presentation software key features

• Interactive Presentation

7 Key Features of Presentation Software Must Have | Updated in 2024

Jane Ng • 31 July, 2024 • 9 min read

It is known for fact that when giving presentations, the audience’s attention is the biggest factor that keeps the speaker motivated and poised.

In this digital age, there are various presentation tools available that can enhance audience engagement. These tools include interactive slides, polling features, and real-time feedback options.

Finding the best presentation software among a plethora of options might be overwhelming and time-consuming. However, it is important that you explore your options to ensure that you’ll deliver a presentation that will leave a lasting impact on your audience.

Narrow down your choices by searching for the best qualities of a presentation software that not only offers innovative features but also prioritizes audience interaction. 

Browse the list below to find the 7 key features a presentation software must have and why they are important for creating engaging presentations.

Table of Contents

• More Presenting Tips with AhaSlides
• What Is Interactive Presentation Software?
• #1 - Creating & Customizing
• #2 – Quizzes & Games
• #3 – Polling
• #4 – Q&A
• #5 – Spinner Wheel
• #6 – Audience Experience

Better Presentations with AhaSlides

More tips with ahaslides.

• AhaSlides Features
• AhaSlides Tips on Live questions and answers
• AhaSlides Idea board

What is Interactive Presentation Software?

In the simplest terms, interactive presentation software provides tools to build content that your audience can interact with. 

Before, giving a presentation was a one-way process: the speaker would talk and the audience would listen. 

Now, with the advancement of technology, presentations have become a two-way conversation between the audience and the speaker. Interactive presentation software has helped presenters to gauge audience understanding and adjust their content accordingly.

For instance, during a business conference, the speaker can use live polls or an audience response feature to gather real-time feedback on certain topics. Aside from getting the participants involved in the discussion, this also allows the presenter to address any concerns or questions.

What are some highlights of using interactive features in presentations?

• Suitable for all group sizes, from small groups to a large hall of people
• Suitable for both live and virtual events
• The participants are given the opportunity to share their thoughts through polls, live Q&A , or make use of open-ended questions
• Information, data, and content are displayed with multimedia elements, such as images, animations, videos, charts, etc.
• There’s no limit to how creative speakers can be — they can customize the presentation to make it more appealing and attention-grabbing!

6 Key Features a Presentation Software Must Have

The current interactive presentation software on the market will all have basic features: customizable, shareable, equipped with a built-in library of template slides, and cloud-based.

AhaSlides has all of that and more! Discover how you can make your presentations impactful with its 6 key features:

#1 – Creating & Customizing – Features Of Presentation Software

How you design your presentation is a reflection of your personality and creativity. Show them who you are with visually stunning and well-organized slides that capture the essence of your ideas. Incorporate captivating visuals, such as images, graphs, and charts, that not only enhance the overall aesthetic but also effectively convey your message. Additionally, consider adding interactive elements or a bit of storytelling that will keep your listeners interested to know more.

If you have prepared your presentations using Google Slides or Microsoft PowerPoint, you can easily import them on AhaSlides! Edit multiple slides at once or invite others to collaborate on customizing the presentation.

AhaSlides has outstanding features, including 17 built-in slides library, grid view, participant view, sharing and downloading presentations, customizing viewers, and more!

Don’t hesitate to make your presentation unique! Create your own slide deck or personalize a slide template.

• Interactive presentation software, such as AhaSlides, lets you change the background to anything you like, from colors to images, even GIFs if you want.
• You can then customize the URL access token to make the invitation to your presentation more personal.
• And why not make your presentations more vibrant with the wide range of image options in the built-in library, along with the choice to embed audio and add more fonts (aside from the multiple fonts available)?

#2 – Quizzes & Games – Features Of Presentation Software

What better way to start a presentation than with a game? Presentations never sounded entertaining; in fact, it connotes a boring and monotonous experience for many.

Kick-start the session with an interactive activity to instantly grab your audience's attention and create a sense of excitement. This not only sets a positive tone for the rest of your presentation but also helps to break the ice and establish a connection with your audience.

AhaSlides has free audience engagement features that will up your game! Build audience rapport with AhaSlides’ live quiz games .

• AhaSlides champions interactivity through its various quiz types. It also allows team play , where a group of participants can compete against each other. They can choose their group or the speaker can use the AhaSlides spinner wheel to randomly assign participants to teams, adding an element of excitement and unpredictability to the game.
• Add a countdown timer or time limit according to each question to make the game more thrilling.
• There is real-time scoring and after the game, a leaderboard appears to give details of each person or team’s scores. 
• In addition, you can moderate the full list of answers provided by the participants and manually select the ones you want to accept.

#3 – Polling – Features Of Presentation Software

Knowing the audience’s expectations and preferences will enable the presenter to effectively adjust the content and delivery of the presentation. This can be done through live polls , scales , word clouds, and idea-sharing slides . 

Moreover, the opinions and ideas obtained through polling are also:

• Super intuitive. Plus, you can display the poll results with a bar chart, donut chart, pie chart, or multiple comments in the form of sliding scales .
• Great in stimulating creativity and increasing the audience response rate. Through Word Cloud Tools and other engaging tools, your audience will brainstorm together and bring you unexpected, valuable insights.
• Convenient for the audience. They can get tracking results right on their phone.

Alternatively, you can choose to show or hide the results . It’s okay to keep a little secret for the audience to suspense until the last minute, isn’t it?

#4 – Q&A – Features Of Presentation Software

Since modern presentations focus on getting the audience involved, a Question & Answer portion is a smart way to keep them on track. 

AhaSlides offers a built-in Q&A feature that allows participants to ask questions directly from their devices, eliminating the need for hand-raising or interruptions. This ensures a smooth flow of communication and encourages active participation from the audience.

What does AhaSlides’ live Q&A do? 

• Saves time by viewing questions in an orderly table. Speakers will know which questions to address first (like the most recent or popular queries). Users can save the questions as answered or pin them for later use.
• Participants can vote for the inquiries they feel need to be answered right away while the Q&A is ongoing.
• Users have full control in approving which questions will be shown or neglected. Inappropriate questions and profanity are automatically filtered as well.

Ever found yourself staring at a blank presentation, wondering where to start? 🙄 You're not alone. The good news is that the best AI presentation makers are here to change that. 💡

#5 – Spinner Wheel – Features Of Presentation Software

Spinner Wheel is a versatile tool that can be used in a variety of settings, such as classrooms, corporate training sessions, or even social events. With its customizable options, you can tailor the Spinner Wheel to fit the specific needs and goals of your audience. Whether you want to use it for icebreakers, decision-making exercises, or simply as a fun way to choose a random winner, it is sure to bring energy and thrill to your event.

Alternatively, you can save this best random picker wheel for the end of your presentation to see which lucky participant will receive a small gift. Or perhaps, during office meetings, the spinner wheel can be used to decide who the next presenter will be.

#6 – Audience Experience – Features Of Presentation Software

The real essence of an interactive presentation is to make the audience feel like active participants rather than passive observers. As a result, the listeners feel more connected to the presentation and are more likely to retain the information shared. Ultimately, this interactive approach transforms a traditional presentation into a collaborative and enriching experience for everyone involved.

Your audience is your most important asset when delivering a presentation. Let AhaSlides help you give a successful presentation that will resonate with them long after it’s over.

• The more, the merrier. AhaSlides allows up to 10,000 people to join your presentation at once. Don’t worry! It will not be difficult to access, because each participant can only scan a unique QR code to join your presentation.
• There are 15 languages available — a huge step in breaking language barriers! 
• The interface is mobile-friendly, so you do not have to worry about your presentation showing errors or quirks on any mobile device. 
• The audience can see all the question slides, quizzes, and content appear on their mobile devices without constantly looking up at the presenter’s screen.
• Participants can share their quiz scores with a simple tap, or react to all of your slides with 5 colorful emojis. Just like Facebook!

#7 - Bonus: After the Event 

The best way to be a good speaker or presenter is to learn a lesson or paint yourself an overview of each presentation.

Does your audience like the presentation because of what ? How do they react to each question? Are they paying attention to the presentation? You need to put those questions together to come up with the final result.

It’s not possible to accurately tell if a presentation is going well or resonating with the crowd. But with AhaSlides, you can collect feedback and analyze how you did.

After the presentation, AhaSlides provides you with the following:

• A report to see your engagement rate, top responsive slides, quiz results, and your audience behavior.
• A shareable link of the presentation that already has all the participants’ responses. So, you can always come back to it to know your strengths, weaknesses, and what your audience needs in a presentation. Additionally, you can export the necessary data to an excel or PDF file. But this is only on the paid plan. 

Undoubtedly, choosing a comprehensive and easy-to-use interactive presentation software will transform your presentations.

AhaSlides revolutionizes traditional presentations by offering interactive features that encourage audience participation and collaboration. Through live polls, quizzes, and Q&A sessions, the audience can actively engage with the content and express their opinions.

With AhaSlides , you are no longer limited by old molds and can freely create your own presentation by registering and creating an account today (100% free)!

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15 Best Presentation Software for 2024 (Full Comparison Guide)

Written by: Orana Velarde

In this comparison guide, we’ll analyze each of these tools and many more to understand what the difference is between them so you can  choose the best presentation maker for your business.

So, if you want to stand out from run-of-the-mill PowerPoint presentations and have a reliable presentation software that will help you collaborate with team members and design stunning slide decks in a fraction of the time, you’ll need this guide. 

Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

• Google Slides
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Beautiful.ai
• Microsoft Sway

What are Presentation Tools

Presentation tools are software applications that enable users to visually present ideas or share knowledge. These presentations are delivered in a slide-show format using a combination of text, images and other graphic elements.

Presentation software is frequently used to pitch an idea to investors , present proposals to clients , introduce new products or services to customers, train staff on new policies or ideas , or teach your students new or complex concepts.

Best Presentation Software: A Visual Comparison

When choosing the right presentation programs for your projects, there are some things to consider:

• Does the price point fit your budget?
• Is it easy to use?
• Who is the program geared at: businesses, educators, bloggers or social media managers?
• Does it have lots of templates to choose from? Are they good quality and helpful?
• Is the built-in graphic asset library extensive and varied?
• Can you embed content, add videos or GIFs?
• Can you add audio to your presentations?
• Can elements be animated?
• Is it desktop or cloud-based ?
• Can you use it to create presentations on any of your devices?
• Can finished presentations be viewed offline?
• Can you have team accounts or business accounts for easy collaboration inside your company?
• Does it include a Brand Kit? Is it easy to use?
• Can the finished presentation be shared online straight from the presentation software?
• Can your presentations be uploaded to the cloud privately with password protection?
• Does the presentation software include analytics to see how your projects perform on social media?
• Can you use the finished presentation as a lead generator straight from the software?

We'll take a look at all these aspects in the following list of best presentation software so you can make your own well-informed decision.

Last updated on May 30, 2024.

Visme is a powerful presentation software and all-in-one content authoring tool. It has a user-friendly interface and an extensive set of tools that make it easy for both beginners and experienced professionals to design and deliver impactful presentations.

Presentations made with Visme go beyond the standard slide deck to incorporate interactive elements and easy, full-featured offline sharing.

Making professional presentation slides with Visme is easy and straightforward. Create slides from scratch using content blocks and the extensive slide libraries categorized by style. Browse the presentation template library to find pre-designed slide decks which you can easily customize to fit your needs.

That's not all that Visme can do, though.

You can also use Visme to create other visual content, such as digital documents, animated infographics, interactive reports and whiteboards. There are tons of customizable templates that come built-in with the app.

You can also use Visme to create other visual content, such as infographics, reports and interactive charts. There are tons of customizable templates that come built-in with the software.

Visme can be used for free to test it out for as long as you want. With a free account, you can create up to three projects.

To access all of Visme's capabilities, you can upgrade to one of the paid plans .

• Starter: $12.25/month paid annually
• Pro: $24.75/month paid annually
• Visme for Teams: Custom – learn more here

If you're a nonprofit organization, you may qualify for a discount. Visme also offers separate Education plans for students and teachers.

Ease of Use

Visme is incredibly easy to use. Switching from slide to slide is a breeze, and you can even save a slide to your content block or slide library to reuse later.

The editor comes with a handy sidebar that lets you browse media, graphics and data tools and drag and drop relevant elements onto your slides. You can also use the /shortcut feature to open a search bar and quickly find what you need.

The dynamic fields feature ensures you don’t miss out on any critical information. With single click, you can easily update content throughout your presentation.

Who Is It For

Visme is perfect for small and large businesses, enterprises, marketing teams, project managers, educators, content creators and so much more. The resources and tools available in Visme reach far beyond the ability to create presentations.

• Social media teams can create content for their company’s social channels.
• Sales agents can create branded and personalized proposals in minutes.
• Professionals can build visual CVs to find the next ideal job.
• Project managers can conduct team meetings with a collaborative whiteboard.

Template Options

The template options in Visme are extensive and varied in style. From minimalistic to photographic, there are many presentation styles to pick from.

Presentation Templates

Ecommerce Webinar Presentation

Buyer Presentation

PixelGo Marketing Plan Presentation

Technology Presentation

Product Training Interactive Presentation

Work+Biz Pitch Deck - Presentation

Create your presentation View more templates

You can choose from dozens of fully designed presentations tailor-made for specific industries and topics or mix and match hundreds of slide layouts by choosing a presentation theme.

You can also start with a blank canvas, add new blank slides to existing presentation templates, and save custom slides to use later as your own templates.

Graphic Assets Library

When selecting the best tools for presentations, the visual capabilities and creative design elements should be a top consideration. Visme’s graphic library includes thousands of free icons, illustrations, stock photos, videos , 3D graphics , audio clips, charts and graphs to include in your presentations.

The best part is that every graphic asset that comes built-in with the Visme editor is fully customizable. Resize, rotate or change colors to fit your brand, content and theme.

AI-Powered Tools

Visme comes with a wide variety of useful AI-powered tools, making it one of the best presentation software.

Let's start with the AI presentation maker . This advanced tool is engineered to make your presentation creation process as quick and efficient as possible.

To create a presentation using this tool, you only need to provide a text prompt outlining your requirements. The tool will then generate the slides, complete with text, images, illustrations and any other content you specify.

After that, you can use Visme's presentation tools to personalize the AI-generated slides and add the final touches.

Next up is the AI writer . This user-friendly tool is your key to overcoming writer's block and crafting engaging copy for your presentation. It can help you create layouts, edit and proofread text, summarize the content and much more. Explain to the AI writer what you want to generate, and it will take care of the rest.

Visme offers several AI image editing tools , including erase and replace, background remover, unblur, and upscaler. These tools can be used to edit the image content or enhance its quality. For example, you can use the Image Upscaler to resize your image without sacrificing quality, ensuring your visuals always look high-quality.

And as always, you just need to provide the right text prompts. Feel free to tweak the prompts as many times as you want until you achieve the perfect outcome.

Videos and GIFs

It's easy to insert or embed videos and GIFs inside a Visme presentation. This is another that makes Visme a powerful video presentation software .

To insert a video, upload a video from your computer or cloud storage and place it on a slide of your choosing. Once you’ve uploaded it, it’ll be in your Media library for future use.

If you don’t have videos of your own, Visme has hundreds of stock videos to choose from in lots of categories. Browse them by clicking the / shortcut on your keyboard and opening the videos tab.

Edit your videos with the integrated timeline feature. Trim video clips and customize playback settings. Resize the video on your slide easily by dragging the corner. Or you can resize any video into another shape for more flexibility.

GIFs are available through the Giphy integration, which you’ll find in the Media tab. These are a great choice when you want to make a meme-based presentation.

Take note that all presentations that have videos or GIFs in the slides must be shared as a live link or downloaded as HTML5 or MP4. If you download it as a PDF or PPTX, all the interactive elements won’t play back.

Adding audio to a presentation is easy on Visme. Either along with a video or as the audio on its own. You can also record a voice over.

Another great option is accessing our Presenter Studio to record a video of yourself presenting your content. You can turn on your camera or record audio only before sending a link to your audience. This is a great way to present asynchronously or save your presentation for people to view again and again.

Embed Third-Party Content

There is more content that can be embedded into Visme presentations, like polls, quizzes , forms , online videos and any content that can be turned into code to insert in an iframe.

You can also take advantage of several integrations to embed even more engaging and interactive content into your slides.

Some of our integrations include SurveyMonkey, Hubspot, Giphy, and many more.

Animations and Transitions

With Visme, you can animate your content and create interactive experiences such as:

• Hover effects or clickable pop-ups, link your slides or content blocks to objects
• Pre-animated assets like characters, illustrations and gestures
• Custom animation and motion effects

Features inside Visme presentations can be animated, and we also have a number of seamless slide transitions that make your content pop, like "Enter from Side" or "Staggered Fade."

If you want to make your content even more dynamic, you can access our Custom Animation feature. This is perfect for creating video presentations or making your elements look like they're floating on your slide.

Visme also comes with a 3D Character Creator that helps you elevate your storytelling and connect with your audience. You can create and customize 3D animated characters to embody your brand or message.

Tweak everything, from gender and hairstyles to outfits and skin tone, until you achieve the perfect look. You also have the ability to choose their entry, waiting and exit poses.

Desktop or Cloud

Visme is an online cloud-based app that can be easily used on your computer. We also provide a desktop app that you can download and use outside of your regular browser for seamless content creation.

And if you need to create content on the go, you can easily edit existing projects right from your mobile device or tablet using the Visme iOS app .

Data Widgets

Visme offers a wide selection of data widgets that allow you to creatively visualize statistics and figures in the form of gauges, clocks, pictographs and icon arrays.

Data visualization in Visme goes beyond widgets. Add tables, graphs, and charts to your presentation slides and connect them to a live data source . Create a data stream from Google Sheets or Google Analytics into customized data visualizations.

Offline Viewing

Finished presentations can be viewed offline in four different formats.

The best option is to download it as an HTML5 file. That way it will maintain all the animations when opened on Google Chrome, even without internet. Downloading as an HTML 5 file is a premium feature. Presentations can also be downloaded as a collection of JPG or PNG images, as a PDF or as an editable PowerPoint file.

Create a stunning presentation in less time

• Hundreds of premade slides available
• Add animation and interactivity to your slides
• Choose from various presentation options

Sign up. It’s free.

Collaboration Possibilities

Visme has a premium teams plan that lets all team members customize and complete projects together. Leave comments with edits and feedback, edit projects simultaneously and easily share with other people on your team to move the project along.

Plus, Visme's workflow management features give the project admin complete control over your team's collaboration process. You can assign tasks, manage roles, set deadlines and more, all from a centralized platform. These features are useful for streamlining communication and reducing the time between briefing and final presentation design.

Branding Capabilities

Visme's brand design tool makes it easy to keep all of your content on-brand regardless of who's creating it. It works in three easy steps:

1. Upload all of your branding assets (colors, fonts, logo) to Visme with the Brand Wizard . Input your website URL and watch as our Brand Wizard automatically pulls in all of your branding.

2. Access a bundle of 30+ automatically branded templates that have your logo, fonts and colors already ready to go.

3. Easily access thousands of other templates and input your brand fonts and colors with just a click in Visme's editor.

Then boom! All of your content will always have the same branding, helping increase brand strength and recognition.

Share to Social Media

Once a presentation is finished, it can be shared to social media seamlessly right from the editor. It can also be downloaded.

Privacy and Password Protection

Presentations on Visme can be published privately with password protection so that only the people you want can access it. It is advisable to only use strong passwords for this purpose. There are a few free password managers that could help you do that and keep your account secure .

Visme’s analytics is what makes it stand out as the best tool for presentation. When a presentation is shared via a live link, it can be analyzed for views and sharing.

Access in-depth analytics that show you how much of your presentation is typically viewed, for how long and which slides seem to be the most popular.

Lead Generation

You can add a signup form to your presentations to collect leads that could potentially become clients. Simply head over to our  Advanced Settings tab before sharing your project and turn on  Requires Registration to collect emails from each person who views your content.

The best part of using Visme is that you get access to an interactive online form builder that's proven to generate 2X more conversions than traditional forms. You can choose your preferred form type and customize every aspect, including character appearance, color, background and animations to match your design and branding requirements.

Prezi offers a great alternative to the traditional presentation format that goes slide by slide. The creative idea behind Prezi is you can create an animated, non-sequential flow with topics and subtopics that are hidden until you zoom in.

While Prezi's interface can be slightly complicated to use, it's a good option for people who need to add a creative touch to their presentations.

Prezi is free for basic capabilities and limited templates.

For the paid plans, there are three tiers.

• Standard: $5/month
• Plus: $12/month
• Premium: $16/month
• Teams: Upon Request

There are separate plans available for students and teachers.

Prezi has a slight learning curve, but once you create a couple of presentations, you get the hang of it. However, it doesn't offer too much customizability inside the templates.

Businesses and educators who are in need of a different style of presentation. Prezi offers a “conversational style” of zooming and moving around between information. So, who Prezi is for really depends on who needs this sort of presentation style.

There are plenty of templates to choose from, and you can also start from scratch. The templates are different in color and style, but the idea of zooming into topics and subtopics is the same.

AI Presentation Assistant

Prezi has an AI assistant that automatically generates presentations for users.

The assets library has some icons and shapes available, the usual ones like arrows and buttons. Premium plans get access to over 80,000 icons and 500,000 images.

Videos can be uploaded or embedded from YouTube. Embedded videos are not viewable in offline mode. GIFs aren’t supported.

Voice over can be added in premium plans.

No other content can be embedded into Prezi presentations.

Prezi is all about animations between topics and subtopics. The presentations themselves are viewed as animations.

Prezi is a cloud app but can be accessed to view offline with premium plans.

Available to Create on Multiple Devices

Prezi presentations can only be created on a computer but can be viewed on all devices.

Prezi for teams is available upon demand and has a Slack integration.

Brand Kits are only available with Prezi's team plans, but each presentation can be customized to fit your brand with color customizations and some available fonts.

Prezi presentations can be shared to social media via a special share button at the top-right of the Prezi page. They can be shared to LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Prezi presentations can only be downloaded from the Prezi app. There are two options, as an EXE file for PC and a ZIP file for Mac. Presentations can then be viewed without internet connection or the need to connect to the Prezi app.

Presentations are public unless you have a paid account.

Analytics are available with premium accounts but it only applies to Prezi presentations you share via a link to someone.

There are no lead generation capabilities with Prezi.

3 Google Slides

Google Slides is the presentation software available via your Google account. Just like you can create documents and spreadsheets with Google Docs and Sheets, you can create presentations with Google Slides.

The setup is very similar to PowerPoint and is free to use for anyone with a google account. There is a business version called G Suite, which includes the same things with more storage and management capabilities.

Google Slides is free to use for anyone with a Google account. All features are available to everyone.

There are plans for business accounts so that teams can be created and information can be managed in a more organized way. Plans start at $6/user/month and go up to $18/user/month.

Compared to other examples of presentation software, Google Slides is very easy to use. The controls are very similar to Google Docs and Sheets.

Business professionals, educators and students who need fast and easy access to a presentation software that can get things done.

There is a general collection of templates, but there are not very many. Presentations can also be started from scratch.

The graphic assets are average and simple. The shapes are classic and generic. Photographs can be uploaded from your desktop, your Google Drive, a URL or searched online.

Videos can uploaded with a YouTube link or from Google Drive. GIFs can be added just like images.

Audio and Embed Third-Party Content

Anything from your Google Drive can be added in. Also there are some available “add-ons” that can be integrated for icons, stock photography and audio.

Elements inside each slide can be animated and so can the transition between the slides.

Google Slides is a cloud-based program.

Google Slides can be used fully on any device with their respective apps for Android and iPhone. Presentations can be edited and viewed on all devices.

Collaborating with other people is easy with Google Slides

There is no brand kit feature.

Presentations can be shared via email or link.

Google Slides can be viewed offline with a Chrome Extension and the use of Backup and Sync.

Presentations can be shared privately, but there are no password capabilities, only invitations.

Analytics and Lead Generation

These features are not available.

Read either PowerPoint vs Google ,  or you can check out  Google Slides vs Visme to get a detailed overview of each tool and find the perfect presentation software for your needs.

Keynote is the native Apple presentation software — one of the original PowerPoint Alternatives. Anyone with an Apple ID can use the Keynote editor. It is the most similar to PowerPoint and also Google Slides.

Keynote is free for downloading and also accessing via the cloud with an apple ID.

If you know how to use PowerPoint or Google Slides, Keynote is a breeze. This feature makes it stand out as one of the best tools for presentation.

Keynote is good for businesses, educators and anyone who needs a practical presentation software.

The templates are limited but come in standard or wide sizes. Templates can also be found outside of Keynote and uploaded into the program.

There are plenty of classic symbols and icons available which are also customizable in terms of color and gradient. Images can only be added from your computer.

Videos are not embeddable in Keynote slides but that is sorted with a plug-in like LiveSlides. GIFs can be added as .gif images.

You can upload existing audio files in Keynote to play on specific slides. There's also an option to record your own voiceover to create a narrated presentation.

Including these is not available

Slides and objects can be animated in a number of ways, including path creation, scaling, bounce or jiggle effects, and more.

Keynote is available on both desktop and cloud.

You can create keynote presentations on any apple device and PC.

Keynote presentations can be downloaded as .pdf or as .pptx to view offline.

Keynote presentations can be collaborated on via a link or email with permission settings set to “can make changes”.

Brand Kit, Share to Social Media, Analytics and Lead Generation

None of these are available on Keynote.

Presentations are private until shared and there is no password protection capabilities.

5 Microsoft PowerPoint

This list wouldn't have been complete without the most popular presentation software in the world. Even though there are tons of more advanced presentation tools out there now, PowerPoint is still a favorite of many because of its familiarity, ease of use and availability.

The desktop-based PowerPoint program is part of Microsoft 365, which has different plans for businesses that start from $6/month and go up to $22/month. You can also buy an unbundled digital PowerPoint account for $159.99

PowerPoint Online is free on any device, including mobile.

Most, if not every, computer user knows how to work a PowerPoint. The traditional sidebar interface is easy to use simply because it's familiar. But for people who are using PowerPoint for the first time, there might be a slight learning curve.

Businesses, individuals, students, teachers and anyone who uses a Windows PC or device. PowerPoint is also a good fit for people who want to create simple, conventional presentations, and aren't looking for fancy new features or capabilities.

There are dozens of themes that come built-in with PowerPoint, and there are all customizable so you can play around with the styles.

You can browse stock images, icons, stickers and more by searching for relevant keywords in PowerPoint's graphic library.

Videos and GIFs can be uploaded from your computer. You can also embed videos from YouTube and other online sources. However, this feature is only available to Windows users.

You can upload audio files from your computer. You can also record audio directly inside PowerPoint and edit the settings for playback.

You can embed files created in other Microsoft Office applications, such as charts created in Excel, or any other programs that support Object Linking and Embedding (OLE.)

There are tons of animation and transition options available in PowerPoint, which can actually get confusing at times. However, if you know your way around these options, it gets easier to create a professional-looking slideshow.

There are both desktop and cloud versions of PowerPoint available.

You can download the PowerPoint mobile apps on both Android and iOS devices.

It's possible to share your presentation with specific people.

Brand kits are not available, but you can save custom themes.

Presentations cannot be shared to social media.

You can download your PowerPoint presentations in various formats, including PPTX and PDF. This makes it easy to access them on any device offline.

You can mark your presentations as read-only to prevent users from editing the file.

This feature is not available in PowerPoint.

Ludus is one of the best-looking presentation tools available online. The main attractions with Ludus are the clean black screen to edit on and the number of integrations that give importing capabilities for all sorts of content. From photography to .svg to code builds.

Ludus starts at $14.99/month for teams of 1-15 people. Teams that need more licenses are encouraged to contact for more pricing information. Ludus does offer a 30-day free trial.

Ludus is quite easy to use and includes lots of keyboard shortcuts. It is easy to learn how to use and pretty straightforward. It seems to be easier for designers than for non-designers to use.

This presentation software is geared more towards designers or business owners who have some design knowledge to totally be able to use the broad capabilities.

There are no templates to choose from. You have to start from scratch or use smart blocks that you can create to use over and over easily. Smart blocks are kept in their own library.

Ludus has minimal in-house graphic assets like simple shapes, but the integrations are epic. You can import .svg icons and edit them inside Ludus quite easily. Photos can also be imported via Unsplash, Instagram, Facebook or uploaded.

Videos and GIFs are easily imported via the integrations like YouTube, Vimeo, Giphy and more.

Audio can be embedded as an audio file from SoundCloud, Dropbox and other integrations.

You can pretty much embed anything into Ludus. The integrations are impressive and there are also iframe and HTML options.

Internal elements can’t be animated but there are so many integrations that animations can be done in different ways.

Ludus is a cloud-based app. No need to download anything.

Presentations can only be edited on computers. Finished presentations can be viewed on all handheld devices that have access to the internet via a URL link.

Collaborations are possible with the team plans. This includes live collaboration, workspaces and more.

With collaborations, smart blocks and the Brandfetch integration, a brand kit can be organized quite easily. But it’s not an internal feature.

Finished presentations can be easily shared to social media straight from Ludus.

Ludus presentations can be downloaded as .pdf or .html to be viewed offline.

Pro Plans have password protection.

There are no analytics or lead generation capabilities available in Ludus.

Slides is the only presentation software that promotes itself as being “pixel perfect” as the editor includes a built-in grid to help with composition. Slides has a lower cost at the highest price tag which is good for smaller businesses.

Slides is free to use, but finished presentations will be public and available. 

The paid plans start at $5/month, and the Pro plan sits at $10/month and go up to $20/month for features like unlimited collaborators, privacy, shared media library and Google Analytics.

Slides is very easy to use, the editing board is minimal but all tools are at easy reach. No need to get confused with Slides. There are no templates so presentations are built from scratch.

Small business owners or startups. Individuals that know what they want and don’t need templates to help them along. Also for developers because it has HTML and CSS building capabilities.

Slides has a very limited template library with just a handful of different options to choose from.

The available shapes and icons are common and minimal. Photos have to be uploaded or imported from a URL.

Videos and GIFs are easy to add. Videos can be uploaded or linked and GIFs can be uploaded as .gif or .mp4 as video.

Including audio is not possible with Slides.

Anything with code can be added in an iframe.

All elements and features can be animated to fade in, fade out etc. Length of duration can be customized.

Slides is a cloud-based presentation software that can only be used online.

Slides can be used on the computer and handheld devices. To edit and to view.

Paid plans have very capable collaboration possibilities. Users can leave comments with feedback for the creator to review and make edits.

There is no set section for a brand kit but branded decks can be created and then cloned to use as a template.

Yes, quite easily.

You can also share presentations via URL, email or embeddable code.

A Slides presentations can be downloaded as a ZIP file with an .html file inside that can be viewed offline on any browser.

Privacy and Analytics

Possible with paid plans.

This is not possible on Slides.

8 Slidebean

Slidebean is an easy-to-use presentation software with interesting templates and customizable content blocks.

The highlight of this presentation software is that it uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help you put together the best possible slide layouts and configurations. They also have a team of experts that can both write and design your pitch deck for you if you don't want to take the DIY route.

The free plan has limited capabilities but it's enough to see how Slidebean works. To export your presentation, you'll need to upgrade.

There are three price levels from $8/month to $19/month to $149/month. The last one is the Founder's Edition plan, which includes help from the experts on your presentations.

If you choose to get their help on your presentation design, it starts at $29 per slide or $1,999 for the full project.

Slidebean is quite easy to use. You can choose between templates or start from scratch. Adding content is simple and to the point from a popup.

Editing can be done in outline or design mode. The editing is limited to how the content blocks are set up, but there are lots of choices. There's no free size changing or moving around.

Startups, small businesses and entrepreneurs.

There are plenty of template options. They are organized in sections and niche. The template collection has presentations by known brands like Snapchat and Buzzfeed.

There are plenty of icons and images to choose from. However, there are no shapes, but icons can be used as shapes.

GIFs can be added via the Giphy integration in a content block. Video can be added in the paid plans.

There are no audio capabilities.

The code snippet content block has lots of options so a lot of different kinds of third-party content can be added in.

Content blocks and their elements can be animated with a couple features.

Slidebean is an online program on the cloud.

It can be used to edit or view on any device.

Collaboration is possible in the paid plans.

This feature is available in the paid plans.

Sharing to Social Media

Slidebean presentations can be exported to download as both .pdf and .html files to view offline.

This feature is not available.

Analytics are available in the paid plans.

9 Zoho Show

Zoho Show is a presentation software that mimics Microsoft PowerPoint in the way it is set up, with a menu up top for all the actions. However, Zoho's version is much nicer and polished.

Zoho is a complete CRM for businesses and the company offers different types of apps for teams and office use — Zoho Show is only one of their programs.

Zoho show is completely free and without ads.

Zoho Show is pretty easy to use. The content blocks can be chosen as themes but they can also be moved around freely and resized. The presentation can be viewed in three ways, with a handy grid view to see all slides next to each other.

Businesses, entrepreneurs, educators and students. Anyone who needs to make a presentation.

There aren’t exactly templates, but there are themes. These do not come with images or lorem ipsum but are more like visual canvases that can be customized in terms of color, layout and more.

The shapes are pretty good, there are quite a bit to choose from. An added bonus is the possibility to draw shapes or scribble anything yourself with the trackpad.

Videos can be added via the YouTube integration and GIFs can be added as an image.

Audio can be added via Soundcloud with an embed code.

There are a number of sites that are supported via Embed codes but not that many. Zoho Show says that you can ask your needs to be added in the permitted list.

All elements and transitions can be animated.

Zoho Show is a cloud bases program and can be broadcast from anywhere and on any device. The live broadcast includes a chat window and the audience can download the presentation if they want to.

You can only create presentations on a computer.

Teams can easily use Zoho Show, even in the free version.

Custom branding is only available in the highest paid plan.

Sharing to social media is not possible unless downloaded as a PDF file and then uploaded to something like SlideShare.

Presentations can be downloaded as .pptx or .pdf files for offline viewing.

Yes, this is possible on all plans.

Analytics are possible on the paid plans.

10 Beautiful.ai

Beautiful.ai is a presentation software that helps you create great-looking slides with the help of Artificial Intelligence. This means that your presentation will look professional every single time, regardless of who designs it.

Beautiful.ai currently offers a Pro plan at $12/month and a Team plan at $40/month, both billed annually. They offer a 14-day free trial to test out their tool.

This is probably the best thing about Beautiful.ai — it's incredibly simple to use. All you need to do is add smart slides, plug in your content, and choose from different preset layouts.

Of course, that also means that you have limited customization options. But if you're looking for a simple solution and you don't trust your design skills, this may be a good option for you.

Beautiful.ai is a great tool for absolute beginners and non-designers who are looking for a no-nonsense presentation software.

For example, startups and entrepreneurs can use this software to create a nice-looking pitch deck or proposal quickly without any design help.

There are a handful of slide themes available, but they're mostly basic in terms of design. You can play around with the layouts inside each theme to put together a unique presentation.

The graphic assets library comes with a bunch of free stock photos and icons to choose from, but the options are pretty limited.

Videos and GIFs can be uploaded from your computer. You can also import videos from YouTube and Vimeo to embed in your slides.

Audio can be uploaded from your computer.

It's not possible to embed third-party content into Beautiful.ai presentations. However, you can add interactive links to your slides.

Each slide comes with a preset animation style that you're unable to customize. However, you can change the speed, timing and triggers for the animations. 

Beautiful.ai is a cloud-based application.

The software only works on your desktop computer.

You can invite people to collaborate on your presentation by either giving them "view" or "edit" access. Collaborators must have a Beautiful.ai account to view or edit the presentation.

While there's no brand kit feature available, you can customize a theme (colors and fonts) and save it to your library to use in future presentations.

There are several options to share your presentations. Send an email invite, share a public or private link, generate an embed code or share directly to social media.

You can export your presentations to PDF or PowerPoint to view offline.

There is no password protection, but you can use the Secure Viewing option to only share your presentation with other Beautiful.ai users via an email invite.

This feature is only available in the paid plans. You can access a number of viewing and usage statistics for your presentations.

This feature is not available in Beautiful.ai.

11 Genially

The main idea behind the Genially presentation software is interactivity.

This program is good not only for presentations and video presentations but also for other visual graphics. It’s great for adding a modern, interactive feel to your presentations.

There is a free plan in Genially, which gives you unlimited creations but limited resources. The paid plans are as follow, paid yearly:

• Pro: $7.49 / month
• Master: $20.82 / month
• Team: $79.15 / month

Genially is easy to use if you are accustomed to programs with lots of choices. There is a lot that can be done with the features in Genially.

Any change can be applied to all slides with a single click of the button in the menu. When editing, there is a "design view" and a "layers view."

Professionals and educators of any field who can benefit from interactive presentations.

There are plenty of template options. Some are free and some are only available via the premium plans. Presentation templates are also available as "video presentations."

The graphic assets in Genially are quite varied; there is plenty to choose from. Images can be uploaded or found on the Pixabay integration.

Videos can be added via a YouTube link and GIFs can be imported with the Giphy integration.

Audio can be uploaded from your computer, added via SoundCloud and a couple of other integrations, or recorded directly in Genially.

Third-party content can be added to your presentations with Genially integrations. For example, you can add an interactive map via Google Maps.

All elements can be animated, as can the transitions between slides. Animation effects are quite extensive. There is a similar tab called “interactivity,” which are pop-ups and hyperlinks supplied with lots of button choices.

Genially is a cloud-based presentation program.

This program is only available to edit on computers but can be viewed on any device.

It seems that a professional plan allows 5 team members, but the pricing plan shows that all plans have collaborative capabilities. Collaborators can be added in the dashboard where  all creations are stored.

Brand kits are available in the premium plans. It is an internal feature with easy access.

Finished presentations can be shared to social media.

Finished presentations can be downloaded as a set of .jpg images, as a .pdf or as an .html5 file which will keep all animations.

Premium plans have these features.

This is not available in Genially.

Canva is not only a presentation software but also a full editing program for all visual needs. Presentation creation is only one of the possibilities with Canva. It has become a favorite with bloggers and home-based businesses.

The free version of Canva is pretty extensive. The only restrictions are the use of premium resources that can be either bought separately or through the Canva Pro plan. Canva Pro is charged at $12.99/month or $119.99/year.

Canva Teams is $14.99/month + $14.99/month for every team member after the 5th.

Canva is easy to use as all elements are easy to find and are mostly customizable. Presentations are viewed scrolling; there is no master view and you can’t change something on all slides at once.

Bloggers, small home-based businesses and startups

There are lots of customizable template options, and each slide inside the templates can be used individually.

There are plenty of options in the graphic assets library, including shapes, icons, photos, frames and stickers. Some are free, while others are paid.

Videos and GIFs can be uploaded to Canva.

You can add music to your presentations using the available options inside Canva.

Canva offers dozens of integrations and media embed options, including YouTube, Google Maps, Vimeo, Pinterest, Tumblr, Twitter and more.

There are several animation options that apply to entire slides inside Canva. You can also add animated stickers to your slides.

Canva is a cloud-based app. Presentations can be seen on any device.

Canva is available as an iPhone app and an android app for editing capabilities.

Presentations can be shared for editing with team members.

Canva Pro has a brand kit feature.

Presentations can be shared on Twitter and Facebook.

Presentations can be downloaded as a group of .png or .jpg images or as a .pdf. You can also download it as an MP4 video for offline viewing.

All designs on Canva are private unless they are made public or shared via a link. There is no password-protected sharing though.

These features are not available in Canva.

While Canva offers a wide range of features for various visual design needs, you can explore better alternatives to find solutions that may better fit your requirements. If you want to explore other options, read our article about 12 excellent Canva alternatives .

13  FlowVella

FlowVella is a downloadable presentation software that can be used offline. The main attraction of FlowVella is the Kiosk Mode, in which you can create interactive presentations like the ones used in museums or information counters at malls or hotels.

FlowVella is free to try out. You can use it free forever but the options are limited and the finished presentations has a watermark. P aid plans are as follows:

• Premium : $10/month or $60/year
• Pro : $20/month or $200/year
• Enterprise : Upon request

FlowVella is pretty easy to use, and the controls are straightforward and uncomplicated.

This presentation software is for professionals and educators that need to be able to create presentations offline. Also for those who can take advantage of the Kiosk Mode.

The template options are quite varied and well designed.

The graphic assets library is very limited. Photographs and images need to be uploaded from your computer.

Videos can be uploaded or found via YouTube, iCloud and Dropbox integrations when online. GIFs can be added as images.

Audio can be uploaded from your computer, or added via iCloud or Dropbox.

You can add PDF files.

Only the transitions are animated minimally.

This is a desktop-based application. It must be downloaded.

There are iPad and device apps available for editing on those devices as well.

Paid premium plans can work with teams.

Brand kits are not available.

Presentations can be shared on Facebook and Twitter.

Since this is a desktop application, offline viewing is not a complication.

These features are available in the paid plans. Analytics can be viewed once the presentation has been published online.

This feature is not available on FlowVella.

14  Haiku Deck

Haiku Deck is a presentation software that is straightforward with a simple interface that makes quick and practical presentations. Presentations can be created on the computer and on mobile devices.

Haiku Deck can be tried for free with one available presentation. The Public plan is USD 7.99 a month, Pro plans are USD 9.99 a month billed annually and USD 19.99 billed monthly, and Premium plans are USD 29.99 a month.

Haiku Deck is quite easy to use and menus are easy to follow. There are word size limiters and specific text placement choices for each slide. Charts are simple to create and can be customized. The editor can be connected via cloud to all devices. The new addition, Zuru, is an Artificial Intelligence system that creates creative presentations from simple PowerPoint files or outlines.

The Haiku Deck presentation software is geared mostly toward educators and classrooms. Businesses and bloggers can also use it for practical purposes.

Templates on Haiku Deck are more like an inspiring collection of photographs for a specific niche with some suggestions on where to place the text and what charts to include.

The available graphic assets library in Haiku Deck are millions of photographs, numerous font choices and charts and graphs.

YouTube videos can be embedded easily in a Haiku Deck. GIFs cannot be added to Haiku Decks but a finished presentation can be turned into a video or into a GIF.

Narrations and voice overs are easily recorded on a presentation in Haiku Deck.

Only videos can be embedded.

Features can't be animated in Haiku Deck

Desktop or Cloud / Available to Create on Multiple Devices

Haiku Deck is a cloud-based app that is available for editing and viewing on your laptop and also as an app on phones and tablets.

Haiku decks can be downloaded as .pptx files for offline viewing.

Presentations can be easily shared to social media from the editor.

Haiku Deck offers team possibilities upon request.

There is no brand kit, but you can add your logo to the finished product.

Pro and Premium plans have private and password-protected capabilities.

Premium plans have analytics for who has viewed your presentations.

Emails cannot be captured with Haiku Deck but slides and presentations can be sent with invitations to your existing email contacts.

15  Microsoft Sway

Microsoft has its own alternative to PowerPoint — Sway.

This online presentation software is completely different from PowerPoint and introduces a new concept of building "Sways" instead of "presentations."

Sway is free to use for anyone who has a Microsoft account.

It's super easy to use Sway and kind of fun too. It has a non-traditional storyline editor, which lets you add "blocks" of content that the software configures into layouts.

Sway is mostly for people who don't want to spend too much time designing a complex presentation. For example, students and nonprofit organizations.

There are several templates for different purposes, such as photo slideshows, sales trainings and even personal portfolios.

You can upload your own media or search from various sources inside Sway, including Flickr and Bing Images. There are no shapes and icons included.

You can upload videos from your device or embed from YouTube.

You can add audio to Sway by uploading or dragging and dropping the audio file onto your storyline from your computer.

You can embed images, videos, maps and other content from tons of websites, including Google Maps, Soundcloud, Twitter, Facebook and more.

Sway automatically adds animations to your slides. You cannot change or customize them; you can only increase or decrease the level of animation added to your Sway.

Sway is an online, cloud-based software.

Sway works on any device with an internet browser.

You can invite people to view or edit your Sway presentation.

Sway presentations can be shared directly to Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

You can download your Sway as a Word or PDF file to view offline.

There is no password protection available, but you can choose to share your Sway with specific people, anyone with a link or only people in your organization who have a link.

You can view reader statistics for your Sway if you have a Microsoft Office 365 subscription.

This feature is not available in Microsoft Sway.

Presentation Software FAQs

Still have questions? We've compiled answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the best presentation tools available.

Q. Which Is the Best Software for Making Presentations?

There are many presentation tools out there but Visme stands out as a top pick and a creative presentation app with a full suite of advanced features tailored to the needs of individual users and businesses. Visme offers real-time collaboration, interactive and animated elements, hyper-customization options, robust data visualization tools and a brand wizard to maintain brand consistency across your presentations.

Q. What Is Better Than PowerPoint?

Visme is often considered a top presentation software and offers several advantages as a PowerPoint alternative software. Its intuitive interface and extensive template library make creating visually stunning presentations seamless, even for beginners. Visme's collaboration features are superior, allowing teams to work seamlessly. On top of that, Visme is packed with advanced interactive and animated elements to keep your audience hooked.

Q. Is PowerPoint or Prezi Better?

PowerPoint and Prezi each have strengths and are suited for different presentation styles. PowerPoint is easy to use, has a clear structure, and is widely available, making it suitable for traditional slide decks and formal presentations. On the other hand, Prezi excels at non-linear, visually engaging presentations with its zooming and panning features, making it ideal for creative or storytelling presentations. The best choice depends on your content, audience and desired presentation style.

Q. What Is the Best App to Do a Presentation On?

Visme offers a powerful presentation app that allows you to create, edit and present your slides from anywhere. Its mobile app is designed for on-the-go editing and presenting, ensuring you always have your presentation at your fingertips.

Q. Is Canva Better Than PowerPoint?

Canva and PowerPoint are tailored to suit the diverse preferences and requirements of different users.

Generally, Canva is known for its drag-and-drop interface, extensive library of design-focused templates and emphasis on visual appeal. It is an excellent choice for those who value aesthetics and want to create content quickly. On the other hand, PowerPoint offers more traditional features and is super flexible. It is often preferred due to its integration and compatibility with other Microsoft Office tools.

Q. What Is Replacing PowerPoint?

Visme is quickly gaining popularity as a PowerPoint replacement and a free presentation software with a user-friendly interface, tons of customization options, and powerful tools that make creating presentations a breeze. With a plethora of templates, interactive elements, and powerful data visualization tools, Visme empowers you to create presentations that truly captivate your audience and leave a lasting impression

Don't just take our word for it. Hear what Kendra Bradley, Graphic Content Developer at WOW!, has to say about Visme:

“Previously we were using PowerPoint, which is fine, but the interactivity you can get with Visme is so much more robust that we’ve all steered away from PowerPoint.”

“PowerPoint templates are plain and boring, and we want to create more fun and engaging content. Visme has multiple slide templates to choose from, which makes this so much easier.”

“I just made a deck recently and it took me about 15-20 minutes. I found a template I really liked and tweaked it and put it in our brand colors. In PowerPoint, it would take anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half.”

Read the full case study to learn how they streamlined their presentation creation process and found a better alternative than PowerPoint.

Looking for a Presentation Software?

Choosing the best presentation program for your business is a great first step towards better and more effective slide deck development. In this guide, you learned about 15 different types of presentation software and we gave you a checklist to help you decide.

If you're looking for an easy-to-use presentation maker that also comes with unique features that you won't find in most other tools, Visme might be a great option.

You can look for the right pricing plan for your needs and even apply for a discount if you're a nonprofit organization. And if you just want to try out Visme to see if it's a good fit, sign up for a free account and use it for as long as you like — no strings attached.

Which of these best presentation software options fits your needs? If you have any questions or comments, we'd love to hear from you below.

Create stunning presentations in minutes with Visme

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About the Author

Orana is a multi-faceted creative. She is a content writer, artist, and designer. She travels the world with her family and is currently in Istanbul. Find out more about her work at oranavelarde.com

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Best Presentation Software | Top 30 list, key features, prices, pros and cons

Remote work / June 27, 2021 by Shubha Roy / Leave a Comment

Want to compare and identify the best presentation software. Here is a complete list of the best, along with their key features, prices, pros, and cons. Read on!

Best Presentation Software

Presentation software broadly refers to software programs that help display cohesive information in the form of a slide show. They come in handy whenever someone has to deliver a presentation.

An excellent presentation software largely has three parts for the three primary functions. These include an editor for the input of formatted or unformatted data, a method for inserting and appreciating tabular information, and finally a slide-show utility to display the required content.

Slide presentation software may be regarded as the major enabler of a functionally specific way to represent textual, graphical, or tabular data on slides, with a distinct style of its own in contrast with traditional presentation media.

Also Read: Powerpoint Tips and Tricks | A how-to guide for everyone

Importance of presentation software in professional lives

There is hardly any professional on earth who hasn’t used any presentation software in his or her lifetime. Presentations are commonplace. Be it product descriptions, some form of public speaking, or even hosting a webinar explaining profit margins and revenue figures and whatnot, chances are high that informative slides roll along with the presentation.

The best presentation tools aim to make a visible difference in how they are delivered. This is especially more pronounced during these trying times. With social distancing norms in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, most of the corporate work, teaching, and the like are being done online from the safety of homes.

Also Read: Secret Santa Gifts | An ultimate read for best results

What makes up the best presentation software?

When it comes to the best presentation tools, there are cool presentation software as well as common ones. The digital world has come a long way since the first presentation programs were invented.

Of course, Microsoft Powerpoint, developed in 1987 is the most widely used presentation software in the world, but it’s not without its flaws and complexities, which is why alternatives have sprung up left, right, and center.  But what exactly are the ingredients needed to cook up a successful presentation software?

Looking out for the best ppt software makes us want flexible and efficient programs. From academic instruction delivery to board meetings and Church sermons, slide shows today are deployed in almost anything. So the best presentation software should compulsorily contain the following,

1. Ready-to-use templates – The presentation programs should feature ready-to-use templates for maximum productivity. Readymade designs are so much better than plain bland options in so many ways.

2. Collaborations and easy sharing –  Gone are the days of working as lone wolves. Productive people generally work in groups and often remotely nowadays. A cool presentation software offers easy options for collaborations and sharing of work.

3. Media support –  Text-based slides hardly cut it anymore. Presentation programs need support for easy narration recording and also support for video insertion to make the session more fruitful.

4. Graphics options –  What if you are short on time and need to create a presentation for that quick meeting? You certainly can’t scavenge the whole internet for graphics, animations, and other such stuff to make your presentation look good.

Interactive presentation software should have in-house options for quirky animations and custom graphics to save your time and efforts while not losing out on eye candy.

5. Convenience Features –  Best presentation tools must have extra convenience features like a full-fledged presenter tool for ease of usage. Data analytics, live polling, etc. are nice to have, as well.

Also Read: Best Screen Sharing Software | A priceless list of tips to succeed

How to determine the best presentation software for your needs

In today’s world, we are almost always spoilt for choice. There are umpteen options available for almost everything we look for. It’s no different when choosing the best presentation programs for your needs.

So how do you choose what is best for you? Do you simply go for the “conventional” or are you okay with diving deep to look beyond the obvious to pinpoint the exact slide-show presentation software for your needs? Let’s find out.

1. Familiarity with the presentation formats

Assuming you want to opt for a certain slide presentation software for your next project, familiarity might play a central role in your decision-making. If you are already familiar with a certain ppt software (read: MS Powerpoint), you might genuinely find yourself at crossroads when deciding the ideal presentation interactive presentation software.

You might need the most features for your animated presentations even if you have to opt for something which you have never used before. How open will you be to trying out something new? What is the learning curve of the one you chose over the one you already know? Is it worth the extra effort to learn the Powerpoint alternatives you have in mind?

2. Flexibility – for example, easy slides

What good is a feature-packed cool presentation software if you find the UI overwhelming or the software as a whole difficult to use? After all, productivity is what we all aim for. Ease of usage is a real criterion to determine whether a particular slide-show presentation software you have shortlisted is suited to you.

This is often subjective, though and not everything is for everyone. To make the most of the presentation software, you need to choose carefully. There are many presentation software examples that might be the looker but not the doer when it comes to your exact needs. And some of us have had this experience the hard way!

3. Price – for example, alternatives to power point

Of course, this is a huge consideration when weighing up the best presentation tools as per your needs. There are paid programs like Microsoft Powerpoint (as a part of Microsoft Office Suite) as well as umpteen free alternatives.

For example, LibreOffice Impress which, if spent proper time on, would produce equally good if not better presentations. In many scenarios, the budget often becomes the deciding factor when choosing the best interactive presentation software for your needs.  

4. Platform – to make it flexible across PowerPoint projects

Not everyone works on the same platform. Not everybody can work on the same platform as well. My preferred choice of platform might be Linux, and yours might be MS Windows. Some may even opt for cloud-based slide presentation software which helps with collaborative efforts. The choice of platforms might trump every other consideration out there.

5. Powerpoint options and required features

Most of the popular interactive presentation software nowadays is feature-packed. Even so, they may differ slightly. The implementation of the features you require the most might not be identical.

Also Read: Best Note Taking Apps | A comprehensive guide

8 best presentation software list – the PowerPoint alternatives in 2021

There are a plethora of presentation programs and software available today which offer solid replacement to MS Powerpoint. Although Powerpoint is still the numero uno option for the masses, there are Powerpoint alternatives with better cross-platform compatibility, the questionable performance of the online version, and of course the high license fees.

Some of these products are free and online and some are enterprise versions, with heavily loaded features and premium pricing. Read on to know about the most popular presentation software and choose the one that best fits your team.

1. Prezi Next – the Prezi software

Prezi Next is one of the best Powerpoint alternatives you can find. The best thing about Prezi is, it’s feature-packed with a large graphics and animation library but at the same time relatively easy to use. The best thing about Prezi is probably its ease of use. With a slick and straightforward UI, Prezi makes it easy to get eye-catchy presentations.

It has a large collection of custom templates, gifs, videos, emojis, and even a voiceover feature, although you have to pay for that. Talking of cost, Prezi Next has a free version that is made for just the barebone functions. The paid plans start at USD 7 for individuals, while the versions aimed at teams are more expensive.

2. Visme – one of the best Prezi competitors

Visme is a good Prezi alternative. You can create good-looking, interactive, and animated presentations using Visme. Like Pr works on the web, which in turn helps bypass local system architecture limitations.

This presentation software also features a large selection of graphics, icons, and even royalty-free pictures to take your presentation to the next level. Visme has both free and paid options. The paid version starts at USD 14 per user per month. There are other plans as well, letting you choose one which is most practical for you.

3. Ludus slide tool

Ludus is yet another good Powerpoint alternative and in turn a Prezi alternative as well. Ludus is highly customizable and has almost every feature under the sun to make gorgeous presentations.

It’s especially for the artistically inclined users who stop at nothing to make their presentations look like works of art. Although this interactive presentation software is highly customizable, you don’t need to be a Photoshop expert in utilizing all of that.

The user-friendly beginners’ tutorial makes sure you don’t go in blind – it contains a neatly organized collection of guides for the most common tasks expected from such a suite. Ludus, unfortunately, doesn’t have a free version although there is a 30-day free trial period for new users.

After that, it would set you back by USD 14.99/ month, which is billed annually. The paid version features a remote control, advanced sharing, and collaboration, password-protecting presentations, and also embedding on websites such as Notion and Medium.

4. LibreOffice Impress – a solid PowerPoint substitute

This is part of the LibreOffice Office Suite pre-installed on most Linux Distros these days. But even Windows and macOS users can take advantage of this brilliant presentation software. Thus this is truly cross-platform while being locally installable, open-source, and thus, effectively free irrespective of the platform you install it on.

Powerpoint users would feel almost at home while using LibreOffice Impress as the UI is (intentionally?) made similar to Powerpoint, with some minor changes here and there. As for features, it has everything you need to create beautifully animated presentations. It has the best presentation tools, like an extensive collection of graphic images and gifs.

There are also video and audio embedding options that work just like in Powerpoint, hence a truly free Powerpoint alternative. If you are someone who loves using open-source rather than closed-source software, this is definitely for you.

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5. Apple Keynote – the dynamic PowerPoint

It should be clear from the name which fruit.. erm.. tech company has developed it. This is a great Powerpoint alternative for the Apple ecosystem and comes pre-installed with every Apple device, be it Macbooks running on macOS or iPads on iPad OS or iPhones on iOS.

This presentation software is particularly known for being slick and fast. It also sports a good number of animation options. The typography, as well as beautiful fonts, make it a pleasure to work with. As such, it is particularly effective when creating interactive presentations.

Of course, the Apple-only architecture severely limits its usage on other platforms like Linux, Android, or Windows, but at the very least they have included a web version too.

This can be accessed on browsers running on non-Apple systems using your unique Apple ID. It is free on Apple ecosystems when it comes to the price, as it comes pre-installed. If needed, it can also be uninstalled and installed from the Apple app store on all types of Apple devices.

6. Slidebean – the slideshare alternatives

Do you want to sound like a tech stud using AI-powered web-based presentation software? Then Slidebean is definitely for you. This offers a whole set of automation options that others don’t provide.

You are presented with two options when you attempt to create your first slide – either start with a preset template or start from scratch. If you choose the latter, the built-in AI features will start suggesting to you what themes and fonts to choose based on your presentation type and format.

Although what the AI suggests is more than enough on most occasions, you can always manually customize if that’s your cup of tea. The tight integration of AI throughout the whole software is impressive, to say the least.

AI will guide you every step of your way, and it can even arrange the order of slides for you to bring the best parts to the fore if you’re unsure yourself. As far as the cost goes, it has both a free and a paid version starting from USD 8 monthly (again billed annually).

7. FlowVella – Mac PowerPoint alternative

Another great unique and interactive presentation software for Apple ecosystem fanboys. FlowVella has everything you need to be able to call it an all-rounder and more, except for cross-platform integration. Like Apple Keynote, this one runs on Apple OSs only. The silver lining here is like Keynote again, and it retains a web-based version.

FlowVella has custom fonts, beautiful preset templates with good template customization options allowing you to experiment. But what sets it apart is its ‘Kiosk mode’ which converts any presentation if you so wish, to something resembling a portable digital billboard.

This way, cross-device compatibility is no more an issue – half of your slides won’t get cut off when you switch from your Macbook to your iPad. FlowVella offers a free as well as paid version like many others in this list. Prices start from USD 10 monthly and go all the way up to USD 60 annually.

8. WPS Office Presentation

This is similar to LibreOffice in many aspects, other than the fact that it is a Chinese-origin software.  WPS Office, like LibreOffice, is a truly cross-platform office suite as it has apps for Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, and most other popular platforms.

Also, like LibreOffice, it has a whole office suite consisting of a Writer analogous to MS Word, a Presentation software analogous to Powerpoint, and a Spreadsheet software analogous to MS Excel. It is also truly free to use a platform like LibreOffice. One thing which we noticed during its testing is that it has very good MS Office inter-compatibility.

It means slides made in either software will look and behave very similarly when running on each other. But there are some font issues as many proprietary Microsoft Fonts are not available in WPSOffice, and you have to make do with the Chinese counterparts.

A feature worth mentioning is that WPSOffice has a tab-like UI feature wherein you can open PDFs, PPTs, XLSs, and DOCs in the same instance of the software on individual tabs similar to what you do on most browsers.

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Top 3 online presentation tools

Online presentation tools can display information and graphics in a slideshow format. It has three main components – Text editors, Import Function, and Presentation mode. PowerPoint is still the most popular online software tool, but making presentations can be challenging and time-consuming. The top three online presentation tools are,

1. Slidebean presentation websites

Slidebean is a presentation website that allows businesses and marketers to make online presentations. It has a simple interface that allows you to put your content and arrange your text, graphics, and content.

Slidebean has ready-to-use templates that can impress your audiences. It has an extensive library of graphics and gifs to highlight information. The minimalistic charts allow you to present data in an engaging format. It has a universal interface and can be used seamlessly for all presentation types.

2. SlideCamp presentation maker

SlideCamp is a presentation maker that provides templates for creating company presentations. The online presentation tool allows you to adjust color schemes, add your company logo, import charts, and data, and build infographics.

SlideCamp is an excellent tool to create consistency across your presentations. Utilize the predesigned templates to ensure your presentation has a professional look. The company offers plans starting at $49 to $449 per month, depending on the number of users that will access the program.

3. Pitcherific presentation tools

Pitcherific offers presentation tools to build and practice your presentation. The template-based presentation format helps you through the presentation process. Instead of just drafting slides, the program prompts you to write out areas of your speech.

There are several templates and different pitches available to guide you through the presentation. You can follow the elevator pitch that includes hook, problem, solution, and closing. There is a recommends character count for each section. A clock allows you to time your presentation. These features make it one of the best presentation software.

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Top 3 PowerPoint alternatives

PowerPoint has become the industry standard. It is easy to use and versatile, but PowerPoint presentations are not engaging. The bullet-based format can become tedious after some time. The standard templates available on PowerPoint may not create the desired impression. The top PowerPoint alternatives available are,

1. Zoho Slide presentation

Zoho has emerged as a good alternative o create slide presentations. It has a clean interface. The library has 17 prebuilt themes with animation and slide transition effects. Zoho allows you to present content like PowerPoint and has emerged as a powerful PowerPoint alternative.

The slide presentation can be viewed and edited by multiple people simultaneously. Zoho is free for up to 25 users. For larger teams, there are affordable premium plans available.

2. Canva presentation online

Canva allows users to make free presentations online. You have access to several layouts to create a beautiful presentation. You can choose images, fonts, and colors to convey your message convincingly. Customize or use the stock templates.

You have the option to use stock images or upload your images. Give your presentation a professional look by uploading your company logo. Canva will allow you to collaborate with your coworkers in real-time.

3. Haiku Deck ppt software

Haiku Deck is one of the best PPT software available. The presentation tools enable you to create stunning visual backgrounds. The extensive library of templates makes it one of the best presentation tools available.

Though simultaneous editing is not an option, you can share your presentation with others. The program has a simple interface and easy to learn. Haiku Deck is ideal if your presentation is not text-heavy. It is paid platform with costs ranging from $8 to $30 per month.

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Top 3 interactive presentation software

We use presentation software for learning, product or brand promotion, or spread information. In the internet age, our audiences expect interactive content. To get noticed, your content should be able to forge a connection between you and your audiences. Interactive content helps your audiences participate. Below we have listed the top 3 interactive presentation software,

1. SlideDog presentation programs

SlideDog is a presentation program that allows users to create presentation playlist to create a presentation. It is easy to use, and you can add files to the playlist pane. The flexible software allows you to add PowerPoint presentations, PDF documents, webpage, and Prezi files.

For interaction, you can insert a questionnaire or have live chat with your audiences. The files are available in the original format. SlideDog is the best presentation software for conferences and events and is used in multiple formats.

2. Mentimeter Presentation Pro

Mentimeter is a presentation pro, allowing you to make an interactive presentation with real-time voting, quizzes, reactions, scale, and much more. Audiences easily connect with your presentation; they can interact through their preferred device. Mentimeter is a cloud-based application, and you can start making presentations after signing up.

After making the presentation, shares the link with your audience. All participants have a unique code to vote on during the presentation. The results are visible instantly on the screen, and you can export the results to a pdf file or excel file.

3. iSpring Suite Max best PowerPoint presentations

iSpring Suite Max is one of the best PowerPoint presentation software available. It is ideally suited to create interactive e-courses, assessments, dialogue simulations, screencasts, and videos. You have the flexibility to build on your existing PowerPoint presentation or start from scratch.

The readymade template, background, icons, and character help you create engaging content. It allows you to collaborate with your coworkers. Your presentation works on various devices and can be published online or on e-learning management systems.

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Top 3 PPT editing software

You may need to prepare a presentation to introduce a product, host a webinar, or during any other public speaking. The latest ppt editing software allows you to make a professional-looking presentation. You can now collaborate and create presentations easily. The new features let you capture your audience’s attention. Here are the top 3 ppt editing software,

1. Ludus PPT programme

The Ludus ppt programme allows you to be creative. Graphic designers enjoy using the program. You can edit SVG files, upload your fonts, and copy and paste your illustrations from Sketch and Illustrator. It has features that are useful if you are a Web designer or illustrator.

The tutorial introduces you to its complex features. The paid platform offers advanced features like password protection, use of remote control, collaboration, etc. The program is one of the best presentation software available.

2. Beautiful.ai PowerPoint maker

Beautiful.ai uses advanced AI technology to remove the hassles and granular requirements while creating a presentation. It allows you to focus on the content of your presentation rather than design. The editor is intuitive.

You can create a new slide by selecting the template you like, and the app will use the layout and reset the presentation with the design. It strikes a beautiful balance between automation and customization. The paid plans are reasonably priced offer features like collaboration. The ease of use makes it one of the best presentation software.

3. Genially PPT presentation online

Genially allows you to create a ppt presentation online. The interactive features and animated templates are intuitive and make it easy to make your presentation. The interactive features allow you to hover, skip a page, and navigate external links.

The templates include a business proposal, reports, social media presentation. There are several useful features like data visualization, image galleries. If you are a premium user, you can include your logo, color scheme, font, images, background, etc.

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Top 3 slideshow presentation maker

A good slideshow presentation software allows you to add images and music to make a seamless presentation. It will help your presentation look sleek, and you can edit the images, add titles, and do so much more. You can get creative. These are the top 3 slideshow presentation makers,

1. PixGram Slides App

PixGram is one of the best slide apps for your smartphone. The free version has almost all the features you need though it has a three-minute time limit. The premium version offers more features. You can set your slideshow to music.

The app is user-friendly you can select photos and videos from your photo gallery and add music. The app allows you to add filters and edit your pictures. The only downside the app lacks transition and you can share the slides on your social media platform.

2. PhotoStage Slideshow 8 slide presentations

PhotoStage Slideshow 8 is a pocket-friendly option to create a slide presentation. It is a basic program, and we recommend it is if you do not need flashy graphics and transition. It gives you several transition options to make your presentation.

PhotoStage offers simple editing options like crop, rotate, and adjusting the contrast, hue, and brightness of your photographs. It can handle most audio and video formats effortlessly. The slide presentation can be saved in popular file formats and uploaded on YouTube and other social media platforms.

3. Movavi Slideshow Maker 7 slide presentations software

Movavi SlideShow Maker is handy slide presentation software that is easy to use. The montage wizard walks you through the process. It comes with different effects, transitions, and filters to help you make the presentation exceptional.

Video effect tools like zoom, camera pans, effects, sticker, and animation give more life to your presentation. You can add music to your presentation to create mixed media slideshows. Movavi can work with all types of images and videos you will not have compatibility issues.

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Top 3 video presentations software

Video presentations are perfect for marketing and can be used on your website or social media sites. Video presentation software is a practical solution that can be formatted as video ads, graphics, stories, and banners. Some video presentation software allows users to create GIFs. Here are the top 3 video presentations software,

1. Visme video presenter software

Visme allows you to create, download, and share video content. You can select templates and animated presentation slides. It has a large library of images and videos. You can embed third-party content into your presentation.

Visme provides data visualization capabilities, and all charts and graphs are automatically animated. You can brand your presentation with a logo and customize fonts depending on your budget. Add music or your voiceover to your videos. These features make Visme one of the best presentation software in this category.

2. Powtoon free video presentation software

Powtoon is great free video presentation software. It is cloud-based animation software for creating animated video presentations and explainer videos. Powtoon allows users to create animated presentations by manipulating pre-existing objects, import images, and add music or voice-overs.

You can view the videos on Powtoon online viewer. The videos can be exported to YouTube or download as an MP4. It is easy to use and you can create professional videos in 20 minutes.

3. Focusky the best video presentation software

Focusky is the best video presentation software presently available. It has an interactive platform, which makes it easy to create presentations and animated videos. You have the option to download the client for your Windows or Mac PC.

Focusky offers smooth 3D transition effects like zooming, panning, and rotating. It offers 10 different styles to create charts. The handy screen recorder makes it one of the top presentation software. There over 300+ animation effects to make your videos more engaging.

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Top 3 free presentation software

Today students and professionals use presentation software to make presentations. Research shows 65% of people are visual learners. A visual presentation can help your presentation stand out and improve your audience retention. There are several free presentation software available. The top free presentation software available are,

1. LibreOffice power points app free

LibreOffice is PowerPoint apps free software. LibreOffice presentation app is called Impress. It has nearly all the features offered by Microsoft PowerPoint, other than collaboration and integration with Microsoft OneDrive. You have the flexibility of importing files from Keynote.

You can insert different elements into your presentation. It has templates you can download and use. There are several formatting options and unlimited fonts. Impress is compatible with Microsoft. LibreOffice has useful plugins like advanced grammar options. It has emerged as one of the best presentation software in the market.

2. WPS Office free presentation makers

WPS Office offers free presentation makers to make a powerful presentation. WPS Presentation tool has several features including animation, slide transition, and embed your videos. WPS Presentation tool and Microsoft PowerPoint have a similar interface.

The program has an easy-to-use and simple interface with no glitches at the time of presentations. The program is compatible with Microsoft Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android. The only downside to the WPS office is the ads.

3. Google Slide best presentations tools

Google Slide has emerged as the best presentations tools available. You can make your presentation anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. Google Slide allows users to collaborate with their colleagues.

It has all the basic functionality required for presentation like layout, formatting, adding texts and images. You have the option to publish the presentation on the web. Google Slides have a great feature where your audience can ask questions virtually either anonymously or use their email address.

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Top 3 presenter software for Mac

If you have switched to using Mac you miss using PowerPoint, fortunately, there are many options for presenter software for Mac. There are options for desktop presentation programs and browser-based apps you can use. The software we have listed is easy to use and interactive. The top 3 presenter software for Mac is,

1. Prezi best PowerPoint presentation

Prezi has over 100 million users has emerged as one best PowerPoint presentation software. The non-linear movement feature has proved to be popular. Prezi also offers zoom-in and panning features.

Prezi is compatible with Windows, Mac, and mobile versions. You can work offline and then save the presentation on the cloud. This allows you to collaborate with your colleagues. Prezi’s unique approach allows you to have an interactive and storytelling approach.

2. FlowVella presentation software for Macs

FlowVella is presentation software for Macs and is available in the Apple App Store. It is one of the best presentation tools available for Mac. The versatile software is easy to use and you can insert text, images, videos (including YouTube videos), audio, and PDF files.

FlowVella may not have all the features of Keynote and PowerPoint, but it is easy to use and fast. The handy analytical tool gives you useful feedback. There over 70 templates for you to choose from. FlowVella offers both free and paid versions.

3. Keynote the Mac PowerPoint equivalent

Keynote comes preinstalled in Mac and is considered to be Mac PowerPoint equivalent. It has an IOS and cloud-based version. The latest Keynote allows you to collaborate with others. Keynote is powerful and is compatible with PowerPoint, though not all features of PowerPoint work on Keynote.

There is a bit of a learning curve when you use Keynote, luckily there are online tutorials and a comprehensive help menu to get you started. You can make your presentations come alive with illustrations and handwritten notes.

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Conclusion and FAQs on best presentation software

There are many other presentation software examples out there in the wild. While some excel at cross-platform compatibility, others provide mouth-watering feature sets to create eye-popping presentations sure to grab some attention.

What one finds the best is often subjective – depending on the requirements, platforms, and individual tastes. While it’s difficult to ascertain the one-size-fits-all program, the presence of several great options surely helps the users’ cause.

1. What are the creative ways to present a project without PowerPoint?

Some of the creative ways to present a project without PowerPoint are,

• Animoto – To produce 30-second videos with text, pictures, and music.
• Capzles – Capzles is a multimedia tool allowing you to add text, music, images, and music.
• Glogster – This is an online poster-making tool for content creators.

2. What type of software enables you to create dynamic slideshows?

Several software computer presentation tools allow you to create dynamic slideshows. The popular presentation tools used are Microsoft PowerPoint, Apple Keynote, Adobe Persuasion, and Open office.

3. What is Prezi powerpoint?

Prezi PowerPoint is a web-based tool to create presentations. Traditional presentation tools have a slide-based approach where you can move back and forth between slides. Prezi PPT has a canvas-based approach where you can move your presentation around, zooming in and out of the different frames. Prezi Powerpoints has a desktop app and a web-based version.

4. Comparison: Prezi vs Sway

Sway is a program introduced by Microsoft is considered to be a friendly alternative to PowerPoint. Prezi is a web-based tool for creating a presentation. Prezi is more versatile than Sway allowing you to customize layout, text, background, text boxes, etc. Prezi is easier to use and you can create a bullet list easily. You however cannot see the exact font size on Prezi.

Shubha writes blogs, articles, off-page content, Google reviews, marketing email, press release, website content based on the keywords. She has written articles on tourism, horoscopes, medical conditions and procedures, SEO and digital marketing, graphic design, and technical articles. Shubha is a skilled researcher and can write plagiarism free articles with a high Grammarly score.

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Blog Graphic Design 12 Best Presentation Software for 2024

12 Best Presentation Software for 2024

Written by: Krystle Wong Jan 12, 2024

Whether you’re a student, professional or entrepreneur, having access to the right presentation tools can make all the difference.

When you craft a well-executed presentation , your message becomes more memorable. You’re not just sharing information; you’re weaving a story, painting a picture and leaving a lasting impact on your audience’s minds. 

We’re living in the age of information overload, where attention spans are shorter than ever. A good presentation slide takes this into account, breaking down complex information into bite-sized chunks. It guides your audience through a logical flow, allowing them to digest information effortlessly and retain key points without feeling overwhelmed.

To help you stay ahead of the game, I’ve compiled a list of the 12 best software for presentations. These PowerPoint alternatives offer a combination of user-friendly interfaces, stunning visuals, collaboration features and innovative functionalities that will take your presentations to the next level. 

Let’s dive in and explore these top presentation software picks!

1. Venngage 

Allow me to be a little bit biased here but my top pick is none other than, you guessed it — Venngage! Venngage goes beyond just presentations to focus on data visualization and transforming complex information into visually appealing and engaging visuals. 

One of the standout features of Venngage as a presentation software is the extensive library of infographic elements. Gain access to a wide range of pre-designed elements such as icons, charts, maps as well as illustrations to simplify the process of creating data-driven and visually appealing presentations.

You don’t have to be a pro when designing with Venngage. Venngage’s drag-and-drop interface allows you to customize your presentations by simply dragging and dropping elements onto the canvas. You can tweak sizes, colors and layouts with ease, making your presentations visually cohesive and personalized, even if you’re not a design wizard. 

Just so you know, some of our features and templates are free to use and some require a small monthly fee. Sign-up is completely free, as is access to Venngage’s online drag-and-drop editor. Here’s how Venngage’s presentation maker can become your secret weapon in the quest for presentation success.

Vast selection of templates

Venngage boasts an extensive library of professionally designed templates, catering to a wide range of industries and presentation purposes. Whether you’re creating a marketing report, educational presentation or business pitch, Venngage’s presentation tool offers templates that provide a solid foundation for your designs. 

Save 20+ hours of designing with Venngage’s fully customizable, pre-designed infographic templates. Thes e presentation templates provide a good foundation with well-structured layouts and visually appealing aesthetics. 

Data visualization made easy

Venngage simplifies the process of data visualization, making it accessible to users of all backgrounds. With a few clicks, you can transform dull statistics into visually engaging charts and graphs that tell a compelling story.

Seamless real-time in-editor collaboration tools

Venngage brings teamwork to the next level with our seamless collaboration tools designed to foster collaboration across teams, departments and the entire organization. Whether you’re in the same room or across the globe, Venngage enables real-time collaboration that makes working together becomes a breeze. 

Consistently brand your designs with smart Autobrand features

Effortlessly infuse your presentation slides with your brand’s colors, fonts and logos with Venngage’s My Brand Kit . Upload your brand assets and create engaging presentations by applying your branding to any template you create on Venngage.

Who is it for

Marketers, designers, educators and businesses that require data-driven and visually appealing presentations.

Key features 

Infographic elements, data visualization tools, collaboration options, customizable templates.

Create your first 5 designs with Venngage for free and upgrade to a premium or business plan for $10 USD/month per user and $24 USD/month per user to enjoy premium features. For larger teams who need extra support, controls and security, the enterprise plan starts from $499 USD/month for 10+ seats.

Additionally, there are also plans available for classrooms priced at $99 USD/year for up to 35 students per instructor. Non profit organizations can also apply for a nonprofit discount to any Venngage plan.

2. Microsoft PowerPoint

Source: Screenshot from Microsoft PowerPoint

Even with dozens of presentation software and tools out there, PowerPoint presentations have stood the test of time as one of the best presentation software. In fact, 89% of people still use PowerPoint presentations over competitor services . 

Whether you’re a student, teacher, business professional or just a creative soul, PowerPoint’s user-friendly interface allows both beginners and experienced users to create presentations with ease.

PowerPoint delivers captivating and engaging presentations through its advanced animation and transition effects. You can create interactive PowerPoint presentations by captivating your audience and guiding them through your content with seamless transitions and eye-catching animations. 

Seamless integration with other Microsoft Office tools is another significant advantage of PowerPoint as a presentation software. As part of the Microsoft Office suite, PowerPoint effortlessly integrates with other familiar applications such as Word and Excel. This integration allows you to incorporate charts, graphs and written content from these tools directly into your presentation. 

However, collaboration features in PowerPoint can be somewhat limited compared to dedicated collaboration platforms. While you can share and co-edit presentations with others, the collaboration options may not be as robust as those offered by specialized presentation tools.

Suitable for individuals, students, educators and businesses of all sizes.

Customizable templates, multimedia support, extensive slide editing options, robust animations and transitions.

You can subscribe to PowerPoint as part of your Microsoft 365 subscription with various plans tailored for businesses, ranging from $6 to $22 USD/month. Additionally, there is also the option to purchase an unbundled PowerPoint account separately, priced at $159.99 USD.

3. Google Slides

Source: Screenshot from Google Slides

Unlike PowerPoint which requires file sharing and manual syncing for teamwork, Google Slides enables real-time collaboration and easy access from any device with an internet connection. 

Google Slides shines in its seamless collaboration capabilities. Multiple users can work on the same presentation simultaneously, enabling real-time editing and fostering efficient teamwork. The integrated commenting feature on Google Slides allows for shared feedback and discussions, enhancing collaboration even further.

Google Slides’ cloud-based storage and auto-saving feature ensures that your work is constantly saved, minimizing the risk of losing progress or important changes. No more panicking over unsaved slides and changes. 

But that also means that Google Slides heavily relies on an internet connection for full functionality and access is more limited compared to desktop-based software. Although an offline mode is available, Google Slides has certain limitations and may not provide the same level of functionality as when connected to the internet.

Templates and customization features-wise, Google Slides also have fewer design options compared to other presentation tools. This may limit the level of visual creativity and flexibility for those seeking intricate designs or specialized effects.

Ideal for remote teams, educators, students and anyone looking for easy collaboration and access from any device.

Real-time collaboration, shared commenting, offline mode and built-in sharing options.

Google Slides is accessible to all individuals with a Google account at no cost, providing all users with access to its full range of features. However, for businesses and teams looking for additional organizational capabilities, there are subscription plans available ranging from $6 to $18 USD/month.

4. Keynote (for Mac users)

Source: Screenshot from Keynote

For Apple users, Keynote is a presentation tool designed exclusively for your Apple devices and is available on macOS, iOS and iPadOS. Keynote is known for its sleek and intuitive interface, reflecting Apple’s design aesthetics. 

It offers visually appealing templates, animations, and transitions, allowing users to create polished and modern-looking presentations. Keynote users can seamlessly incorporate images, videos, audio files and interactive elements into their presentations. The presentation software also includes a wide range of animations and transitions, enabling smooth and cinematic effects that bring slides to life.

Keynote presentations is known for its seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem. It works effortlessly with other Apple applications, allowing users to combine different elements and data from various sources. Presentations created in Keynote can be easily shared and accessed across Apple devices, ensuring a consistent experience for both the presenter and the audience.

Additionally, Keynote as a presentation software offers collaborative editing capabilities, enabling multiple users to work on the same presentation simultaneously. Users can share their presentations with others, who can then provide feedback, make edits and contribute to the project in real-time.

That said, since Keynote is exclusively designed for Apple devices, it may not be accessible or fully compatible with non-Apple platforms. Hence, sharing presentations created in Keynote with users on different platforms may require exporting or converting the files to a compatible format, which can lead to potential formatting issues or loss of certain features.

Mac users, creatives, professionals, educators and anyone who wants visually stunning presentations.

Elegant templates, advanced multimedia options, cinematic transitions and collaborative editing.

Keynote is available for free on Apple devices, including macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. As it comes pre-installed with these devices, users can access and use Keynote without any additional cost.

Source: Screenshot from Prezi

Known for its distinctive zooming presentation style, Prezi revolutionizes the way you create presentations by offering a visually engaging and non-linear approach. 

One of Prezi’s renowned features is its unique zooming and transition effects, allowing presenters to navigate through a virtual canvas seamlessly. This dynamic presentation style enhances engagement by creating a sense of movement and spatial relationship between ideas.

Moreover, Prezi offers cloud-based collaboration, making it easy for multiple users to collaborate on a presentation in real-time. This feature facilitates seamless teamwork, enabling users to collectively develop and refine their presentations regardless of their physical locations.

Prezi presentations also include interactive elements, such as embedded videos, images and hyperlinks. Utilizing these elements would allow presenters to create interactive presentations and engage their audience on a deeper level.

However, Prezi has a steeper learning curve compared to more traditional presentation tools. Users may require some time and practice to become proficient in navigating the canvas, creating smooth transitions and effectively utilizing all of Prezi’s features.

Creative professionals, educators and individuals who want to create visually captivating and non-linear presentations.

Zooming presentation style, interactive elements, cloud-based collaboration and reusable templates.

For individuals & business professionals

Basics: Create and share up to 5 visual projects for free

Standard: Starting at $5 USD/month

Plus: Starting at $12 USD/month

Premium: Starting at $16 USD/month

Teams: Starting at $19 USD/month per user (billed annually)

For Students & Educators

EDU Plus: Starting at $3/month

EDU Pro: Starting at $4/month

EDU Teams: Enquiry required with Prezi sales team

Source: Screenshot from Canva

One of the great things about Canva as a presentation tool is its user-friendly interface, which makes it super easy to use even if you’re not a design pro. You can simply drag and drop elements to create your presentation slides without breaking a sweat.

Canva’s vast collection of pre-designed templates caters to various purposes and occasions. The availability of these templates allows users to jumpstart their design projects with professional-looking layouts, saving valuable time and effort.

For businesses or educational institutions working on group projects or marketing campaigns, Canva also offers collaboration features that enhance teamwork and co-creation. Users can invite team members or clients to collaborate on a design project, enabling real-time feedback and efficient design processes. 

While Canva does offer some basic slide transition effects, the range and customization options for transitions may be limited compared to dedicated presentation software like Microsoft PowerPoint or Apple Keynote. 

Individuals, students, small businesses and startups seeking professional-looking marketing materials and presentations.

Extensive template options, intuitive drag-and-drop interface, ability to share presentations as downloadable files or online links and built-in multimedia support for adding videos , images, and audio to slides.

The free version of Canva provides a wide range of features and resources, with the only limitations being the use of premium resources that can be acquired either through separate purchases or by subscribing to the Canva Pro plan. The Canva Pro plan is available for $12.99 USD per month or $119.99 USD per year.

For collaborative purposes, Canva Teams is available at a price of $14.99 USD per month, with an additional charge of $14.99 USD per month for every team member beyond the initial five.

7. Adobe Express

Source: Screenshot from Adobe Express

As part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, Adobe Express is a presentation software that offers a simplified and user-friendly interface. With its intuitive interface, Adobe Express allows users to create visually stunning presentations with ease. Users can access both design professionals and individuals without extensive design experience.

One of the notable advantages of Adobe Express is its seamless integration with other Adobe products, such as Photoshop and Illustrator. This integration enables users to leverage the power of these industry-standard design tools within their presentations, providing access to advanced design features and a vast library of high-quality assets. 

Adobe Express is also great for creating interactive presentations. Its extensive multimedia support, allowing users to incorporate videos, audio files and interactive elements to keep your audience engaged.

That being said,  some of its advanced features may require familiarity with other Adobe tools, which can be challenging for beginners who are not already familiar with the Adobe Creative Cloud ecosystem.

Designers, creative professionals, individuals and businesses seeking professional-grade presentation design.

Professional design options, multimedia support, easy integration with other Adobe products and cloud-based collaboration.

While the free version for Adobe Express includes all the core features, users can gain access to premium templates and features when they upgrade to the Premium subscription for $9.99 USD/month. 

For businesses and teams, Adobe provides tailored plans that include additional features like collaboration tools, centralized license management and enterprise-level support. The pricing for these plans depends on the number of licenses and the specific needs of the organization. It’s best to consult with Adobe or their authorized resellers to get accurate pricing information for business plans.

8. Haiku Deck

Source: Haiku Deck

Haiku Deck is all about visual storytelling, offering a simple and minimalist approach to designing presentations. With its clean and minimalist templates, Haiku Deck makes it a breeze to create presentations that focus on eye-catching images.

Haiku Deck is a user-friendly presentation software that offers a straightforward and intuitive interface. It’s designed to be easily accessible on both computers and mobile devices, giving you the flexibility to create quick and practical presentations on the go.

Plus, the presentation tool seamlessly integrates with image search engines, making it a piece of cake to find and add high-quality visuals that enhance the overall look and feel of your presentation.

However,if you’re looking for advanced features like complex animations or interactive elements, you might not find them here. While the clean and minimalist templates are gorgeous, they don’t offer as much flexibility for customization.

Educators, individuals and professionals who appreciate the power of visual storytelling and minimalist design.

Image-focused templates, easy-to-use interface, cloud-based collaboration and seamless image search integration.

Haiku Deck offers a free trial that allows you to experience the software with one presentation. If you decide to upgrade, they have different pricing plans available. Additionally, Haiku Deck also offers special pricing to qualifying nonprofit organizations, students and educators.

The Pro plans are available at $9.99 per month with annual billing or $19.99 per month with monthly billing. For those seeking advanced features, the Premium plans are priced at $29.99 per month.

Source: Screenshot from Ludus

Ludus brings together the best of both worlds by offering the traditional slide deck format along with interactive and multimedia elements that take presentations to a whole new level.

The presentation software is rich in multimedia capabilities, allowing users to seamlessly integrate videos, audio and elements to create interactive presentations that captivate the audience.

Ludus offers unique presentation tools that enable users to incorporate interactive elements like clickable buttons, hover effects and embedded web content, enabling a more dynamic and engaging presentation experience. 

This makes Ludus a great choice for designers, creatives, marketing professionals, and anyone who wants to create interactive and visually appealing presentations that leave a lasting impression. Collaboration is another area where Ludus excels. The software offers collaborative editing, allowing multiple users to edit presentations simultaneously. 

However, it’s worth mentioning that Ludus has relatively limited templates compared to some other presentation software options. While the customization options are vast, users might find themselves starting from scratch or investing more time in creating the initial design. Additionally, for individuals new to the platform, there might be a learning curve involved in fully harnessing all of Ludus’ features and capabilities.

Designers, creatives, marketing professionals and anyone looking for interactive and visually appealing presentations.

Interactive and multimedia elements, collaborative editing, extensive design customization, real-time comments and feedback.

Ludus offers a starting price of $14.99 USD/month per user for teams consisting of 1-15 members with all features included. For larger teams requiring additional licenses, Ludus encourages reaching out for more information on pricing. It’s worth noting that Ludus provides a 30-day free trial, allowing users to explore the platform and its features before committing to a subscription.

10. Slidebean

Source: Screenshot from Slidebean

Slidebean offers a unique approach to slide design by automating the process and simplifying the creation of well-designed presentations. With its automation features, Slidebean streamlines the design process, saving users valuable time and effort.

The highlight of Slidebean is its automated slide design functionality. Using artificial intelligence (AI), the software generates visually appealing slide layouts based on the content provided. Slidebean also offers collaboration options, allowing multiple team members to work on a presentation simultaneously. 

Another advantage of Slidebean is its AI-powered content suggestions. The software intelligently analyzes the presentation content and provides helpful suggestions for improving the messaging and overall flow. This feature ensures that users can effectively communicate their ideas and engage their audience. 

Unlike Ludus, Slidebean may not cater to users who prefer extensive customization and control over their slide layouts. Certain advanced features are only available in premium plans, which may require an upgrade for those seeking more advanced functionality.

Startups, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and individuals who want to create polished presentations quickly.

Automated design, content suggestions, collaboration tools and pitch deck-specific templates.

The free version offers limited functionalities, but it provides a sufficient opportunity to experience Slidebean’s capabilities and understand its workflow. However, to export your presentation and access advanced features, upgrading to a higher plan is necessary. 

The all-access plan is available at $228 USD/year, while additional services such as startup expert consultations and pitch deck and financial model services are available for separate purchase. 

11. Beautiful.ai

Source: Screenshot from Beautiful.ai

Beautiful.ai aims to simplify the process of creating visually stunning and professional-looking slides with minimal effort. One of the notable strengths of the presentation software is its collection of smart templates and design suggestions. 

Their templates are intelligently designed to provide visually appealing layouts, saving users valuable time and effort in creating presentations. Unlike other types of presentation software, the platform leverages AI-powered technology to offer layout optimization, ensuring that slide elements are positioned optimally for maximum impact.

Beautiful.ai also offers time-saving features that streamline the presentation creation process. The software automatically adjusts the layout and formatting as users add or modify content, eliminating the need for manual adjustments. 

As the software provides smart templates and design suggestions, customization options may be somewhat limited. Users may find that certain design elements or layout adjustments are not as flexible as they would like. 

Individuals, startups and professionals who want visually impressive presentations without extensive design skills.

Smart templates, automated design suggestions, AI-powered layout optimization and easy slide customization.

Beautiful.ai provides two subscription options for users. The Pro plan is available at a monthly cost of $12 USD /month, while the Team plan is priced at $40 USD/month. Both plans are billed annually. You can also subscribe to the monthly subscription for ad hoc projects and gain access to all pro features for $45 USD/month (billed monthly). 

There is a 14-day free trial period that allows users to thoroughly test and explore the features and capabilities of the tool before committing to a subscription.

Source: Screenshot from Pitch

Pitch is a modern video presentation maker that stands out with its collaborative and iterative approach to presentation creation.

One of the key strengths of Pitch lies in its collaborative features. The presentation software provides robust collaboration tools that allow team members to work together in real-time. This makes it easy for users to collaborate on presentation content, provide feedback and make revisions collectively.

Pitch boasts an extensive slide library, offering a wide range of professionally designed templates to choose from. These templates serve as a foundation for creating visually stunning presentations while providing a starting point that saves time and ensures a polished look.

The availability of diverse templates caters to different industries, topics and presentation styles, allowing users to create presentations for their needs.

Seamless integration with project management tools is another advantage of Pitch. The software integrates well with popular project management platforms, enabling users to streamline their workflow by syncing tasks, deadlines and other project-related information with their presentations. 

For teams, startups and businesses that value collaboration, feedback and the ability to iterate on their presentations

Collaboration tools, version control, project management integration and template library.

Users can create unlimited presentations and enjoy the starter plan for free or upgrade to Pro for $8 USD/month, billed annually. 

There you have it — the top 12 best presentation tools for the year! Whether you value simplicity, collaboration, automation, design versatility or data visualization, these presentation software examples have a solution out there for your future presentations.

Got your mind set on your to-go presentation software? Great! Now it’s time to start creating your slides and ace that presentation. 

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5 Common Features of Interactive Presentation Software—and 5 Uncommon Ones

You have an important presentation coming up and the pressure is on. Your boss needs to be impressed, your team needs to be engaged, and you need to convince the board of your vision. How do you do it?

Start off the “wow” experience with relevant, creative storytelling presented via an interactive presentation. Because no matter what you are presenting, you need a stunning slideshow.

5 Common Features of Presentation Software

Traditional presentation software accommodates text, images, and audio in a slide-by-slide format. They tend to restrict creators to:

1. Limited Customization and Standard Templates

You can choose the colors, text sizes, and fonts, but your ability to design new content tends to be limited to what the software already has available. Using templates, slides will appear with text boxes for headings, images, and other suggested content. Although you have the option to choose a theme, the ability to change things up is minimal.

2. Linear Flow

In traditional presentation software, slides show up in a specific way: one at a time, in a fixed order. The flow is predetermined.

3. Features for the Speaker, Not the Audience

Most presentation software is designed to aid a presenter rather than to guide an audience through a content experience.

4. Shareability at a Cost

You will also have a channel of some kind for sharing your presentation with your audience. For example, cloud-based access allows you to display your slides from just about anywhere with an internet connection. But content is unlikely to be displayed in a way that changes based on what kind of device a person is using to view it.

5. No Analytics

Gathering information about how your audience is engaging with your content is difficult at best. Traditional presentation software leaves you in the dark about what your audience cares the most about. And without those analytic tools, it’s nearly impossible to iterate and improve your presentation.

5 Uncommon Features of Presentation Software

With Tiled, you can share your content experiences across multiple platforms, adapted to different devices, and receive actionable insights from real-time analytics. Unlike standard presentations, interactive slides improve engagement, retention, and interaction — both with the content and your brand. Your presentation is no longer a slideshow. Now it’s an interactive presentation — a microapp!

1. Content Library & Design Tool Compatibility

Tiled has a variety of tools for your presentations, rather than limiting you to what is available in a PowerPoint or other slideshow editors. Your designers can create all the assets and content in their favorite design tools, then import them into Tiled or use existing interations like Adobe XD or Sketch .

2. Interactive Scrolling

Think outside the rectangle. With Tiled, you have the ability to scroll through content on the same page, which makes your presentation feel more like a social media display on a touchscreen. Don’t click from slide to slide, just scroll for more. In-page scrolling lets you build multi-dimensional components, including long-form vertical or horizontal infographics or group images that turn into an interactive gallery

3. Interactive Content Flow

To move within or between slides, Tiled uses hotspots, which function as links and let your audience find their own way through your presentation. Hotspots are great for live presentations because they allow your audience to go beyond the typical, predictable layout of information. They allow for a much richer interactive experience. Your presentations can be designed in formats that allow people to find what they need in an appealing way.

4. Device Adaptability

Rather than a one-size-fits-all format, customize your presentations to display differently on different devices. With Tiled, you can create content experiences that are optimized for computers, tablets, and smartphones.

5. Analytics

Where would marketing and sales be without data? Once you’ve created a fully interactive, immersive content experience, optimize your microapps based on engagement data. Gather information about audience engagement, interaction, and contact data — all without ever leaving the microapp. From that, you can draw insights on what is working and what isn’t, and modify for better results. Optimizing your content and experience is another arrow in your modern marketing quiver!

Better Presentations with Tiled

With Tiled, you’re no longer limited to traditional features of presentation software. Check out all the features of Tiled, schedule a demo , and get started creating your first microapp today.

Director of Product Marketing

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Best presentation software of 2024

Perfect slideshows for speeches, talks, and presentations

• Best overall
• Best for media
• Best unique
• Best for branding
• Best for marketing
• Best for themes
• How we test

We list the best presentation software, to make it simple and easy to make and manage slideshow presentations to display to an audience.

Presentation software runs at the heart of business sales, management, and development, so it's important to ensure you have the best presentation software for your needs. This is especially when looking to share ideas, concepts, and workflows, and the ability to present these in a simple and understandable way is essential.

However, while presentation software has been traditionally limited to text and images, it has widened its ability to work with different media such as video and audio. 

Therefore it's important for the best presentation software to not simply be easy and simple to use, but also be able to support additional media so that presentations can be more engaging, lively, and ultimately serve their purpose in educating and updating their intended audience.

Below we've listed the best presentation software currently on the market.

We've also listed the best free presentation software .

The best office software in the world is: Microsoft 365 There are many different office software suites out there, but Microsoft Office remains the original and best, offering an unsurpassed range of features and functionality that rivals just can't match.

Even better, Microsoft 365 - previously branded as Office 365 - is a cloud-based solution which means you can use it on any computer, mobile device, or smartphone, without having to worry about compatibility. All your files are saved in the cloud and synced between devices, so you can begin work on a document at home or in the office, then continue working on it on the go.

You can sign up to Microsoft 365 here .

The best presentation software of 2024 in full:

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Best presentation software overall

1. PowerPoint

Our expert review:

Reasons to buy

For most people, Microsoft 's PowerPoint remains the original and best of all the presentation software platforms out there. While other companies have managed to catch up and offer rival products worthy of consideration, the fact is that PowerPoint's familiar interface and ubiquitous availability means it remains a favorite for the majority of people.

On the one hand, it's long been a staple of the hugely popular Microsoft Office suite, meaning that for most users this is going to be the first - and last - presentation software they are going to need to use.

Additionally, Microsoft has made PowerPoint, along with their other office products, available as free apps (with limited functionality) on both iOS and Android for mobile use, meaning it's even harder to avoid them. And this is before we even consider the inclusion of PowerPoint in Microsoft's cloud-based Microsoft 365.

It does everything necessary that you'd expect of presentation software, allowing you to add text and media to a series of slides, to accompany a talk and other presentations. There are easy-to-use templates included to help spice things up a little, but even a general user with little experience of it is likely to find themselves able to use PowerPoint without much trouble at all.

Overall, it's hard to go wrong with PowerPoint, and although Microsoft 365 has a nominal cost, the apps are free to use even if they do have more limited functionality.

Read our full Microsoft PowerPoint review .

Our Microsoft discount codes can help you save on your next purchase.

• ^ Back to the top

Best presentation software for media

2. SlideDog

Reasons to avoid.

It’s all too easy to end up creating a presentation that’s unappealing, and the last thing you want to do is make the audience fall asleep. SlideDog lets you combine almost any type of media to create a rich presentation that’s sure to keep the viewers’ peepers open, avoiding the ‘cookie cutter’ look that makes presentations seem dull.

Marketed as a web-based multimedia presentation tool, it gives you the ability to combine PowerPoint presentations, graphics, PDF files, Prezi presentations, web pages, pictures, videos, and movie clips. You can drag these into custom playlists and display them to your audience with ease.

You’re able to remotely control your presentations and playlists from your smartphone, the web, or a secondary computer, and there’s also the option to share slides in real-time. Audience members can even view your slide from their own devices by clicking a link. That’s a handy feature if you’re looking to create an immersive presentation experience.

SlideDog is probably the cheapest of the presentation software featured, with a free account that will cover the essential features. However, for live sharing and premium support, you need to upgrade.

Read our full SlideDog review .

Best unique presentation software

Prezi is one of the more unique presentation tools. Instead of presenting your graphics and text in a slide-to-slide format, you can create highly visual and interactive presentation canvases with the goal of “emphasizing the relationship between the ideas”.

Presentations can also be tailored to the specific audience, as this is a flexible platform that’s capable of skipping ahead, or veering off into a side topic, without having to flip through all the slides to get to a particular bit.

For business users, there are a variety of handy tools available. By downloading Prezi , you can build and edit presentations with your colleagues in real-time, which is perfect for companies with teams based around the globe.

When you have created a presentation you’re happy with, you can present it live (in HD) and send a direct link to viewers. There are some analysis tools here, too – you can see who’s accessed your presentation, which parts of it, and for how long. The app is available for Mac and Windows devices.

Read our full Prezi review .

Best presentation software for branding

4. CustomShow

Branding says a lot about a business, and it’s something firms need to get right from day one – from a good logo to a suitable font. CustomShow is business presentation software that puts all these elements of branding first.

Using the system, you can design and present customized, branded presentations that reflect your company and the products you offer, featuring the aforementioned logo and custom fonts. As well as this, you get a slide library and analytics to ensure your presentations are a success.

What’s more, you can import presentations into the software, and use it to tweak them further. There’s also integration with SalesForce , and because the platform is cloud-based, you can access your presentations on computers, tablets, and smartphones. 

Considering the focus on branding, this offering could be good for marketing and sales teams, and it's used by major companies such as HBO and CBS Interactive.

Best presentation software for marketing

5. ClearSlide

Just like CustomShow, ClearSlide has a niche focus for companies. The platform is targeted at firms looking to generate successful marketing campaigns, pushing sales via presentations (and more), not least through a range of analytics and metrics to work for sales and marketing.

With the product, you can upload a range of files, including PowerPoint, Keynote, PDF, and Excel. ClearSlide is integrated with other platforms, including Google Drive, Dropbox, and Salesforce.

This system is pretty complex and may offer too many irrelevant features for some businesses, but you can create customized content that reflects your company and the message you’re trying to get out to customers. There are also some good metrics and analysis features, and you can sign up for a free trial before making any decisions.

The real strength of ClearSlide comes from its focus on sales and marketing data, not least being able to track user engagement alongside other metrics.

Best presentation software for themes

6. Haiku Deck

Any presentation app will allow you to personalize your slides to at least some extent, but Haiku Deck goes one step further than the competition. It comes with a wide range of themes suited to different needs, and you also get access to 40 million free images from the Creative Commons collection.

When it comes to creating a presentation, you have the option to do so on the web, which means your presentation is accessible across a range of mobile devices as well as desktops. Regardless of the device used, you’re able to select from a variety of different fonts, layouts, and filters to make the perfect presentation.

The great thing about these various customization options is that they’re categorized into different industries and use cases. For instance, you’ll find themes for teaching, cooking, real estate, and startups. Most of the features require you to be online, but hopefully, you’ll have a sturdy net connection wherever you go.

Other presentation software to consider

Google Slides  is part of the Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) office platform intended as an online alternative to Microsoft Office. It may seem a little limited by comparison to PowerPoint, but as it's browser-based that means cross-platform compatibility. Additionally, it allows for collaborative work, and Google Slides really works well here. On top of the fact that it integrates with the rest of the Google Workspace apps, not least Google Drive, and you have a contender. 

Zoho Show  is another of the many, many tools and apps that Zoho has made available for business use. It also operates in the cloud so it's accessible to any device with a browser, and it also allows for collaborative work. You can also easily share the link for users to download, or provide a live presentation online. The updated version has a simpler and easier to use interface and comes with a free version and a paid-for one with expanded features.

Evernote  is normally thought of as just note-taking software, but it does provide the option to create a presentation you can share online or with an audience. In that regard, it's a little more limited than the other options in not being dedicated presentation software. However, as an easy and handy way to pull together a presentation quickly, it could serve as a backup or last-minute option, especially if Evernote is already being commonly used by you.

LibreOffice Impress  is part of the open-source suite offered as a free alternative to Microsoft Office, and comes with a powerful array of tools and editing options for your presentation, not least working with 3D images. It's supported by a large community, so it's easy to find an array of additional templates. If there is a limitation it's that it's software you download and install rather than web-based, but any presentations created should be easily portable to the web if needed.

Adobe Spark  does things a bit differently, as rather than just use images it's geared toward video as well. This makes for potentially more powerful multimedia presentations, especially as Adobe also has a big selection of photos and images available for its users. There is a free tier for core features but requires a subscription for custom branding, personalized themes, and support.

Slides  comes with a lot of features in an easy-to-use interface, and involves setting up presentations using drag and drop into an existing grid. It's also internet-based so there's no software to download, and it only requires a browser to use and access. 

Presentation software FAQs

Which presentation software is best for you.

When deciding which presentation software to download and use, first consider what your actual needs are, as sometimes free platforms may only provide basic options, so if you need to use advanced tools you may find a paid platform is much more worthwhile. Additionally, free and budget software options can sometimes prove limited when it comes to the variety of tools available, while higher-end software can really cater for every need, so do ensure you have a good idea of which features you think you may require for your presentation needs.

How we tested the best presentation software

To test for the best presentation software we first set up an account with the relevant software platform, whether as a download or as an online service. We then tested the service to see how the software could be used for different purposes and in different situations. The aim was to push each software platform to see how useful its basic tools were and also how easy it was to get to grips with any more advanced tools.

Read how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar .

We've also featured the best alternatives to Microsoft Office .

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Nicholas Fearn is a freelance technology journalist and copywriter from the Welsh valleys. His work has appeared in publications such as the FT, the Independent, the Daily Telegraph, The Next Web, T3, Android Central, Computer Weekly, and many others. He also happens to be a diehard Mariah Carey fan!

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15 Best Presentation Software for 2021

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On average a presentation takes up to 20 minutes and experts say we make an impression within the first 30 seconds. That is why it’s important to “dress” our great product/idea with an equally exciting design. Most often, presentations are cooked up by non-designers, which creates a specific need – for powerful presentation software, which can help communicate a message beautifully, effectively, and to suit any user’s skill level. We hand-picked 15 of the best presentation software for 2021 , which will help you create presentations online, share them, while shining in your best light. In the meanwhile, check out some useful ideas tips to spice up your presentations .

A web-based presentation tool, which means you can access your presentations wherever you are, with an internet connection. It is known for its animations, cartoons, and infographics, which help the user to create more interactive presentations and explainer-style videos.

Example by Focusky

Best Features:  Very interactive; you can create a unique to your story by combining different “frames” (slides); create your own animations within the presentation Price:  Free, but heavily subscription-based Learning curve:  Very intuitive, nicely organized by categories, but it would require some time to learn the animation controls Available for:  Online Perfect for: Marketing and education

To summarize, this presentation tool is best for marketers and education, where the creator can get the most out of the cool animation and cartoons available. In the last years, there is an increased interest in Powtoon and RenderForest and we expect that more and more people will use them in 2021. No surprise – if you look at our article about Graphic Design Trends in 2022 , everything is moving towards animation, cool 3D-s, cartoons, and illustrations – and these are all things that this software can offer for your presentation.

Prezi is an online presentation software, which resembles a mind map. In comparison, PowerPoint offers a linear way of presenting, whereas Prezi allows you to better show relationships between different elements of your presentation, show details, zoom in and zoom out and show an overall view of your topic. Compared to PowerPoint is more interactive, but with fewer functionalities and a choice of templates.

Example by PreziBase

Best Features:  Interactive presentations and interesting transitions, zoom in/out details Price:  The very basic features are free, but most of the interesting ones are paid, starting from $3/month and reaching up to $59/month. They offer a free trial. Learning curve:  it requires learning and going through a lot of menus and functionalities, similar to PowerPoint Available for:  Online / Limited use for iOS and Android (only viewing, not creating and editing) Perfect for: teachers, businesses, more experienced designers, and specific presentations needs, but not recommended for newbies

Prezi is best in showing relationships between different parts of your presentations. There are some challenges in editing, and viewing across devices and its best features are paid for. We recommend it for quick, mind-map-like presentations without the need for ultra-special design.

3. RenderForest Presentation Maker

RenderForest is an online presentation tool, which is famous for its explainer style and whiteboard animations. The presentation templates often offer various motion/video backgrounds, which helps to grab your audience’s attention. Currently, the company is working on releasing its Graphic Design Software, which will allow users to create printables and beautiful designs for social media. This shows that RenderForest’s team knows the market well and does its best to cater to its needs!

Example by Renderforest

Best Features:  Video holders with text on shapes, cool transitions Price:  There is a free version, the paid ones start at $20.34 per user/month Learning curve:  Relatively easy to use, the simple interface helps the user Available for:  Online / iOS / Android Perfect for:  Education and business

Although not one of the cheapest solutions, it allows you to create engaging and interactive presentations with lots of cool animations. That makes RenderForest a great choice for more educational and marketing explainer-type videos/presentations.

4. Mentimeter

Mentimeter is a very interesting online presentation software. It allows your audience to engage with your presentation in real-time and you can create polls, ask questions, which are then displayed to your presentation. The answers from the audience remain anonymous so people are even more encouraged to participate.

Example by Mentimeter

Best Features:  Launch live, interactive polls, surveys, quizzes and create things like word clouds in real-time Price:  It has a free version, but the paid plans offer most of the attractive features – the basic plan costs $9.99 per user/month and the more advanced plan is $24.99 per user/month Learning curve:  Easy to use; might need to explain to a less tech-savvy audience how to connect to your presentation Available for:  Online / Android / iOS Perfect for:  Educators, speakers, business and competitions

An excellent choice for educators, speakers, and businesses who want to engage the audience in real-time and display the results immediately. Clean, simple designs, that help you focus on the content.

5. Libre Office Impress

Libre Office is free presentation software, an open-source alternative to PowerPoint. As you can expect from a free product, it offers only the main features of its “big brother”, but it’s a good solution for people used to Microsoft’s productivity suite. The interface is very similar to PowerPoint, which again makes it comfortable to use for a certain audience. Users who need collaboration on presentations, clean interface, and more creative design solutions should steer away from this free presentation software because it will simply not cover their needs.

Example by Theodoros Bousios

Best Features:  Free, compatible with older versions (Windows XP for example) Price:  Free Learning curve:  It will take some time to go through all the options and to get familiar with the interface; Available for:  Windows / macOS / Linux / Android / iOS. Perfect for:  people who want to use a free product and people with older operation systems

To summarize, Libre is free, compatible with older versions, it can cover your basic needs for a presentation, but the options are too many and available templates too little.

6. Zoho Show

Zoho Show is also an online presentation software, which has a very friendly user interface and great collaboration features. There are many functionalities, which help you create a beautiful design, but require some time and design knowledge to get it right. The premade templates are limited and this presentation software needs an internet connection to be able to edit and present.

Image by Zoho

Best Features:  Live broadcasting a presentation with live chat and commenting Price:  Zoho Show is free for personal use. For business users, Zoho Show is included in the Zoho Docs enterprise pricing packages – €5 or €8 per user/month Learning curve: Available for:  Online / Android / iOS Perfect for:  non-profits, start-ups, personal use, teachers

To summarize, Zoho offers great collaboration features, but you need a connection to edit and present. It is suitable for quick, non-pretentious presentations, where you need some kind of collaboration.

7. ClearSlide Presenter

ClearSlide is a sales engagement platform, including an online presentation tool. Another online tool – SlideRocket, was acquired by ClearSlide and one of the differences is that ClearSlide is more costly and targeted at larger businesses. It’s a great platform for very specific needs – collaborating between sales and marketing teams, to achieve the company’s goals. It’s clear even by the interface:

Image by ClearSlide

Best Features: Analytics for costumers’ engagement, video conferencing, screen sharing Price:  They offer a free trial and you can see more about the payment plans here. Learning curve:  Clear and simple interface, but it requires some time to get used to the tools Available for:  Online Perfect for: Sales/business, managers (for coaching); not suitable for newbies, teachers, students

To summarize, ClearSide is perfect for presenting sales pitch , graphics, collaborate in larger teams. It is somehow restrictive for a non-designer because the templates are specific.

8. Piktochart

Piktochart allows you to make infographics, presentations, and printables quickly. Primarily known for its easy customizable infographics, Piktochart also has simple presentation templates and the company is constantly trying to update its library.

Example by Piktochart Knowledge Base

Best Features:  Turning data-heavy content into simple visuals; nice transitions between slides Price:  There is a free version and a paid one, starting at $29 per user/month. They offer a free trial. Learning curve:  It requires time to get used to the options available and to navigate through Available for:  Online Perfect for:  Designers, teachers; it does not offer collaboration options, which might be needed by teams, students, etc.

Compared to other online presentation software is a bit costly and we could still ask a bit more from the presentation templates. We’d recommend it to someone who often uses infographics and wants to use a single platform to combine the infographics with a presentation. But why not check our free infographics as well?

Slides is online presentation software, initially aimed at developers and covering their presentation needs. Thus said, it does not offer offline editing, but you can present offline, after exporting your presentation.

Best Features:  It allows you to use your phone as a remote control; Live Present Mode allows you to control what your audience sees; drop in code, iframes, and SVGs with ease. Price:  Free, with paid plans starting at $7.00/month and $14-$18/month for pro and team packages. They offer a free trial. Learning curve:  friendly interface, but too many functions and options, which might overwhelm the average user and beginner Available for: Online Perfect for:  developers, designers, a little bit too specific for newbies

To summarize, it’s a very cool tool, giving you complete design freedom, but that is also why we do not recommend it to teachers, non-designers, or marketers. Developers and design gurus will love it.

Canva is a web-based solution that started with a mission – to make beautiful designed content available to everyone. The whole platform is organized so that a person without any prior design knowledge can easily create graphs, images, and presentations to impress. Although it is not the best tool for data visualization, it scores high in any other category. Needless to say, it has become a popular choice amongst non-designers.

Image by Iconfinder

Best Features:  Plenty of beautiful templates to choose from and Canva school has plenty of tutorials and tips for free. It offers more free functionalities compared to other competitors. Price:  Free, the offer different subscription plans, starting at $9.95 per user/month Learning curve:  Very easy to use, most of the actions can be performed by drag-and-drop Available for:  Online / iOS / Android Perfect for:  newbies, marketers (who need a unified look across all their social media), non-profits, and teachers

Canva is becoming one of the most popular tools amongst non-designers for creating beautiful unified content. You can create entire presentations, flyers, and other materials with a single drag and drop.

11. Slidebean

Slidebean is the go-to online presentation software for last-minute projects, that look original and professional. Slidebean offers clean and easy-to-use templates and keeps track of your audience’s engagement.

Source Slidebean

Best Features:  It allows you to arrange your content with the help of AI, which saves time creating a beautiful layout. You just pick a template, upload content, and let the AI offer you a nice layout. Premade animations, effects, and alignments are automatically applied to your content and create a cohesive look. Price:  Free, paid versions starting from $8/month Learning curve:  very easy to use since everything is made to fit the premade templates Available for:  Windows / Mac / Android / iOS Perfect for:  financial, academic, pitch, marketing, sales; everything quick with a clear structure

To summarize, if you are in a hurry, Slidebean will offer several layouts for your slides and speed up the process of creation. The platform targets primarily sales, marketing, and financial fields, and the available templates reflect that.

12. Google Slides

Google Slides is part of the G Suite business application. Its popularity has increased in the last years since it’s a web-based platform, allowing you to store, edit, and share your presentation, without the need of installing presentation software on your computer. All you need is a Google account and you are good to go.

Image by G Suite Updates blog

Best Features:  It’s free for personal use, and offers great paid features for business – for example, seamless collaboration and commenting on a presentation, converting other presentations to Google Slides. Some other great features are the wide variety of fonts available (GoogleFonts, not need installing), easy embedding, plus it’s super intuitive and easy to use! Price:   It’s free for individual use. For business use, the price starts at $5/user/month and plans of $10 and $25/user/month, for unlimited cloud storage and extra features Learning curve:  Simple interface, but it will require some time to pick up. Similar to PowerPoint, only a bit lighter. Available for:  Windows / Mac / Online Perfect for:  businesses, freelancers, who need a user-friendly app with elementary features; great for collaborating teams, not so perfect for complex designs and tools, required by big enterprises

Perfect for personal use, well synchronized across different devices, similar to PowerPoint. Maybe you are a teacher and you like GoogleSlides because it is free and easy to use? Well, we’ve gathered some awesome FREE GoogleSlides and PowerPoint templates , specially made for education needs.

If you need something along the lines of PowerPoint but need the option for collaboration – a paid plan for GoogleSlides is your go-to choice.

13. Keynote

Keynote is an Apple product, very similar to Google Slides. All you need to do is create an iCloud account (similar to a Google account) and start using Keynote from there. Running Keynote on Windows also requires an internet connection and a modern browser. The latest version can also import and export PowerPoint formats if needed. All this sends Keynote higher in the list regarding the accessibility and shareability of this presentation software.

Image by Envato tuts+

Best Features:  Simplicity of design, great drag and drop functions, polished transitions and animations, easy image editing/cropping; works great with multimedia; design templates with better aesthetic than an average slide deck; Price:  Free for macOS and iOS Learning curve:  Pretty easy to use for Mac users, a bit of learning curve for users, having experience with other software. Available for:  Mac / Windows / Online Perfect for:  businesses, marketers, people with not much of a design experience

Bottom line, if you are a Mac user, you love the sleek design and you are looking for cool aesthetics – Keynote is simple to use and free, why not use it?

14. Adobe Spark

Adobe Spark is a web and mobile-based media creation application, which helps you create social graphics, short videos, and web pages. What is immediately noticeable is the clean, crisp, simple, and modern designs, which focus you on the content. If you are looking for a funky, ornate design – Adobe Spark is not the right pick for you.

Example by Cikeys

Best Features:  Beautiful templates, user-friendly interface, step-by-step creation, you can add audio to your slides (narrating) Price:  There is a free version, the paid on starts at $9.79. The best templates, as with the competitors, are paid. They do not offer a free trial. Learning curve:  Easy to use Available for:  Online / iOS / Android Perfect for:  quick presentations, teachers, basic presentations without jamming them with too much cool stuff.

Adobe Spark eliminates the cluster of design options and leads you step-by-step in creating elegant, simple presentations. Ideal for basic presentations, not the best for sales and marketing.

15. PowerPoint

PowerPoint certainly is a “classic” – it’s has been the most popular tool for creating presentations so far. What first started as a component of the Microsoft Office suite, now has improved shareability and accessibility. It can be used on the web (as part of Office on the web), works with Android, and iOS, and there is a Mobile app, as well as presentation software for mac.

Example by Abris DC

Best Features:  Many people are familiar with the software, a wide variety of templates; improved accessibility across platforms; extensive tools and options Price: If you want to enjoy the full features of PowerPoint, you’ll need to subscribe to Microsoft 365 – they have payment plans for personal or business use. The price for personal use starts at $5.99/month or $59.99/year, and business plans start at $12.50 per user/month with an annual commitment. You can find more information here . The mobile applications are completely free to use, of course with some limitations. You can compare the available features across different platforms  here. Learning curve: Due to the variety of options and the complexity of the menus, it might take some time to master all of its features. Something that could take a lot of time is editing the text, arranging the visuals, and picking the right transitions – overall, is time-consuming. Still, the interface remained easy to navigate over time and if you trust your design sense, you can achieve satisfying results. Available for: Windows / Mac / Online Perfect for: business, medical, accounting and students; creating concise presentations; but not so suitable for teachers, educators, start-ups and marketers who want to create more interactive and story-based presentations.

To this date, PowerPoint is keeping the lead as the most popular tool for creating presentations. Some of the downsides are that sometimes it can be time-consuming to come up with a good design and PP doesn’t offer collaboration tools and compared to other platforms. But we have a solution for at least one of your problems – we’ve selected 31 Modern PowerPoint templates to set the right tone for your presentation. 

We made a quick summary for you…

Ok, not that we’ve looked at the 15 best presentation software for 2021, we decided to go one step further and compare them by price and popularity. Let’s have a look first at the new-comers:

As you can see, the leaders from the uprising platforms are Canva and Mentimeter, with relatively low prices and with huge success amongst users . Powtoon, Piktochart, and Renderforest are a bit costly , but they are popular since they offer a lot of animation and interactive elements. Hey, but maybe some of the other tools are right for you? We encourage you to go on their websites, contact their support team, and see what they have to offer.

Then, let’s see how the veterans are ranking:

It’s no surprise that PowerPoint and Google Slides are at the top – people are used to their products, have familiar interfaces, and offer a lot of functionalities at a good price. Although, for quick, unpretentious results, their competitors are a very attractive solution.

Final words

We can conclude that there are many useful tools to help you create beautiful presentations. Some of them are well-known and have been here for a while, while others are uprising… No matter the case, we notice a trend for presentation tools catering not only to the designers’ needs but also to the newbies, marketers, and teachers. That way, enabling everyone to create stunning presentations in no time and share them easily.

We hope this presentation software list shed some light on different options out there and that we helped you evaluate quickly what would work for your situation best.

You may also be interested in these related articles:

• 12 PowerPoint Presentation Tips To Dramatically Boost Your Efficiency
• 35 Free Google Slides Infographic Templates to Grab Now
• 23 Online Collaboration Tools for Your Remote Team

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15 Best Presentation Software for Business Professionals In 2024

Table of Contents

Business presentations serve as essential communication tools to convey ideas and create a favorable image for a brand. While Microsoft Powerpoint is popular and the default software for presentations, several advanced presentation software choices are available to help you create visually appealing presentations that stand out and keep your audience engaged.

However, the key challenge lies in finding the perfect presentation software with the appropriate features to build an exceptional business presentation. To guide you through this process, we have curated a list of the top 15 presentation software solutions, outlining their features, pros & cons, and crucial factors to consider during your decision-making process.

What is a Presentation Software?

Presentation software is a computer program that allows users to create visual and interactive presentations. It enables users to combine text, images, videos, charts, and other multimedia elements to convey information effectively. These software tools provide a user-friendly interface for arranging and organizing content in slides, making it easy for marketing and sales teams to structure and design presentations. Presenters can enhance their delivery by adding animations, transitions, and speaker notes.

Commonly used presentation software includes Microsoft PowerPoint, Apple Keynote, Google Slides, and various other alternatives that offer a range of features to engage and captivate the audience during business meetings, educational sessions, or public speaking events.

Key Features of a Presentation Software

Key Features of Presentation Software include the following:

1. Slide Creation : The primary function of any presentation software is to create slides. This feature enables users to add text, images, videos, charts, and shapes to build visually engaging content.

2. Templates: Presentation software offers pre-designed templates for various purposes and industries. These templates provide a quick and professional starting point for users to customize their presentations.

3. Animations and Transitions: Presentations come to life with animations and slide transitions. These features add visual appeal and help maintain audience interest during the presentation.

4. Multimedia Support: Presentation software allows users to embed videos, audio clips, and other multimedia elements, making presentations more dynamic and interactive.

5. Collaboration: Many modern presentation tools offer real-time collaboration features, enabling multiple users to work on the same presentation simultaneously.

6. Speaker Notes: Presenters can add speaker notes to each slide to guide them through the presentation and ensure a smooth delivery.

7. Compatibility: Presentation software should be compatible with different devices and operating systems to ensure seamless sharing and viewing across various platforms.

8. Export Options : Users should be able to export presentations in various formats, such as PDF, PowerPoint, or video files, for easy sharing and distribution.

9. Audience Interaction: Some advanced presentation software allows audience interaction through polls, quizzes, and Q&A sessions, enhancing engagement and participation.

10. Analytics and Tracking: For business and educational purposes, some presentation tools offer analytics to track audience engagement, slide views, and other performance metrics.

11. Customization: This feature allows users to customize fonts, colors, and layouts to align with their branding or personal preferences.

12. Cloud Storage: Integration with cloud storage services allows users to save and access presentations from anywhere, making collaboration and mobility more convenient.

13. Offline Access : Some presentation software provides offline access, allowing users to work on their presentations even without an internet connection.

Overall, the critical features of presentation software empower users to create compelling, interactive, and well-structured presentations that effectively communicate their ideas and messages to the audience.

Crucial Factors To Consider Before Choosing a Presentation Tool

Choosing the right presentation tool is essential to create impactful and engaging presentations that effectively convey your message to the audience. There are several crucial factors to consider before making your decision:

1. Ease of Use

Look for a presentation tool with a user-friendly interface and intuitive features. It should be easy to navigate and allow you to create slides quickly without much technical knowledge.

2. Features and Functionality

Assess the tool’s features and functionalities, including slide templates, animations, multimedia support, collaboration options, and audience interaction capabilities. Ensure it offers the tools you need to create the type of presentation you envision.

3. Compatibility

Check if the presentation tool is compatible with different devices and operating systems. This ensures seamless sharing and viewing across various platforms.

4. Templates and Customization

Look for a tool that offers a wide range of pre-designed templates to kickstart your presentation. Additionally, ensure you can customize the templates to match your brand identity and presentation style.

5. Collaboration Capabilities

If you are working on a presentation with a team, opt for a tool that allows real-time collaboration. This enables multiple users to work on the presentation simultaneously and provides a smoother workflow.

6. Cost and Pricing Model

Consider the pricing of the presentation tool, including any subscription plans or one-time purchase options. Evaluate whether the features offered align with the cost and fit within your budget.

7. Offline Access

If you often work in environments without internet access, choose a presentation tool that offers offline functionality, allowing you to continue working without interruption.

8. Data Security

If your presentations contain sensitive information, ensure the tool offers robust data security measures, such as encryption and secure login protocols.

9. Customer Support

Look for a presentation tool with reliable customer support to assist you in case of technical issues or inquiries.

10. Reviews and Rating

Read reviews and ratings from other users to gain insights into their experiences with the presentation tool. Positive feedback from users indicates a trustworthy and effective tool.

11. Learning Resources

Check if the presentation tool provides tutorials, guides, or a knowledge base to help you master its features and maximize its capabilities.

12. Export Options

Ensure the presentation tool allows you to export your presentations in various formats, such as PDF, PowerPoint, or video files, for easy sharing and distribution.

13. Trial Period

Many presentation tools offer a free trial or limited version for testing. Take advantage of these trial periods to assess the tool’s suitability for your needs before committing to a subscription.

Considering these crucial factors, you can select the best presentation tool that aligns with your requirements and empowers you to create impactful and memorable presentations.

Here are the 15 best presentation software that caters to various needs and preferences, allowing business professionals to create presentations for different purposes, such as sales pitches, training sessions, or marketing campaigns.

1. Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is a widely-used presentation software developed by Microsoft. It is part of the Microsoft Office suite and is available for both Windows and Mac platforms. PowerPoint allows users to create visually engaging and professional PowerPoint presentations using slides. The software offers many tools, templates, and design options, making it versatile for business presentations, educational lectures, and marketing pitches.

Users can add text, images, charts, graphs, videos, and animations to each slide, creating dynamic and interactive presentations. PowerPoint also supports collaboration, allowing multiple users to simultaneously work on the same presentation locally or through cloud-based services like Microsoft OneDrive.

With its user-friendly interface and extensive features, Microsoft PowerPoint remains the go-to choice for creating compelling presentations that captivate audiences and convey information effectively. Its seamless integration with other Microsoft Office tools and widespread use in professional settings make it a powerful tool for business professionals worldwide.

Key Features of Microsoft PowerPoint

• Slide Creation: Create slides with text, images, shapes, charts, and multimedia elements.
• Templates: Access a wide range of professionally designed templates for quick, attractive presentations.
• Animations and Transitions: Add dynamic animations and slide transitions to enhance visual appeal.
• Collaboration: Collaborate with team members in real-time using cloud services like OneDrive or SharePoint.
• Presenter View: Utilize Presenter View to see your notes, slide previews, and upcoming slides during a presentation.
• Integration: Seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft Office apps, like Excel and Word.
• Charts and Graphs: Generate and customize various charts and graphs to present data visually.
• SmartArt Graphics: Convert complex information into easily understandable diagrams using SmartArt graphics.
• Recording: Record and narrate presentations for later playback.
• Export Options: Save presentations in different formats, including PDF and video.
• Widely-used and well-established presentation software.
• User-friendly interface with a shallow learning curve.
• Extensive features for creating versatile and visually appealing presentations.
• Excellent compatibility with other Microsoft Office products.
• Real-time collaboration with cloud-based storage options.
• Limited access to advanced design features compared to specialized graphic design software.
• Larger file sizes can be an issue when sharing presentations.
• Some advanced features may be overwhelming for casual users.

Who is it for

Microsoft PowerPoint suits individuals and professionals in various fields, including business executives, educators, students, salespeople, marketers, and trainers. It caters to anyone who needs to create engaging presentations for communication, persuasion, or educational purposes.

Microsoft PowerPoint is available as part of the Microsoft Office suite, which offers subscription plans like Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) and one-time purchase options like Office Home & Student or Office Home & Business. Prices vary depending on the plan and the number of devices you want to use it on. The home plan starts at $69.99, while the basic business plan costs $6 monthly.

2. Google Slides

Google Slides is a cloud-based presentation software developed by Google. It is a part of the Google Workspace suite (formerly known as G Suite) and allows users to create, edit, and collaborate on presentations online. Google Slides provides various tools and features to design and customize slides, insert multimedia elements, and share presentations with others for real-time collaboration.

Users can access Google Slides through a web browser or the mobile app, and all changes are automatically saved to Google Drive, enabling easy access and sharing across multiple devices. With its intuitive interface and collaborative capabilities, Google Slides is a popular choice for creating and delivering engaging presentations for educational, business, and personal purposes.

Key Features of Google Slides

• Cloud-based: Access and edit presentations from anywhere with an internet connection.
• Real-time Collaboration: Multiple users can work on the same presentation simultaneously.
• Auto-Save: Changes are automatically saved to Google Drive in real time.
• Templates: Choose from a variety of pre-designed templates to create professional-looking slides.
• Integration: Seamless integration with other Google Workspace apps like Google Docs and Google Sheets. It also allows for a simple transition between presentation apps.
• Import and Export: Import presentations from other formats and export them as PowerPoint or PDF files.
• Animation and Transitions: Add animations and transitions to make presentations more engaging.
• Embedded Videos: Insert videos from YouTube or Google Drive directly into slides.
• Commenting: Users can leave comments on specific slides for collaboration and feedback.
• Offline Editing : Work on presentations offline with Google Slides Chrome extension.
• Free to use with a Google account.
• Cross-platform accessibility.
• Real-time collaboration fosters teamwork.
• Automatic updates and backups.
• Integration with other Google apps enhances productivity.
• Limited offline access without the Chrome extension.
• Fewer advanced features compared to some desktop-based alternatives.
• Internet dependency for real-time collaboration.
• Students, educators, and academic institutions for educational presentations.
• Small to large businesses for professional presentations and team collaboration.
• Non-profit organizations and individuals for personal projects and creative presentations.

Google Slides is available for free as part of the Google Workspace suite, which offers additional features and storage options with different pricing plans. The basic version is accessible with a free Google account, while the business plan starts at $12 monthly per year.

Prezi is a cloud-based presentation software that offers a unique and dynamic approach to creating and delivering presentations. Unlike traditional slide-based presentations, Prezi uses a zooming user interface (ZUI) to present content on a single large canvas. Users can create visually captivating presentations by zooming in and out, panning across the canvas, and transitioning between content in a non-linear manner. This innovative approach allows for more engaging and interactive presentations, making it ideal for storytelling, pitches, and educational purposes.

Prezi provides various templates and customization options to create visually appealing presentations. It also offers collaboration features, allowing multiple users to simultaneously work on the same presentation. With Prezi, presenters can emphasize connections between ideas, present information in a memorable way, and capture the audience’s attention with its dynamic visuals.

Key Features of Prezi

• Zooming User Interface (ZUI)
• Non-linear Presentation
• Templates and Customization
• Collaboration
• Offline Access
• Prezi Viewer App
• Animated Effects and Transitions
• Embedding Multimedia (Videos, Images, etc.)
• Analytics and Tracking
• Presenter Notes
• Remote Presenting
• PowerPoint Import and Export
• Cloud Storage
• Private and Public Sharing Options
• Cross-platform Compatibility (Windows, Mac, Web)
• Real-time Editing and Commenting
• Integrations with other Platforms (Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, etc.)
• Data Visualization Tools
• Interactive Polls and Surveys
• Prezi Video Integration for Virtual Presentations.
• Dynamic and engaging presentation style.
• Non-linear storytelling capability.
• Cloud-based, accessible from any device with an internet connection.
• Collaboration features for team projects.
• Prezi Viewer app for mobile presentations.
• The steeper learning curve for first-time users.
• Limited offline access in the free version.
• Some users might prefer traditional slide-based presentations.
• Professionals and business users for sales pitches, marketing presentations, and client meetings.
• Educators and students for interactive classroom presentations.
• Creatives and individuals who want to present their ideas innovative and visually captivatingly.

Prezi offers a free version with essential features and limited storage. It also provides premium plans, including Prezi Standard, Plus, and Premium, with varying subscription costs, additional features, and larger storage options. Custom pricing is available for enterprise-level needs with Prezi Business plans.

Canva is a graphic design platform that can help you create visually engaging and compelling presentations. It offers pre-designed presentation templates suitable for various purposes, such as business pitches, educational lectures, marketing presentations, and more.

With Canvas’s user-friendly interface and drag-and-drop functionality, users can easily customize the templates by adding text, images, icons, charts, and other elements to create professional and eye-catching presentations.

Canva provides an efficient and convenient way for users to design and deliver impactful slideshows without requiring extensive design skills. It is a valuable tool for anyone looking to create visually impressive presentations.

Key Features of Canva for Presentation

• Templates: A vast library of pre-designed presentation templates for various purposes and industries.
• Customization: Easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface to personalize templates with text, images, icons, and more.
• Collaboration: Team members can collaborate in real-time on presentation designs.
• Multimedia Support: Ability to add videos, audio, and interactive elements to presentations.
• Animations: Access to animations and transitions for dynamic and engaging slideshows.
• Charts and Graphs: Integrated tools to create visually appealing charts and graphs.
• Export and Share: Options to export presentations in various formats and share them with others.
• The User-friendly interface is suitable for both beginners and experienced designers.
• Extensive template library for quick and professional-looking presentations.
• Collaborative features enhance team productivity.
• Accessible on web browsers and mobile devices for on-the-go editing.
• Integrations with various platforms like Google Drive and Dropbox.
• Some advanced design features are limited in the free version.
• Offline editing requires a premium subscription.
• Customization options might be limited compared to dedicated presentation software.
• Business professionals, marketers, educators, students, and anyone looking to create visually appealing presentations without extensive design skills.
• Canva offers a free version with limited features.
• Canva Pro, which includes additional features like access to premium elements, animations, and collaboration tools, is available on a monthly or annual subscription basis.

Visme is a cloud-based presentation software that empowers users to create visually stunning and interactive presentations, infographics, charts, and other visual content. With its user-friendly interface and extensive library of templates and design elements, Visme allows users to quickly and easily design professional presentations without needing advanced design skills.

Key Features of Visme for Presentation

• Templates: A wide range of customizable presentation templates for different industries and purposes.
• Drag-and-Drop Editor: Intuitive drag-and-drop interface for easy content creation and customization.
• Interactivity: Ability to add interactive elements like animations, pop-ups, and hover effects to engage the audience.
• Charts and Data Visualization: Built-in tools to create dynamic charts, graphs, and data visualizations.
• Collaboration: Real-time collaboration and feedback features to facilitate teamwork.
• Embeddable Content: Option to embed presentations on websites, blogs, or social media.
• Analytics: Access to analytics to track the performance of presentations.

• The easy-to-use interface is suitable for both beginners and experienced designers.
• Rich library of templates and design assets for creating eye-catching presentations.
• Interactive features enhance audience engagement.
• Cloud-based storage for easy access and sharing of presentations.
• Integrations with popular platforms like Microsoft Teams and Google Workspace.
• Some advanced features are only available in higher-priced plans.
• The free version comes with limited templates and features.
• Limited offline editing capabilities.
• Visme is suitable for business professionals, educators, marketers, and individuals looking to create compelling and interactive presentations to convey information effectively.
• Visme offers a free version with limited features.
• Paid plans, including Standard, Business, and Enterprise, are available on a monthly or annual subscription basis, each with varying features and pricing. The price starts at $12.25 per month annually.

Keynote is a presentation app developed by Apple Inc., designed specifically for macOS and iOS devices. It is a part of Apple’s iWork suite of productivity tools. Keynote allows users to create visually stunning and engaging presentations featuring multimedia elements like images, videos, charts, and animations.

Key Features of Keynote

• Intuitive Interface: Keynote offers a user-friendly and intuitive interface, making it easy to navigate and design presentations.
• Media Integration: Users can seamlessly integrate multimedia elements, such as photos, videos, and audio files, to enhance the visual appeal of presentations.
• Animations and Transitions: Keynote provides a variety of dynamic animations and smooth transitions to add visual effects to slides.
• Real-time Collaboration: Users can collaborate with others in real time, allowing multiple contributors to work on the same presentation simultaneously.
• Compatibility: Keynote supports various file formats and can import and export presentations to and from PowerPoint and PDF.
• Apple Pencil Support: For iOS devices, Keynote offers Apple Pencil support, enabling users to draw and annotate directly on slides.

• Seamless integration with other Apple devices and services.
• Free presentation software with a wide selection of pre-designed templates and themes.
• Advanced animations and transitions for captivating presentations.
• Cloud-based storage for easy access to presentations across devices.
• Keynote is exclusive to macOS and iOS devices, limiting cross-platform compatibility.
• Users on non-Apple devices may encounter formatting issues when importing Keynote files.
• Some features may have a steeper learning curve for new users.
• Keynote is ideal for Mac and iOS users who want to create professional presentations on visual aesthetics and multimedia elements.
• Keynote is free on macOS and iOS devices, included with the purchase of the corresponding hardware. No separate subscription or purchase is required to use Keynote on Apple devices.

Powtoon is a cloud-based presentation software and animation tool allowing users to create animated videos, presentations, and explainer videos easily. It provides a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality, making it accessible to both beginners and experienced creators. Powtoon offers a library of pre-designed templates, characters, objects, and backgrounds, enabling users to create visually engaging and interactive content.

Key Features of Powtoon

• Animated Presentations: Powtoon allows users to create dynamic and animated video presentations with various animations, transitions, and effects.
• Customizable Characters and Objects: Users can personalize characters, objects, and backgrounds to fit their specific content and brand identity.
• Voiceover Recording: Powtoon enables users to add voiceover narration to their presentations, providing a more interactive and engaging experience.
• Import and Export: Users can import images, videos, and audio files and export their presentations as video files or directly to YouTube.
• Real-time Collaboration: Powtoon offers collaboration features, allowing teams to work together on the same project in real time.
• Integration with PowerPoint: Powtoon provides a PowerPoint plugin for seamless integration with Microsoft PowerPoint.

• User-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality.
• Extensive library of pre-designed templates and characters.
• Supports both animated and live-action presentations.
• Allows users to create professional-looking videos and presentations without extensive design skills.
• Limited free version with watermarked videos and reduced features.
• Some advanced features and elements may require a premium subscription.
• The steeper learning curve for complex animations and interactions.
• Powtoon is suitable for educators, marketers, business professionals, and content creators who want to create visually engaging and animated presentations and videos.
• Powtoon offers a free plan with limited features and a watermark on videos. Paid plans start at different pricing tiers, with more advanced features and options available at higher subscription levels.

8. Haiku Deck

Haiku Deck is a presentation software focusing on simplicity, visual appeal, and ease of use. It is designed to help users create stunning and visually engaging presentations with minimal effort. Haiku Deck provides a wide range of professionally designed templates, high-quality images, and an intuitive interface, making it accessible to users of all skill levels.

Key Features of Haiku Deck

• Visual Templates: Haiku Deck offers a variety of visually appealing templates that can be customized to match the user’s content and style.
• Image Library: The software provides access to a vast library of high-quality images to enhance the visual impact of the presentations.
• Effortless Charts and Graphs: Haiku Deck allows users to create charts and graphs with just a few clicks, making data visualization simple and effective.
• Integration with Popular Platforms: Users can import content from various platforms like Dropbox, Google Drive, and Keynote to streamline the presentation creation process.
• Real-time Collaboration: Haiku Deck enables real-time collaboration, making it easy for teams to collaborate on presentations remotely.

• Professionally designed templates for a polished and professional look.
• The abundance of high-quality images and icons enhances presentations.
• Seamless integration with popular platforms for easy content importing.
• Limited customization options compared to some other presentation software.
• Advanced features and options may be lacking for users who require highly complex presentations.
• The free version has certain limitations on the number of presentations and features.
• Haiku Deck is ideal for educators, entrepreneurs, marketing professionals, and individuals who value simplicity and want to create visually striking presentations quickly and easily.
• Haiku Deck offers both a free plan and paid subscriptions with additional features. The paid plans provide more customization options, advanced analytics, and access to premium content libraries.

9. Slidebean

Slidebean is an online presentation software that simplifies the process of creating professional and visually appealing presentations. It is designed to assist users, especially those with limited design skills, craft engaging slides with minimal effort. Slidebean’s AI-powered platform automates various design elements, making it easier for users to focus on their content and message delivery.

Key Features of Slidebean

• AI Design Assistance: Slidebean’s AI algorithms analyze content and suggest appropriate design elements, layouts, and color schemes for each slide.
• Customizable Templates: The platform offers various templates catering to different industries and presentation styles.
• Content Importing: Users can import content from various sources, such as Google Slides, Powerpoint, and Dropbox, to seamlessly integrate existing materials into their presentations.
• Collaboration Tools: Slidebean facilitates real-time collaboration among team members, making working remotely on presentations accessible.
• Slide Analytics: The software provides analytics on slide engagement, enabling users to understand how their audience interacts with their presentation.

• AI-powered design assistance streamlines the creation process.
• A diverse selection of customizable templates for various presentation needs.
• Easy content importing from other platforms.
• Real-time collaboration for effective teamwork.
• Some advanced features may be limited compared to more robust presentation software.
• The free version has certain limitations on the number of slides and exports.
• Slidebean is suitable for startups, entrepreneurs, educators, and individuals who want to create professional presentations quickly, especially those without advanced design skills.
• Slidebean offers a free plan with essential features and paid subscriptions with additional benefits such as unlimited exports, premium templates, and priority customer support.

10. Genially

Genially is an online platform that empowers users to create interactive and visually stunning presentations, infographics, and other visual content. It offers a wide range of pre-designed templates and interactive elements that can be customized to suit various needs, making it easy to engage and captivate audiences.

Key Features of Genially

• Interactive Content: Genially allows users to add interactive elements such as animations, pop-ups, hotspots, and quizzes to create engaging and immersive presentations.
• Wide Variety of Templates: The platform provides a diverse collection of pre-designed templates for different purposes, saving time and effort in creating visually appealing content.
• Collaboration and Sharing: This presentation program facilitates real-time collaboration, making it ideal for presentations and visual project teamwork. It also enables easy sharing via links or embedding in websites and social media.
• Data Integration: Users can integrate data from spreadsheets, surveys, and other sources to create dynamic and data-driven content.
• Analytics and Tracking: Genially offers insights on how viewers interact with the content, providing valuable feedback on audience engagement.

• A vast library of interactive elements and templates.
• Suitable for creating interactive presentations, infographics, social media posts, and more.
• Supports collaboration and sharing among team members.
• Some advanced features may require a learning curve for first-time users.
• The free version has limitations on the number of projects and interactive elements.
• Genially is suitable for educators, marketers, designers, and anyone seeking to create interactive and visually rich content to engage and impress their audience.
• Genially offers free and paid plans with additional features, including templates, storage space, and collaboration options.

11. SlideShare

SlideShare is a web-based platform owned by LinkedIn, designed for sharing and discovering presentations, documents, and professional content. It allows users to upload and share presentations, PDFs, infographics, and other documents with a global audience. SlideShare is a valuable resource for professionals, educators, and businesses to showcase their expertise, insights, and ideas through visual content.

Key Features of SlideShare

• Presentation Sharing: Users can upload and share presentations in various formats, such as PowerPoint, PDF, Keynote, and more.
• Document Hosting: SlideShare hosts many professional documents, including reports, whitepapers, and case studies.
• Embedding and Sharing: Content hosted on SlideShare can be easily embedded on websites, blogs, and social media platforms for broader visibility.
• Social Sharing and Engagement: Users can like, comment, and share content, fostering community engagement and interactions.
• Content Categorization: SlideShare categorizes content into topics, making it easy for users to discover relevant presentations and documents.

• Access to a vast collection of professional presentations and documents on diverse topics.
• Opportunity to showcase expertise and insights to a global audience.
• Provides a valuable platform for lead generation, content marketing, and branding.
• Easy social media sharing and embedding options.
• Limited editing capabilities, as SlideShare primarily focuses on content sharing rather than content creation.
• Some features may require a LinkedIn account for full functionality.
• SlideShare is beneficial for professionals, marketers, educators, and businesses looking to share and discover informative and visually engaging content for a wider audience.
• SlideShare offers free accounts for content sharing and viewing. However, additional paid features are available for businesses and marketers looking to enhance their visibility and analytics.

12. SlideDog

SlideDog is a multimedia presentation software that allows users to seamlessly blend different media types into a single, interactive presentation. It enables presenters to combine PowerPoint slides, PDFs, videos, web pages, and more into a cohesive presentation experience. SlideDog is designed to streamline the process of delivering multimedia-rich presentations, making it easy to switch between various content formats without interruptions or technical glitches.

Key Features of SlideDog

• Media Integration: Users can incorporate diverse media types like PowerPoint, PDF, videos, images, websites, and live web pages into a single presentation.
• Seamless Transitions: SlideDog allows smooth transitions between different media elements, providing a fluid and engaging presentation experience.
• Live Sharing and Polling: Presenters can share real-time presentations with remote audiences and even conduct polls for audience engagement.
• Presenter View: SlideDog offers a presenter view, allowing speakers to preview and control the presentation while the audience views the main screen.
• Playlist Management: Users can create playlists to organize and manage their multimedia content for efficient presentation delivery.

• Supports a wide range of media types, enabling dynamic and interactive presentations.
• Easy-to-use interface, making it user-friendly for both presenters and audiences.
• Suitable for both in-person and online presentations, enhancing versatility.
• It provides live-sharing options, making it ideal for remote and virtual events.
• Limited design and customization options compared to traditional presentation software like PowerPoint.
• Some advanced features may require a premium subscription.
• SlideDog is ideal for presenters, educators, event organizers, and businesses looking to create engaging multimedia presentations and streamline the delivery of content-rich materials.
• SlideDog offers a free version with basic features. It also provides premium plans with additional features and functionality at various price points.

Pitch is a modern presentation software designed to empower teams and individuals to create compelling and visually stunning presentations. It aims to enhance collaboration and streamline the process of building impactful pitch decks and proposals. Pitch provides a range of features and templates that enable users to craft persuasive presentations, making it an excellent tool for sales pitches, investor pitches, and other business communications.

Key Features of Pitch

• Collaborative Workspace: Pitch offers real-time collaboration, allowing multiple team members to simultaneously work on the same presentation.
• Smart Slide Templates: It provides professionally designed templates and customizable slide layouts to ensure a consistent and polished look for the presentation.
• Library of Assets: Users can access a library of stock images, icons, and illustrations to enhance the visual appeal of their slides.
• Data Visualization: Pitch supports interactive charts, graphs, and data visualizations to make complex information more accessible to the audience.
• Integration with Other Tools: It integrates with popular productivity tools like Slack, Trello, and Google Drive for seamless workflow management.

• Intuitive and user-friendly interface for easy navigation and presentation creation.
• Allows real-time collaboration, making it easy for teams to collaborate on presentations.
• Offers a wide range of customizable templates and design elements.
• Supports seamless integration with other productivity tools, enhancing workflow efficiency.
• Some advanced features in the free version may be limited, requiring a premium subscription for full access.
• Occasional minor bugs and performance issues may arise.
• Pitch is ideal for businesses, startups, and professionals looking to create visually appealing and collaborative presentations to convey ideas, pitches, and proposals effectively.
• Pitch offers free and premium plans, with the premium plan providing additional features and customization options.

14. Zoho Show

Zoho Show is a cloud-based presentation software developed by Zoho Corporation. It is designed to help users create, collaborate, and quickly deliver visually engaging presentations. Zoho Show offers a range of tools and features to streamline the presentation creation process and enhance the overall productivity of individuals and teams.

Key Features of Zoho Show

• Collaborative Editing: Zoho Show allows multiple users to work on the same presentation simultaneously, facilitating real-time collaboration.
• Pre-designed Templates: It offers a collection of professionally designed templates to jumpstart the presentation creation process.
• Charts and Graphs: Zoho Show supports interactive charts and graphs, making it easy to visualize data and statistics.
• Integration with Zoho Apps: Users can seamlessly integrate Zoho Show with other Zoho productivity apps, such as Zoho Docs and Zoho CRM.
• Privacy and Security: Zoho Show ensures data privacy and security through encryption and secure cloud storage.

• User-friendly interface, suitable for both beginners and experienced users.
• Real-time collaboration enhances team productivity and efficiency.
• Offers a variety of presentation templates and customization options.
• Integrates well with other Zoho applications, simplifying workflow management.
• Advanced features may require a paid subscription.
• Limited integration with third-party applications outside the Zoho ecosystem.
• Zoho Show caters to individuals, businesses, and educational institutions seeking a versatile and collaborative presentation tool to create professional-grade presentations.
• Zoho Show offers a free version with basic features. Premium plans with additional features are available at various subscription levels.

15. ClearSlide

ClearSlide is a cloud-based sales engagement platform that aims to empower sales teams with powerful tools to create, deliver, and track engaging sales presentations and content. It provides a comprehensive solution for sales professionals to enhance their communication with prospects and customers, leading to more effective sales conversations and better results.

Key Features of ClearSlide

• Content Management: ClearSlide offers a centralized content library to organize and manage sales collateral, including presentations, documents, videos, and more.
• Analytics and Reporting: It provides detailed analytics and insights into how prospects engage with sales content, allowing sales teams to prioritize leads and improve their outreach strategies.
• Email and Online Presentations: ClearSlide enables sales reps to deliver presentations remotely through email or online meetings, facilitating seamless virtual interactions.
• Integration with Sales Tools: It integrates with popular CRM platforms, such as Salesforce, enabling seamless data synchronization and streamlining the sales workflow.
• Real-time Engagement Tracking: ClearSlide tracks real-time viewer engagement, notifying sales reps when prospects open, view, or interact with the content.

• User-friendly interface and easy content management.
• Powerful analytics and insights to optimize sales strategies.
• Integration with CRM systems enhances sales efficiency.
• Mobile app allows sales reps to access and share content on the go.
• Some advanced features may require a higher-tier subscription.
• Limited integrations with other third-party applications.
• ClearSlide is designed for sales teams and professionals looking to streamline their sales communication, improve content management, and enhance engagement with prospects and clients.
• ClearSlide offers multiple pricing plans tailored to the needs of individual sales reps, teams, and enterprises, with various features and customization options available.

These 15 Online Presentation tools come with different features and capabilities to help you create visually appealing and engaging presentations that convey your messages and move your audience

How Can All Time Design Help You Create Engaging Presentations?

All Time Design can help you create engaging presentations by providing expert design services catering to your needs. Our team of skilled graphic designers understands the principles of effective presentation design and can craft visually appealing slides that capture your audience’s attention.

Here’s how All Time Design can assist you in creating engaging presentations:

• Custom Designs: We can create custom presentation templates that align with your brand identity and style, ensuring a consistent and professional look throughout your slides.
• Visual Storytelling: Our designers excel at visual storytelling, using compelling graphics, images, and icons to enhance your message and make your presentation memorable.
• Data Visualization: We can transform complex data into clear and understandable visualizations, making it easier for your audience to grasp critical insights.
• Animation and Interactivity: All Time Design can add subtle animations and interactive elements to your slides, bringing your content to life and keeping your audience engaged.
• Content Organization: Our designers can structure your presentation logically and engagingly, guiding your audience through your key points with clarity and flow.
• Infographics and Charts: We can create eye-catching infographics and charts that effectively communicate information and statistics.
• Branding Integration: All Time Design ensures that your company’s branding elements are seamlessly integrated into your presentation, reinforcing your brand identity.
• Revision and Feedback: We welcome your input and offer revisions to fine-tune the design according to your preferences and feedback.
• Timely Delivery: We understand the importance of deadlines and strive to deliver high-quality presentations within your specified timeframe.
• Consultation: Our team is available for consultation to understand your presentation goals and provide tailored design solutions.

By partnering with All Time Design, you can create visually stunning and engaging presentations that captivate your audience, convey your message effectively, and leave a lasting impact. Click here to get started.

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Presentation Software: Elevating Your Visual Communication Game

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In the modern era of information and technology, presentation software has become an indispensable tool for professionals, educators, and businesses alike....

In the modern era of information and technology, presentation software has become an indispensable tool for professionals, educators, and businesses alike. From PowerPoint to Keynote, Prezi to Google Slides, the variety of available presentation tools is as diverse as the presentations they help create. This comprehensive guide explores the key features of the best presentation software, including templates, animations, pricing, and more, catering to platforms like Mac, iOS, Android, and Windows.

Originally dominated by Microsoft PowerPoint, the landscape of presentation software has evolved dramatically. PowerPoint remains a powerhouse with its wide array of customizable templates, extensive font options, and user-friendly interface. However, alternatives like Apple Keynote, known for its sleek design and smooth transitions, and Google Slides, favored for its real-time collaboration features, have broadened the horizon for users seeking diversity.

Cutting-Edge Features

Customizable templates are the backbone of any presentation software. They provide a starting point for users to create engaging and professional presentations. Tools like Slidebean and Beautiful.ai offer stunning presentation templates that cater to various needs, from business pitch decks to educational infographics.

To add dynamism to presentations, software like PowerPoint and Keynote offer a range of animations and transitions. These features, when used smartly, can transform a standard slideshow into an engaging story.

Real-time collaboration has become a necessity. Google Slides and Zoho Show excel in this area, allowing multiple users to work on a presentation simultaneously. Cloud-based storage further enhances this, enabling access to presentations from any device, be it a PC, iPad, or iPhone.

Interactive presentations that include multimedia elements like videos, graphs, and data visualization are now easier to create. Prezi is renowned for its zoom functionality and non-linear presentation style, which makes it ideal for interactive presentations. Visme and Haiku Deck also offer impressive tools for integrating multimedia content.

Artificial intelligence has made significant inroads in presentation software. Tools like Beautiful.ai use AI to assist in presentation design, ensuring that layouts and color schemes are aesthetically pleasing. Data visualization, an essential aspect of modern presentations, is made more accessible through software like Visme, which offers advanced graph and chart tools.

Accessibility and Compatibility

The best presentation software offers cross-platform functionality. Whether you're working on a Mac, a Windows PC, an Android device, or using iOS, these tools ensure seamless compatibility and ease of use. PowerPoint, Keynote, and Google Slides, for instance, are available across multiple platforms, ensuring that users can work on their presentations regardless of the device they use.

The rise of mobile devices has led to a demand for presentation apps that work seamlessly on smartphones and tablets. Keynote for iOS, PowerPoint for Android, and other apps have been optimized for mobile use, allowing users to create, edit, and view presentations on the go.

Offline access is crucial for users who need to work on presentations without an internet connection. Many presentation tools offer offline functionality, allowing users to save and edit presentations without being online.

Pricing and Plans

Most presentation software offers a range of pricing options, from free versions with basic functionality to paid pro plans with advanced features. While the free plan of Google Slides might be sufficient for casual users, professional teams might opt for the advanced features of paid versions of PowerPoint or Prezi.

Subscription models are common, with many tools offering monthly or annual plans. This pricing strategy allows users to choose a plan that best suits their needs and budget.

Specialized Use Cases

Presentation software is not just for creating slideshows. Sales teams often use these tools to create compelling sales pitches and presentations. Webinar hosts leverage the interactivity and video presentation features to engage with their audience effectively.

With the rise of social media, the ability to embed presentations or share them directly on platforms like Facebook and Twitter has become important. Tools like Slidebean and Haiku Deck offer features that cater to this need.

For professional presentations, software like PowerPoint and Keynote offers a range of features to create a polished and effective presentation. In academia, tools like Prezi and Visme are popular for their ability to create visually engaging and informative presentations.

Presentation software has come a long way, evolving from simple slideshow creation tools to sophisticated platforms capable of producing highly interactive and visually stunning presentations. Whether you're a professional looking to deliver a compelling pitch deck, a teacher aiming to create an informative lecture, or a student presenting a project, the right presentation software can make a significant difference. With the wide range of features, pricing options, and compatibility across devices, choosing the right presentation tool can elevate your presentation game to the next level.

Pricing: Free to try

Speechify Studio is a comprehensive creative AI suite for individuals and teams. Create stunning AI videos from text prompts, add voice overs, create AI avatars, dub videos into multiple languages, slides, and more! All projects can be used for personal or commercial content.

Top Features : Templates, text to video, real-time editing, resizing, transcription, video marketing tools.

Speechify is clearly the best option for your generated avatar videos. With seamless integration with all the products, Speechify Studio is perfect for teams of all sizes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Presentation Software

Presentation software is a tool used to create slideshows or digital presentations. Examples include Microsoft PowerPoint, Apple Keynote, Google Slides, and Prezi.

Microsoft PowerPoint is the most widely used presentation software, known for its versatility and wide range of features.

The Microsoft version of presentation software is Microsoft PowerPoint.

The best Microsoft software for creating presentations is Microsoft PowerPoint, known for its extensive range of templates, animations, and customizable features.

Some of the best programs for presentations include Microsoft PowerPoint, Apple Keynote, Google Slides, Prezi, and Slidebean.

The best presentation software programs include Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, Apple Keynote, Prezi, and Visme, each offering unique features like interactive presentations, customizable templates, and cloud-based functionality.

Benefits of using presentation software include the ability to create professional and engaging presentations with ease, using templates, animations, and multimedia; real-time collaboration; and the flexibility to present both online and offline across various devices.

Software for presentations includes applications like Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, Apple Keynote, and Prezi, which offer tools to create, design, and deliver stunning presentations with features like slide transitions, infographics, video embeds, and data visualization.

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Cliff Weitzman

Cliff Weitzman is a dyslexia advocate and the CEO and founder of Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app in the world, totaling over 100,000 5-star reviews and ranking first place in the App Store for the News & Magazines category. In 2017, Weitzman was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work making the internet more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Cliff Weitzman has been featured in EdSurge, Inc., PC Mag, Entrepreneur, Mashable, among other leading outlets.

Best Presentation Software: Top Tools for Engaging Presentations

by Ian | Jun 4, 2024

Crafting a well-executed presentation can be a game-changer, whether you’re a student, professional, or entrepreneur. It’s not just about sharing information; it’s about weaving a story, painting a picture, and leaving a lasting impact on your audience’s minds. In today’s age of information overload, attention spans are shorter than ever. A good presentation slide takes this into account, breaking down complex information into bite-sized chunks and guiding your audience through a logical flow.

To help you stay ahead of the game, we have compiled a list of the 12 best software for presentations. These PowerPoint alternatives offer a combination of user-friendly interfaces, stunning visuals, collaboration features, and innovative functionalities that will take your presentations to the next level. So, let’s dive in and explore these top presentation software picks!

1. Venngage

If you’re looking for a presentation software that goes beyond just presentations to focus on data visualization and transforming complex information into visually appealing and engaging visuals, Venngage is your top pick. With its extensive library of infographic elements, Venngage simplifies the process of creating data-driven and visually appealing presentations.

Vast selection of templates

Venngage boasts an extensive library of professionally designed templates, catering to a wide range of industries and presentation purposes. Whether you’re creating a marketing report, educational presentation or business pitch, Venngage’s presentation tool offers templates that provide a solid foundation for your designs. With Venngage’s fully customizable, pre-designed infographic templates, you can save 20+ hours of designing and create visually appealing presentations with well-structured layouts.

Data visualization made easy

Venngage simplifies the process of data visualization, making it accessible to users of all backgrounds. With its data visualization tools , you can transform dull statistics into visually engaging charts and graphs that tell a compelling story.

Seamless real-time in-editor collaboration tools

Venngage enables real-time collaboration that makes working together becomes a breeze. With its seamless collaboration tools designed to foster collaboration across teams, departments and the entire organization, you can work with your team members in the same room or across the globe.

Consistently brand your designs with smart Autobrand features

With Venngage’s My Brand Kit, you can effortlessly infuse your presentation slides with your brand’s colors, fonts and logos. You can upload your brand assets and create engaging presentations by applying your branding to any template you create on Venngage.

Who is it for

Venngage is for marketers, designers, educators and businesses that require data-driven and visually appealing presentations.

Key features

Venngage’s key features include infographic elements, data visualization tools, collaboration options, and customizable templates.

You can create your first 5 designs with Venngage for free and upgrade to a premium or business plan for $10 USD/month per user and $24 USD/month per user to enjoy premium features. For larger teams who need extra support, controls and security, the enterprise plan starts from $499 USD/month for 10+ seats. Additionally, there are also plans available for classrooms priced at $99 USD/year for up to 35 students per instructor. Non-profit organizations can also apply for a nonprofit discount to any Venngage plan.

2. Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is a well-known presentation software that has been popular among users for many years. With its user-friendly interface, PowerPoint is suitable for individuals, students, educators, and businesses of all sizes. In fact, 89% of people still use PowerPoint presentations over competitor services.

PowerPoint is designed for anyone who wants to create engaging presentations with ease. Whether you are a student, teacher, business professional, or just a creative soul, PowerPoint’s features can help you deliver captivating and informative presentations.

PowerPoint offers a variety of features to help you create professional and dynamic presentations. Some of the key features include:

• Customizable templates: PowerPoint provides a wide range of customizable templates that you can use to create your presentation quickly and easily.
• Multimedia support: You can add images, videos, and audio files to your presentation to make it more engaging and interactive.
• Extensive slide editing options: PowerPoint offers a variety of slide editing options, including text formatting, color schemes, and layout customization.
• Robust animations and transitions: With PowerPoint, you can create eye-catching animations and transitions that can help you guide your audience through your content.

PowerPoint is available as part of the Microsoft 365 subscription, with various plans tailored for businesses. The plans range from $6 to $22 USD/month. Additionally, you can purchase an unbundled PowerPoint account separately, priced at $159.99 USD. While the collaboration features in PowerPoint may not be as robust as those offered by specialized presentation tools, its seamless integration with other Microsoft Office tools makes it an excellent choice for users who need to incorporate charts, graphs, and written content from these tools directly into their presentation.

3. Google Slides

Who can use google slides.

Google Slides is a cloud-based presentation software designed for remote teams, educators, students, and anyone looking for easy collaboration and access from any device. It is perfect for those who need to work on presentations with others in real-time or want to access their presentations from anywhere with an internet connection.

Key features of Google Slides

Google Slides stands out from other presentation tools because of its seamless collaboration capabilities. Multiple users can work on the same presentation simultaneously, enabling real-time editing and fostering efficient teamwork. The integrated commenting feature on Google Slides allows for shared feedback and discussions, enhancing collaboration even further.

Another key feature of Google Slides is its cloud-based storage and auto-saving feature. This ensures that your work is constantly saved, minimizing the risk of losing progress or important changes. Google Slides also has an offline mode available, but it has certain limitations and may not provide the same level of functionality as when connected to the internet.

Pricing for Google Slides

Google Slides is accessible to all individuals with a Google account at no cost, providing all users with access to its full range of features. However, for businesses and teams looking for additional organizational capabilities, there are subscription plans available ranging from $6 to $18 USD/month.

Limitations of Google Slides

Although Google Slides is a great tool for collaboration, it has fewer design options compared to other presentation tools. This may limit the level of visual creativity and flexibility for those seeking intricate designs or specialized effects. Additionally, Google Slides heavily relies on an internet connection for full functionality and access is more limited compared to desktop-based software.

Overall, Google Slides is an excellent tool for anyone looking for easy collaboration and access from any device. Its real-time collaboration, shared commenting, offline mode, and built-in sharing options make it a great choice for remote teams, educators, and students alike.

4. Keynote (for Mac users)

Who can benefit from keynote.

If you’re a Mac user, creative, professional, educator, or anyone who wants to create visually stunning presentations, Keynote is the perfect tool for you. Keynote is a presentation software designed exclusively for Apple devices, including macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. It offers a sleek and intuitive interface that reflects Apple’s design aesthetics.

Key Features of Keynote

Keynote offers a wide range of advanced multimedia options that allow you to create polished and modern-looking presentations. It includes visually appealing templates, animations, and transitions that enable you to incorporate images, videos, audio files, and interactive elements seamlessly into your presentations. The presentation software also includes a wide range of animations and transitions, enabling smooth and cinematic effects that bring slides to life.

One of the standout features of Keynote is its seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem. It works effortlessly with other Apple applications, allowing users to combine different elements and data from various sources. Presentations created in Keynote can be easily shared and accessed across Apple devices, ensuring a consistent experience for both the presenter and the audience.

Keynote also offers collaborative editing capabilities, enabling multiple users to work on the same presentation simultaneously. Users can share their presentations with others, who can then provide feedback, make edits, and contribute to the project in real-time.

Keynote is available for free on Apple devices, including macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. As it comes pre-installed with these devices, users can access and use Keynote without any additional cost. However, since Keynote is exclusively designed for Apple devices, sharing presentations created in Keynote with users on different platforms may require exporting or converting the files to a compatible format, which can lead to potential formatting issues or loss of certain features.

Prezi is an ideal presentation tool for creative professionals, educators, and individuals who want to create visually captivating and non-linear presentations. Its unique zooming and transition effects create a sense of movement and spatial relationship between ideas, enhancing engagement and making it a great choice for those who want to deliver a memorable presentation.

Prezi offers a range of features that make it stand out from other presentation tools. Its zooming presentation style is one of its most renowned features, allowing presenters to navigate through a virtual canvas seamlessly. Prezi presentations also include interactive elements such as embedded videos, images, and hyperlinks, enabling presenters to create interactive presentations and engage their audience on a deeper level.

In addition, Prezi offers cloud-based collaboration, making it easy for multiple users to collaborate on a presentation in real-time. This feature facilitates seamless teamwork, enabling users to collectively develop and refine their presentations regardless of their physical locations. Prezi also provides reusable templates that allow users to create visually appealing presentations quickly and easily.

Prezi offers a range of pricing plans to suit different needs and budgets. For individuals and business professionals, the pricing plans are as follows:

• Basics: Create and share up to 5 visual projects for free.
• Standard: Starting at $5 USD/month.
• Plus: Starting at $12 USD/month.
• Premium: Starting at $16 USD/month.
• Teams: Starting at $19 USD/month per user (billed annually).

For students and educators, Prezi offers the following pricing plans:

• EDU Plus: Starting at $3/month.
• EDU Pro: Starting at $4/month.
• EDU Teams: Enquiry required with Prezi sales team.

Overall, Prezi is a powerful and visually engaging presentation tool that offers a range of features to help users create memorable and effective presentations. While it may have a steeper learning curve compared to more traditional presentation tools, the benefits of its unique style and collaboration features make it a great choice for those who want to deliver impactful presentations.

Canva is a user-friendly presentation tool that is suitable for individuals, students, small businesses, and startups seeking professional-looking marketing materials and presentations. With its vast collection of pre-designed templates, Canva allows users to jumpstart their design projects with professional-looking layouts, saving valuable time and effort.

Canva offers an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, which makes it super easy to use even if you’re not a design pro. Users can simply drag and drop elements to create their presentation slides without breaking a sweat. Additionally, Canva provides extensive template options, built-in multimedia support for adding videos, images, and audio to slides, and the ability to share presentations as downloadable files or online links.

Canva offers a free version that provides a wide range of features and resources, with the only limitations being the use of premium resources that can be acquired either through separate purchases or by subscribing to the Canva Pro plan. The Canva Pro plan is available for $12.99 USD per month or $119.99 USD per year. For collaborative purposes, Canva Teams is available at a price of $14.99 USD per month, with an additional charge of $14.99 USD per month for every team member beyond the initial five.

It is important to note that while Canva does offer some basic slide transition effects, the range and customization options for transitions may be limited compared to dedicated presentation software like Microsoft PowerPoint or Apple Keynote. However, for those seeking a user-friendly and efficient presentation tool with a vast collection of pre-designed templates, Canva is a great option.

7. Adobe Express

Adobe Express is a presentation software that is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite. It is designed to provide a simplified and user-friendly interface, making it easy for both design professionals and individuals without extensive design experience to create visually stunning presentations.

Adobe Express is ideal for designers, creative professionals, individuals and businesses seeking professional-grade presentation design. With its intuitive interface and extensive multimedia support, Adobe Express is perfect for those who want to create engaging and interactive presentations.

One of the notable advantages of Adobe Express is its seamless integration with other Adobe products, such as Photoshop and Illustrator. This integration enables users to leverage the power of these industry-standard design tools within their presentations, providing access to advanced design features and a vast library of high-quality assets.

Adobe Express also offers professional design options, allowing users to create visually stunning presentations with ease. Its extensive multimedia support enables users to incorporate videos, audio files and interactive elements to keep their audience engaged.

While the free version of Adobe Express includes all the core features, users can gain access to premium templates and features when they upgrade to the Premium subscription for $9.99 USD/month. For businesses and teams, Adobe provides tailored plans that include additional features like collaboration tools, centralized license management and enterprise-level support. The pricing for these plans depends on the number of licenses and the specific needs of the organization. It’s best to consult with Adobe or their authorized resellers to get accurate pricing information for business plans.

8. Haiku Deck

Haiku Deck is a presentation software that focuses on visual storytelling and minimalist design. It offers a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy to create eye-catching presentations on both computers and mobile devices.

Haiku Deck is ideal for educators, individuals, and professionals who appreciate the power of visual storytelling and minimalist design. It’s perfect for those who want to create presentations that are visually engaging and easy to understand.

Haiku Deck’s key features include:

• Image-focused templates: Haiku Deck offers a variety of beautiful templates that are designed to showcase your images and make your presentations visually appealing.
• Easy-to-use interface: Haiku Deck’s interface is straightforward and intuitive, making it easy to create presentations quickly and efficiently.
• Cloud-based collaboration: Haiku Deck allows you to collaborate with others on your presentations in real-time, making it easy to work together and get feedback.
• Seamless image search integration: Haiku Deck seamlessly integrates with image search engines, making it easy to find and add high-quality visuals to your presentations.

Haiku Deck offers a free trial that allows you to experience the software with one presentation. If you decide to upgrade, they offer different pricing plans . The Pro plan is available at $9.99 per month with annual billing or $19.99 per month with monthly billing. The Premium plan, which includes advanced features, is priced at $29.99 per month. Additionally, Haiku Deck offers special pricing to qualifying nonprofit organizations, students, and educators.

Ludus is an excellent choice for designers, creatives, marketing professionals, and anyone who wants to create interactive and visually appealing presentations that leave a lasting impression. The software is perfect for those who want to incorporate multimedia elements like videos, audios, and web content to create interactive presentations that captivate the audience.

Ludus offers a range of unique presentation tools that enable users to incorporate interactive elements like clickable buttons, hover effects, and embedded web content, enabling a more dynamic and engaging presentation experience. The software is rich in multimedia capabilities, allowing users to seamlessly integrate videos, audio, and elements to create interactive presentations that captivate the audience. Ludus also offers collaborative editing, allowing multiple users to edit presentations simultaneously.

The software provides extensive design customization options, enabling users to create presentations that align with their brand’s visual identity. Real-time comments and feedback are also available, making it easy to collaborate with team members and stakeholders.

Ludus offers a starting price of $14.99 USD/month per user for teams consisting of 1-15 members, with all features included. For larger teams requiring additional licenses, Ludus encourages reaching out for more information on pricing. It’s worth noting that Ludus provides a 30-day free trial, allowing users to explore the platform and its features before committing to a subscription.

While the customization options are vast, users might find themselves starting from scratch or investing more time in creating the initial design. Additionally, individuals new to the platform might experience a learning curve involved in fully harnessing all of Ludus’ features and capabilities. However, Ludus brings together the best of both worlds by offering the traditional slide deck format along with interactive and multimedia elements that take presentations to a whole new level.

10. Slidebean

If you’re a startup, entrepreneur, small business owner, or an individual who needs to create professional presentations quickly, Slidebean is the perfect tool for you. With its automated design and content suggestions, Slidebean simplifies the process of creating polished presentations, saving you valuable time and effort.

Key Features

Slidebean’s AI-powered slide design functionality is the highlight of the tool. The software analyzes the content provided and generates visually appealing slide layouts, making it easy for users to create professional-looking presentations. Additionally, Slidebean offers collaboration tools, allowing multiple team members to work on a presentation simultaneously.

Another great feature of Slidebean is its AI-powered content suggestions. The software analyzes the presentation content and provides helpful suggestions for improving the messaging and overall flow, ensuring that users can effectively communicate their ideas and engage their audience.

Slidebean also offers pitch deck-specific templates, making it easy for startups and entrepreneurs to create compelling investor pitches .

Slidebean offers a free version with limited functionalities, providing users with an opportunity to experience its capabilities and understand its workflow. However, to export your presentation and access advanced features, upgrading to a higher plan is necessary.

The all-access plan is available at $228 USD/year, which includes unlimited access to all features. Additional services such as startup expert consultations and pitch deck and financial model services are available for separate purchase.

It’s worth noting that certain advanced features are only available in premium plans, which may require an upgrade for those seeking more advanced functionality. However, for startups and entrepreneurs who need to create professional presentations quickly and easily, Slidebean is an excellent tool that simplifies the design process and saves valuable time and effort.

11. Beautiful.ai

Beautiful.ai is a presentation software that simplifies the process of creating visually stunning and professional-looking slides with minimal effort. It offers a collection of smart templates and design suggestions that are intelligently designed to provide visually appealing layouts, saving users valuable time and effort in creating presentations.

This platform is suitable for individuals, startups, and professionals who want visually impressive presentations without extensive design skills.

Beautiful.ai offers a range of features that streamline the presentation creation process. Some of its key features include:

• Smart templates: The platform offers a collection of smart templates that are designed to provide visually appealing layouts, saving users valuable time and effort in creating presentations.
• Automated design suggestions: Beautiful.ai leverages AI-powered technology to offer layout optimization, ensuring that slide elements are positioned optimally for maximum impact.
• AI-powered layout optimization: The software automatically adjusts the layout and formatting as users add or modify content, eliminating the need for manual adjustments.
• Easy slide customization: While the platform provides smart templates and design suggestions, users can still customize their slides with ease.

Beautiful.ai provides two subscription options for users. The Pro plan is available at a monthly cost of $12 USD/month, while the Team plan is priced at $40 USD/month. Both plans are billed annually. Users who need to subscribe for ad hoc projects can access all pro features for $45 USD/month (billed monthly). There is a 14-day free trial period that allows users to thoroughly test and explore the features and capabilities of the tool before committing to a subscription.

Pitch is an ideal presentation software for teams, startups, and businesses that prioritize collaboration, feedback, and the ability to iterate on their presentations. The software is designed to cater to the needs of professionals from different industries and backgrounds, making it suitable for anyone who wants to create visually stunning presentations without compromising on the quality.

Pitch is known for its robust collaboration tools that allow team members to work together in real-time. With version control, users can keep track of changes made to their presentations and revert to previous versions if needed. The software also offers seamless integration with project management tools, enabling users to sync tasks, deadlines, and other project-related information with their presentations.

Pitch boasts an extensive slide library that includes a wide range of professionally designed templates. These templates serve as a foundation for creating visually stunning presentations while providing a starting point that saves time and ensures a polished look. The availability of diverse templates caters to different industries, topics, and presentation styles, allowing users to create presentations for their specific needs.

Pitch offers a starter plan that is free and allows users to create unlimited presentations. For users who want to access more features, they can upgrade to the Pro plan, which costs $8 USD/month, billed annually. The Pro plan offers additional features such as custom branding, advanced analytics, and more. The pricing is affordable, making it accessible to professionals from different backgrounds.

In summary, Pitch is a modern video presentation maker that offers robust collaboration tools, an extensive slide library, seamless project management integration, and affordable pricing. It’s an ideal software for teams, startups, and businesses that value collaboration, feedback, and the ability to iterate on their presentations.

Now that you have reviewed the top 12 presentation tools of the year, you can confidently choose the one that suits your needs. Whether you prioritize simplicity, collaboration, automation, design versatility, or data visualization, there is a solution for you. With your selected software, it’s time to start creating your slides and deliver an outstanding presentation. Remember to utilize the tool’s features to enhance your presentation’s impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which presentation software offers the best features for free.

There are several presentation software options available for free that offer great features. Google Slides is a popular choice that offers collaboration, cloud storage, and a variety of templates. Canva is another option that offers a wide range of design tools and templates. Both of these options are user-friendly and offer a great selection of features at no cost.

What are some creative alternatives to traditional presentation applications?

There are several creative alternatives to traditional presentation applications that can help you stand out from the crowd. Prezi is a popular option that offers a unique zooming feature that can make your presentation more engaging. Haiku Deck is another option that offers a variety of stylish templates and allows you to easily create visually appealing presentations.

Which presentation tools are most popular among students for academic use?

PowerPoint and Google Slides are the most popular presentation tools among students for academic use. Both offer a wide range of features and are easy to use. PowerPoint is often the go-to choice for Windows users, while Google Slides is popular among those who prefer cloud-based applications.

How do Prezi and PowerPoint compare in terms of presentation capabilities?

Prezi and PowerPoint both offer a variety of presentation capabilities, but they differ in their approach. Prezi offers a more unique and engaging presentation style with its zooming feature, while PowerPoint offers a more traditional slide-by-slide approach. Both options have their strengths and can be effective depending on the specific presentation needs.

Can you list two well-regarded examples of presentation software?

Two well-regarded examples of presentation software are Microsoft PowerPoint and Apple Keynote. PowerPoint is widely used in business and academic settings and offers a wide range of features. Keynote is popular among Apple users and offers a sleek and modern design.

Are there any robust presentation apps available at no cost?

Yes, there are several robust presentation apps available at no cost. In addition to Google Slides and Canva, LibreOffice Impress is a free and open-source option that offers a variety of features and templates. Additionally, Slidebean is a free option that offers AI-powered design tools to help you create professional-looking presentations.

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The Top Presentation Software & Features in 2022 - RenewedVision Blog

Presentation software keeps changing. Has your business or organization kept up?

Modern, pro-grade presentation software solutions offer worlds more in terms of features and functionality than legacy office-oriented or cloud-based tools. Chances are, you’re here because you’re looking for a better way to create presentations and slide decks, a tool with greater visual panache than PowerPoint.

ProPresenter 7 is that pro-grade solution.

Critical Features of Top Presentation Software in 20 22

Below, find a list of the top features that a modern presentation software solution needs in 2022 — and how ProPresenter perfectly meets these needs.

Easy to Use (for Staff and Volunteers Alike)

Your organization needs a presentation software solution that offers the powerful features and customization options you need, but in a format and user interface that’s easy to use. Many organizations rely on a combination of dedicated staff and committed volunteers to run presentations, and not everyone who might be called upon to do so is tech-savvy or a trained production professional.

ProPresenter is both powerful and easy to use, allowing novices and experts alike to create stunning presentations thanks to an intuitive drag and drop interface. Your experts will be able to create professionally designed visuals with ease, while your volunteers will be able to create content that’s far better than a PowerPoint presentation.

Feature-Rich Slide Editor

Speaking of Microsoft PowerPoint: it’s had a nice run, but if you’re doing anything more visually important than a college speech or a small team meeting, your audience deserves better. You need a more powerful PowerPoint alternative with a feature-rich slide editor, that’s just as comfortable with video as it is with text and graphics.

ProPresenter 7’s slide editor gives you an astounding array of options for building presentations, pitch decks, and more that go far beyond what you can get out of a Prezi presentation or other common presentation programs. You’ll have access to multiple layers so that you can utilize video, static slides, announcements, and more.

ProPresenter 7 also eliminates unpleasant surprises. There’s a presenter view, called Show, that allows you to preview what you’re presenting, while being able to make edits to text as needed.

Multiple Independent Streams, including Confidence Monitor Output

If you’ve ever done any public speaking yourself, you know how challenging it can be to present in a way that’s natural, compelling, and interesting, all at once. You’ve probably seen a presenter give a TED Talk and marveled at how calm and self-assured the person was.

Well, the truth is, that presenter likely memorized a significant amount of the presentation and had serious coaching help. Your speakers and presenters might not have the same luxury. But what they can get with ProPresenter 7 is a Confidence Monitor, also known as a Stage Display. This innovative feature allows your tech team to send text, graphics, videos, and timers to a screen that only the presenter can see.

And this separate stream runs independently from the main audience-facing presentation stream or streams. Your audience stays engaged, and your speaker stays on point.

Using the same technology, ProPresenter 7 allows businesses to power multiple independent content streams to various parts of a facility. For example, you may want to send live stream video of a live presentation to certain feeds, while an announcement carousel rotates through in the foyer. In complex environments like conferences or eSports tournaments, you might even be juggling multiple simultaneous live streams, routing them online and to specific locations at the event.

With ProPresenter, you can do all of this.

Live Streaming Integration

Speaking of live streaming, the best presentation software solutions for 2022 are more than just presentation apps. Instead, they integrate naturally with major live streaming software solutions — or even take the place of live streaming software entirely!

ProPresenter offers resilient, high-quality streaming via Resi, a pro-grade video encoder compatible with all the top streaming platforms. You can go live directly from within ProPresenter, without the need for a separate third-party application. ProPresenter offers screen recording, support for multiple cameras/angles (with transitions), and audio capture and output.

Of course, some businesses prefer to rely on another tool for producing live video content, and ProPresenter integrates easily with all the top tools in that market, as well.

Wide Operating System Compatibility

You need a presentation solution that is compatible with both Windows OS and macOS. And support for iOS and Android devices (in roles that make sense, that is) wouldn’t hurt, either.

Microsoft, Apple, and Google all have their own proprietary presentation programs (that’s PowerPoint, a part of Microsoft Office, plus Apple Keynote and Google Slides). Of the three, cloud-based Google Slides has the broadest compatibility but the weakest feature set. Keynote is 100% exclusive to Apple, and PowerPoint tends to act differently across varying operating systems and device types. Whether you’re using the web-based, app-based, or desktop this can, unfortunately, make a difference in what your audience sees.

ProPresenter 7, on the other hand, offers wide compatibility, working seamlessly across PC and Mac, allowing you to build workflows and transfer them. This is handier than you might think, as many people will build a presentation at home, then bring it in on a USB key. There’s also app-based control via Android and iOS (more on that in a minute).

Flexible Import and Export (Videos, Files, Presentations, Templates, Themes)

Professional solutions offer flexible import and export options, allowing you to pull in videos, files, whole presentations built in a competitor’s format (e.g., PowerPoint files), templates, and themes with ease. ProPresenter also allows you to export files as needed. You want to be able to bring in any type of video, audio, image, or even a custom font, and know it will work beautifully with the software you’re using.

ProPresenter works with all common and many uncommon video and image formats, as well as audio. After creating a gorgeous presentation, you can also export it, so you can make the slides available to attendees, or for the people who just like hard copies.

Professional Video Formats

In professional environments like live productions, broadcasting, and eSports, your production team is using SDI or NDI connections, instead of HDMI. ProPresenter has been integrated with Blackmagic Design gear for over 10 years, giving you access to software that ‘just works’. No need to pack Decimators or Datavideo converters for HDMI or VGA outputs – you can assign SDI outputs directly. DeckLink cards are the most common implementation, but ProPresenter also works great with UltraStudio inputs and outputs.

ProPresenter is also able to generate multiple Key and Fill outputs, enabling alpha keying, instead of just luma or chroma keying . For Professional, easy-to-use video outputs, ProPresenter has what you need. .

App-Based Mobile Control

Today’s presentation environments are more varied than ever before, and they don’t always look like an auditorium or lecture hall. Even if you are managing a presentation in a space with an AV booth, you may not always want to be in that booth just to control the presentation. It can be beneficial to have the speaker control their own presentation, or to control the show from a tablet.

ProPresenter offers a powerful control app for both Android and iOS. Presenters and support staff alike can control a ProPresenter presentation from a dedicated, easy to use, pro-grade app — from the booth, from the floor, or even from another room entirely.

Rearrange Slides in Real-Time

There’s nothing worse than being in the middle of sharing a presentation and realizing that something’s missing. And yet, this happens all the time. With a lesser presentation tool, you’re stuck. Your best bet is to freeze the show, exit, and then work as fast as you can to add the missing content or correct the problem. You can only hope to resolve the problem before the presenter is ready for the next slide.

Even worse, you might be exiting the slide presentation mid-show, showing off your desktop or sensitive information as you frantically search for the right file, in full view of the entire audience.

There’s got to be a better way. And with ProPresenter 7, there is. ProPresenter allows you to dynamically rearrange slides within a show, in real-time, and while the show is running. If you’re working with pitch decks (or a haiku deck), maybe you notice too late that you’ve got the wrong client or investor logo on that final slide.

With a traditional presentation solution, this would be a crisis. But with ProPresenter 7, you can edit that slide while the presenter is mid-presentation, and no one has to know. You can even engage in real-time collaboration behind the scenes — all while the show continues up front.

Integrations with Top Third-Party Tools

Whatever industry you’re a part of, there are likely a handful of third-party tools that are simply indispensable. Whether these are streaming or broadcasting tools, tie-ins to an LMS or CMS, hosted content libraries, or something else entirely, you want a presentation software solution that can easily integrate with those tools or quickly pull from their content libraries.

For maximum compatibility, you need a pro-grade presentation solution. ProPresenter 7 features wide integrations with industry tools, including DMX, RossTalk, AMP, CITP, GlobalCache, GVG100, Sony BVS, Sony BVW, VDCP, Resi, Planning Center, CCLI SongSelect, and MIDI.

Automatic Copyright Information

This feature is relevant mainly for presentation software for houses of worship , live production, and some educational settings, but if you need it, you really need it. ProPresenter can link up with CCLI and SongSelect and automatically pull in copyright information for copyrighted song lyrics. Doing so is essential for maintaining copyright compliance, and doing it manually is a huge time-waster. With ProPresenter, you can take a “set it and forget it” approach to song copyright notices.

Choose ProPresenter for Your Presentation Software Needs

ProPresenter 7 is a professional-grade presentation software suite that’s full of powerful, pro-grade features, yet it remains simple enough to use that beginners and volunteers alike can succeed with it.

We’re trusted by thousands of organizations and businesses across a wide swathe of industries, as well as government, education, nonprofits, eSports and houses of worship . We have the tools you need to take your presentations to the next level.

Ready to learn more? Reach out today, or download ProPresenter now.

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The 50 Best Presentation Software Tools

Last updated on December 6, 2023

Whether you’re pitching to investors or walking your employees through an essential training program, you need to get your point across efficiently. There’s nothing wrong with a traditional slide deck, but your audience might want to see something more advanced.

It’s time to overhaul your business presentations. From graphics to videos to stunning slide decks, technology has the power to revamp your messaging. Rely on these 50 best presentation software tools to raise your presentations to the next level. Note that the presentation software tools are listed below in alphabetical order; otherwise, they’re not ranked or rated in any way.

1. AhaSlides

Keep your audience on their toes with live polls, quizzes, and other interactive features with AhaSlides. This interactive presentation software tool gets your audience out of their fog and makes them active participants in your presentation.

Key features :

• Live quizzes
• Audience Q&A

Price : $0 - $15.95/mo

2. Apple Keynote

Does your team run solely on iOS? If so, Apple Keynote is a solid option for designing and sharing presentations. This solution works perfectly with iPads, Apple Pencil, iPhone, and more to create mobile-friendly presentations that turn heads.

• 30 animations and transitions available
• 700 pre-designed shapes and charts
• Live video feed integration

Price : Free

3. Artsteps

Ready to take your audience on a walkthrough? Artsteps helps you create a metaverse-friendly, 3D VR experience that your audience won’t soon forget.

• Custom 3D design
• 3D virtual events

Price : Contact for quote

4. Beautiful.ai

Don’t have a designer on staff? Beautiful.ai does all of the designing for you. With beautiful templates and automated features, like formatting, presenters can design effective presentations in significantly less time.

• Smart templates
• Automatic formatting
• Universal slide updates
• Brand control

Price : $12 - $40/mo

Stop wondering where your important documents are: Bit.AI stores all of your information in one place. You can track presentation slides, create a knowledge base, and even create a separate portal for your clients with this tool.

• Real-time editing and asset sharing
• Progress tracking
• Interlink documents

Price : $0 - $15/mo

6. Biteable

Platforms like Loom and Vidyard are useful for demo-style presentations, but it can be tough to keep your content on-brand. Biteable is a presentation software tool that applies your brand rules to your videos, presentations, and more—automatically.

• 200+ video templates
• Social media templates
• Presentation templates

Price : $0 - $249/mo, billed annually

Canva is a presentation software tool that hardly needs an introduction. It’s the darling of sales, marketing, and branding professionals around the world. Use this tool to create slides, graphics, videos, and more to make your presentations stand out—no graphic design experience required.

• Stock photos and videos
• Readymade professional templates for slides, graphics, videos, and more
• Link sharing

Price : $12.99/mo

8. ClearSlide

ClearSlide is more than a presentation tool: it’s a complete sales enablement platform. Track email campaigns, host web conferences, push data to your CRM, and—of course—manage all your presentation content in one place.

• Content hub
• Group-based content permissions

9. CustomShow

Designed specifically for enterprise presentations, CustomShow bills itself as an alternative to Google Slides and PowerPoint. It offers more advanced tools for manipulating text and dropping in interactive animations, which will definitely turn a few heads.

• Explainer animations
• Audio and PDF embedding
• Animated charts
• Text manipulation

Price : $23 - $55/mo

10. DigiDeck

DigiDeck is designed specifically for sales presentations. It helps sales teams save time, stay on-brand, and track attendee views with presentation analytics.

• Mobile-responsive layouts
• Brand governance
• Cloud-based content management

If you don’t have a lot of time to build your presentations, but you want to knock your audience’s socks off, use emaze. emaze has hundreds of ready-made templates for presentations, whether you’re a B2B business or an educator in the classroom.

• eLearning templates
• 3D + video templates

Price : $7 - $70/mo, billed annually

12. Empower Slides

Empower is another PowerPoint-centric tool that gives you instant access to pro-level presentation templates. This PowerPoint add-on helps you keep all assets on-brand and up-to-date, so you never have to worry about brand compliance again.

• Brand compliance features
• Slide library

13. FlowVella

Static presentation slides are okay, but in a world where attention spans are dwindling, interactive features will certainly perk up your audience. Combine GIFs, PDFs, PNGs, and other files into an interactive experience for your audience with Flowvella.

• Drag and drop functionality
• iPad kiosk app functionality
• Video autoplay

Price : $10 - $20/mo, billed annually

14. Genially

You don’t need a designer or a developer to create interactive content for your presentations. Genially creates interactive presentations, videos, and infographics with gamified elements—no coding required.

• Gamification
• Video presentations

Price : $0 - $79.15/mo

15. Google Slides

If your organization runs on Google, you’ve likely already used Google Slides. This free, cloud-based presentation app allows teams to edit slides in real-time, which is perfect for remote collaboration.

• Real-time editing
• Speaker notes
• Google app integration with Meet, Sheets, and Gmail

16. Haiku Deck

Do you frequently find yourself creating presentations on the go? Haiku Deck is an iPhone-friendly presentation software tool that simplifies the presentation creation process. Thanks to its clean UI, Haiku Deck makes it simple to make presentations quickly, whether you’re on your laptop or phone.

• Image filters
• Creative Commons images

Price : $9.99 - $29.99/mo, billed annually

Presentations sometimes require more than a slide deck. With Issuu, you can create a flipbook, interactive email graphics, and more out of static PDFs.

• Third-party integrations
• Digital publishing for flipbooks
• Content distribution

Price : $0 - $269/mo

18. LibreOffice Impress

LibreOffice is a non-profit that offers free, open-source software that mimics many paid Microsoft tools. While it doesn’t include the high-end features you’ll see with PowerPoint, Impress does allow you to design effective presentations for free.

• Handout feature
• Content outlining mode

Loom is similar to Vidyard: it allows you to record your webcam, screen, audio, and mouse at once. Showcase your presentation slides while speaking to the camera, sharing your presentation via link, email, chat, and more.

• Screen recorder
• Webcam recorder

Price : $0 - $8/mo

20. Lucidpress

Your presentations need to be consistent and on-brand, but that can be challenging if you’re working with tight deadlines. Never miss the mark with Lucidpress. This presentation software tool helps you create branded templates that speed up the presentation creation process.

• Brand templating
• Drag and drop UI
• Auto-populated data

Price : $0 - $12/mo

Ludus is perfect for creative teams that need to collaborate on presentations. But the platform offers a lot more than slides: use its pre-formatted workflows to assign roles and tasks so your team never drops the ball.

• Smart block library
• Third-party integration with Unsplash, Dropbox, GIPHY, and Google Drive
• Presentation recording and embedding

Price : $14.99/mo

Sales and marketing is hard enough as it is. Use smart tools like Maglr to make your sales or marketing presentations more interactive—no coding required. Show your content on both mobile and desktop devices, analyzing audience behavior every step of the way.

• Interactive infographic templates
• Interactive annual reports or magazines
• Behavior analysis

23. Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft is one of the most common software suites in the business world and PowerPoint is a staple for presentations. However, with a Microsoft 365 subscription, your team can extend the functionality of PowerPoint with its mobile app and real-time editing capabilities.

• PowerPoint Designer and Ideas
• Embedded 3D objects
• Voice, touch, and ink edits with Microsoft tablets

Price : $6 - $22/mo

24. Microsoft Sway

Microsoft Sway is similar to PowerPoint, except it’s completely free to use (PowerPoint requires a license) and it’s based on the web. You can access Sway via your browser or app to create a beautiful online presentation that’s easy to share.

• URL sharing
• Multimedia integration for photos and videos

Miro is ideal for collaborating internally with a distributed team. Use this presentation software tool to share your big ideas with the team, kick off workflows, and take care of business.

• Digital whiteboard
• Video chat integration

Price : $0 - $16/mo, billed annually

26. Piktochart

Don’t greet your audience with a slide full of numbers. Use Piktochart to tell compelling stories, faster. This presentation software tool allows you to build custom infographics, presentations, graphs, and charts with an easy drag and drop UI.

• Infographic maker
• Presentation maker
• Pie chart and timeline maker

Price : $0 - $19/mo

Pitch gives brands a modern, clean way to create presentation decks in less time. Create different slide styles to keep your presentations on-brand, whether your sales team is pitching a big client or you’re hosting a high-stakes internal meeting.

• Presentation analytics
• Version history
• Video and image library

Price : $8/mo

28. Pitch Deck

Startups and entrepreneurs will love Pitchdeck’s AI-powered presentation creation tool. Trust the robots to create a beautiful presentation for you or hire Pitchdeck’s professional designers for a more human touch.

• Pitch Deck Creator
• Pitchdeck Design Services
• Pitch templates

29. Pitcherific

Unlike other presentation software tools, Pitcherific isn’t just a presentation builder: it coaches you through the design process to make more effective presentations. If you’re getting the hang of pitching your brand to investors, clients, or the general public, this tool will get you showtime-ready.

• Training Mode with pitch recording
• Professionally designed templates + structure
• Automatic pitch optimization

Price : $19/mo

30. Powtoon

Showing is more powerful than telling. Powtoon originally started out as a cartoon video app, but it offers much more than that. Use this presentation software tool for whiteboard animation, custom character design, and animated videos. It’s perfect for training presentations!

• Hand-drawn characters and objects
• Video distribution tools
• Text effects and animation

Price : $19 - $99/mo, billed annually

Prezi adds dynamic movement to its presentations, engaging your audience with out-of-the-box presentation layouts. Use Prezi Present to create eye-catching presentations or rely on Prezi Design and Prezi Video to create interactive visuals.

• Integrations with Zoom, Webex, and Microsoft Teams
• Reusable slide designs and templates
• Interactive video graphics

Price : $5 - $59/mo

32. Renderforest

Stop asking your graphic designer for help every time you need a logo, graphic, or presentation. Renderforest offers stunning, professional templates that are fully customizable to your brand.

• Product mockup templates
• Web design templates

Price : $0 - $49.99/mo, billed annually

33. Slidebean

Slidebean is specifically designed for startup pitching presentations. If you’re trying to find venture capitalist funding to get your big idea off the ground, Slidebean is the best tool for you. With AI-powered design, Slidebean helps you get funded, faster.

• Paid consulting services
• Financial model templates

34. SlideCamp

Slidecamp works alongside your Microsoft PowerPoint subscription, keeping all of your sales decks in one place. Use Slidecamp to collect, organize, and share your PowerPoint slides either internally or externally.

• Internal and external sharing
• PowerPoint template storage
• Drag and drop presentation builder

35. SlideDog

If you want to tell a rich story with your presentations, you might need to share multiple media in one place. Instead of trying to convert everything, go with SlideDog. This presentation software tool allows you to combine PowerPoint, Prezis, and PDFs into one playlist, bringing multiple presentation files together in one place.

• Consistent formatting
• Live sharing
• Drag and drop layout

36. SlideModel

SlideModel isn’t trying to compete with tools like PowerPoint. It’s augmenting other presentation options with professionally-designed templates. If you hate starting from scratch (or you dislike PowerPoint’s built-in templates), give SlideModel’s templates, diagrams, and shapes a try.

• PowerPoint templates and backgrounds
• Powerpoint diagrams
• PowerPoint shapes

Price : $99/year

Slides is a powerful presentation software tool that not only designs gorgeous presentations, but helps your team optimize those presentations over time. Use Slides’ style presets, animations, media library, analytics, layouts, and more to design eye-catching presentations.

• Live annotation
• Public and private links
• Embedding and analytics

Price : $5 - $20/mo

38. SlideShare

Do you want to share your awesome presentations with the world? SlideShare hosts slide decks for the world to see. It’s the perfect presentation software tool for boosting your credibility as a subject matter expert or building backlinks to your site.

• Share presentations publicly
• Clip individual slides for your clipboard

39. Soapbox by Wistia

But what if you don’t want to create animations? If a talking head-style video will suffice, use Soapbox. This tool from Wistia records your webcam and audio in one intuitive dashboard. It even allows you to edit your video before sharing it with the world. It’s ideal for demos, training, and employee onboarding.

• Webcam and screen recording
• Video library
• Chrome extension

Price : $9 - $99/mo

40. Templafy

Templafy is perfect for large, enterprise teams that want to manage their presentation content more efficiently. This tool allows you to manage email signatures, automate document creation, and even scan presentations for outdated content.

• Email signature management
• Automated document assembly
• Asset and template library

Tiled gives you the power to add interactive elements to your documents—including your slide decks. Animate buttons, drop in video backgrounds, and add more context through links with Tiled.

• Mobile-friendly

42. Touchcast

Invite your audience to an event in the metaverse with Touchcast. Make your next presentation more than a meeting: Touchcasts’s features turn it into an interactive experience with digital twins that are perfect for virtual events.

• Microsoft Teams integration
• Digital twins
• Virtual Q&A
• 1:1 meetings

43. Tourial

How can your audience learn more about your solution? Sometimes you need to send over a digital product demo, and that’s where Tourial comes in. Use this presentation software tool to educate your buyers faster with intuitive demo presentations.

• Persona-based content
• Instant demo updates

44. Venngage

The right infographic can sell your audience on your big ideas. But hiring a designer takes a lot of time—that’s why presenters use Venngage to create their own infographics in a few clicks.

• 7,500+ infographic templates
• Mind maps, diagrams, and timelines
• Report templates

Price : $0 - $499/mo, billed annually

45. VideoScribe

Animation normally requires a lot of time and expertise, but VideoScribe makes it possible to create your own animations—no animation experience required. Create your own GIFs for that upcoming internal meeting or liven up your training presentation with custom whiteboard videos.

• Automated video creation
• Whiteboard videos
• Animated GIFs

Price : $39/mo

46. Vidyard

Vidyard makes it easy to pre-record asynchronous presentations. This is perfect for distributed teams or teams working in different time zones. Just download the browser extension, turn on your webcam, and hit “record” to start creating your presentation.

• Video hosting
• Video creation
• Video analytics

Price : $0 - $1,250/mo

Visme offers end-to-end design help for businesses. Use this presentation software tool to create presentations, infographics, mockups, charts, and more to keep your audience engaged with stunning visuals.

• Video, chart, and graphic templates
• On-brand templates
• Data widgets and interactivity

Price : $0 - $24.75/mo

Vyond is another presentation software tool that allows you to create custom animations. Trust Vyond’s professionally-designed templates to get started; just add a voiceover and music and you’re good to go.

• Integrations with Storyline and Captivate

Price : $649 - $999/year

Digital product demos became a necessity during the pandemic, but even now, your clients expect the efficiency that comes with online demos. Use Walnut to personalize your product demo presentations in a few clicks.

• Codeless editing
• Screen capture
• Demo analytics

50. Zoho Show

Zoho is an intelligent software suite that handles various tasks for your team, including presentations. With Zoho Show, you can easily collaborate with your teammates through comments and real-time edits.

• Intuitive UI
• Professionally-designed templates
• Template, Slide, and Font Library

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• Presentation Design

The 10 Best Presentation Software for 2023: Complete Guide

There are literally hundreds of presentation software tools in the market today and keeping track is getting increasingly hard. Most of them have been optimized for a specific purpose or type of user from a wide range of possibilities, and it's very likely that THE ideal tool for you is actually one that you've never heard of.

We've created this best presentation software list to shed some light and to give you a comprehensive presentation software list to ensure you make the right call in the platform you select. This article is the result of several weeks of research and review of 50+ presentation tools currently available on the web.

What is a presentation software?

A presentation software is defined as an application built to display information in the form of a slide show. Any presentation tool must have three fundamental functions:

• ‍ A text editor: to input the contents of the presentation.
• ‍ An import function: to insert and manipulate images and other content.
• ‍A slide-show or presenter mode: that displays the content in a nice, formatted way, sometimes synced in real time with the presenter across devices.

Slide shows often consist of a combination of text, video, images and charts. Their primary function is displaying clear, readable and summarized data to an audience.

Most presentations are shared and presented on a larger screen or through a digital projector. In rare occasions, slide presentations are printed out as a replacement for text documents, but this is a really inefficient way to review data, that Garr Reynolds calls ‘ PresDocs ’ (Garr Reynolds is the author of Presentation Zen, one of the most important go-to reference for successful presentations).

Related Read: What Makes Up the Best Presentation Templates?

What makes a good presentation tool?

The functions and results of presentation programs have evolved significantly in the past decades, since the original launch of ‘Presenter’ (the PowerPoint predecessor) in 1984. In 1987 PowerPoint 1.0 was released for the Macintosh and it started a revolution in the way we prepare and consume content in meetings.

For the purposes of this article we are going to classify all presentation tools using 3 variables that we consider extremely important:

Ease of use: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

This rating looks at the learning curve, or time required to learn to use the platform. An easy to use interface is fundamentally important to ensure that users feel confortable working with the platform and doesn’t require complex training to take advantage of its features. This also accounts for the average time it takes to build a presentation.

Customization: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The ability to customize a presentation to the smallest details. This varies depending on the number of advanced features in the platform, like the ability to set different transitions to each slide, the ability to add customized elements or to design/code the final outcome of the slides to the last font size and color code.

Final result: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

This indicator looks at the outcome of a finished presentation, assuming the user is an average person with basic design skills and intermediate knowledge on the tool itself.

Best PowerPoint Alternatives (Death by Power Point)

As we mentioned before, PowerPoint is the most used presentation builder in the market today. It is distributed by Microsoft as part of their Office Suite, which is estimated to have over 500 million users worldwide. Microsoft has also revealed that approximately 35 Million presentations are delivered every single day, that’s a staggering 400 presentations per second.

But still, PowerPoint’s popularity has decreased significantly in the past few years. Their boring presentation templates, the large learning curve and complexity as well as the terrible slides many users end up making have started the Death to PowerPoint movement.

What presentation software is better than PowerPoint?

For this section, we summarize the top PowerPoint alternatives and examples, that is, presentation tools that work in a fairly similar manner and that provide similar (but significantly better) results. If you are an avid PowerPoint user, then migrating to these platforms should be rather easy for you.

Best 10 presentation software alternative list for 2023

(Updated December 2022)

• Keynote presentation
• Google Slides

1- SLIDEBEAN PRESENTATION SOFTWARE

Ease of use: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ - Fantastic!

Customization: ★ ★ ★ ★ - Very Good

Final result: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ - Fantastic!

Slidebean is an online presentation tool that uses artificial intelligence to design beautiful slides. Simply add content blocks to your presentation without worrying about formatting. Slidebean’s AI finds the best possible design for every element on your slide. This level of automation allows you to create a professional looking presentation in a fraction of the time it normally takes on PowerPoint.

When comparing it to PowerPoint, Slidebean’s interface is much easier to learn and work with, and it lets you create fantastic looking presentations really fast. The platform is web based and allows you to export to both PowerPoint and PDF format. It also lets you track viewer interactions and activity from people you share your slides with!

Slidebean also has a unique advantage which is a rich gallery of presentation outline templates. These are pre-filled decks that work for numerous purposes, like business proposals, classroom decks, thesis presentations and even startup pitch decks : all you need to do is import them and fill in your content.

You can sign up free for Slidebean here

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2- apple keynote.

Ease of use: ★ ★ ★ - OK

Customization: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ - Fantastic!

Final result: ★ ★ ★ ★ - Very Good

Keynote is what PowerPoint should have been all along. Apple's version of the popular presentation tool has improved significantly in the last few years, and has recently included a cloud version that works on any browser on any computer (as long as you have at least one Apple device).

Keynote is basically an improved PowerPoint, it offers the same approach to creating slides, but offers nice and clean customizable templates, a simple interface and great details like smart guides.

The biggest issue with Keynote is the long learning process that it requires. Similar to Microsoft's tool, you'll need to sit down for a few hours to learn to use the platform, and another larger set of hours to make a professional presentation.

More info about Apple Keynote is available here

Final result: ★ ★ ★ - OK

Visme is a web based platform for building presentations. Their familiar interface is similar to PowerPoint, but they have successfully simplified a complex UI to a nicer and more understandable navigation. Still, you'll need to spend a few hours to get a good grasp of where all the customization options can be found.

The platform offers an interesting (but certainly limited) gallery of images, but they succeed at delivering beautiful infographic elements (which they call ‘Charts and Graphs’) that you can use to add some color and make your slides much more dynamic.

You can read more about them here . ‍

4- GOOGLE SLIDES

Customization: ★ ★ - Passable

Google's version of PowerPoint is hosted as part of the Google Apps suite, that you can access from Google Drive or from Google Apps for Work. Sadly, their presentation builder feels like a limited version of PowerPoint, with less features, limited fonts and very little customization options.

Still, Google's platform is available for free, has a lot of integrations and probably one of the best online collaboration systems out there. Checking it out is easy, just visit your Google Drive.

You can find a more detailed review here .

5- FLOWVELLA

Ease of use: ★ ★ - Passable

Customization: ★ ★ ★ - OK

Flowvella is available on the Mac App Store as a desktop application. It provides a simple interface (certainly cleaner than Microsoft PowerPoint and somewhat similar to Apple Keynote) and some very nice design templates, which set good grounds so you can start building a nice looking set of slides on top of them. This is by far their biggest strength! If you want to start from scratch, however, you might feel a little lost creating something that looks good.

We found, however, that the oversimplified interface makes some basic options hard to find, like changing the color of a shape. Also, while running as a desktop app it still requires an Internet connection to download some elements, which can lead to a slower performance than a 100% desktop tool.

Update: We also read recently that they launched a tvOS app for the new AppleTV, making them, as far as we know, the first presentation tool to leverage the new platform.

You can find more details here .

Customization: ★ ★ ★ -

Pitch offers an innovative solution for fast-paced teams looking to quickly create effective, stylish presentations. With a combination of productivity features and design elements, Pitch makes it easy to get professional results—quickly

You can find more information about them here .

Final result: ★ ★ ★ ★ - Very Good!

The premise of Canva is an ‘amazingly easy graphic design software'. It lets you create anything from print design to banners and presentations. They provide an easy to use interface with a huge selection of pre-built designs that you can modify to your liking.

These pre-built elements let you quickly draft a nice presentation even if you have no design skills, but it does require you to drag and drop and arrange the content of your slide, which can become time consuming.

Canva has been gaining significant popularity in the last few years, especially after they hired Guy Kawasaki as a Chief Evangelist. Their platform is beautiful, you can find more about them here .

8- HAIKU DECK

Ease of use: ★ ★ ★ ★ - Very Good

Haiku Deck launched as an iPad app in 2011. They made a big bet towards mobile productivity and came up with a solid iPad application that allowed you to create slides in less time than the then-only alternative of Keynote for iOS.

Haiku Deck has a nice set of custom templates that you can use as a guideline for your slides, and their content input system is clear and easy to learn.

Still, we believe their approach that focused on mobile devices could only take them so far and they've since been working on a web version of their platform that works for any computer. As we mentioned, the personal computer continues to be a much more efficient productivity platform.

'Slides' is a nice website that lets you create and share presentations online. Formerly slides(dot)io and slid(dot)es, they finally settled for slides(dot)com. This startup was founded by Hakim El Hattab and Owen Bossola in Stockholm, Sweden, and it makes use of the reveal.js framework that we mentioned above.

Slides has a nice web interface that encourages you to create a nice and clean presentations, however, it still depends on the user’s ability to manipulate the elements and arrange them in a nice style. Still, their pre-defined formats and their grid system help guide you to a better result.

The platform also allows for custom HTML and CSS coding, which lets experienced users with coding skills, customize their templates even further.

Some more info about them here .

Ease of use: ★ - Bad

Prezi has been around for years and they have had a huge head start compared to any other online presentation tool out there. Their unique zoom styling makes it immediately obvious to the audience that they are looking at a Prezi deck.

Prezi has the advantage of allowing you to create really stunning interactive presentations if you know how to leverage their zoomable, infinite canvas. However, this can become a double edge sword if users overuse the feature and come up with a presentation that is literally capable of making people dizzy.

Still, Prezi's biggest weakness is on its ease of use. There's a long learning curve towards dominating their interface and even if you do, you need to be a designer to make a great presentation on the platform.

This is a huge company that is not going away anytime soon. With 50+ million users, they have proven the world wants and needs a PowerPoint alternative, and we have huge respect for them for doing so.

More information about them here .

Which one to pick?

In the world of presentation software, there's a big bunch to pick from. It's kind of like a crowded market with lots of options. And guess what? The best one for you might not even be on your radar.

Our list is here to help you out. We've put together this bunch of presentation software choices after digging into over 50 of them on the internet. We're here to give you the scoop on what's out there, so you can pick the one that suits you best.

Now, remember, presentation software is like your helper to make cool slideshows. These slideshows could be for showing stuff to people, like at school or work. These helpers, or software, should be good at a few things: putting words and pictures on slides, making things look nice, and showing your stuff in a cool way on a screen.

The options we've found have different things they're good at. Some use fancy computer thinking (AI) to make your slides look great without you doing much. Others let you customize your slides a lot, which is nice if you want them to look exactly like you want. And finally, how your slides look when you're done is super important too.

Picking the right presentation tool is a bit like picking the best tool for a job. You wouldn't use a hammer to write a story, right? So, whether you want something easy, something that lets you be creative, or something that gives you good results, our list has got you covered. Your choice will help you make cool presentations that people will remember. Our recommendation is to give Slidebean a try, but is up to you to consider the options. So, pick smart and happy presenting.

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The Ultimate Guide to Presentation Software

Presentation software is a technology that helps users create and deliver visual presentations. These programs allow users to create slideshows, which can include text, images, videos, and animations, and can be displayed at a meeting or conference or shared online.

In today's fast-paced business environment, effective communication is essential for success. Presentation software enables businesses to showcase their ideas and products in an engaging and visually appealing way, which can help to capture the attention of potential clients or investors. It also allows businesses to convey information in a clear and concise manner, making it easier for audiences to understand and remember key points.

As we move towards the future of work, the use of presentation software is likely to become even more important for businesses. With the rise of remote work and virtual meetings, it's vital for businesses to be able to present their ideas and products digitally. Additionally, as competition continues to increase across industries, businesses need to find new ways to stand out and make an impact. Presentation software can help them achieve this by creating dynamic and memorable visual presentations that leave a lasting impression on their audience.

Because of its ever growing importance, we’re seeing more and more presentation software companies popping up. So, where do you start in choosing the right software for your business needs? 

Consider this your ultimate guide to the different types of presentation softwares . 

Traditional presentation software

Traditional software refers to computer applications or programs that are typically used to create and deliver visual presentations. These programs are designed to allow users to create slideshows containing text, images, charts, graphs, and other visual aids. Some examples of traditional presentation software include Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Apple Keynote.

These software programs often feature a linear structure where one slide follows another in a predetermined order. The user can customize each slide with their desired content and then present them live or share them digitally.

While traditional presentation software has been widely used for many years and remains popular, there are alternative options available that offer more advanced features and customization options.

Web-based or SaaS presentation software

Web-based or SaaS (Software as a Service) presentation software refers to programs that are accessed through a web browser and do not need to be installed on a user's device. These programs are hosted on the cloud and can be accessed from any internet-connected device.

Web-based or SaaS presentation software typically offers more flexibility and convenience than traditional presentation software like PowerPoint. They often include a wide range of customizable templates, as well as interactive features such as animations, videos, and audio. They also allow for easy collaboration between team members, as changes and updates can be made in real-time and accessed from any device.

Some popular examples of web-based or SaaS presentation software include Visme, Canva, and Beautiful.ai. These programs have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their ease of use, accessibility, and collaborative features, making them a preferred choice for many businesses and individuals.

Examples of SaaS presentation software

Visme’s PowerPoint-alternative presentation software helps users design slide decks, infographics, interactive charts and other visual content. The easy-to-use cloud-based tool allows users to move elements around the workspace, and new content can be added by dragging and dropping it into place. Visme users can build presentations from scratch by starting with a blank canvas, or they can customize a variety of templates. The presentation software also features a collection of thousands of icons, images and data visualizations, and users can even choose to boost engagement by adding elements like video, audio and GIF files.

• Canva Presentations

Canva offers much more than an alternative to PowerPoint. Users can rely on the visual design platform to create social media graphics, posters, invitations, business cards and all sorts of other documents along with presentations. Canva features thousands of professional templates, images and other content elements, as well as features to help teams collaborate with ease. The software tool’s drag-and-drop interface makes it simple for non-designers to customize templates and even edit photos with little experience.

• Beautiful.ai

We’re biased, but our presentation software is one of the best to help you work faster and smarter. By choosing advanced presentation software like Beautiful.ai, users are handing over the bulk of the design work to artificial intelligence. With powerful features like DesignerBot and Smart Slides, Beautiful.ai automates a lot of the presentation design process for you so you can create something brilliant in half the time. The design guardrails ensure teams stay on-brand , while allowing them to collaborate in the same deck at the same time.  

AI presentation software

AI presentation software is a type of presentation software that uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology to help users create and design presentations. AI presentation software typically includes features such as automated design suggestions, layout recommendations and image recognition to streamline the presentation creation process.

Many AI presentation softwares will leverage generative AI to create fully customizable slides and decks from a text single prompt making the design process ridiculously fast. Other capabilities include image generation baked into the software, and content assistance to rewrite or adjust text. 

Examples of AI presentation software include Beautiful.ai, Tome, and Slidesgo. These programs use AI technology to automate and streamline the presentation creation process, making it faster and more efficient for users to develop engaging and visually appealing presentations.

Examples of AI presentation software

With the recent buzz around AI, you’ve likely heard of Tome. Tome is a presentation app that generates your presentation for you with the help of AI. Simply type in a prompt and get a basic presentation to work with, edit, and customize in return. Tome also offers a few select templates for users to choose from if they don’t want to enter a prompt, which acts as a good jumping off point to get the bones of a presentation. While Tome leans heavily on technology and AI, users will still need some design skills to customize their decks once it’s generated. 

Slidesgo is a Spanish-based company that provides high-quality presentation templates for individuals and businesses. The company offers a wide variety of templates, including business plans, marketing presentations, and educational materials. Slidesgo's templates are available for both Google Slides and PowerPoint, and can be easily customized to suit the user's needs. The company is known for its modern and creative designs, which help users create engaging and visually appealing presentations. 

Beautiful.ai’s new DesignerBot makes it easier than ever for non-designers to create a new presentation from scratch, regardless of the content. Users can opt to create a new deck with DesignerBot by entering a short description (or prompt) based on what they need. Teams have the liberty to add as many keywords as they see fit to generate a fully built, totally customized presentation draft populated with appropriate text, layouts, photos, icons and design. Then, our powerful Smart Slides technology can be used to quickly edit slides by adding or removing content and automatically adapting, resizing and laying out the slides, all while maintaining corporate brand guidelines. With Beautiful.ai, businesses can generate entire decks in one click while Smart Slides and Team controls work together to preserve the integrity of the brand. It’s truly an automated zero-to-finish experience.

Video presentation software

Video presentation software is a type of software that allows users to create and deliver video presentations. These presentations can include a combination of video footage, images, text, and audio. Video presentation software typically includes features such as editing tools, visual effects, and transitions to help users create engaging and professional-looking presentations.

Examples of video presentation software include Powtoon and Lumen5. These programs allow users to record or import videos and then edit them with a variety of tools and effects. Video presentation software also enables users to add voice overs, music, and sound effects to their presentations.

Video presentation software is often used for business presentations, educational materials, and marketing campaigns. The use of video presentations has become increasingly popular in recent years due to the rise of remote work and virtual events, as well as the growing trend of online video content consumption. Video presentation software provides an effective way for users to communicate their ideas and messages in an engaging and dynamic way.

Examples of video presentation software

Powtoon— a British company that got their name by combining “PowerPoint” and “cartoon”— launched in 2012 as a more animated approach to otherwise stale presentations. They offer a wide variety of visual communication features like videos, doodles, presentations, animations, and screen recordings. However they’re most known for their ability to turn slides into video animations in an effort to make them more engaging and interactive for audiences. 

Lumen5 is a Canadian-based technology company that provides an AI-powered video creation platform for businesses and individuals. The platform allows users to easily create engaging video content from articles, blog posts, or other written content without requiring any previous experience or special training. Lumen5's platform uses artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to automatically generate video content, including images, animations, and text overlays. 

Nonlinear presentation software

A nonlinear presentation is a type of presentation where the viewer can navigate the content in a non-sequential order, rather than proceeding from one slide to the next in a linear fashion. In a nonlinear presentation, the content is organized using hyperlinks or other interactive elements that allow the viewer to jump back and forth between different parts of the presentation, depending on their interests and needs.

Nonlinear presentations are often used when presenting complex or interconnected information, or when the audience may have varying levels of interest or expertise in different areas. They can be created using specialized software, such as Prezi, or by manually creating hyperlinks within traditional presentation software like Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides.

Nonlinear presentations can be more engaging and interactive than traditional linear presentations, as they allow the viewer to take control of their own learning experience and explore the content in a way that suits them best. They can be particularly effective for educational and training purposes, as well as for sales and marketing presentations.

Examples of traditional presentation software

Prezi’s presentation software is a true alternative to PowerPoint. Rather than design standard slide decks, Prezi users create animated, non-sequential presentations that highlight topics and uncover subtopics with an engaging zoom feature. The PowerPoint-alternative software is an enticing alternative for creating visual presentations, but it’s probably better suited for experienced presentation designers thanks to its unique design. Still, Prezi is a perfect choice for presenters seeking a more creative way to capture an audience's attention.

Comparisons and considerations

Key differences between presentation software types.

The key differences between presentation software types are accessibility and technology. While most businesses are well versed in Microsoft and Google, other web-based (SaaS) softwares offer newer technologies and more flexible features. Each platform comes with its own pros and cons, and will vary based on the use case of the business.

Factors to consider when choosing presentation software

When choosing the right presentation software for your business, you first have to define what your goal is. Is it collaboration for your teams, design guardrails, leveraging AI to work faster, or accessibility and the ability to work in the cloud? Do you prefer linear or non-sequential presentations? What is your budget? These all play a major role in deciding which solution is the best fit for your workflow.

For more on presentation softwares, check out our recommendations for the top 2023 PowerPoint alternatives .

Jordan Turner

Jordan is a Bay Area writer, social media manager, and content strategist.

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