PowerDirector from Cyberlink is a hardcore video editing software for Windows.
In fact, PC Mag, in its 2017 Editor’s Choice Award, called it the fastest and most capable consumer-level video editing software for Windows. And you get to experience the speed first hand while using the software.
As I went a little deeper, I found almost all the features someone expects from a video editing software.
And the best part?
Cyberlink keeps adding new functions at regular intervals.
And apart from the boatload of features, what really stood out for me is how little space it captures on your PC with only 2GB of Ram required to work in full speed.
Whereas, almost all the other editing tools need at least 6GB of Ram and capture 8-10 GB of space in your hard drive.
Here are some other cool things I found in this tool:
PowerDirector Pros
#1. Usually, it takes hours to create a high-quality video, but PowerDirector reduces this time to minutes with its ‘Express Project’ feature.
You can choose from a variety of ready-to-use templates that are already loaded with special effects, animation, and music and add your videos to the templates to hit ‘Produce‘ at the end.
You would get a professionally edited clip within minutes which is generally not possible even for some of the experts.
#2. Editing a 4K clip on PowerDirector is smooth as butter. The power of 64-bit TrueVelocity engine and support of OpenCL keep away any snag while working on high-resolution videos.
#3. Recording a video with a VR device is definitely not a child’s play. Often the end result can be a little jittery that can ruin the viewers’ experience.
But the 360° video stabilization works like magic for such unstable videos. Team it up with the 360° titles and PiP (Picture in Picture) objects of PowerDirector, and you get a mind-boggling VR video.
#4. Storing high-end videos in your computer can often lead you to invest in a new hard drive, and PowerDirector understands it very well.
That’s why you get 25 GB of cloud storage to store all your projects with its lifetime license – Ultra and Ultimate. But as you shift to the subscription model which is a little pricer, you get 50-100 GB of cloud storage for the entire year.
This enables you to access your files anytime, anywhere.
#5. Just like most of the other video editing tools I reviewed, PowerDirector is also well capable of sharing videos on platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, and Dailymotion straight from the app.
#6. Though you won’t be thrilled to know that PowerDirector only works with Windows device, the availability of Android and Windows mobile apps work like a breeze in blistering heat.
PowerDirector Cons
#1. Cyberlink is missing it big time by not having a Mac or iOS app. And this is the only issue I found in this software.
Otherwise, as per performance, it’s at par with many of the big players like Adobe Premiere Pro or Corel VideoStudio.
PowerDirector pricing plans and payment options
According to the depth of your pocket, you get two different types of payment plans to choose from.
The first one is the one-time fee, while the second one is subscription based and all of them are covered by Cyberlink’s 30-day 100% money back guarantee.
You can check out the complete comparison between both the pricing plans to figure out the difference between the two.
But basically, it’s the number of music tracks and sound clips, cloud storage, and premium plugins that are higher in subscription plan than the one-time fee plans.
So if you’re looking for a one-time investment, PowerDirector Ultra or PowerDirector Ultimate are the go-to choices for you.
They both cost $99.99 and $129.99 respectively, and with each of them, you get 25 GB of cloud storage and 50 background music tracks and sound clips every year.
On the other hand, if you want to pay a small sum of money every year, and need more cloud space and background tracks, PowerDirector 365 and Director Suite is something you can opt for.
While PowerDirector 365 costs $48.99/year (when billed annually) for 50GB of cloud storage, the Director Suite comes for $29.99/month or $89.99/year and get you a staggering 100GB of cloud storage which is enough for an average user to save all the videos or photos without choking up their local drives.
You get 100 background music tracks and 300 sound clips with either of the subscription plans.
And finally, when you zero-in on a plan and proceed to complete the order, you might get a little delighted to know that you have three different options to pay – credit cards, bank transfer, and PayPal.
Do I recommend PowerDirector?
Yes, I do.
If you oversight the inexistence of a Mac and iOS version of the software, it checks all the boxes of a premium video editing tool. Not to forget its lightning fast speed that even the most prestigious tech magazines like PC Mag acknowledge.
Also, the introduction of ‘express project’ and ‘sample background music and clips’ make it almost impossible to turn the deal down.
So, I wholeheartedly back Cyberlink PowerDirector for any video editing project.