Customer Reviews (100)

Dj Farah lahham • 2025-03-25T21:40:14.806Z

Put the price up front. Why we need to download, not knowing what are we downloading? And what is it cost?

Suman Android • 2025-03-25T17:40:52.961Z

I didn't find any option of ' apply to all' for transition and sound effects. I have to apply them separately.

Dalbir Singh • 2025-03-25T16:18:43.808Z

vary nice app

Summary of Key Insights

PowerDirector is a generally well-received video editing app, particularly praised for its user-friendliness and feature set, even in the free version. However, users frequently express frustration with the subscription model, paywalls, and the use of "credits" even within the paid version. Bugs, rendering issues, and problems with specific features (e.g., text-to-speech, glass break effect) are also recurring complaints. A significant portion of users appreciates the app's capabilities, drawing comparisons to desktop editing software, while others are actively seeking alternatives due to pricing or functionality concerns. The overall sentiment is mixed, leaning positive due to the high number of 5-star reviews, but the negative reviews reveal significant issues affecting user satisfaction.

Quantitative Metrics:

  • Overall Rating: Skews high due to the majority of 5-star reviews.
  • Score Distribution: 61% 5-star, 8% 4-star, 5% 3-star, 10% 2-star, 16% 1-star. This indicates a polarized user experience, with many satisfied users but also a significant group experiencing major issues.

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 100 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not explicitly stated, but assumed to be recent based on the app version (15.0.0) and the nature of the feedback.
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment Analysis: Categorizing reviews as positive, negative, or neutral based on language used.
    • Keyword Extraction: Identifying frequently mentioned keywords and phrases related to features, bugs, pricing, and user experience.
    • Frequency Analysis: Counting the occurrences of specific issues and feature requests to prioritize them.
    • Comparative Analysis: Identifying comparisons to other video editing apps (e.g., CapCut, Kinemaster).

Key User Pain Points

  • Pricing and Subscription Model: Frequent complaints about the cost, unexpected charges, and the feeling of being "scammed" by the need for "credits" even after paying for a subscription. The shift from a one-time purchase to a recurring subscription is also a major source of dissatisfaction.
  • Paywalls and Limited Free Features: Many users find the free version too restrictive, with essential features locked behind a paywall. The app is sometimes advertised as "free" which is misleading.
  • Bugs and Glitches: Several users report bugs that cause the app to crash, freeze, or fail to render videos. Specific features, such as text-to-speech, the "glass break" effect, and uploading from Google Drive, are also mentioned as being problematic.
  • Rendering Issues: Difficulty rendering videos, especially at 4K resolution, is a recurring problem. The rendering process often stalls or fails, requiring multiple restarts.
  • Watermark Issues: Some users who previously paid to remove watermarks are experiencing them again after switching phones.
  • Disappearing Work: Users report losing work or project elements disappearing without explanation.
  • Poor Customer Service: Some reviewers expressed dissatisfaction with customer service.

Frequently Requested Features

  • More Free Features: Expanding the functionality of the free version.
  • Text Glow Effect: A user specifically requested a text glow effect.
  • Gamification Return: Some users want the return of features that allowed them to earn watermark removal through in-app actions.
  • Improved Font Options and Templates: Overhauling the font section with better choices and templates.
  • AI Music Creator Improvements: Adding a simple prompt for the AI music creator.
  • Motion Tracking Enhancements: More features in motion tracking, such as POV effect tracking.
  • "Apply to All" Option: An "apply to all" option for transitions and sound effects.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • User-Friendliness: Many users praise the app's ease of use, particularly for beginners.
  • Feature-Rich: The app offers a wide range of powerful video editing tools and features.
  • High-Quality Output: Users are generally satisfied with the quality of the videos produced.
  • Templates and Effects: The availability of customizable video templates, effects, and transitions is appreciated.
  • Desktop-Like Experience: Some users find the app comparable to desktop video editing software.
  • Background Removal: The AI background removal is seen as a valuable feature.
  • Regular Updates: Users appreciate the monthly updates and new features.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Address Pricing Concerns: Re-evaluate the subscription model and pricing structure. Consider offering a more affordable option or a one-time purchase for essential features. Clearly communicate pricing upfront and avoid misleading advertising.
  • Fix Critical Bugs: Prioritize fixing bugs that cause crashes, freezing, and rendering failures. Thoroughly test updates before release to prevent introducing new issues.
  • Improve Rendering Performance: Optimize the rendering process to reduce stalls and failures, especially for 4K videos.
  • Resolve Watermark Issues: Investigate and resolve the issue of watermarks reappearing for users who have previously paid to remove them.
  • Enhance Customer Support: Improve customer service responsiveness and effectiveness.

Medium Priority:

  • Expand Free Features: Add more essential features to the free version to improve user satisfaction and attract new users.
  • Implement Requested Features: Add the text glow effect and consider other frequently requested features like improved font options and AI music creator prompts.
  • Improve Google Drive Integration: Fix the issues with downloading projects from Google Drive.
  • Refine Masking Tools: Address the issue with the circular mask's selection shape.
  • Layering System Improvement: Improve the layering system to avoid confusion.

Low Priority:

  • Address Minor Feature Bugs: Fix issues with specific features like the "glass break" effect.
  • Optimize Gamification: Re-evaluate and potentially reinstate the gamification features that allowed users to earn watermark removal.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Subscription Management App: An app that helps users manage and track their various subscriptions, providing alerts for upcoming renewals and potential cost savings. This could address the common pain point of unexpected charges and forgotten subscriptions.
  • Video Editing Education Platform: A platform that provides tutorials and courses on video editing, specifically tailored to mobile apps like PowerDirector. This could help users master the app's features and create higher-quality content.
  • AI-Powered Video Enhancement Tool: A standalone app that uses AI to automatically enhance video quality, remove noise, and stabilize footage. This could address the recurring complaints about video quality and the need for specific enhancement features.

Trends and Observations

  • Comparison to CapCut: CapCut is frequently mentioned as a competitor, often praised for its free features and lack of watermarks. This suggests that PowerDirector needs to better differentiate itself in terms of value and features.
  • Frustration with Subscription Model: The shift towards subscription models is a general trend in software, but users are increasingly vocal about their dissatisfaction with it, especially when they feel they are not getting enough value for their money.
  • Importance of Stability: Users prioritize stability and reliability over new features. Bugs and glitches are a major source of frustration and can lead to users abandoning the app.

Conclusion

PowerDirector is a capable video editing app with a strong user base, but it faces significant challenges related to pricing, bugs, and feature limitations. Addressing the prioritized action recommendations, particularly those related to pricing transparency and bug fixes, is crucial for improving user satisfaction and retaining existing users. By focusing on stability, value, and user-requested features, PowerDirector can strengthen its position in the competitive mobile video editing market.

Original App Link

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cyberlink.powerdirector.DRA140225_01