Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Final Cut Pro VS iMovie

Compare Final Cut Pro VS iMovie and see what are their differences

Final Cut Pro logo Final Cut Pro

Professional, non-linear video editing software created by Apple Inc.

iMovie logo iMovie

Turn your videos into movie magic.
  • Final Cut Pro Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-15
  • iMovie Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-10

Final Cut Pro features and specs

  • Performance
    Final Cut Pro is highly optimized for macOS, utilizing hardware acceleration to deliver smooth performance even when working with 4K and 8K footage.
  • Magnetic Timeline
    The Magnetic Timeline feature allows for intuitive and efficient editing by automatically closing gaps, synchronizing, and aligning clips, reducing the need for manual adjustments.
  • User Interface
    The user interface is streamlined and user-friendly, making it accessible for both novices and professionals to quickly become productive.
  • Integration with Apple Ecosystem
    Final Cut Pro seamlessly integrates with other Apple software and hardware, including Motion for motion graphics and Compressor for encoding, providing a cohesive editing experience.
  • Advanced Color Correction
    Offers a suite of professional color correction tools, including HDR support and advanced color grading capabilities to achieve cinema-quality visuals.
  • Multicam Editing
    Provides robust multicam editing that allows you to sync up to 64 angles of video and quickly switch between them, making it ideal for live event editing.
  • Plugins and Effects
    Supports a wide range of third-party plugins and effects, giving editors the flexibility to expand the software's capabilities to meet specific project requirements.

Possible disadvantages of Final Cut Pro

  • Platform Limitation
    Final Cut Pro is exclusively available for macOS, limiting its use to only Mac users. This can be a disadvantage for those who use other operating systems.
  • Learning Curve
    While the user interface is intuitive, there is still a considerable learning curve, especially for those who are new to video editing or coming from different software.
  • Cost
    The one-time purchase price of $299.99 might be prohibitive for casual users or beginners who are not ready to make a significant investment.
  • Collaboration Limitations
    Final Cut Pro's collaboration features are less robust compared to other professional editing software like Avid or Adobe Premiere Pro, potentially complicating multi-editor workflows.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Occasionally experiences compatibility issues with certain file formats and third-party hardware, requiring additional plugins or workarounds.
  • Resource Intensive
    Requires a high-end Mac to fully leverage all of its advanced features, which may not be feasible for users with older or less powerful hardware.

iMovie features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    iMovie offers a clean and straightforward interface that makes it easy for beginners to learn video editing quickly.
  • Integration with Apple Ecosystem
    iMovie works seamlessly with other Apple products and services, like iCloud, making it easy to share and edit videos across devices.
  • Free to Use
    iMovie is available for free on all Mac and iOS devices, offering a cost-effective solution for video editing.
  • High-Quality Output
    iMovie supports 4K video resolution, allowing users to create high-quality videos suitable for professional use.
  • Pre-built Templates and Effects
    iMovie includes various templates, transitions, and effects that can enhance the visual appeal of your videos without requiring advanced editing skills.

Possible disadvantages of iMovie

  • Limited Advanced Features
    While iMovie is great for basic edits, it lacks advanced features found in professional software like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro.
  • Mac-Only
    iMovie is exclusive to Apple devices, which limits its availability to users on Windows or other operating systems.
  • Resource Intensive
    iMovie can be demanding on your Mac's hardware, potentially slowing down performance during complex editing tasks.
  • Limited Customization
    The application offers limited options for customization, making it less suitable for users who need highly tailored editing tools.
  • File Compatibility Issues
    iMovie can have issues with importing and exporting certain file types, which may require additional conversion software.

Final Cut Pro videos

NEW Final Cut Pro X: Features and first-impressions!

iMovie videos

iMovie Review: Is It Good Enough For Editing YouTube Videos?

More videos:

  • Review - iMovie review - The best free editing software for YouTube videos?
  • Tutorial - How to edit video on your iPhone or iPad with iMovie - Full Tutorial

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Final Cut Pro and iMovie)
Video
48 48%
52% 52
Video Editors
49 49%
51% 51
Video Tools
39 39%
61% 61
AI
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Final Cut Pro and iMovie

Final Cut Pro Reviews

Top 20+ Free Video Cropping Software in 2022
As for cropping videos, Final Cut Pro is pretty similar to iMove, featuring 2 options, basic cropping and Ken Burns style. But Final Cut Pro X does cropping more precisely. Besides the crop windows and four corner handles, you can also adjust each edge of the clip individually by setting parameters in the video inspector.
Windows Best Video Editing Software
4K and gif support are standard features in today’s video editing software, but Filmora excels at titles. While Filmora’s title tool doesn’t have the functionality of, say, an Apple Final Cut Pro X, which can superimpose 3D titles over your videos and rotate them on three axes, it does have some snazzy titling features for the money you’re spending.
8 Adobe Premiere/Kdenlive/OpenShot Alternatives in 2019 - Pros, Cons and Price
Equipped with non-linear and non-destructive editing features, Final Cut Pro X is one of the best Adobe Premiere alternative for Mac users. You can edit your videos by cutting, cropping, adding motion graphics, color grading and compressing videos as you like. Compared to Premiere, it has an easier workflow, cleaner user interface and simpler process. Also, it's easy to...
The Complete List of Video Marketing Tools (Updated for 2022)
Final Cut Pro is the go-to software for video editors who are glued to the Mac OS and the Apple environment in general. It can help you produce a powerful 4k, HDR and 360 videos.

iMovie Reviews

  1. The best tool for video.

    iMovie is a fantastic video editing software that's both powerful and user-friendly. Its intuitive interface makes importing and arranging clips a breeze. The diverse editing tools, such as trim, split, and merge, make editing straightforward, while the precision editor ensures a polished, professional finish. Adding effects, music, and text overlays is simple, and the built-in library is a great resource. The stabilization feature is a lifesaver for shaky footage. Exporting in various formats is easy, and the software's integration with other Apple services simplifies sharing. In short, iMovie turns video editing into an enjoyable process. Highly recommended!

    🏁 Competitors: InShot

11 Best Video-Making Tools for Kids (2025)
For school assignments, consider video editors like Animotica, which is user-friendly and free for schools, offering great multimedia features. iMovie is perfect for Apple users, providing easy themes and templates. For advanced projects, Adobe Premiere Rush offers sophisticated tools and cloud-sync features. Choose based on available resources and student skill level to...
How to Reverse a Video on PC
iMovie comes preinstalled on every new Mac PC and allows its users to perform basic video editing tasks like trimming, adding background music, splitting, and reversing, among others.
What’s the Best iMovie Alternative for Windows in 2023?
Animotica has a free version with standard features. However, its premium version costs $6.99 for Animotica Light and $15.99 for Animotica Full PRO. If you’d like to see how it performs as an iMovie alternative for Windows 10, hit the button below to install it for free.
10 Best Video Editing Software for Beginners
For beginners who love the Hollywood blockbuster trailers, now there is a way out even if one knows nothing about storyboard and camera angle. iMovie has trailer templates built-in, which will guide you to pick several video clips properly for difference scenes: close up, group of people, landscape, etc. After you throw the clips, iMovie will combine them into cinematic...
9 Best Adobe Premiere Pro Alternatives in 2022 (FREE & Online)
iMovie also does a great job of suggesting ways to improve your work, with the software’s autocorrect feature assisting with lighting and colour, and a selection of themes such as Bulletin Board, Comic Book, and Modern, that can be applied to your footage in a couple of steps.
Source: shotkit.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, iMovie seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Final Cut Pro mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Final Cut Pro yet. Tracking of Final Cut Pro recommendations started around Mar 2021.

iMovie mentions (1)

  • Top 10 video editing apps for beginners
    iMovie iMovie is a free video editing app that is available for iOS. It is another great option for beginners because it is easy to use and has a user-friendly interface. Imovie allows you to trim and cut your videos, add transitions, and add effects. You can also use iMovie to create trailers and share your videos on social media. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Final Cut Pro and iMovie, you can also consider the following products

Adobe Premiere Pro - Edit video faster than ever before with the powerful, more connected Adobe Premiere® Pro CC.

Filmora - Filmora is a trusted, legacy video editing platform that's strong in the fundamentals but lacks some of the bells and whistles that come with some other video editing software.

DaVinci Resolve - Revolutionary new tools for editing, color correction and professional audio post production, all in a single application!

Magisto - Magisto online video editor is a fast & powerful video maker. Turn your photos and video clips into video stories with Magisto movie editor. Start free!

Animoto - Animoto turns your photos and video clips into professional video slideshows in minutes. Fast, free and shockingly simple - we make awesome easy.

Lightworks - Lightworks is an editing powerhouse, delivering unparalleled speed and flexibility, fully...