CyberLink PowerDirector 365 review

CyberLink PowerDirector 365 is a feature-packed video editor that turns your clips into eye-catching social media sequence

CyberLink PowerDirector 365
(Image: © George Cairns/Digital Camera World)

Digital Camera World Verdict

As well as typical non-linear editing trappings such as titles and transitions, CyberLink PowerDirector 365 provides quick and easy ways to produce more complex composite clips that will draw attention to your social media feed. The embedded Shutterstock browser in the subscription version of the app provides huge value for money and gives you a wider range of creative assets for your projects.

Pros

  • +

    Cheap source of stock clips

  • +

    Combine clips quickly and easily

  • +

    Regularly updated presets and effects

Cons

  • -

    Mac version currently lacks Action Camera Center

  • -

    Upside-down default timeline track order

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CyberLink PowerDirector 365 is one of a number of options in the crowded arena of entry-level non-linear video editing software.  Despite established rivals such as Adobe Premiere Elements 2021 and iMovie, PowerDirector stands a fighting chance at winning your attention (and your cash).  Its strength lies in a combination of powerful yet easy-to-use tools that enable you to quickly produce eye-catching results that you can show off on social media sites.  For example you can quickly combine multiple clips into a creative video collage without the need to manually re-size and reposition clips on multiple layers.

You can buy the software as PowerDirector 19 as a one-off purchase of $99.99 / £79.99. But CyberLink also offers a subscription version - PowerDirector 365 - for $69.99 / £59.99 per annum. The subscription model is the one we recommend for a range of reasons. As well as being regularly updated with new assets and features subscribers to PowerDirector 365 have access to a Shutterstock browser that provides a curated collection of royalty free clips. 

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George Cairns

George has been freelancing as a photo fixing and creative tutorial writer since 2002, working for award winning titles such as Digital Camera, PhotoPlus, N-Photo and Practical Photoshop. He's expert in communicating the ins and outs of Photoshop and Lightroom, as well as producing video production tutorials on Final Cut Pro and iMovie for magazines such as iCreate and Mac Format. He also produces regular and exclusive Photoshop CC tutorials for his YouTube channel.