iMovie
Apple's free video editor for iPhone, iPad and Mac
What is iMovie?
iMovie is Apple's free video editor for iPhone, iPad and Mac. It builds trailers and movies from templates and themes, and its Magic Movie and Storyboards features on iPhone and iPad assemble a video from the clips you pick. Projects can be edited at up to 4K and sent on to a Mac, or to Final Cut Pro, to finish.
iMovie is free to use. See every plan
Good for
- 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
- 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
- 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.
iMovie pricing
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- 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
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | The complete app on iPhone, iPad and Mac, including trailers, themes, effects and export at up to 4K. |
Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 5, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with iMovie before you buy.
What people say about iMovie
4.4
out of 5 for the iPhone and iPad app
- 5 stars74%
- 4 stars11%
- 3 stars5%
- 2 stars3%
- 1 star7%
314,943 ratings on the App Store in the United States, read Oct 7, 2026. It rates the app, not everything the product does. See the listing
Often praised
- Reviewers and commenters describe it as a simple editor that is quick to pick up, and good enough for straightforward videos without paying for professional software. App Store reviews · Hacker News 1, 2
Often criticised
- Not being able to choose the resolution of the exported video is a complaint made in a review and by commenters. App Store reviews · Hacker News 1, 2
- Reviewers of the iPhone and iPad app want more control than it gives, from trailer templates that fix the music and clip lengths to the lack of overlays. App Store reviews
Based on 10 App Store reviews of the iPhone and iPad app, seven of them more than three years old, and about 10 Hacker News comments from November 2024 to September 2026, read Oct 7, 2026. These are themes summarised in our words, not our own verdict. Follow the links to read what was said.
Works with
- Final Cut Pro
- Photos
- iCloud Drive
- GarageBand
- YouTube
iMovie alternatives
- iMovie vs Final Cut Pro
Free trial · from $12.99/mo
- iMovie vs CapCut
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
- iMovie vs Clipchamp
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
- iMovie vs DaVinci Resolve
Free plan · from $94.99
- iMovie vs Wondershare Filmora
Free plan · from $49.99/yr
Common questions
Is iMovie free?
Yes. iMovie is free to use. 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.
How much does iMovie cost?
iMovie lists one plan. Free: $0. Prices were read from apps.apple.com on Oct 5, 2026.
What platforms does iMovie work on?
iMovie is available on iOS and macOS.
How is iMovie rated?
iMovie's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.4 out of 5 from 314,943 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 7, 2026. That is the store's rating of the app, not a score from us.
Is iMovie any good?
We have not tested iMovie, so this is what reviewers say. Often praised: Reviewers and commenters describe it as a simple editor that is quick to pick up, and good enough for straightforward videos without paying for professional software. Often criticised: Not being able to choose the resolution of the exported video is a complaint made in a review and by commenters. The reviews page has every theme with its sources.
Does iMovie have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. iMovie is listed for iOS and macOS.
Does iMovie have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. iMovie is listed for iOS and macOS.
Is iMovie open source?
iMovie is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
What does iMovie integrate with?
iMovie's listing names Final Cut Pro, Photos, iCloud Drive, GarageBand, YouTube and Instagram. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes iMovie?
iMovie is made by Apple.
What are the alternatives to iMovie?
The closest alternatives to iMovie in our directory are Final Cut Pro, CapCut, Clipchamp, DaVinci Resolve and Wondershare Filmora. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with iMovie.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 5, 2026. What people say is linked where it appears.