CyberLink PowerDirector 2024 Review: A Comprehensive Look at the Pros and Cons, New Features, and System Requirements
Summary ⮯
Among cons, CyberLink PowerDirector lacks the functionality for Multi-Clip Compound Editing. However, among pros, PowerDirector has the exclusive capability for Live Streaming to social media. It is also packed with powerful video editing features, including 8K video editing, Motion Tracking, Multicam Editing, Text To AI Voiceover, 360-degree video editing, captions generator from speech, and quick background removal.
👉️ Watch PowerDirector video below.
CyberLink PowerDirector
Here is unbiased review of CyberLink PowerDirector which might help you for a better and informed decision for the selection of a best video editing software for you. Here i have also discussed the latest PowerDirector features, best plan, what PowerDirector can do, recommended computer specs, and more. You are requested to give your opinion and feedback - check last section of this article.
👉️ Check our Comparative Ratings for the Top Video Editors – Star (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) Rankings.
It is easy-to-use, and lightweight, with fast rendering. CyberLink PowerDirector is regularly updated to introduce latest video editing technologies. PowerDirector video editing software works on computer 💻 (Windows, mac), as well on mobile 📱 through its apps for Android and iPhone.
Is PowerDirector Free?
Many online users complain that the website of CyberLink PowerDirector displayed the button for ‘Free Download’ but after editing a video, users were suddenly awful when they saw a big ‘watermark’ on their video.
Live Streaming Functionality in PowerDirector
👉️ Compare Options & Pricing Plans ⮯
⮩ Wondershare Filmora vs CyberLink PowerDirector vs Corel VideoStudio vs Movavi (links open in new tab).
Yes, like most other commercial video editing software, PowerDirector is not free to use. It is noteworthy that the Free version also does not allow users to export in 4K.
You can test all its features free but to remove the watermark on your exported videos, you must purchase one of PowerDirector plans. I suggest you download its free version (with watermark) first to check whether it meets your editing requirements OR whether your computer is suitable for the PowerDirector software.
Which Plan is Better?
CyberLink offers the PowerDirector video editor in total 5 Pricing Plans. It includes three Lifetime License plans, namely PowerDirector Ultra, PowerDirector Ultimate and the Bundle. It also offers two subscription plans, namely PowerDirector 365 and Director Suite 365.
Lifetime License vs Subscription Plans
You retain the Lifetime License forever, without paying after each year – it will be good (and cheaper in the long run) and fulfill your video editing requirements for the next few years. You will get free updates to the current version, but you might miss some new features after a major upgrade (after the launch of the next version).
However, if you buy an annual subscription plan, you will always have access to the updated version of software.
Which Lifetime Plan is Better?
If you want to save some dollars OR if you do not need the fancy AI tools, then PowerDirector Ultra plan is better because it has all the necessary tools required for video editing. It lacks some features including the 4K Video Editing Preview – in fact, it is a useless feature for most users because even pro users prefer proxy editing instead of 4K preview (to minimize load on computer), and secondly, this lack of 4K preview does not limit you for exporting video in 4K. Personally, I would like PowerDirector Ultra plan from lifetime options.
However, if you want to use most features including AI Speech To Text (for captions), AI Restoration Assistant, and BorisFX effects, then PowerDirector Ultimate plan might be right for you.
If you also require a photo editing software, then you can buy the Bundle which consists of PowerDirector Ultra and PhotoDirector Ultra.
Which Subscription Plan is Better?
👉️ Compare features of total 5 Pricing Plans of CyberLink PowerDirector.
If you are looking for just a video editor software, then PowerDirector 365 is a better choice for you.
CyberLink offers the standalone software options of PhotoDirector 365, ColorDirector, and AudioDirector 365 , but if you purchase the Director Suite 365 plan, you also get access to all these software for photo editing, color editing, and audio editing in addition to PowerDirector video editor.
In fact, this is a marketing technique is for upselling. All necessary functions of photo, color, and audio editing are already included in the primary PowerDirector video editor software. For reference, you can check my tutorial, where I created a YouTube thumbnail mage in a video editor.
Additionally, if you use some other graphic design software (such as Photoshop or Canva), then you have no need for PhotoDirector 365. However, if you have no other photo editing software, then you can subscribe to Director Suite 365 Plan to professionally edit photos, and create flyers, brochures, banners.
Similarly, if you need standalone and advanced controls for editing audio and music (specifically for audio restoration and repair), then Director Suite 365 Plan will also be right for you.
Director Suite 365 also provides more capacity for cloud storage, but personally, I do not prefer to upload my files in cloud storage of a video editing program, so it is useless feature for me.
CyberLink PowerDirector Pros and Cons
Here I have described the benefits and limitations of CyberLink PowerDirector video editor. It is also compared with the video editing programs of its competitors.
Voice Changer
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⮩ Wondershare Filmora or ⮩ Adobe Premiere Pro or ⮩ Corel VideoStudio and ⮩ Movavi.
The CyberLink PowerDirector is equipped with Vocal Transformer which helps to convert any voice to the voice of a man, woman, child, robot, custom etc. Although voice modifier effects are also available in other video editors such as Movavi but the Vocal Transformer functionality is unmatched.
Live Streaming
Using the latest Screen Recorder of PowerDirector, you can directly live stream on social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitch by simultaneously recording the computer screen, webcam, and microphone. It is included with all plans of PowerDirector video editor. However, if you do not want to purchase the PowerDirector, then you also have the option to purchase the Screen Recorder software as standalone product.
It is important to note that, other video editing programs (Filmora, Adobe Premiere Pro, Movavi, VideoStudio) lack this this feature – they can save the screen recordings but have no option for live streaming. It is a unique selling point of the PowerDirector.
8K Video Editing
You can import an Ultra HD 8K video (7680 x 4320 pixels) in the timeline of PowerDirector for further editing and export in 4K resolution. You can also import, edit, and produce 120/240 fps video. Please remember that for handling an 8K video, in addition to the capability of video editing software, a powerful computer (capacity of CPU, GPU, RAM, monitor) is also required.
Most other video editing software such as Movavi, Adobe Rush [RD] cannot handle 8K video. Even Adobe Premiere Pro requires the use of Media Encoder to import and edit Ultra HD videos but Premiere Pro cannot export in 8K except after using some external plugins. It is worth noting that YouTube does not support the playback of 8K video resolution.
Text to Voiceover
By using the Text-to-Speech feature in PowerDirector, you can automatically create voiceover from the input text. Various voice options available to choose from. Adobe Premiere Pro and some other video editors lack this functionality.
Speech To Text
PowerDirector features the Speech-To-Text tool for automatically creating transcription, captions, and subtitles, generated from the voice of a video. However, PowerDirector supports only English, Chinese and Japanese but the Speech-To-Text tool of Filmora support almost all languages.
Plug-ins & Effects
PowerDirector video editor provides a huge variety of Plug-ins & Effects which can be used free with a subscription plan. It includes the effects and ready templates for music, sound effects, outros, stickers, text titles, and more.
PowerDirector also features the built-in external plugin BorisFX for some cool effects. Whereas, Filmora features both NewBlue FX & Boris FX plugins.
Vocal Remover
The annual and perpetual plans of PowerDirector lack the vocal remover feature. You can remove vocals or separate the instrumental version of song from vocals, using the AudioDirector. But keep in mind that the CyberLink AudioDirector is available in Director Suite 365 plan, which is more expensive.
On the other hand, free AI Vocal Remover is part of Filmora video editor.
Color Editing
Although, CyberLink offers a standalone software for color editing, but it is not necessary to buy the ColorDirector because all necessary features for editing video colors are included right inside the PowerDirector video editor. You can effectively use PowerDirector for color correction of your footage.
Multicam Editing
PowerDirector can edit the footage from multiple cameras and combine (synchronize) them to produce a single video. Although Filmora claims for the multicam editing feature but the dedicated Multicam Designer tool in PowerDirector is much advanced yet easy to use. You can sync videos either automatically or manually in PowerDirector. This feature is especially useful for wedding videography, where you shot a scene from multiple cameras at once.
360 Video Editing
You can edit 360-degree video in PowerDirector. It can handle the spherical (all direction) virtual reality (VR) footage, shot with an omnidirectional camera. Few other video editing software – such as Adobe Premiere Pro, and Corel VideoStudio – have this capability. Filmora and Movavi lack the capability to edit 360 videos.
For editing 360 video, PowerDirector requires that your computer must have DirectX 11 compatible GPU.
Project Nesting
Like Adobe Premiere Pro, the CyberLink PowerDirector also has the capability of Nested Projects (grouping the edited clips in one project unit). This feature is not available in many other top-notch video editing software including Filmora, Movavi, and Corel VideoStudio.
Multi-Clip Editing
PowerDirector lacks the Multi-Clip Editing functionality [RD] – except the copy/paste attributes function. On the other hand, Filmora has this great time-saving feature which enables you apply same effects on multiple clips at once.
Mobile App Usage
CyberLink PowerDirector video editor, can also be used on its apps for Android phone and iPhone. However, separate subscriptions are required to use PowerDirector 365 on each device – a standalone payment is required to use the software on mobile. If you are editing a video in Android app of PowerDirector, then you can continue the same project on computer without losing your work - a great plus.
Other programs including Movavi also require independent subscription if one wants to use pro features on the mobile version of the software. Adobe Premiere Pro and Corel VideoStudio have No Apps for mobile. On the other hand, you can use Filmora on computer, tablet, and mobile with a same cross-platform license.
Motion Tracking
CyberLink PowerDirector has AI powered motion tracking functionality with impressive results. You can also manually control the precise motion path through keyframing in PowerDirector.
Cloud Storage
PowerDirector provides impressive 50 GB cloud storage with an annual subscription plan, whereas Filmora offers only 1 GB free cloud storage capacity. Frankly speaking, I do not prefer to use the cloud service of a video editing program – check the reason.
Fast Rendering Speed
Based on the Rendering Speed Test by PCMag, Wondershare Filmora is the fastest video editor software and CyberLink PowerDirector has gained the second position – it means they have faster rendering and export speeds than all other video editing software, including Adobe Premiere Pro, and DaVinci Resolve, Movavi, VideoStudio.
Free Trial and Money Back Guarantee
In case you are not happy with PowerDirector, you can claim unconditional 30-day money back guarantee for full refund. You can download PowerDirector free from this page on their website - they do not require payment info.
You also have the option to purchase PowerDirector at discounted price from the official CyberLink store at Amazon.
Latest Features in PowerDirector
Here are some remarkable features introduced recently in CyberLink PowerDirector.
AI Background Remover
Write text in vertical direction
Save favorite elements (fonts, music etc) as Favorites
AI Image Generator
New text (titles) animation templates
New fonts added.
All Features in PowerDirector
Click the above link to read all the available video editing features and functionality of CyberLink PowerDirector.
Recommended Computer Specs for PowerDirector
Please note that following are my own recommendations, based on my years of experience in video editing. CyberLink PowerDirector can run on much lower specs than what I recommended here. More powerful system (computer) is better for fast rendering and export of your video project, especially if you use more than three video tracks in timeline or you apply too many effects (motion, color) on a single track.
Here are the ideal computer specs for your best experience while using PowerDirector video editing software. Check minimum system requirements for Windows or Mac on PowerDirector website.
👉️ CPU Processor – I recommend at least Core i7. The minimum requirement of PowerDirector is Intel Core i7 processor for using AI features or editing HD and 4K videos. Compare prices of Intel Core i5, i7, and i9 processor on Amazon.
👉️ Graphics Processor (GPU) – You should prefer any NVIDIA RTX series with vRAM of at least 6 GB. I personally use dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 with 12 GB memory. PowerDirector requires GPU with 128 MB vRAM for a standard video (I don't know how they define a standard video), and at least 2 GB vRAM for using AI features. For editing 360 video, GPU must be compatible with Microsoft DirectX 11 API.
👉️ RAM Memory – at least 16 GB. The RAM of my own PC is 32 GB. Whereas PowerDirector requires at least 4GB RAM but recommends minimum 6 GB RAM. For noise and echo removal functionality, PowerDirector recommends at least 8 GB RAM.
👉️ SSD Storage Memory – I recommend at least 512 GB SSD for editing videos of HD and and 4K resolution but an SSD with 1 TB capacity will be the best option. Check computer SSD drive.
👉️ HDD Storage Memory – Your computer should also have a Hard Drive (HDD) of good storage capacity with faster speed. I use 2 TB for overall needs of storing data. Please note that PowerDirector video editing software requires 7 GB hard drive memory for installation, but when you will download stock media elements (effects, video footage etc), while using the software, it will take up additional memory space. Check price for internal HDD for laptop and desktop computer.
👉️ System Type – x64 based PC is recommended. All modern computers (laptops) have 64-bit operating system. System type 32 bit can only use up to 4 GB of RAM, so not good for video editing tasks. To check it for your computer, open Settings → System → About. PowerDirector can only run on a 64 bit operating system.
👉️ Monitor – Use at least an HD display monitor with your computer but 4K display monitor is a better choice – Check 4k computer monitors on Amazon. 4K monitor will help for better editing of colors. A monitor with minimum 1920 x 1080 px resolution is a good option for screen recording and creating tutorial videos, so that you can export the final video in the same frame size as in recorded video – without the need for forcibly upscaling (results in blurry display) your original video. PowerDirector requires a monitor with at least 1024 x 768 pixel resolution - much less than what I recommended here.
👉️ Computer Type – Prefer a desktop computer over laptop – because it is easily customizable (for adding more storage or replacing the power unit etc) and its casing can secure a large sized GPU.
👉️ Check top video editing laptop computers. You may also check the list of best desktop computers for video editing, recommended by Dozro.
Please note that CyberLink PowerDirector is a comparatively lightweight software which can run even on a laptop with moderate specs.
Learning Resources
Their website has answer to every query or problem faced by the new users. Corel website provides extensive tutorial articles for PowerDirector learning. You can also watch tutorials in PowerDirector playlist on the official YouTube channel by Corel. Tutorial videos are also available on YouTube by other creators.
Suggest Edits
👉️ Check our Comparative Ratings for the Top Video Editors – Star (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) Rankings.
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I have made my best efforts to highlight everything important about PowerDirector, but it is possible that I might have missed something to include in this PowerDirector review. Please give your feedback, opinion, and suggestions to improve this article. If your suggested edit is approved, you will be publicly endorsed by Dozro.
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To date, all the information in this article is accurate and up to date in the best of my knowledge.
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