tools, transitions, and effects, to exporting edited videos in various resolutions or encoding formats, Movavi Video Editor provides a broad range of features that are comparable to iMovie. This software is ideal for creators who need to make videos for social media, presentations, or personal projects. It’s powerful and flexible, giving users access to more advanced tools like background removal, motion tracking, and LUTs color correction.
Key Features
- Simple user interface with well-organized features
- Comes with both basic and advanced editing tools, such as transition s, titles, and filters
- Advanced video effects like picture-in-picture, green screen effect, etc
- Supports a range of file formats for import and export
How to Use Movavi Video Editor
Step 1: Install Movavi Video Editor on your PC and launch it.
Step 2: Add media files that you want to edit into the timeline (drag & drop). The software supports many popular video, photo, and audio formats.
Step 3: Now you apply effects and transitions to your clip by clicking on the Effects Tab or text, titles, animated stickers captions in the Titles Tab.
Step 4: When your project is ready, go to Export. You can save it as a video file or directly upload it to YouTube, Vimeo, or Google Drive right from the program.
5. VDSC
Another variant of iMovie for Windows – VSDC free video editor. Speaking of VSDC, that app has a lot of features too, applying slow-motion and free frame, saving project file format as well as the ability to enable masking tool making it worth recommending.
Key Features
- Timeline-based video editing.
- Exported files will not be watermarked.
- Beyond basic editing features, there are a variety of useful tools offered, such as video transcoder, DVD burner, screen recorder, etc.
Download iMovie Alternative VDSC: https://www.videosoftdev.com/free-video-editor
How to Use VDSC
Step 1: Create a new project
Like iMovie, you can either start editing from scratch or start with a template in VSDC project manager.
Step 2: Edit files in the timeline
VSDC is non-linear video editing software, you can edit and create your works in the timeline. The biggest difference of VSDC is the UI design that it switches to a new tab when applying effects or transitions to the clips rather than editing all the things on the same timeline area.
Step 3: Export your works
Once editing is done, go for the Export project button on top and render your work to the video settings you need.
6. OpenShot
For beginners and starters, you can try OpenShot Video Editor either, which is also a free and open-source iMovie for Windows 11/10/8/7 without watermarks.
Key Features
- Powered by the FFmpeg library, OpenShot can import and export most of the popular file formats.
- Desktop integration. That being said, you can drag and drop files to the timeline directly from the desktop and file explorer.
- Powered by Blender, 3D animated titles are accessible now.
- Do simple edits using trimming, scaling, cutting, compositing, time-mapping, audio mixing, etc.
Download iMovie Alternative OpenShot: https://www.openshot.org/download/
How to Use OpenShot
Step 1: Download OpenShot
Download this iMovie alternative for Windows to your PC and launch it. No worry, it doesn't ask for high hardware specifications.
Step 2: Load files and edit
To add files to OpenShot, you can either click on the plus icon at the top ribbon or directly drag and drop files to the Project Files or the timeline.
Step 3: Export your videos
Click on the red dot at the top and set up the video settings you need. Note that a part of formats can enable hardware encoding which can reduce loads on the CPU.
7. Olive
An iMovie for Windows worth looking at is Olive. It is a newly released, open-source video editing program but still at the very early stage of development. It can compete with some of the professional video editing software. If you are weighing what app you can use, you can take it for a spin.
Key Features
- Its default transition is similar to the iMovie auto-content that automatically adds transitions between clips.
- There are keyframes that help you control color, rotating, scaling and other motions or visual effects.
- Powered by Blender, 3D animated titles are accessible now.
- You can save your work in progress using the Olive Project format.
Download iMovie Alternative Olive: https://www.olivevideoeditor.org/download.php
How to Use Olive
Step 1: Make a new project and sequence
The first time you launch Olive, you should start with building a new project and a sequence that goes with your media files by clicking the plus button in the upper left corner.
Step 2: Add media files and edit clips
To add media files to the project, right-click on the project manager on the left and select Import to add files from any folder. By the way, Olive also still drag-and-drop.
And then you can start editing clips using cutting, splitting, inserting, etc., add transitions, visual effects, recording narration and others.
Step 3: Rendering and exporting
Before exporting your project, give it a check if there are things that you need to touch up. Hold down Ctrl and H keys on the keyboard to start rendering and exporting. At last, configure the video settings, like container format, codecs, quality, etc., that you need.
8. Davinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve is a complete post-production system developed by Blackmagic Design. It's a great iMovie alternative for Windows, and it goes beyond simple editing. DaVinci Resolve is free, but you can obtain a free license by ordering a Blackmagic pocket camera, which gives you a lot of extras.
Key Features
- Modern UI design and leading editing modes, such as Cut page and node editor.
- Live Save and Project Backups. The ability to automatically back up your projects.
- Packs with video editing, sound designing, color grading, etc.
Download iMovie Alternative Davinci Resolve: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/
How to Use Davinci Resolve
Step 1: Register and download at first
Navigate to the Blackmagic Design website and freely obtain the DaVinci Resolve package by registering your details.
Step 2: Start editing projects
You can import your files in the Media page, make some edits on the Cut page or Edit page, add visual effects in the Fusion page, make color correction & adjustments in the Color page, render & export your project on the Deliver page.
9. Lightworks
iMovie's features are OK for most beginners but might not satisfactory to experts who would cut Hollywood blockbusters. If you are on the hunt for an iMovie alternative for Windows packed with more advanced editing features, you can turn to the free version of Lightworks.
Key Features
- A great number of container formats and codecs natively supported, such as MXF, MOV, MP4, M2T, AVI, ProRes, Avid DNxHD, RED R3D, H.264 and more.
- It allows you to customize the keyboard shortcuts that match other NLE systems to speed up your workflow.
- Multicam helps you edit content used multiple cameras and has clips synced with matching timecode.
- Huge collection of plugins to extend.
Download iMovie Alternative Lightworks: https://app.lwks.com/downloads
How to Use Lightworks
Step 1: Get Lightworks on your PC
Navigate to the website of Lightworks and download the free version of Lightworks for Windows.
Step 2: Register a new account for the free of use
Lightworks asks you to register an account and log in for using its free version.
When Lightworks opening, the project browser is on, storing all your project if you have. And you can click one of them for continuous editing.
Of course, you can build a new project by selecting Create a new project on top.
Step 3: Import materials and make edits
Now you should import the file you will use to make edits. You can import videos, images and audio files by either browsing media libraries or dragging and dropping files from any folder directly inside Lightworks.
And then drag the files you need to the timeline and start working with them. You are allowed to cut, split, speed up, slow down the clips, add visual effects, text, transitions, mix audio or others.
Step 4: Export files
To export your work, right-click the viewer and select Export. And the sequence will be rendered automatically. Note that the free version of Lightworks only renders MP4 files up to 720p.
10. YouTube Video Editor
Bearing some resemblance to iMovie, YouTube Video Editor is an ideal iMovie alternative that helps you make quick edits for your content through the browser. It's completely free to use and without watermarks.
Key Features
- Remove content from video using splitting and trimming.
- Add royalty music to your video from the YouTube music library.
- You can customize blurring faces or areas in the video.
- End screen. It's a special feature only available in this online editor.
Get Free iMovie Alternative YouTube Video Editor: https://studio.youtube.com/
How to use YouTube Video Editor
Step 1: Log in to your YouTube Studio
Sign in to your YouTube Studio via a browser. Select Videos on the sidebar and choose a video you would edit. Click Editor on the left to enable YouTube Video Editor.
Step 2: Make edits in the timeline
Modify your video by using trimming, splitting, burring, and adding a song or end screen.
Step 3: Save changes
You don't need to export the video. Click on the Save button at the upper right, the video will be rendered and renewed in a while.
11. Kapwing
Kapwing is a highly capable, free browser-based video editor. All the standard features you'd expect from iMovie are present and included. But some tools work in different ways to iMovie.
Key Features
- It can read and use images or videos from a URL.
- A fresh and simple operation philosophy.
- Editing tools like joining, cropping, resizing, adding captions, songs, etc.
Get Free iMovie Alternative Kapwing: https://www.kapwing.com/
How to Use Kapwing
Step 1: Sign in to Kapwing
You don't have to install any kind of program on your computer. You just open a new tab in your browser and log in to Kapwing or create a new account at first.
Step 2: Start a new project or go on editing
You can either start a new project from scratch or use a template offered. You can go on editing in progress works as well.
Step 3: Edit and export
If you are new to video editing, using a template can easily make your video engaging. After that, you can either share your content on social media or save it on your PC with no watermark.
12. Clipchamp
Clipchamp is a web-based iMovie alternative that can solve the problem of having to download and install programs onto your computer. Although being a browser-based non-linear video editor, it can handle loads of your workflow.
Key Features
- Split, cut, trim, rotate, flip, crop, speed up/slow down your clips with ease.
- Freely obtain materials like videos, songs, GIFs from Clipchamp's Stock.
- Videos will be automatically stored in the cloud.
- Tons of popular templates are free to use.
Get Free iMovie Alternative ClipChamp: https://clipchamp.com/en/video-editor/
How to Use Clipchamp
Step 1: Log in to Clipchamp
Open the website of Clipchamp through a browser and log in with your account.
Step 2: Create a project
You can either go for making a video from scratch or take a titled template for your reference.
Step 3: Do some edits and share
When it comes to editing in Chipchamp, you can perform any edits that work on iMovie, like adding animated text, music, brands, etc., changing video's color, aspect ratio and many more. When everything is good to go, click on the Export button at the upper right, and then you can download or share to social as you like.
iMovie Alternative FAQs
1. Can you get iMovie on a Windows computer?
Unfortunately, you cannot download Apple iMovie for Windows Computers. As iMovie is only available for the Apple ecosystem (macOS & iOS), therefore, there's no official version of iMovie for Windows 11/10/8/7/vista.
2. What is comparable to iMovie for Windows?
Among the top 11 free video editors, VideoProc Vlogger is the best software that works as the best equivalent for iMovie. Because it always catches up with the iMovie updates and adds the same advanced features, such as 4K video editing, cinematic video filters, and so on.
3. Does Google have an iMovie equivalent?
Yes, if you mean an alternative to the iMovie app. Google Photos now have more enhanced video editing features, but it's only available on Android and iOS devices.
The Wrap
Here are some last-ditch insights for you. If you need an iMovie alternative designed for beginners, go with Windows Movie Maker, Shotcut, VSDC free video editor or Openshot. If your machine is too spotty to run video editing software, YouTube Video Editor, Kapwing, or Clipchamp is a good choice. If you have a high-end machine and need more powerful features, you can go out with DaVinci Resolve, Olive, or Lightworks.
