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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

InShot vs iMovie

InShot 4.9★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner InShot
iMovie 4.4★ · Free to download · ⚠ stale 60

InShot is generally preferred for its extensive features and ease of use, despite recent issues with ads and export, while iMovie is a simpler, free option but struggles with reliability and limited functionality.

Full reviews: InShot · iMovie

InShot offers robust editing features, making it a favorite for many users, though recent updates have introduced frustrating bugs, aggressive ads, and export issues. iMovie, while free and simple, is criticized for its limited features, frequent glitches, and privacy concerns regarding media access.

Head to head

Features and Customization edge: InShotR7R8R9R11
InShot InShot is praised for its wide array of editing tools, including options for photos and videos, cool text, and the ability to layer videos R8R11. Users appreciate its intuitiveness and many features for creating YouTube videos and other content R17. However, some users wish for more specific features like searching stickers and fonts, or custom rotation for PIP R9. There's also recent frustration with the integration of 'AI' features, which some find make the app slower and glitchy, and prefer the option to remove them R7.
iMovie iMovie is seen as good for simple edits and making fun videos and trailers . However, many users find its editing options scarce, lacking features like text customization, black screens, or advanced audio editing . Users also miss older trailer templates and wish for more options in trailers . Some find it less advanced compared to other editing software like CapCut .
Ease of Use edge: InShotR5R9R17R23
InShot InShot is widely regarded as easy to use, simple, and user-friendly, making editing accessible even for beginners R5R17R23. Users find it intuitive and a 'massive shortcut' for saving time R23. Some minor frustrations include finding buttons or the layout of the timeline view R9.
iMovie iMovie is described as super simple and easy for making basic videos . However, some users find it confusing and non-intuitive, especially for first-time users or on a phone . Controls can be frustrating, and the app sometimes gets outdated .
Reliability and Performance tieR4R6R7R12
InShot InShot users report significant issues with saving and exporting videos, especially longer ones or 4K content, with the app often crashing or freezing R6R12R16R19. Some experience glitches, lag, and overheating during export R7R16. Ads, particularly Dropbox ads, are a major cause of crashes and make the app unusable R4. Cache storage issues also prevent users from saving their work .
iMovie iMovie is frequently criticized for being buggy, glitchy, and slow, with videos taking forever to load or export . Users report issues like audio being removed, videos cutting out, or going black . The app sometimes fails to play music or import recently recorded videos R118.
Price and Value edge: iMovieR15R20R30R49
InShot InShot is a freemium app, with many users appreciating its free features . However, the free version includes a watermark that requires watching an ad to remove R20R49. Many features are locked behind a subscription, which some users find too expensive R30. There is significant frustration over the removal of a one-time purchase or lifetime membership option, forcing users into subscriptions R15R50R60.
iMovie iMovie is free to download and use, which is a major positive for many users R90. There are no ads or in-app purchases mentioned by users.
Support and Privacy tieR13R19R56R75
InShot InShot users report terrible customer service, particularly when trying to restore subscriptions after switching devices or email accounts, leading to lost money R13R56. There are also concerns about the app being a 'Chinese company' R19.
iMovie iMovie has significant privacy concerns, with users complaining that the app demands full access to all photos and videos on their device, rather than just selected ones R75R82R103R106. This requirement is seen as unnecessary and a potential data scraping issue, leading many to uninstall or avoid the app R82R106.
Pick InShot if

You need a feature-rich video editor with many customization options, are willing to contend with potential ads or a subscription, and prioritize ease of use for complex edits R5R11R17.

Pick iMovie if

You need a completely free, simple video editor for basic tasks and short videos, and are comfortable with its limited features and potential glitches .

Evidence note: InShot has a much larger volume of reviews, which allows for more detailed insights into its features and issues. iMovie's reviews, while fewer, consistently highlight its free nature and simplicity, alongside its limitations and privacy concerns.

Frequently asked

Does InShot offer a one-time purchase or lifetime membership?
No, InShot no longer offers a one-time purchase or lifetime membership option; users are now required to join a subscription model R15R50R60.
Can I use my own music in iMovie?
Users report difficulty importing their own music into iMovie, especially if they don't have Apple Music, often being limited to the app's gallery of songs R83R90R118.
Do InShot and iMovie have issues saving or exporting videos?
Both apps have significant issues with saving and exporting videos; InShot users frequently report crashes and long export times, especially for longer or 4K videos, while iMovie users experience freezing and videos taking forever to upload R6R12R16R19.
Does iMovie require full access to my photos and videos?
Yes, iMovie has recently started requiring full access to all photos and videos on a device, which has raised privacy concerns among users who prefer to grant limited access R75R82R103R106.

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. [R7] InShot 2/5 · US I loved this app but: the integration of "AI" into every single thing is making our lives miserable but absolutely making apps like these slower and glitchy. I wish I could have my money back. Updating my review in response: PLEASE GIVE THE OPTION TO REMOVE ALL GENERATIVE "AI" FEATURES. smh
  2. [R8] InShot 5/5 · US Best editor app: Wether a photo is too dark, bright, or weird looking, this app can fix it
  3. [R9] InShot 3/5 · US Finding buttons: I absolutely love this app but I would use it more than CapCut if we could search stickers & fonts and if the font of the buttons would be different but besides that this app is great! I have been using this app for 5 years! It’s amazing, 100% recommend!
  4. [R11] InShot 5/5 · US Calidad: Lo que me imagino , ella lo hace realidad , lo más chido poner videos sobre videos, letras cool todo está perfecto le doy 10 estrellas👌
  5. [R5] InShot 5/5 · US Editing: easy editing on my videos - simple to use -love it
  6. [R17] InShot 5/5 · US Amazing: This app it amazing so easy to use and so convenient for YouTube videos and more!
  7. [R23] InShot 5/5 · US I wish they had it sooner: Perfect for people who want to use a massive shortcut and save time
  8. [R4] InShot 1/5 · US The Dropbox ad keeps crashing the app.: Hello, I am reporting a recurring issue with the app. Whenever a Dropbox ad appears, it causes the app to crash or freeze. After this happens, I am completely unable to reopen or use the app, which makes it impossible to continue my work. Please investigate this bug as soon as possible. Thank you.
  9. [R6] InShot 3/5 · US I’m having trouble with the app: Love the app for short videos for some reason I can’t seem to download a 15 minute long video it just doesn’t download I’m so frustrated
  10. [R12] InShot 3/5 · US Easy to use, impossible to save: I love how easy it is to edit with this app BUT WHY CAN IT NOT DOWNLOAD MY VIDEOS ONCE THEY’RE DONE?!?! If the video is longer than 15 seconds, it fails 100 times before I can actually save it to my phone. This is so consistent that I’m thinking of switching to a different editing app.
  11. [R15] InShot 3/5 · US Always loved InShot, but..: Iris’s the version that was $39 permanent. All of these apps now want you to join their subscription model. I still permanently have the android version. I just wish you guys brought back the option to buy it as a one time purchase.
  12. [R20] InShot 4/5 · US Water mark: Everything is good other than the water mark.
  13. [R30] InShot 3/5 · GB Good (ish: Its good ig but SO MaNY THINGS ARE LOCKED, and no i dont wna pay that much (im broke asf😭) and imo i dont think @1 shld be used, it wastes and pollutes water:((
  14. [R49] InShot 4/5 · US love this: Great app, but I wish you didn’t have to watch an add to remove the watermark
  15. [R13] InShot 1/5 · US Terrible customer service: I swich from android to iphone with a different email account and they wont let me use my yearly subscription, so i lost my money and now i have to pay for a new subscription and more expensive.
  16. [R19] InShot 1/5 · US Will NOT SAVE & Chinese Company: BE AWARE that this app is a chinese app!!! I wasted 45 minutes editing my video because your app will NOT SAVE / Export it. Your app Sucks! I’ve never had this problem with CapCut ever
  17. [R56] InShot 1/5 · GB Really disgusting: Why is it not allowing me to restore subscription purchases which I already made in my previous android phone? Instead, of restoring its asking me purchase new subscriptions. It’s really disappointing.
  18. [R75] 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.
  19. [R50] InShot 1/5 · GB They removed lifetime membership: What a scummy company. Removing the lifetime option is a ridiculous thing to do and I will definitely not be using this app anymore.
  20. [R60] InShot 2/5 · GB Misleading purchase options on App Store: The app store lists a lifetime purchase option, which I would do, but when in the app or on their site I cannot find any such option listed anywhere. I would have opted to edit some videos on another app if I’d known there was no lifetime purchase option in this one. Otherwise, the app seems usable and designed well for iPad. I cannot vouch for how it woul
  21. [R83] iMovie 4/5 · US iMovie: Love it, but I want to be able to play my music in the movies.
  22. [R90] 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.
  23. [R118] iMovie 1/5 · US Don’t like this app: This app never allows me to listen to my music it lets you pick your song and it never plays
  24. [R16] InShot 1/5 · US 4K takes forever: I’ve been using this app successfully for 4 years and I loved it. Within the last month or so I can no longer export 4K videos without my phone overheating and it taking a ridiculously long amount of time to export a vid. I tried turning off HDR, I tried another phone, same problem. So it’s not my phone. I’ve had to switch to CapCut. Don’t know what you guys upgraded, but it suck
  25. [R82] 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
  26. [R103] 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
  27. [R106] 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!

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