CapCut Desktop is the feature-packed, cross-platform powerhouse with AI tricks up its sleeve; iMovie is the polished, dead-simple choice that Apple users already have for free. Pick CapCut for creativity, iMovie for simplicity.
iMovie was originally launched in 1999 — meaning it's older than most of the TikTok creators using CapCut to edit videos about it.
You edit short-form social content and want AI tools fast
CapCut's auto-captions, background removal, and viral templates are built exactly for this workflow.
→ Pick CapCut DesktopYou're a Mac user making your first home movie or school project
iMovie is already on your Mac, costs nothing, and you'll have a polished export in under an hour.
→ Pick iMovieYou plan to graduate to professional editing software later
iMovie's direct upgrade path to Final Cut Pro means your skills and projects transfer seamlessly.
→ Pick iMovieYou use Windows or need to edit on multiple devices
iMovie simply doesn't exist outside Apple's ecosystem — CapCut works everywhere.
→ Pick CapCut Desktop