Wondershare Filmora vs iMovie
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Wondershare Filmora
Desktop and mobile video editor with AI tools and a stock library
Where they differ
- Wondershare Filmora starts at $49.99 per year (Basic), or $79.99 one-time for a perpetual license. iMovie is free.
- Only Wondershare Filmora lists Windows and Android apps.
- Wondershare Filmora can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Wondershare Filmora also covers transcription, noise cancellation and screen recording.
At a glance
| Wondershare Filmora | iMovie | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | $49.99 per year (Basic), or $79.99 one-time for a perpetual license | Free |
| Free plan | Free edition: all basic editing features and export, but exported videos carry a watermark. AI Mate is limited to 15 uses a day and the asset library is a small subset of the paid one. | Listed as free on the App Store for iPhone and iPad and on the Mac App Store, with no in-app purchases shown on either listing. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Wondershare | Apple |
| Price read from | filmora.wondershare.com | apps.apple.com |
| Checked | Oct 6, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Wondershare Filmora
- Hobbyists and YouTube creators who want a desktop editor with built-in templates
- Buyers who prefer a one-time license to a subscription
- Tutorial makers who record the screen and edit in the same app
iMovie
- First-time editors who already own an iPhone, iPad or Mac
- Family, school and travel videos built from templates
- Starting an edit on a phone and finishing it on a Mac
Worth knowing
Wondershare Filmora
- The free edition adds a watermark to every exported video.
- Individual plans are single-user, and Wondershare directs business use to its Team & Business plan.
- A Perpetual license covers one platform and only updates within Filmora 16; later major versions cost extra.
- The full Creative Assets library is a separate add-on (7 days free, then $19.99 a month), and desktop licenses do not cover the mobile apps.
iMovie
- Apple lists iMovie for Mac, iPad and iPhone only.
- Magic Movie and Storyboards are created in the iPhone and iPad app; the Mac app imports those projects into its timeline.
- The current Mac version requires macOS 26.6 or later, and the iPhone and iPad version requires iOS or iPadOS 17.6 or later.
- For more advanced tools Apple points to Final Cut Pro, which can import iMovie projects and is a paid product.
Key features
Wondershare Filmora
- Timeline editing
- A magnetic timeline with multi-camera editing, keyframe animation, motion and planar tracking, and rough-cut tools that remove pauses or cut from the transcript.
- AI generation and analysis
- Generate video from text, images or audio, extend clips, and let AI Media Analysis tag people, scenes and speech so shots are easier to find. Most AI tools spend Filmora AI credits.
- Captions and voice tools
- Speech-to-text covers 27 languages and text-to-speech 28. Captions sit on dedicated subtitle tracks with dynamic styles, and audio tools reduce background noise.
- Screen recorder
- Captures the screen, camera, microphones and system audio at the same time and keeps each source separate for editing afterwards.
- Color correction and cleanup
- Color tools include HSL, RGB curves, 3D LUTs and a Color Mask for grading selected areas. Cleanup tools stabilize shaky shots and reduce noise.
- Creative assets
- Templates, effects, titles, transitions, music and stock media. The free edition lists 1,500+ effects and filters against 18K+ on paid plans.
iMovie
- Magic Movie
- On iPhone and iPad, pick an album or a group of clips and photos and iMovie assembles a video with titles, transitions and music.
- Storyboards
- 20 Storyboards for popular video types on iPhone and iPad, with placeholder clips you record into or fill from the Photos library.
- Trailers
- Trailer templates with graphics and original scores: 14 on iPhone and iPad and 29 on Mac, with editable studio logos, cast names and credits.
- Themes, titles and filters
- The iPhone and iPad app has 8 themes, 13 video filters and 11 animated title styles. The Mac app adds 3D globes and travel maps.
- Effects and Cinematic mode
- Picture-in-picture, split-screen and green-screen effects, slow motion and fast-forward, and focus-point editing for Cinematic mode video.
- 4K editing and handoff
- Edit and save at up to 4K, and send a project to a Mac by AirDrop or iCloud Drive to finish in iMovie or Final Cut Pro.
Plans
Wondershare Filmora
Free$0
Basic editing features and export with a watermark, 15 AI Mate uses a day and a smaller set of effects, titles and stock media.
Basic$49.99
per year, billed yearly
One user on Windows and Mac: watermark-free 4K export, 1 GB of cloud storage and version upgrades. AI features are paid for with credits bought separately.
Advanced$59.99
per year, billed yearly
Everything in Basic plus 1,000 Filmora AI credits a month and 10 GB of cloud storage. Shown as a discount from a crossed-out $69.99.
Perpetual$79.99
one-time payment, for Windows or Mac
One platform only, updates within Filmora 16, a one-time grant of 1,000 AI credits and 1 GB of cloud storage.
iMovie
Free$0
The complete app on iPhone, iPad and Mac, including trailers, themes, effects and export at up to 4K.
Ways to pay less
Wondershare Filmora
- Lifetime license
Perpetual license for a one-time $79.99
A single payment buys a license for Windows or Mac with all updates to Filmora 16. Upgrades to future major versions are not included.
- Education
Discounted plans for students and teachers
Filmora's education store offers student plans at an educational discount to students and teachers who verify with an education email address or academic documents.
iMovie
No public discounts listed.
