The iMovie Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about iMovie in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
iMovie
The Insider’s Guide
Apple's free video editor for iPhone, iPad and Mac
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among screen recording and video tools, read from iMovie’s own pages.
Made by Apple · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05After you payGetting your money back, getting out, and getting help
- 06The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 07Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 08About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from iMovie’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on iMovie’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 45 of the 52 other screen recording and video tools we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about iMovie, taken from its own pages and our grades.
For more control Apple points you to Final Cut Pro, which is paid.
- 1
Best for a first video editor if you own Apple devices
It's Apple only, and reviewers say trailer templates fix the music and clip lengths and you can't choose an export resolution.
- 2
It is free
iMovie has no paid plan at all. 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.
- 3
It runs on 2 platforms
iOS and macOS.
- 4
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.
- 5
Storyboards
20 Storyboards for popular video types on iPhone and iPad, with placeholder clips you record into or fill from the Photos library.
- 6
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.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 45 of 52
That is against the other screen recording and video tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
iMovie is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
- 9
What users like
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.
iMovie at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, iOS
- Made by
- Apple
- Category
- Screen Recording & Video
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
- Store rating
- 4.4 on the App Store, 314,943 ratings
The report card
Best for a first video editor if you own Apple devices
iMovie is Apple's free video editor for iPhone, iPad and Mac, building trailers and movies from templates and, on iPhone and iPad, putting a video together from clips you pick. It's Apple only, and reviewers say trailer templates fix the music and clip lengths and you can't choose an export resolution. For more control Apple points you to Final Cut Pro, which is paid.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free on the App Store and the Mac App Store, and neither listing shows a single in-app purchase. If you own the device you already own the editor, and there's nothing to pay later. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The complete app is free on iPhone, iPad and Mac, with trailers, themes, effects and 4K export included. No paid tier exists, so nothing is being saved up for one. |
| Features | C | Magic Movie, 20 Storyboards, trailer templates, green-screen and picture-in-picture, and editing at up to 4K. That's the basics, and the gaps are the listing's own: Apple sends you to the paid Final Cut Pro for anything more advanced, and reviewers say you can't choose an export resolution. |
| Ease of use | B | 4.42 from about 315,000 App Store ratings, which clears our bar on the strength of that crowd. People call it simple and quick to pick up; the grumbles are about control, since trailer templates fix the music and the clip lengths. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | iPhone, iPad and Mac, so one family of devices and no further. It hands projects to Final Cut Pro and works with Photos, iCloud Drive and GarageBand. No Windows, no Android, no web. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who iMovie is for
- Fits if it's your first go at editing and you already own an iPhone, iPad or Mac
- Works for family, school and holiday videos built from a template
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you use Windows or Android, as Apple lists it for Mac, iPad and iPhone only
- Too light for anyone who wants overlays or full control of the edit, which reviewers say the iPhone and iPad app lacks
- Not for you if you need to pick your export resolution, since reviewers complain they can't
- Watch out: the Mac version needs macOS 26.6 or later, and the iPhone and iPad app needs 17.6 or later
- Tight if you outgrow the templates, as Apple's next step is Final Cut Pro, which is paid
Good to know
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.
What people say
- 4.4on the App Store, from 314,943 ratings
What they like
- 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.
What they don’t
- Not being able to choose the resolution of the exported video is a complaint made in a review and by commenters.
- 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.
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
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
iMovie is free to use.
Free on the App Store and the Mac App Store, and neither listing shows a single in-app purchase.
Free
$0
The complete app on iPhone, iPad and Mac, including trailers, themes, effects and export at up to 4K.
The 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.
Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 5, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and iOS
Apple's free video editor for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: templates, video editing.
iPhone, iPad and Mac, so one family of devices and no further.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- iOS
What it works with
- Final Cut Pro
- Photos
- iCloud Drive
- GarageBand
- YouTube
iMovie is made by Apple.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
45/52
Other screen recording and video tools it is graded above
iMovie's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 45 of the 52 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 4.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 46 of 52) and worst on features (C, above 0).
iMovie has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 53 screen recording and video tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. iMovie’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 39 of 52
- AFree plan and trialAbove 46 of 52
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 52
- BEase of useAbove 20 of 52
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 5 of 52
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 46 screen recording and video tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. iMovie is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
iMovie is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 45 of the 52 other screen recording and video tools we grade.
What you could make
- Templates: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A video editor.
- Apps for macOS and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Final Cut Pro, Photos and iCloud Drive among them.
What this rests on. iMovie’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Refunds
After you pay
Getting your money back, getting out, and getting help
What happens once you have paid: whether you can get your money back, how to leave, and how to reach a person when something goes wrong. Each is graded from iMovie’s own terms and help pages.
Leaving iMovie
Not graded · checked Oct 18, 2026
iMovie is a free download from Apple, with no plan, no card and nothing to refund. Your movies sit in an iMovie library on your own Mac or device rather than behind a subscription, which is the best possible answer to the question of what happens when you stop. The only account to close is the Apple Account you downloaded it with, and Apple lets you delete that whenever you like.
- Closing your account
There is nothing to cancel: iMovie is free in the App Store. The only account behind it is your Apple Account, which Apple says you can permanently delete at any time and for any reason by signing in on its Data and Privacy page and selecting the request to delete your account. Apple verifies that you are the account holder first, and an active AppleCare plan has to be cancelled before you can.
Stated on support.apple.com- What you keep afterwards
Your work is not held hostage: the iMovie support page explains how to store the iMovie library on an external hard drive to free up space on the Mac, so the library lives on your own machine. If you delete the Apple Account itself, Apple says the account details and the content stored with it in iCloud are permanently deleted and cannot be restored, and you can no longer use the App Store.
Stated on support.apple.com
In your favour
- Nothing to pay, so nothing to cancel and nothing to claim back.
- The iMovie library sits on your own Mac, and Apple documents how to move it to another drive.
- You can delete your Apple Account yourself, at any time and for any reason.
Watch out for
- Deleting an Apple Account is permanent and takes everything in iCloud with it.
- Apple cannot restore the data afterwards, so back it up before you ask.
- Once the account is gone you cannot re-download iMovie or anything else from the App Store with it.
Customer support
Good · checked Oct 18, 2026
iMovie gets a support page of its own, three user guides, a public community and the whole of Apple's contact machinery behind it: chat in Messages and a phone line in the countries Apple lists. For a free app that is generous. It is not an A because no page states hours or a reply time, and Apple says live support is not offered in every region.
Ways to get help
Live chat
The Contact Apple Support page offers a chat with Apple that runs in the Messages app on your device. It covers Apple products in general rather than iMovie alone.
Stated on support.apple.comPhone
The same page offers phone support, chosen from a list of countries and regions. Apple says that where a region is not listed, it does not offer live support there.
Stated on support.apple.comHelp inside the app
The iMovie support page points to the Apple Support app, which it says gives personalised access to solutions for the Apple products you own.
Stated on support.apple.comHelp centre
The iMovie support page collects articles on updating the app, fixing it when it will not open, making a movie, moving the library and supported cameras, and links separate user guides for Mac, iPhone and iPad.
Stated on support.apple.comCommunity or forum
The iMovie support page links Apple Communities, a public forum where Apple customers ask and answer questions, and which anyone can read without an account.
Stated on discussions.apple.com
Not listed on iMovie’s pages: email, contact form or ticket.
- When people answer
Its pages do not say.
- How fast it says it replies
Its pages do not say.
- What depends on your plan
Its pages do not say.
In your favour
- iMovie has its own support page, not just a line in a general one.
- There are three user guides, one each for Mac, iPhone and iPad.
- You can reach Apple live, by chat or phone, for an app that costs nothing.
- Apple Communities is public and free to search before you ask anyone.
Watch out for
- No hours and no reply time are stated on the contact page.
- Live support is not offered everywhere: if your region is not listed, Apple says there is none.
- The guides and articles are Apple's general support, with no team just for iMovie.
What these two grades rest on. Read on 18 October 2026: Apple's iMovie support page, the iMovie user guides for Mac and iPhone, the article on deleting an Apple Account, the Contact Apple Support page, the Apple Support Community and the app's App Store listing. Nobody here closed an account or contacted Apple's support. They are graded apart from the five that make the GPA. How we grade refunds and support.
Part 06 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Final Cut Pro, CapCut, Clipchamp, DaVinci Resolve and Wondershare Filmora
The 5 tools iMovie is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.0GPA
Final Cut Pro
Free trial · from $12.99/mo
Apple's professional video editor for Mac and iPad.
- iMovie has a free plan. Final Cut Pro does not, though it has a free trial.
- Final Cut Pro can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- iMovie also covers templates.
- 2.8GPA
CapCut
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
Video and photo editor with effects, auto captions and AI tools.
- Only CapCut lists Android and Windows apps.
- iMovie also covers templates.
- 2.8GPA
Clipchamp
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
Microsoft's browser-based video editor with a free plan.
- Only iMovie lists iOS and macOS apps.
- Only Clipchamp lists a web app.
- Only Clipchamp lists a Windows app.
- 3.4GPA
DaVinci Resolve
Free plan · from $94.99
Video editing, color, effects and audio post-production in one app.
- Only DaVinci Resolve lists Windows and Linux apps.
- DaVinci Resolve can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- iMovie also covers templates.
- 3.0GPA
Wondershare Filmora
Free plan · from $49.99/yr
Desktop and mobile video editor with AI tools and a stock library.
- 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.
Part 07 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
17
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How do I close a iMovie account?
There is nothing to cancel: iMovie is free in the App Store. The only account behind it is your Apple Account, which Apple says you can permanently delete at any time and for any reason by signing in on its Data and Privacy page and selecting the request to delete your account.
What happens to my data if I leave iMovie?
Your work is not held hostage: the iMovie support page explains how to store the iMovie library on an external hard drive to free up space on the Mac, so the library lives on your own machine.
How do I contact iMovie support?
iMovie's pages list these ways to get help: live chat, phone, help inside the app, help centre and community or forum.
How does iMovie compare with other screen recording and video tools?
iMovie's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 45 of the 52 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 4.
Is iMovie good value for money?
ToolGPA grades iMovie A for value for money. iMovie has no paid plan. On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Could I make my own version of iMovie?
iMovie is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from iMovie’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Apple's own pages on 5 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-30.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Apple. Prices change, so check apple.com before you buy.
Part 08 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- iMovie, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/imovie
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "iMovie: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/imovie
Know someone choosing between screen recording and video tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/imovie/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded screen recording and video tools after iMovie, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Screen Recording & Video Insider's GuideEvery one of the 53 screen recording and video tools we grade, compared
- DaVinci Resolve Insider's GuideVideo editing, color, effects and audio post-production in one app3.4 GPA
- Zencastr Insider's GuideFree podcast recording, chat-based editing and hosting in one app3.4 GPA
- Cap Insider's GuideOpen-source screen recorder with instant share links and an editor3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what iMovie’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. iMovie is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Apple. Prices and plans change: check apple.com before you buy.