Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

iMovie vs Splice

iMovie 4.4★ · Free to download · ⚠ stale 75
Winner iMovie
Splice 4.6★ · Free + IAP 60

For casual users and those on a budget, iMovie is the better choice due to its completely free nature and ease of use, while Splice offers more advanced features but comes with a significant subscription cost and recent user dissatisfaction over its pricing model.

Full reviews: iMovie · Splice

iMovie is a free, user-friendly video editor ideal for simple projects, though it has limitations in advanced features and can be buggy. Splice offers more robust editing tools but has transitioned to a subscription model, leading to user frustration over pricing and loss of previously free features.

Head to head

Features edge: SpliceR1R3R5R7
iMovie iMovie is praised for being useful for simple editing and making fun videos and trailers, with users appreciating its basic functionalities R5R8. However, many users find its editing options scarce, lacking features like advanced text editing, noise filters, EQ, background remover, and the ability to change video formats or aspect ratios R1R3R16. Some also miss older trailer features R7.
Splice Splice is seen as a powerful tool for creating content for social media and YouTube, with users highlighting its extensive editing tools and good music selection . However, users report limitations like not being able to use desired fonts, the absence of a text box creation tool, and issues with music loading from iTunes .
Ease of Use edge: iMovieR8R9R10R12
iMovie iMovie is frequently described as super simple and easy to use, especially for beginners or non-professional editing R8. However, some users find it confusing, non-intuitive, and frustrating, particularly with controls, media access, and specific editing tasks like adding music or finding older videos R9R10R12.
Splice Splice is generally considered easy to use and user-friendly, with a straightforward interface R108. Some new users are still learning how to use it .
Reliability & Performance tieR4R6R9R11
iMovie iMovie users report numerous issues including bugs, glitches, audio removal, videos going black, projects getting deleted, and slow loading times R4R6R9R11. Some recent reviews mention it working better after downloading more videos from iCloud R9.
Splice Splice users experience frequent crashes, export problems, and projects not saving or loading . There are also reports of music purchased from iTunes not loading .
Price & Value edge: iMovieR2R29R30R61
iMovie iMovie is celebrated for being completely free, with no ads, which is a major draw for many users R2R29R30.
Splice Splice has transitioned from being free to a paid subscription model, with users expressing significant frustration over the cost, especially $10 per week, and many features being behind a paywall R61R64R66R70. Users feel betrayed by the change and that basic features like exporting or more than two projects now require payment R70.
Support & Privacy tieR10R15R22R28
iMovie iMovie users report issues with media access, with the app increasingly requiring full access to photos and videos, which raises privacy concerns for some R10R15R22. There are also complaints about the lack of a search bar or date filtering for older media, making it hard to find content R28.
Splice Splice users report unresponsive support and that support only contacts them after a negative review . There are also issues with account linking across devices and no option to create an account to save videos R71R108R114.
Pick iMovie if

You are looking for a completely free, simple, and easy-to-use video editor for basic projects, social media content, or fun family videos R2R8R29. You prioritize a no-cost solution over advanced editing capabilities and don't mind occasional bugs or limitations in features R4R6R9R30.

Pick Splice if

You need more advanced editing features than iMovie offers and are willing to pay a subscription fee for them . You value a user-friendly interface for more complex projects and a good music selection .

Evidence note: Splice's recent reviews are heavily skewed negative due to its shift from a free model to a paid subscription, which has caused significant user dissatisfaction and a feeling of betrayal among long-time users R61R70. This pricing change impacts the perception of its value and features, as many previously free functionalities are now paywalled. iMovie, being consistently free, does not face this specific type of negative feedback related to pricing changes.

Frequently asked

Is iMovie truly free, or does it have hidden costs?
iMovie is completely free to download and use, with no ads or in-app purchases, making it a popular choice for users seeking a no-cost editing solution R2R29R30.
What are the main limitations of iMovie?
iMovie's main limitations include a lack of advanced editing options like specific format changes, detailed audio controls (EQ, noise filter), text customization, and background removal, as well as reported bugs, glitches, and issues with media access and organization R1R3R4R16.
How much does Splice cost, and what are the pricing complaints?
Splice has a subscription model that costs around $10 per week, which users find expensive, especially given that many basic features and unlimited projects are now behind this paywall after the app used to be free R61R64R66R70.
Can Splice projects be synced across devices?
Users report issues with syncing Splice projects across devices, noting that projects created on an iPhone do not automatically appear on an iPad even with the same Apple ID, and there is no account system to save or link videos R71R108R114.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] iMovie 1/5 · US Format Prison: Why can’t I change the format?
  2. [R3] iMovie 3/5 · US Good: Really good, but I wish you could just slow down one part of the video, not the whole video
  3. [R5] iMovie 5/5 · US Amazing!: It is amazing. You can do lots of cool things. Please get it!
  4. [R7] iMovie 1/5 · US OLD TRAILERS: WHY DID YOU REMOVE THE OLD TRAILERS WITH THE EXAMPLES AND ACTORS AND YOU REPLACED IT WITH STUPID GENERIC REPETITIVE CARDS WITH SILHOUETTES
  5. [R8] iMovie 5/5 · US Useful: Really useful for making my stuff to post super simple to use. I find it really helpful
  6. [R9] iMovie 3/5 · US Frustrating: Everything takes forever to load and this thing is buggy buggy buggy Edit: It is working better now that it has downloaded more of my videos from iCloud. They still find some of the controls frustrating though. For instance, a timestamp on the videos would be nice so I would know where to cut a little easier than being able to move music files around a little easier would help.
  7. [R10] iMovie 1/5 · US Help…: I had this on my old phone, and Loved it! But I can’t figure out how to allow it to my pictures and music on settings… I click go to settings but there isn’t a “allow” option… HELP anyone 😞 I really wanna make one. I might just find a different app though… (rated this 1 star for now sense I haven’t been able to use it. Also so you notice this, I feel bad though.) *Edit: I’m probably going t
  8. [R12] iMovie 3/5 · US Just read it and reply.: Hey! Hope y’all are having a good day, I have absolutely no words. I love the way it’s set up but I think it needs some improvement. I’m not hating I’m just trying to make suggestions that’s why I’m reviewing, sorry if it comes out nasty. I’m trying to edit some videos and take away the sound from an original video and replace it with music, absolutely successful!(in a way
  9. [R4] iMovie 1/5 · US IT SUCKS!!: It removed my audio, it bugs way too much, and it cut out some of my video!! I definitely recommend alight motion or CapCut!!
  10. [R6] iMovie 3/5 · US Fix the issue with it going black on Mobile: I am a kid writing this. It is great for editing if you’re not doing it professionally. But it makes the screen go black without warning. Can u fix it please?
  11. [R11] iMovie 4/5 · US Great but..: Great movie maker but for some reason kept changing my first section of a video every time I was finished so took awhile to change and finally create the movie I wanted. So gave it a 4 star. But otherwise great!
  12. [R2] iMovie 5/5 · US You my guy: All free I appreciate it
  13. [R29] iMovie 5/5 · US It’s really good and great: It is really good and there’s no ads or anything like that you should get it.
  14. [R30] iMovie 3/5 · US Good to some extent: I use this app because it’s free and easy to use. But I don’t have Apple Music, so I can’t find a way to import my own songs, i just have to use bad ones from the gallery. I also wish there was a sound effect gallery with popular sounds like vine boom or meme sounds. Overall, pretty solid though.
  15. [R61] Splice 1/5 · US Garbage: Used to be free, updated to paid version and deleted all my videos, new music sucks too.
  16. [R15] iMovie 3/5 · US IMovie decline: Have used this app for decades. Currently version won’t work unless I grant it access to ALL photos and videos on my device, versus the ones I’ve already selected. Sad. There are many other choices today.
  17. [R22] iMovie 2/5 · US All access is not needed: Works a charm until the last update when I tried to create a new movie and it said I had to give it access to all media files, and not the ones I select, before it would let me create a movie. That’s unnecessary. They say it’s because it “integrates” with your media files. All apps integrate with something on your device, within set parameters. The only reason a huge com
  18. [R28] iMovie 1/5 · US No search bar function: Love this app. But I have videos made back years ago. Zero search function, I can’t search my longest to shortest videos made. Such easy functionality her could be made so easy. It’s 2026. Get with the times…. I have to scroll for hours trying to find what I need . Get it together apple developers….
  19. [R16] iMovie 1/5 · US .: I don’t have any filters and studffffffffff fix it fix it now now
  20. [R64] Splice 2/5 · US Have to pay to use: All these apps charge for basic features. It’s not great but could be worst. It’s alright.
  21. [R66] Splice 3/5 · US ExPeNsIvE: $10. For a WEEK. Bro. And a whole lot of features are behind that Paywall. For example; you can only have TWO videos in progress at a time. Which I guess isn't too bad if you think about it, but it's auful for me, as a bit of a scatterbrain. Lemme suggest something; make it like 1/4 of the price, which is still like &2.50ish, so you get your money's worth. Or, maybe do $10 a MONTH.
  22. [R70] Splice 1/5 · US WAS my go-to EDIT: I’ve had this editing app for years and over time it’s only gotten better. <- IS WHAT I WROTE but then after leaving the prompt I’m left with a subscription option when this app was free from the beginning? They were also loyal to their original users and told us that we won’t have to pay since we have been loyal to them since the beginning. I feel so betrayed, I can’t afford to
  23. [R71] Splice 5/5 · US I have it on my iPhone and I like on my tablet: I really like the app. I have it on my iPhone . I want the same account on my iPhone and my tablet Can anyone help Thank,YOU EARL GRANT Sr Thank,You
  24. [R108] Splice 3/5 · GB Linking devices: I downloaded Splice on a free trial on my iPhone to do a family video for my daughters baby shower. Really loved the versatility and ease of use in the app so I am keen to continue to a subscription. However, I have one reservation insofar as I have also downloaded the app to my iPad (using the same Appleid) but when I open the app in the iPad it does not show the project that I
  25. [R114] Splice 3/5 · GB Account: Why can you not make an account and have all your saved precious videos??

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store