iMovie is a free video editing tool introduced by Apple in 1999. It is simple, user-friendly, and extremely functional. With the help of iMovie, Mac owners can change colours, crop and rotate clips, stabilize shaky images, add smoother transitions, and do other cool things. But the bad news is that its standard version is available only for Mac owners. In this guide, we want to introduce all Windows users to top 5 best iMovie alternatives and remind those who use Mac how to install iMovie and benefit from its rich functionality.
Benefits of iMovie Video Editor
Rather often, users are quite sceptical about proprietary software and think that third-party companies know better. But it is not the case with iMovie, which has lots of powerful capabilities and can offer the following advantages:
● Simple and user-friendly interface that suits even beginners
● Free for Mac owners and comes pre-installed
● Files are easily shareable through iCloud, AirDrop, and online platforms
● Lots of templates and customization features to make personalized videos
● Tens of built-in filters, sounds, and themes
● Automatic synchronization with other devices
iMovie Alternatives - Top 5 Best Video Editing Software for PC
iMovie is a great option for Mac, but other PC users need an alternative. Here are the five most popular and time-tested video editors that you may like.
1. Movavi Video Editor
If you don’t want to mess with installing iMovie for PC, we recommend Movavi Video Editor. It is a professional software friendly to beginners that is available both in a free and a paid mode. Movavi Video Editor has a user-friendly and intuitive interface, offers lots of how-to guides, and lets you finish a video in a matter of minutes. It offers direct upload to TikTok and numerous AI instruments for fast and convenient edits.
Movavi also has a unique Effects Store with exclusive titles, stickers, transitions, and other types of content from skilled designers.
2. WeVideo
WeVideo is a convenient tool that helps edit videos directly in your browser without the need to download any software. It is a perfect option for teams working from different parts of the world. This online video editor supports numerous formats and has a library with over 1 million images, videos, and music free from copyright. WeVideo is a great instrument for splitting, trimming, and merging images, as well as adding motion titles and effects of any complexity.
3. VideoSoftdev
VSDC is a free video editor with an outdated design but powerful functionality. With its help, you can create many objects at the same time, convert files, and even burn DVDs. VSDC supports all popular codecs and formats and offers numerous video and audio effects to create top-notch clips.
4. Cyberlink
Another great alternative to iMovie is Cyberlink. With its help, you will easily edit like a pro in a matter of minutes. Cyberlink offers such features as titles, transitions, and stickers. It lets you alter video speed, as well as trim, split, and crop it the way you want. Advanced Cyberlink features include AI Speech to Text, Restoration Assistant, Animated Stickers, and Intro Templates.
5. Pinnacle Studio
Pinnacle is a video editing software for Windows that comes in multiple packages. With its help, you can create unique videos thanks to hundreds of effects and templates. Some of its best tools include Stop Motion Animation, Split Screen, and Multi-Cam Editing. Add keyframes, drag and drop the timeline, and customize your videos the way you want. Pinnacle has a 15-day free trial period and lots of exclusive offers for paid packages.
How to Use iMovie Step-by-Step?
If after getting familiar with the iMovie alternatives above you still want to stick to this software, be ready that the process of using it on Windows is rather thorny. Here are the most common options that you have:
1. Use Mac Mini. It is a portable computer by Apple which is connected to your Windows display with USB or HDMI. You will also need remote control software. Mac Mini can be purchased online;
2. Run a Mac virtual machine on your Windows. This stage requires a virtual workstation and a rather serious tech background;
3. Rent MacOS on the Internet. Thus, you’ll get a cloud-based PC through remote access or Microsoft DRP;
4. Install Mac on Windows. Such computers are called Hackintosh and allow switching between operating systems whenever you want.
Tips for Optimal Experience
Users can come across numerous comments and complaints that iMovie is running slow, freezing, or even crashing. If you have been in a similar situation, here are a few tips that can help your iMovie run faster:
● Close other active programs that may be slowing your computer;
● Optimize videos by changing their format;
● Delete iMovie folders that you no longer use;
● Clean cache files. We recommend doing this on a regular basis.
Exploring Other Options
5 aforementioned editing tools offer everything you might need to edit videos like a pro. But if you want something else, we recommend turning your attention to software like PowerDirector, Blender, or Avidemux. Your decision should be based on 5 principles:
● Your level of expertise because some tools are not friendly to beginners;
● How much you are ready to spend. There are lots of free editors online;
● System requirements to ensure that you have enough CPU and RAM;
● Available tools and features. You might not need all the instruments on offer;
● Supported formats and resolutions.
Conclusion:
iMovie is a great video editor for Mac. It has rich functionality and multiple benefits, although it doesn’t run that well on Windows and Linux. In this guide, we discussed top 5 great iMovie alternatives which you can start using immediately. With their help, even beginners will create a masterpiece.
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