01In plain English
A one-time purchase, often called a perpetual license, lets you keep using the version you bought for as long as it runs on your computer. Major new versions are often a paid upgrade, and some cloud or AI features may still need a subscription.
02Why it matters when you are choosing
For software you will use for years, paying once can cost far less than a subscription. The trade-off is that updates, new features and support for new operating systems may not be included.
03What to check
Check which updates are included, whether the next major version costs extra, and which features, such as cloud storage or AI, still need a subscription.
04The tools
5 of the 7 tools we checked sell a one-time license. Each one is checked against the vendor's own pages. A tool missing from this list may not have been checked yet, which is not the same as a no.
CyberLink PowerDirector
DaVinci Resolve
Filmora
Final Cut Pro
