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iMovie for Windows: Best Alternatives

March 31, 2023
  • 1,652
  • 14 Minutes

iMovie is an excellent, free video editor that is only available for Mac users. Fortunately, there are now some great alternatives to iMovie for Windows, which we will discuss in this article.

Best video editors without a watermark

Movavi Video Editor for Windows

Movavi Video Editor is an outstanding iMovie equivalent for Windows. It is just as intuitive to use and gives you the same level of control as iMovie. It has a wide range of video-editing tools and an easy drag-and-drop interface for creating stunning videos. 

Like iMovie, Movavi Video Editor features an extensive library of titles, transitions, and filters that can level up the quality of your videos instantly. Additionally, this iMovie alternative supports various video formats and can even be used to create slideshows or capture your screen or webcam footage.

However, Movavi Video Editor also has powerful tools that keep it ahead of the competition. For one thing, this video editor has artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities for background and noise removal. It also has a few advanced editing features, like chroma key, motion tracking, and stabilization.

One downside is that, unlike iMovie which is totally free, Movavi Video Editor requires a paid license to enjoy fully. It does offer a free 7-day trial version that includes a watermark on videos.

Features:

  • Simple drag-and-drop interface
  • Wide range of titles, filters, and transitions
  • Support for multiple formats
  • AI editing tools

 

Pros:

  • Very easy to use
  • Plenty of templates available
  • Motion tracking and picture-in-picture tools

 

Cons:

  • Free trial version comes with a watermark

 

Pinnacle Studio

Pinnacle Studio is another great alternative to iMovie for Windows. It’s a bit more complex than Movavi Video Editor but offers a wider range of creative tools and features. Many editors with a timeline workspace will place limits on the number of tracks you can add. Pinnacle Studio (depending on the version) lets you work with unlimited tracks.

You can also trim clips, adjust the frame rate, add transitions and effects, create titles and motion graphics, and edit audio tracks with EQ adjustments and keyframing capabilities – all from the same program.

In addition to its expansive editing options, Pinnacle Studio also has some unique features that make it stand out from others. This alternative to iMovie for a PC has a multi-cam editor that lets you switch between up to six different cameras while you’re editing. It also has a 360-degree video editor, so you can create immersive videos with ease.

Pinnacle Studio does not come for free like iMovie. It comes in three versions: Standard, Plus, and Ultimate. However, there is a 15-day free trial version available.

Features:

  • 4K, multi-cam, and 360-degree video-editing capabilities
  • Robust audio tools, including noise profiles, channel mixer, and corrections
  • Hundreds of effects and motion graphics
  • Unlimited video and audio tracks

Pros:

  • Professional-level editing for beginners
  • Simple and clean user interface
  • Powerful features and cinema-grade effects

Cons:

  • Ultimate full version is expensive
  • Lower versions are not full-featured

 

OpenShot

If you’re looking for a promising open-source alternative to iMovie, use OpenShot. It has all the basic video-editing features you need to create stunning videos, including trimming and cutting clips, adding titles and transitions, panning and zooming clips, color grading, audio mixing tools, and more.

OpenShot also offers 3D animation capabilities with its powerful animation controller. This makes it easy to animate text or objects in your videos in seconds. You can even add effects, like motion blur or chroma key, to take your videos to the next level. 

What’s even more impressive is that OpenShot supports 4K Ultra HD video resolutions, making it perfect for creating professional-looking videos with crystal clear quality.

Although OpenShot has a simple interface, some of its more advanced features have a steep learning curve. So even though it is absolutely free, it may not be suitable for beginners who want to learn quickly. It is best suited for intermediate editors who want a smooth transition into pro-grade video editing.

Features:

  • 3D animation tools for titles and effects
  • Slow motion and time effects
  • Trim and slice features
  • Cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Pros:

  • Totally free
  • Unlimited tracks
  • Interface is customizable

Cons:

  • Advanced features are not easy to learn
  • Can crash sometimes

 

Cyberlink PowerDirector

Cyberlink PowerDirector can technically be considered an alternative to iMovie, but it has a lot more advanced features and functions. PowerDirector is a professional video editor with a comprehensive suite of tools for editing videos, such as color correction, motion tracking, audio editing, and more. It also supports 4K Ultra HD resolution for even sharper results. 

The program features a simple user interface, but because of the many tools it offers, beginners may find the learning curve a bit steep. The good news is that PowerDirector has tutorials and online support to help you get started quickly. 

PowerDirector also boasts of its “Express Project” feature, which allows users to create videos in just 3 easy steps – select a template, add media files, and customize your project with titles, transitions, and effects. This feature makes it easier for novice editors who want to produce impressive results without having to learn complicated editing techniques. 

Features:

  • Access to an extensive library of stock photos, videos, and audio
  • Comprehensive editing tools for video and audio
  • Advanced features, such as motion tracking and object detection
  • Screen-recording capability

Pros:

  • Provides more features than iMovie
  • Allows plenty of plugins
  • Modes and tutorials available for beginners

Cons:

  • Full range of features require a steep learning curve 
  • Too many options for casual users

 

EaseUS Video Editor

EaseUS Video Editor lives up to its name as easy-to-use video-editing software. It comes with all the basic video-editing tools, such as trimming, cutting and merging clips, and adding subtitles and effects. It also has a timeline feature that allows you to rearrange your videos in any order you want easily.

The interface is extremely user-friendly, making it perfect for beginners who are just starting out with video editing. The learning curve is quite low, so you can easily get up to speed and create amazing videos in no time.

Having said that, EaseUS Video Editor does not have as many advanced features as some of the other alternatives on this list. So if you’re looking for more professional-level video-editing capabilities, you may want to look elsewhere.

Features:

  • Simplified editing tools
  • Over 50 visual effects and transitions
  • Support for multiple file formats

Pros:

  • Perfect for absolute beginners
  • Special effects
  • Simple and easy exporting function

Cons:

  • Limited advanced features
  • Free version doesn’t come full-featured

 

Lightworks

Lightworks is a professional video editor that has been around since 1989. It’s made by the same company that created the popular editing software Avid. As such, Lightworks comes with many of the same features as its more expensive counterpart but at a fraction of the cost. This video editor can be a great alternative for iMovie for a Windows 10 PC. 

Lightworks offers an impressive range of tools for both basic and advanced users alike. Not only does it have all of the standard editing options, like trimming and cutting footage, but it also allows you to add effects to your videos.

The user interface in Lightworks is well-designed and easy to navigate. It also includes a storyboard mode, which makes it perfect for creating short films. 

Features:

  • Drag-and-drop user interface
  • Storyboard bins
  • Background process and proxy workflows
  • Local backup and archiving

Pros:

  • Professional results with beginner-friendly tools
  • Support for almost every file type
  • Versatile editing features

Cons:

  • Free version has limited features
  • Free license needs to be re-activated periodically

 

VSDC Free Video Editor

VSDC Free Video Editor is another iMovie download for Windows to consider. This video editor has a clean, straightforward interface and plenty of features. It supports all the popular video formats and can be used for simple edits or more complex projects, like creating presentations with animations, transitions, and effects.

VSDC Free Video Editor also comes with a wide variety of filters, including color correction tools and special effects, just like chroma key. It also has tools specifically designed to help you export videos in various sizes and formats, including Full HD resolution, so they will look great on any device or platform you share them on.

VSDC is also one of the few programs that feature non-linear editing tools. This means that you can perform multiple edits on a single project without having to start from scratch each time. 

Features:

  • Various filters and special effects
  • Recording features (voice recording, webcam capture)
  • Powerful functions for 4K, chroma key, and 360-degree VR

Pros:

  • Non-linear editing
  • Support for many popular file formats
  • 4K and VR support

Cons:

  • Free version has locked features 
  • Interface can be confusing at first

 

DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve is a powerful video editor that professionals often use. Despite its advanced features, it still has an intuitive interface and workflow that makes it bearable for beginners who want to get started with professional editing.

This iMovie alternative supports 4K resolution videos and up to 8K footage on some systems. Its editing suite includes tools like filters, transitions, color correction, keying effects, and audio mixing tools. 

DaVinci Resolve has a built-in motion graphics designer with plenty of customizable templates. Aside from being an excellent video editor, DaVinci Resolve allows you to collaborate with other editors or do multi-camera editing. You can also use it to deliver your video projects in multiple formats, including web and broadcast formats.

Features:

  • Robust color correction tools
  • Motion graphics features
  • Plenty of transitions and effects
  • Powerful multi-track editing

Pros:

  • Interface is highly customizable
  • Available for free
  • Industry-standard

Cons:

  • Not suitable for absolute beginners
  • Free version has frame rate and resolution limitations

 

What to look for in an iMovie alternative

When looking for the best iMovie alternative, there are several key features you should consider:

  • Price: iMovie is a free download and comes built-in with Apple computers. Naturally, a free iMovie alternative is an ideal choice. However, some free video editors do not have the same capabilities or are difficult to use. While many programs for Windows require paid licenses, they offer free download or free trial.
  • Features: many programs have a set of features that are similar to iMovie. However, some apps have more advanced features, such as green-screen effects and timeline editing. Additionally, look out for cloud storage capabilities and compatibility with other video formats.
  • Ease of use: the user interface should be intuitive and easy to learn to produce great videos quickly without having to spend too much time learning the software.
  • Compatibility: the program should be compatible with your operating system and the types of devices you plan to use the software on, whether it’s a PC with Windows 10, 7, 8, and so on.

Now that you know what you should look for in an iMovie alternative, you will have an easier time narrowing down your choices.

Summary

iMovie is an excellent free video editor, but it is only available for Mac users. There is no simple workaround for those who want to learn how to get iMovie on a Windows PC, either.

Fortunately, there are some great video editors for Windows that offer similar features and capabilities. When choosing an alternative to iMovie, you should consider the price, features, and user experience of each program before making a decision. Programs like Movavi Video Editor can provide a great user experience coupled with powerful tools.