Filmora
Filmora - AI Video Editor
Edit Faster, Smarter and Easier!
OPEN
Filmora Video Editor
Effortlessly create video with AI.
  • Various AI editing tools to increase your video creation efficiency.
  • Offer popular templates and royalty-free creative resources.
  • Cross-platform functionality for editing everywhere.

10 Best iMovie Alternatives for Mac With Tips to Choose the Right Option

Liza Brown
Liza Brown Originally published Aug 08, 23, updated Jan 23, 24

If it seems complicated to find an iMovie alternative, you’re at the right place as a Mac user. Beginner or professional, everyone seems to make the most of the intuitive interface of iMovie.

But, if you want to learn about the options, you’ll be amazed at the features, templates, and ease-of-use most software allow. Using them, you can transform your videos into stimulating visual clips with custom backgrounds and relevant sound.

Some of the useful software are mentioned below with tried and tested tips to find the best editing software. So, continue reading this post if you’re up to exploring different software with great functionality.

In this article
  1. What are the Limitations of iMovie?
    1. Adobe Premiere Pro
    2. Wondershare Filmora
    3. ShotCut
    4. Avidemux
    5. Blender
    6. DaVinci Resolve
    7. Kapwing
    8. WeVideo
    9. Final Cut Pro X
  2. Summary: How to Pick an iMovie Alternative for Mac

Part 1: What are the Limitations of iMovie?

Before we start learning about other editing software, understanding the limitations of iMovie is crucial. Why? Because this way, you’ll keep shortcomings in the context before making the final decision.

Although iMovie is user-friendly and does the job well, it can give a tough time in the following ways.

High Level of HDD Space

The need for a high level of HDD space can be a problem for editors. Oftentimes, it shows an error and sends a message saying:

“There is not enough disk space available at the selected destination. Please choose another one or clear some space.”

It happens when cache files pile up and consume gigabytes of the given Mac storage space. This is why you must be looking for software that comes with enough storage space, allowing you to edit and import videos without any interruption.

Limited Editing Resources

If you’re into radical video editing, iMovie might not be the best solution. Using its slick interface and tools, you can edit an entry-level video. If you need functional characteristics for an important editing project, this software might not impress you.

Difficulty in Importing & Editing MP4 Files

No doubt, it’s challenging and annoying when you have to get some serious work done, and iMovie isn’t supporting your MP4 files.

However, there could be the following reasons:

  • Your MP4 file is either damaged or corrupted.
  • iMovie only supports MP4 files encoded by MPEG-4.

Part 2: Top 10 Alternatives & Competitors to iMovie

Considering the cons of iMovie, here’s a list of some interesting alternatives that you can try. So without further ado, let’s take a look at the features the following software comes with.

1)  Adobe Premiere Pro

adobe premiere pro

When it comes to enhancing your creativity, Adobe Premiere Pro can be your safe bet. It’s a desktop app that turns your raw video into incredible footage.

Main Features

  • Motion graphics templates
  • Simultaneous projects
  • VR rotate sphere
  • VR editing
  • VR audio editing
  • Effects
  • Transitions
  • Video titling and graphics
  • Multiple video types
  • Multiple formats support

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Its updated interface makes it responsive software
  • In the moving graphics, it offers improved keyframe integrity
  • Using its VR tool, you can make your video immersive
  • With Microsoft team integration, you can stay connected with team members without leaving the app
Cons
  • Sometimes .ai and .psd files don’t work well in Premiere
  • Automatic motion blur functionality or mask editor can be a problem
  • Some new features aren’t well developed or properly tested
  • Frequent updates could lead to negative consequences

Supported Operating System

Premiere Pro has been updated with native support for Macs that are powered by an M1 chip. It includes MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and 24-inch iMac.

Rating

8.9 out of 10

Review

  • 10 out of 10
  • “It allows you to produce professional quality 4K videos.” -Matthew Guzzi.

Summary

Adobe Premiere Pro, a popular and easy-to-use editing software, can serve as an effective learning tool for beginners. With intuitive navigation, editing like a pro isn’t a problem anymore. It comes with several features to improve the quality of your footage.

2)  Wondershare Filmora

wondershare filmora

Video editors can tell more stories with stunning visuals using Filmora and all the great stuff it has to offer.

Main Features

  • Split screen
  • Motion tracking
  • Keyframing
  • Preset templates
  • Title Editing
  • Screen Recorder
  • Video effects
  • Green screen
  • AI portrait

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • It allows faster video rendering
  • Its interface is easy-to-use and simple
  • It offers a set of basic and intermedia features and an impressive stock media
  • You can record the screen using it
  • It supports a plethora of file formats
Cons
  • It doesn’t come with advanced features
  • The 4K editing on Filmora isn’t impressive
  • You’ll experience consistent lagging
  • Free versions come with watermarks

Supported Operating System

Users of macOS 10.14, macOS 11, and Apple M1 chip can make the most of Filmora software and edit stunning videos. MacBook Pro users can use Touch Bar support and custom shortcuts to streamline the entire process.

Steps to Edit a Video Using Filmora

Here’s how you can edit professional-grade videos, following the simple steps.

Free Download
Free Download
Step1 Import Footage
import video

Click on “import” and access the folder to browse the footage you need to edit.

Step2 Insert Footage in Timeline
insert video in timeline

Next, drag and drop the files from the media library to be used as the background in the first track. Later, drag and drop another visual clip to be placed on top of the background video in the second track.

Step3 Work on Speed and Duration Settings
speed and duration settings

In this step, you can adjust the duration of your video using the speed and duration settings. You can even add one or more videos together and run the same process on the following tracks, sharing a similar frame.

Step4 Work on Size and Positioning of your Video
adjust image position

Using the editing interface, which you can find on the top, you can drag the sliders on the interface to alter the direction, size, and position of your visual clip.

Step5 Try Advance Editing

To make your video 10x more interesting, try Filmora’s advanced editing options. By double-clicking the video, you can open the editing panel and perform the following tasks.

Apply motion effects

motion effects

Fix video tone

adjust video tone

Play with colors

color correction

Experiment with audio

adjust audio

Video Mask

video mask
Step6 Incorporate Effects, Transitions, and Stock Video
effects, transitions, and stock video

Take a closer at the top menu and see buttons for effects, elements, transitions, etc. You can click on these and find the elements or effects for your video.

Rating

4.4 out of 5

Review

  • 5 out of 5
  • “The best video editing software for novices.” - Arsh G

Summary

A user-friendly and intuitive software, you can use it to edit your videos and add stunning elements, too. It comes with a wide range of features that make working with video or audio a breeze.

3)  ShotCut

shotcut

An open source and cross-platform, you can use Shotcut for free to edit awesome videos.

Main Features

  • 3-point editing
  • Quick cut, copy and paste functionality
  • Mute, hide and lock track controls
  • Unlimited undo and redo
  • Trimmed clip as MLT XML file support
  • Complex MLT XML file clip support
  • Keyframes for filter parameters

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • It comes with high-quality input and export support
  • The features are great and do the best job
  • It has edit-friendly format support with reliable recovery from project failure
Cons
  • The interface isn’t intuitive; it may feel confusing when using it for the first time
  • There’s no stock music available
  • The transitions are limited
  • It doesn’t come with export presets for devices

Supported Operating System

It performs well on macOS 10.14.0 or later.

Rating

4.2 out of 5

Review

  • 4 out of 5
  • “Lightweight and amazing free basic video editor.” - Salini K.

Summary

As a free editing tool, it offers various useful features that make video editing hassle-free. As an editor, if you’re into experimenting with different features, you’ll find its audio and video features quick and user-friendly.

4)  Avidemux

avidemux

Designed for tasks such as cutting, filtering, and encoding, Avidemux supports files in various formats.

Main Features

  • Apply for effects and filters
  • Support various video formats
  • Subtitle processor
  • Scripting capabilities
  • Insert or extract audio streams
  • Non-linear video editing
  • Command line or graphical interface

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • It enables you to convert videos into various formats
  • Its task automation feature makes things 10x easier
  • The software allows you to resize, sharpen, add, increase or decrease the video volume
  • You can store custom scripts and apply preferred settings and configurations
Cons
  • It lacks a timeline which is quite essential for a video editor
  • Audio often gets distorted when imported on video
  • An extremely simple editor for professional or experienced editors
  • The interface is old and doesn’t compete with the latest editing tools

Supported Operating System

It does a fairly decent job on Mac OS X 10.9 or later.

Rating

4.4 out of 5

Review

  • 5 out of 5
  • A fantastic piece of software, simple to use, strong, and quick. - Swati S.

Summary

Although a simple editing tool, its many features enable you to edit a professional-grade video without having to put significant effort. It performs basic functions, such as cutting, filtering, and trimming, and supports all major formats.

5)  Blender

blender

From allowing you to perform basic tasks to complex ones, Blender’s built-in video sequence is perfect for editors.

Main Features

  • Slots for adding video, masks, and effects.
  • Speed control
  • Adjustment layers
  • Transitions
  • Keyframes and filters
  • Audio mixing
  • Waveform visualization

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • It’s a more diverse software than many 3D programs available today
  • The workflow is procedural, so expect yourself to maintain a clean workflow
  • Blender releases a new version every few months due to its open-source nature
Cons
  • This isn’t industry-grade software
  • Its interface isn’t user-friendly, which can make it difficult for beginners to use it
  • You may encounter bugs or other errors
  • It’s basic and can’t compete with other advanced editing tools

Supported Operating System

You can run Blender on macOS 10.13 Intel with ease.

Rating

4.5 out of 5

Review

  • 5 out of 5
  • A decent software made for beginners and animators. -Vaibhav S.

Summary

Free software with performance similar to a commercial one, you can use Blender as a 3D modeling tool without worrying over hefty costs. Considering this, users recommended it, saying it’s a powerful tool.

6)  DaVinci Resolve

davinci resolve

A great combination of color correction, visual effects, editing, and motion graphics, DaVinci is here to change the editing game.

Main Features

  • 3D video editing
  • Animation and transition
  • Collaboration tools
  • Color grading
  • Video capture
  • Media library
  • Image editing
  • Real-time monitoring
  • Support for multiple formats
  • Drag and drop

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Edits made in the industry’s leading software are imported into it for grading
  • It comes with an option to edit with the cut page
  • DaVinci Resolve is a proper ecosystem that you can buy
Cons
  • If you’ve been editing with Adobe, you’ll find DaVinci Resolve quite confusing
  • It doesn’t support dynamic linking
  • There aren’t many plugins available for it

Supported Operating System

You can run it on macOS 10.15 Catalina.

Rating

8.6 out of 10

Review

Summary

From 3D editing to grading, DaVinci Resolve isn’t your average editing tool. It has been benefiting editors with its set of features.

7)  Kapwing

kapwing

An online editing tool that allows creative individuals to edit, size, add subtitles, and more from the convenience of their web browser. With its free trial and free video, you can begin your editing journey anytime.

Main Features

  • Media library
  • Drag and drop
  • Speed adjustment
  • Video creation
  • Audio capture
  • Split/merge

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • It allows you to resize videos with ease
  • It removes the background from the image like a pro
  • It enables you to add one or more filters to your videos
Cons
  • The image quality isn’t impressive
  • Sometimes, it hangs, which is rare for the software on the cloud
  • When the connection cuts, the work might disappear

Supporting Operating System

Kapwing does a flawless job on Macs.

Rating

4.5 out of 5

Review

  • 5 out of 5
  • “An awesome browser-based video editor with basic editing features and effects.” - Jay R.

Summary

Kapwing can be your go-to software when you need an intuitive tool with useful features and effects to edit a stunning video.

8)  WeVideo

wevideo

As a great online editing tool, WeVideo lets you edit footage for your social media platforms, brand awareness, or friends and family. It offers an easy-to-use interface, features, effects, and everything that allow you to ace video editing.

Main Features

  • Screen Recorder
  • Video merger
  • Video trimmer
  • Video templates
  • Add text or music to your video

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Its user-friendly interface makes advanced video editing simple for beginners
  • The layout is straightforward and allows complete creative control
  • Its JumpStart technology allows fast and easy editing
Cons
  • You’ve to use the paid version to avoid water marks on your projects
  • The unsubscribing process is a bit complex

Supported Operating System

WeVideo is compatible with Macs.

Rating

4.0 out of 5.

Review

  • 5 out of 5
  • “It’s the best online platform you can use to create, share, and manage videos.” - Amr M.

Summary

Being an online editing tool, it has changed the editing scene by offering an intuitive interface and straightforward layout. No wonder creative people love creating, sharing, and managing videos using it.

9)  Final Cut Pro X

final cut pro x

With advanced features, modern architecture, smooth functionality, and incredible performance, Final Cut Pro X is here to tackle your video editing task with stunning perfection.

Main Features

  • Cinematic mode
  • Object tacker
  • Motion graphics
  • Color grading
  • Effects, plug-ins, and tools

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Object tracker allows adding text or color correction to the moving footage
  • The drag-and-drop feature makes editing quick
  • Click-to-track feature allows you to choose the focus points and change them later
Cons
  • The software hangs sometimes
  • There’s no option given to use a linear editor
  • The tool uses a lot of space

Supporting Operating System

The software runs well on Mac computers.

Rating

4.5 out of 5

Review

  • 5 out of 5
  • This tool has streamlined video editing for industry professionals. - Clinton O.

Summary

With a variety of features and top-tier functionality, Final Cut Pro X is truly the editing tool you need to come up with flawless videos. With the positive reviews, give no second thoughts when it comes to using it.

Summary: How to Pick an iMovie Alternative for Mac

If, for some reason, you think iMovie isn’t enough, you can always try the alternatives to get the best job done. These tools offer intuitive interfaces and a series of useful features to streamline the entire editing process.

And if you’re wondering how to choose the right alternative, you should be looking forward to the following:

User Experience

First things first, when looking for an editing tool, ensure that it offers an unmatched user experience. Or else your video editing process will become overwhelming.

More so, the software must be easy to use, so you can come up with perfect footage every time you use it. Tools such as Shotcut and Filmora are great in terms of ease of use.

Special Effects & Music

Other factors, such as features, elements, transitions, and templates, are crucial to look for, too. This way, you’ll get an idea about which type of software will work for you.

For example, if you’ll be working with audio, look for the software that supports it, such as Blender or Kapwing.

Software Stability

Next, make sure the software you choose doesn’t come with annoying pop-ups. Ads or pop-up guides to download other app influences your experience.

You should also ensure that the tool doesn’t hang and offer an uninterrupted experience. Take Kapwing for an example. Oftentimes, users complain that it hangs and disrupts the editing process.

Final Words

iMovie may have a series of benefits and features. However, finding an alternative, especially for Mac computers, has always been a critical process. One of the main reasons is that Mac doesn’t support all editing software.

If you ever need a great-quality editing tool with useful features and exceptional functionality, choose one from the options mentioned above and edit the perfect video.

Free Download
Free Download
Liza Brown
Liza Brown Jan 23, 24
Share article: