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

iMovie vs Canva

iMovie 4.4★ · Free to download · ⚠ stale 65
Winner Canva
Canva 4.9★ · Free + IAP 75

Canva is the better choice for most users due to its broader design capabilities and extensive template library, despite its aggressive paywall, while iMovie is a decent option for simple, free video editing on Apple devices.

Full reviews: iMovie · Canva

Canva offers a wide range of design and video editing tools with numerous templates, but many features are locked behind a paywall. iMovie, while free and easy for basic video editing, is limited in features and has frequent reports of bugs and privacy concerns.

Head to head

Features and Editing Tools edge: CanvaR1R3R5R7
iMovie iMovie users appreciate its simplicity for basic video editing and trailer creation R5R8R47. However, many find its editing options scarce, lacking advanced features like text creation, black screens, noise filters, EQ, or background removers R18R27. Users also complain about the inability to change video formats, edit video sizes, or crop pictures for 'magic movies' R1R25. Some miss older trailer features R7 and wish for more control over elements like slowing down only part of a video R3.
Canva Canva is praised for its extensive design capabilities and numerous templates for various projects, including invitations and social media content . It offers good video editing for short-form content, with improvements noted in its video section . However, many desirable features, templates, and graphics are locked behind a premium paywall R61R63R74. Some users also report issues with AI features being terrible or forgetting context and missing previously available features like specific AI voices or duration controls .
Ease of Use tieR8R9R10R21
iMovie iMovie is generally considered simple and easy to use for basic tasks R8R29. However, some users find it confusing or non-intuitive, especially for new users . Specific frustrations include difficulty with music files, lack of timestamps R9, and issues with media access settings R10. The app's interface can be annoying, with issues like videos only taking up half the screen or automatic key burns and transitions R21.
Canva Canva is often praised for being easy to use and navigate, allowing users to be creative without extensive graphic design skills . Many find it simple to figure out . Conversely, a significant number of users describe Canva as not intuitive, very hard for beginners, and difficult to navigate, with a confusing layout where buttons look too similar R63. Some find it challenging to perform basic tasks like scaling a photo on an 8.5x11 paper R63.
Reliability and Performance tieR4R6R9R11
iMovie iMovie has frequent reports of bugs and glitches, including audio removal, videos going black, freezing during export, and loading issues R4R6R9R21. Users also experience videos being cut off , entire movies being deleted if original media is removed , and issues with the first section of a video changing unexpectedly R11. Some find it laggy .
Canva Canva users report issues with lag, glitching, and slow performance, especially with longer videos or large artworks . Problems include videos stopping playback, audio muting, and blank screens or no functionality . Some users have experienced their projects disappearing or accounts being deleted . There are also specific complaints about inability to download videos or update text content .
Price and Value edge: iMovieR2R29R30R47
iMovie iMovie is free to download and use, which is a significant positive for many users R2R29R30R47. Users appreciate that there are no ads R29.
Canva Canva operates on a freemium model, with a free tier and in-app purchases for premium features. Many users feel that the free version is severely limited, with most desirable content and features behind a paywall R61R63. There are complaints about misleading free trials, being charged immediately, and subscription price hikes . While some paid users find value , the cost is a major point of contention for many.
Privacy and Permissions edge: CanvaR15R22R43R46
iMovie iMovie has recent and significant complaints regarding its demand for full access to all photos and videos on a device, rather than allowing users to select specific media R15R22R43R46. Users view this as unnecessary and a potential privacy concern, with some speculating it's for data scraping R46R49. This issue has led some users to stop using the app .
Canva Canva reviews do not prominently feature privacy or permission concerns. The main issues revolve around its paywall and functionality.
Pick iMovie if

You need a completely free video editor for basic tasks on an Apple device, are comfortable with its limitations, and are willing to navigate potential privacy concerns regarding media access R2R29R47.

Pick Canva if

You need a versatile design and video editing tool with a vast library of templates, are willing to pay for a premium subscription to unlock full features, and prioritize ease of use for creative projects .

Evidence note: iMovie's recent reviews show a significant negative skew due to privacy concerns and persistent bugs, despite its historical positive ratings. Canva's negative reviews are heavily concentrated on its aggressive paywall and subscription model, which is common for freemium apps.

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, which many users appreciate R2R29.
What are the main limitations of iMovie for video editing?
iMovie is limited in its editing options, lacking features like changing video formats, editing video sizes, adding text, noise filters, or background removers, and it often requires full access to your photo library R1R18R25R27.
Is Canva's free version useful, or do I need to pay?
Canva's free version has very limited options, with most desirable features, templates, and graphics locked behind a premium paywall, making it frustrating for many users who don't want to pay R61R63R74R81.
Are there privacy concerns with iMovie?
Yes, many recent iMovie users express significant privacy concerns because the app now demands full access to all photos and videos on a device, rather than allowing selective access, which some interpret as data scraping R15R22R46R49.

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. [R21] iMovie 3/5 · US 🌀🌀🌀confusing but good?: This app is kinda glitchy and annoying, I always have to turn off key burns and change the transitions! Every time I try and add a video after adding another video, it says no videos or it has all my videos except the one I just recorded/ the app sometimes gets outdated. I have to close out the app over and over. The app is kinda good too though. I can make trailers. The th
  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. [R47] iMovie 5/5 · US Fun with cousins!: Me and my cousins were board, so we found this free app, so much fun! We made like, five movie trailers, and they all were so good! Everything was so fun! I love the styles of movies you can make, so fun! This is a great app!
  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. [R43] iMovie 1/5 · US now they’re just being mean :/: why are you asking me to give you full access to photos and music when you literally already do just let me make videos bro like you shouldn’t need full access edit: why is my movie taking forever to upload………like every time i try it just freezes in the middle of exporting
  19. [R46] iMovie 1/5 · US Do not install: App requires access to all photos and videos on your device, not just the ones your editing. This app is only here to scrape your data. Do not install!
  20. [R18] iMovie 3/5 · US Good! But....: Amazing. I love how there are no social media options, but there are barely any options for editing at all! All I can do js add videos or pictures. I can't make text, or make a black screen. Editing options are scarce, and this is my opinion.
  21. [R25] iMovie 1/5 · US You can’t even edit the sizes of the video: You can’t edit the sizes of the video, adding text is almost impossible, and this is basically just adding sound and Instagram filters.
  22. [R27] iMovie 3/5 · US Sound options: There needs to be more options to edit audio like a noise filter and EQ
  23. [R61] Canva 1/5 · US You can’t do anything without premium!!: You literally cannot do really anything without premium if you buy premium then it is a good deal, but if you do not want to spend money on a designer app, then do not get this app!! if you want to just find a little thing like a singular icon, then you can do that without premium, but if you want to do a whole design, then you should not buy this app and y
  24. [R63] Canva 3/5 · US Confusing layout, too much similarity in buttons for navigation: It’s hard to distinguish between some things because everything looks too similar. 99% of content is premium and so you have limited options when trying to make a design. Also it’s hard to navigate when you’re just trying to figure out how to set up a single 8.5x11 paper and put one photo on it scaled down. It’s like it encourages te
  25. [R74] Canva 4/5 · US Paywall: Great app except all the best features are now behind a paywall
  26. [R81] Canva 3/5 · US Kinda: This is .. a good game . But you can only use the ones that don’t have little crowns 👑and that means those little crowns you have to PAY for . And im a kid. So I can’t pay for those little crowns . But anyway you have a LIMIT on EVERYTHING and then you have to Pay for more time !!!other than the price , it’s an ok app you can make pictures and videos but you don’t get the really good ones b
  27. [R49] iMovie 1/5 · US Privacy………: Uhh i heard it looks through ur photos avoid it plz

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