iMovie is no doubt a great video editing application designed by Apple for beginners. However, iMovie is unavailable for Windows as well as Linux. For those who are using Linux distributions, the following questions are frequently asked:
Is it possible to run iMovie in Linux?
Is there the Linux equivalent to iMovie?
When asking about free video editors, Windows Movie Maker and iMovie are ever used by most people and would be recommended for PC users and Mac users. Unfortunately, both of them are unavailable for GNU/Linux. Here in this article, top 3 iMovie for Linux alternatives would be introduced, including features, pros, cons and instructions to install them.
Kdenlive (pronounced Kay-den-live) , short for KDE Non-Linear Video Editor, is the most popular free video editor for Linux. It works on GNU/Linux, Windows and BSD. As you could see below, Kdenlive has a simple user interface similar to iMovie.
Kdenlive is compatible with most GNU/Linux distributions, including Ubuntu. Click here to download Kdenlive to the Appimage format, which isn't an installer. You just need to make it executable (right click and in the permissions set “Allow executing file as program” or similar). You can then double-click on it to run it and edit video in Linux.
For Debian and Ubuntu-based Linux distributions, you could also install Kdenlive by running the following command from the terminal:
sudo apt install kdenlive
Below is an instruction video for Kdenlive - the leading alternative to iMovie for Linux.
OpenShot, as its name indicates, is an open source video editor. It has a wide range of support for operating systems like Linux, Windows and Mac. OpenShot is another iMovie equivalent for Linux. As you could see below, OpenShot comes with an even simpler interface than iMovie. If this is what you want, OpenShot is an ideal choice to edit video on Linux.
Like Kdenlive, OpenShot could be saved to your computer as an .appimage format. No need to install. Just download, make it executable and run. The OpenShot official site also gives you a detailed user guide to start editing video on Linux immediately.
DaVinci Resolve is a professional video editing software like Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere or Sony Vegas. It's the Hollywood’s most popular solution for editing, color correction, motion graphics, visual effects and audio mixing. Frankly, it's not an equivalent to iMovie for Linux, but FCP for Linux substitute. However, at least you know that there is extremely professional video editor for Linux. Once you're family with DaVinci Resolve, you could easily upgrade to the paid version so you can stick to Linux for working or daily use.
DaVinci Resolve from Blackmagic doesn't comes with a directly download link to get this Linux version of iMovie alternative. You need to go to its product page and click Download Now. In the popup page, fill in required information to register and download the software.
Programs | OS | Linux video editor like iMovie |
---|---|---|
Kdenlive | Linux and Windows | Pros: a wide range of media formats support and ease interface. Cons: Bloated like other KDE applications. |
Openshot | Mac, Windows, Linux |
Pros: free and open-source video editor; video/audio filters; simple user interface; easy to share video. Cons: not so easy to find desired features like iMovie's. |
DaVinci Resolve | Mac, Windows, Linux |
Pros: Cross platform; Comprehensive features. Cons: Not a general video editor. |
So what's your choice for iMovie for Linux alternative video creator? Generally, if you're family with movie making using iMovie, Kdenlive may be the first choice. But if you're just starting to learn video editing, OpenShot is easier to get started. DaVinci Resolve is for serious filmmakers, in my humble opinion.
iMovie for Windows | Download | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | iMovie Blog | Store |
Copyright ©
iMovie For Windows Dot Com. All rights reserved.
Browser compatibility : IE/Firefox/Chrome/Opera/Safari/Maxthon/Netscape