Open Source iMovie Alternatives

The best open source alternative to iMovie is Kdenlive. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to iMovie and 14 is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to iMovie are Shotcut, OpenShot, Avidemux and Olive Video Editor.

iMovie alternatives are mainly Video Editors but may also be Motion Graphics Software or Screen Recorders. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of iMovie.

iMovie alternatives page was last updated

iMovie

120

Free • Proprietary
Video Editor

With iMovie for iOS and macOS, you can enjoy your videos like never before. It’s easy to browse your clips and create...

More about iMovie

Kdenlive
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Video Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
KDE
Flathub
Flatpak
111 Kdenlive alternatives
Kdenlive is a non linear video editor. It is based on the MLT framework and accepts many audio and video formats, allows you to add effects, transitions and render into the format of your choice.
- - Kdenlive is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to iMovie.
- - Kdenlive is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to iMovie.
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Kdenlive Features
1. Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in Kdenlive, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
2. Ad-freeKdenlive doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
3. Chroma Key / Green ScreenKdenlive supports chroma key to replace the background with an image or video backdrop.
4. Dark ModeKdenlive supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
5. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Kdenlive without registration.
6. Hardware AcceleratedKdenlive can use the GPU and CPU to speed up rendering, conversion, and overall performance.
7. Colour GradingKdenlive lets you manipulate color in creative and artistic ways.
8. Non Destructive EditingKdenlive can make changes to a file without overwriting the original data, which remains available in case you want to revert to it.
9. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsKdenlive can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
Visual Editing
Split videos
Sync Audio & Video
Watermark free
Non linear editor
MultiTrack
Add subtitles
GPU Support
Realtime filter effects
Customizable
Opinions about Kdenlive as a Alternative to iMovie
Most users think Kdenlive is a great iMovie alternative.
Shotcut
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Video Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
AppImageHub
Snapcraft
Flathub
PortableApps.com
113 Shotcut alternatives
Shotcut is a free, open source, cross-platform, non-linear video editor.
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Shotcut Features
1. LightweightShotcut consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in Shotcut, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
3. PortableShotcut can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
4. Dark ModeShotcut supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
5. Chroma Key / Green ScreenShotcut supports chroma key to replace the background with an image or video backdrop.
6. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Shotcut without registration.
No Watermark
Video filters
Visual timeline
CPU&GPU Rendering
Low CPU usage
Trim video
Non linear editor
Timeline
Image Masking
Track everything
Opinions about Shotcut as a Alternative to iMovie
Most users think Shotcut is a great iMovie alternative.
OpenShot
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Video Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
Flathub
121 OpenShot alternatives
OpenShot is a free and open-source video editor for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Chrome OS, designed to be easy to use and quick to learn.
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OpenShot Features
1. Ad-freeOpenShot doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
2. Chroma Key / Green ScreenOpenShot supports chroma key to replace the background with an image or video backdrop.
No Watermark
3D animated titles
Blender Integration
32-bit support
Geometry editing
Photo effects
Layer Movement
Fast motion
Track multiple packages
Edit screenshots
Comments about OpenShot as a Alternative to iMovie
Most users think OpenShot is a great iMovie alternative.
ndlinn
Great alternative with one key distinction: that the Windows version is NOT in any way comparable to the Linux version! You'll need to find another alternative for Windows.
Positive comment•
0

s3ptk1
Familiar interface and full-featured app that can replace imovie for users that don't have access on non-mac platforms
Positive comment•
3
Avidemux
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Video Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
PortableApps.com
133 Avidemux alternatives
Free and simple video editor that supports a variety of file types and automated tasks. SIMPLE video editor, dedicated for ONE video at a time. NOT for multi video editing/montage.
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Avidemux Features
1. LightweightAvidemux consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in Avidemux, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
3. PortableAvidemux can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
4. Chroma Key / Green ScreenAvidemux supports chroma key to replace the background with an image or video backdrop.
Crop video
Built-in Video Converter
Sync Audio & Video
Lossless Muxing
Cut video
Visual Editing
Video file conversion
Watermark images
Integrated Codecs
Embed subtitles into video
Comments about Avidemux as a Alternative to iMovie
Some users think Avidemux is a great iMovie alternative, some don't.
Guest
Avidemux is superb as a quick cut and convert-tool, but it is not a full fledged video-editor
Negative comment•
6

Guest
Simple for cutting existing movies. Save/export is extremely fast.
Positive comment•
3

Guest
Avidemux is not simple to use
Negative comment•
0

Guest
Lacks the ability to easily select part of a source video.
Negative comment•
-2
Olive Video Editor
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Video Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
106 Olive Video Editor alternatives
Olive is a free non-linear video editor aiming to provide a fully-featured alternative to high-end professional video editing software.
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Olive Video Editor Features
1. Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in Olive Video Editor, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
2. Node BasedOlive Video Editor supports node editing, a form of visual programming that gives you full control over the rendering.
Non linear editor
Multitrack editing
Multi Platform
Custom layouts
Support for Unicode
Offline Data Collection
VirtualDub
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Video Editor
Windows
PortableApps.com
132 VirtualDub alternatives
VirtualDub is a video capture/processing utility for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows platforms (98/ME/NT4/2000/XP/Vista/7), licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL). It lacks the editing power of a general-purpose editor such as Adobe Premiere, but is streamlined for fast...
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VirtualDub Features
1. PortableVirtualDub can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Capture Video
Embed subtitles into video
Batch processing
Discontinued
The project seems to be no longer developed. Last version, 1.10.4.35491, released on October 27, 2013, can be still downloaded from SourceForge

Opinions about VirtualDub as a Alternative to iMovie
This alternative is disputed. VirtualDub is still a legitimate iMovie alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.
PiTiVi
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Video Editor
Linux
BSD
91 PiTiVi alternatives
Free video editor with a beautiful and intuitive user interface, a clean codebase and a fantastic community.
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PiTiVi Features
Transformation toolbox
Compositor
Non linear editor
Capture Video
32-bit support
Cinelerra
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Video Editor
Linux
Wine
88 Cinelerra alternatives
Cinelerra is a highly advanced and professional non-linear video editing software, but still remains open source. Cinelerra solves three main tasks: capturing, editing and compositing.
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Cinelerra Features
1. Works OfflineCinelerra can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
2. Support for 4KCinelerra supports watching, rendering or exporting 4K content (also know as UHD or Ultra HD).
3. Ad-freeCinelerra doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
4. Colour GradingCinelerra lets you manipulate color in creative and artistic ways.
Non linear editor
Flowblade
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Video Editor
Linux
60 Flowblade alternatives
Flowblade is a multitrack non-linear video editor for Linux released under GPL 3 license.
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Flowblade Features
Color correction
Non linear editor
AstroFox
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mac
Windows
Linux
110 AstroFox alternatives
Astrofox is a free, open-source motion graphics program that lets you turn your audio into custom, shareable videos. Combine text, images, animations and effects to create stunning, unique visuals. Then generate high-definition videos to share with your fans on social media.
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AstroFox Features
Sound Effects