Quick Summary
Looking for the best iMovie converter to convert video to and from iMovie-compatible formats on Windows and Mac? This guide covers 10 top-rated iMovie converters tested for format support, conversion speed, ease of use, and output quality.
You spent hours editing a video in iMovie, only to realise it won't export to MKV. Or maybe you have a collection of AVI files that iMovie simply refuses to import. That’s where an iMovie converter comes in — a dedicated tool that bridges the gap between iMovie's native format support and the wide world of media formats. In this article, we will highlight 10 iMovie converters you can use to convert iMovie projects to MKV, M2TS, WMV, AVI, FLV, and other formats, including both paid and open-source options.
Test Setup
| iMovie Converter Tool | Price | Platform | Format Support | Speed | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate | Free - $18.75 | Windows, macOS | MOV, MP4, AVI, MKV, M4V, ProRes, 200+ media formats. | Very Fast (GPU acceleration) | Excellent Quality (Lossless up to 8K output) |
| Bigasoft iMovie Converter | $37.95–$39.95 | Windows, macOS | AVCHD, MTS, MKV, WMV, FLV, AVI, MP4, and more. | Moderate | High Quality |
| MacX Free iMovie Video Converter | Free - $29.95 | macOS | AVCHD, MTS, MKV, FLV, WMV, AVI, MP4, and more. | Moderate to Fast | Good Quality |
| WinX iMovie Video Converter for Mac | Free - $54.95 | macOS | AVCHD, MTS, MOD, TOD, MKV, AVI, MP4, etc. | Fast | High Quality |
| iMoviesoft Total Video Converter Pro for Mac | $29.95 - $39.95 | macOS | AVI, WMV, MKV, FLV, MP4, AVCHD, and MOV | Fast | Good Quality |
| iDealshare VideoGo | $29.99 - $49.99 | Windows, macOS, Linux | MOV, MP4, AVI, MKV, MTS, MXF, ProRes, and more. | Fast | Excellent |
| Format Factory | Free | Windows | MOV, MP4, AVI, MKV, WMV, FLV, MPG, etc. | Moderate | Good Quality |
| Freemake Video Converter | Free - $39.95 | Windows | MOV, MP4, AVI, MKV, DVD, etc. | Moderate | Good Quality |
| HandBrake | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux | MP4, MKV, WebM | Fast to Very Fast | Excellent Quality |
| FFmpegX | Free | macOS | MOV, MP4, AVI, MKV, MPEG, and more. | Moderate | Excellent Quality |
AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate allows users to convert over 200 video and audio formats. Thus, you can get more options for converting media files to and from iMovie formats. Moreover, the iMovie converter supports users in downloading online videos and ripping DVDs in high resolution. So AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate can also convert FLV to iMovie.
Moreover, the program was optimised to be all-around multimedia software, serving as a video converter, DVD ripper, and video editor to ensure that the MOV files you process have better quality after conversion.
To start using one of the best video converter tools for Windows and macOS desktops, download the program using the link below.
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PROS
CONS
Among the options on this list, AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate is by far the fastest, even when converting a movie-length MOV file. This aligns with personal experiences shared by Reddit users, who strongly recommend the program for handling large video files.
What if you speak French, use a Japanese OS, but need English iMovie files? This is where Bigasoft iMovie Converter excels, as it is one of the best multilingual video format conversion tools. This feature made the program an excellent choice if you plan to handle video projects recorded in a foreign language.
Bigasoft iMovie Converter allows users to quickly convert AVI, MPG, MTS, and other media files saved from iMovie into a much more accessible MP4 format. Its editing features also let you adjust and manage the output video effects to suit your needs.
Unfortunately, its processing speed is a notable weakness, as it takes a long time to convert videos within the program. This could affect the efficiency of its users, making the software now an advisable solution for a large batch of media files.
What Reddit Users Say:
If you prioritize video editing options, Bigasoft iMovie Converter is one of the programs most often recommended in multimedia subreddits. Unfortunately, the program's subpar processing speed usually hinders it from becoming one of the most popular options.
Free. But is it good enough? When it comes to freemium options, MacX Free iMovie Video Converter is usually one of the most recommended. With a reliable free version and a starting price of $29.95, the software is a good option if you want to try it first before paying for the premium version.
To learn the basics of the differences between the program’s free and paid versions, make sure to read our comparison table below.
| Feature | MacX Free iMovie Video Converter | MacX Video Converter Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Best Used For | Basic iMovie Conversions | Professional video conversion for more video files. |
| Price | Free | $36 - $60 |
| Conversion Speed | Moderate to Fast | Very Fast (Hardware Acceleration) |
| Video Quality | 1080p HD | 4K UHD |
| Extra Features | Video conversion only | Video downloader, screen recorder, compressor |
If you are only looking for a conversion option, MacX Free iMovie Video Converter may be sufficient. This is exactly the sentiment of Quora users looking for free but reliable iMovie converters.
You’ve got an iPad Pro, an Android tablet, and a Windows PC — and you want all videos in iMovie format across devices. This is the specialisation of WinX iMovie Video Converter for Mac, exclusively designed to make videos compatible with iMovie. Once done, you can then import your MOV to the iMovie editor.
The program makes editing in the iMovie software smooth. Moreover, it is a two-way street, since the software can convert videos to be highly optimised for different devices.
Features:
Limitations:
This niche made the program a solid choice, as it can support videos captured on portable devices. As such, the program is the best option if you regularly use multiple devices to capture video.
Converting files one by one is a productivity killer. Fortunately, iMoviesoft Total Video Converter Pro for Mac was exclusively optimised for batch conversion. This makes the program a solid option if you want to highly enhance your workflow efficiency.
PROS
CONS
Due to its batch conversion feature, this program is highly recommended for users managing a large media library. This makes it a good choice for using raw clips as video editing assets.
Most iMovie converters pick a side with either Windows or Mac. iDealshare VideoGo works on both plus in Linux. With its sheer compatibility advantage, the program has already secured its target market, since Linux is often disregarded for multimedia uses such as video editing.
Fortunately, iDealshare VideoGo had vision on the potential of making your software accessible. It also helps that the tool has a huge format library and support, plus its cross-platform availability is a unique advantage.
PROS
CONS
Among modern multimedia forums, iDealshare VideoGo is one of the programs that is rarely mentioned. Fortunately, the software’s accessibility advantage made it a viable option for Linux users as well as for legacy users who prefer classic interface design.
When you need a tool that converts everything, Format Factory lives up to its name. Among its peers in the competitive freeware market, it offers one of the widest ranges of format support, as it can process most videos saved in MOV, MP4, AVI, MKV, WMV, FLV, MPG, and other formats.
It can easily convert multiple video, audio, and photo formats for free. And it is equipped with advanced features that can repair damaged video and audio files without requiring a technical background.
Along with its wide-format support, it offers notable features, such as the ability to smartly reduce the size of your video and audio files. It can also rip DVDs to 2D videos, and rip music CDs to common audio files.
Unfortuantely, the program’s main concern of having a complex interface is a major problem in why it is not commonly used.
PROS
CONS
500 formats for free sounds amazing — but there's a catch. Videos processed in Freemake Video Converter have watermarks. This is a major disadvantage, especially if you plan to use your video for professional editing and social media uploads.
Fortunately, it has a superb format library that can handle numerous formats without errors. The watermark issue in the program may also be solved by subscribing to their paid version. However, if you are not interested in buying its premium plans, skipping is still an option, since the presence of a watermark is a valid dealbreaker.
Now that the major obstacle to using Freemake Video Converter has been discussed, we can conclude that it is only a good option if you don’t mind the watermark. This means videos processed in the tool’s free version are not suitable for professional-grade editing.
PROS
CONS
HandBrake proves that 'free' doesn't mean 'limited.' Among the other freeware options in this article, this open-source solution is one of the most credible freeware options on the market, as it was designed as video encoder software with video conversion as a bonus feature.
In addition to its reliability, HandBrake has a large community and is frequently updated to ensure user security. Unfortunately, its technical depth may be too much for some users. This is the significant obstacle that potential HandBrake users should learn to deal with.
Before enjoying watermark-free editing and the features of advanced software in a freeware program, you have to learn how to use the complex interface and features of HandBrake. Once that is solved, it is easily the best freeware program overall.
PROS
CONS
This one's not for everyone, and that's exactly the point. FFmpegX is a command-line-based multimedia editing program that is completely GUI-free, making it not advisable for complete amateurs, beginners, or even intermediate users.
However, if you have sufficient command-line knowledge, this program is one of the most efficient options available. This made it one of the top picks for most developers and system admins using the program.
PROS
CONS
With the advanced nature and complexity of FFmpegx, we truly advise beginner users to avoid using this program at all costs. Make sure to use it only if you are skilled with commands and scripts.
These are popular iMovie converter software programs you can use for advanced video file management. As a result, you can choose from 10 different options to convert video to iMovie format. To help our readers choose the best program, we will recommend one converter for each segment we have selected.
To ensure that your video conversion experience with iMovie is smooth sailing, refer to these three recommended programs we have selected, as they are the best in terms of supported formats, speed, ease of use, video quality, and pricing, which we used as our scoring criteria.
What video formats does iMovie support natively?
iMovie has limited format support. It can only open videos saved in MOV, MP4, M4V, DV, AVCHD, and certain MPEG-4 formats. As such, popular video files such as MKV and AVI cannot be opened in the program.
Why won't iMovie import my MKV / AVI / FLV files?
iMovie does not support these files. However, you can use video converters to convert these videos to a format compatible with iMovie. The safest option for conversion should be MOV or MP4.
Is there a completely free iMovie converter without watermarks?
Yes, there are. Some notable options are AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate and HandBrake. Both of these tools can easily convert videos for use in iMovie.
What's the difference between HandBrake and AnyMP4 for iMovie conversion?
Both programs can convert videos to be compatible with iMovie. However, they use different formats. AnyMP4 converts to MOV, while HandBrake converts to MP4.
How do I convert DVD files to iMovie format?
You need to use multimedia conversion tools. We recommend AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate in this case because it includes a DVD ripper. You can also consider HandBrake to rip a DVD if you are looking for an open-source option.
Now that ten of the most popular iMovie converter software programs have been reviewed and discussed in this article, we hope the information provided will be enough to make videos edited in iMovie much more accessible outside the program. Among the options we have provided, make sure to consider our chosen premium option, AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate, as it offers the right balance of features for handling unconventional video formats. You can download the program to enjoy smooth conversion using the link below.
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