Our personal and professional lives now revolve around presentations; thus, developing captivating and powerful presentations has become crucial in today’s society. Although Microsoft PowerPoint has traditionally been the preferred tool for making presentations, there are now a number of alternatives that each have their special features and abilities
Looking for Presentation Software? Check out SoftwareSuggest’s list of the best Presentation Software solutions.
This blog post will look at some of the top Microsoft PowerPoint alternatives that can assist you in making engaging and eye-catching presentations.
The right presentation software will help reflect your vision to the world. And with the best PowerPoint alternative, you can take your visuals and designs to the next level! Opt for software that fits your organization's needs and helps scale your processes.
Whether you’re a student, professional, or entrepreneur, these PowerPoint alternatives will give you the ability to create powerful presentations that effectively communicate your message and capture your audience’s attention.
What Makes Good Presentation Software?
Creating interesting and educational presentations that can hold the audience’s attention depends on using good presentation software. Here are some key characteristics of effective presentation tools.
- Ease of Use – The best presentation software should be simple to use and have an intuitive user interface that enables users to quickly and simply produce presentations. This implies that the software should be simple to use and not call for any advanced technological knowledge.
- Customization – An effective presentation tool should let users add themes, fonts, colors, and images. Thanks to this personalization ability, the audience will find the presentation more memorable and visually appealing.
- Compatibility – The program ought to work on a variety of hardware and operating systems, including PCs, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Give users the freedom to create powerful presentations from anywhere, with audiences being able to access them via any device.
- Rich Media Support – A good presentation software should support rich media such as audio, video presentations, and images. This makes the presentation more interactive, engaging, and entertaining.
- Collaboration – Collaboration software should allow multiple users to collaborate on a presentation in real time. This feature is especially useful for team presentations, where multiple users can collaborate to create a cohesive and informative presentation.
- Analytics and Reporting – Good presentation software should also have analytics and reporting features that allow presenters to track audience engagement, such as how long each slide was viewed and which slides received the most attention.
What Makes a Great PowerPoint Alternative?
Making visually appealing and compelling presentations requires a strong PowerPoint alternative. A strong substitute should outperform PowerPoint’s drawbacks in certain areas. For instance, it should have a user-friendly interface that is straightforward to use and that enables users to make presentations quickly and effectively.
To make the presentation stand out, it should include more customization possibilities, such as original themes, fonts, colors, and transitions. The software’s ability to support many file formats, such as PDF, video, and audio, is crucial for compatibility. A strong PowerPoint substitute should also have collaborative tools that let several people edit the same presentation in real-time.
The software should also include analytics and reporting tools so that presenters can monitor audience participation and enhance subsequent presentations. Lastly, a top PowerPoint replacement should be inexpensive with value-oriented price options.
An excellent PowerPoint substitute may give users the resources they need to make eye-catching presentations that captivate and engage their audience by having these qualities.
List of 10 Best PowerPoint Alternatives
Before selecting any design platform, you need to look through different options. Below we have listed the top 10 hand-picked PowerPoint alternatives that you can consider!
Software Name | Free Trial | Platforms | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
30 days | Web, iOS, Android | Canva Pro subscription | |
14 days | Web, Windows, macOS | Higher-tier plans available | |
7 days | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Mentimeter Pro subscription | |
Free | Web, iOS, Android | Requires a Google account | |
Free | macOS, iOS | Exclusive to Apple devices | |
14 days | Web | Beautiful.ai Pro subscription | |
14 days | Web | Higher-tier plans available | |
15 days | Web | Zoho Show Premium subscription | |
14 days | Web | Higher-tier plans available | |
14 days | Web | Higher-tier plans available |
1. Canva
Canva
Canva is a design platform and one of the best PowerPoint presentation software alternatives that allow users to create stunning presentations, background images, graphics, and other design assets. It has a drag-and-drop interface that is easy to use, even for users that have just started with designing platforms. Canva also offers a wide variety of templates, graphics, and fonts to choose from.
Key Features
- Easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface
- Wide variety of templates, graphics, and fonts
- Enables team collaboration
- Allows integration with other Canva products
Pricing
- Canva offers a free plan as well as paid plans starting at $9.99/month.
Best for
- Canva is best for users who want to create visually stunning presentations or graphics without having design expertise.
Pros and Cons
- User-friendly interface
- Wide variety of design options
- Pricing is highly affordable
- Perfect choice for creating visual content
- Fewer customization options
- It may not be as feature-rich as other options
2. Prezi
Prezi
Prezi is a cloud-based presentation software that allows users to create dynamic and interactive presentations. It offers unique features such as zooming in and out of content, and a wide range of templates and themes.
Key Features
- Interactive and dynamic presentation features
- Wide range of templates and themes
- Collaboration with team members
- Ability to present offline
Pricing
- Prezi offers a free plan as well as paid plans starting at $5/month.
Best for
- Prezi is best for users who want to create interactive and engaging presentations that are great for storytelling and presenting complex ideas.
Pros and Cons
- Unique and engaging presentation features
- Wide variety of templates and themes
- Good collaboration tools
- Great for storytelling and presenting complex ideas
- Can be complex to learn for beginners
- Limited customization options
- High pricing compared to other options
3. Mentimeter
Mentimeter
Mentimeter is an intuitive presentation software that allows users to create real-time polls, quizzes, and surveys. It has a variety of interactive features that can help engage audiences and keep them interested.
Key Features
- Real-time polling, quizzes, and surveys
- Interactive features such as word clouds and open-ended questions
- Ability to create customized slides
- Integration with other presentation software
Pricing
- Mentimeter offers a free plan and paid plans starting at $9/month.
Best for
- Mentimeter is best for users who want to create interactive presentations and engage their audience through real-time polling, quizzes, and surveys.
Pros and Cons
- Great for engaging audiences and gathering feedback
- Wide variety of interactive features
- User-friendly and easy to use
- Good value for money
- Limited customization options for presentations
- Offers less features compared to other tools
4. Google Slides
Google Sildes
Google Slides is a free web-based presentation software that is part of the Google Suite. It allows users to collaborate in real time and seamlessly integrates with other Google products. It offers multiple template and theme options for its users.
Key Features
- Real-time collaboration with team members
- Wide array of templates and themes
- Ability to import and export PowerPoint files
- Hassle free integration with other Google apps
Pricing
- Google Slides is completely free to use.
Best for
- Google Slides is best for users who want a free and easy-to-use presentation software with good collaboration features.
Pros and Cons
- Free to use
- Easy collaboration with team members
- Accessible from anywhere with an internet connection
- Good compatibility with PowerPoint files
- Many features do not provide customization option
- The software is not scalable
5. Keynote
Keynote
Keynote is Apple’s presentation software, which is available for Mac and iOS devices. It has a variety of features, such as cinematic transitions, animation effects, and interactive charts. Keynote is one of the best free PowerPoint alternatives as there’s no cost associated for Apple users.
Key Features
- Cinematic transitions and animation effects
- Interactive charts and diagrams
- Wide range of templates and themes
- Collaboration with team members
Pricing
- Keynote is free for Apple users.
Best for
- Keynote is best for Apple users who want to create visually stunning presentations and have good compatibility with other Apple products.
Pros and Cons
- Great for creating visually stunning presentations
- Good compatibility with other Apple products
- Wide variety of templates and themes
- Good for presenting complex data
- Limited compatibility with non-Apple devices
- It may not be as feature-rich as other presentation software
- Difficult learning curve for beginners
6. Beautiful.ai
Beautiful.AI
Beautiful.ai is a presentation software that uses artificial intelligence to help users create beautiful and professional-looking presentations quickly. It has a variety of templates and design suggestions to choose from.
Key Features
- Artificial intelligence-powered design suggestions
- Wide range of templates and themes
- Collaboration with team members
- Ability to export to PDF or PowerPoint
Pricing
- Beautiful.ai offers a free plan as well as paid plans starting at $15/month.
Best for
- Beautiful.ai is best for users who want to create professional-looking presentations quickly and easily without needing any expertise.
Pros and Cons
- Easy to use and user-friendly
- Great for creating professional-looking presentations quickly
- Wide variety of templates and design suggestions
- Good for non-designers
- Limited customization options
- Lacks some advanced features
7. Visme
Visme
Visme is a cloud-based design and presentation software that allows users to create a wide range of content, including presentations, infographics, and social media graphics. It has a drag-and-drop interface that is easy to use.
Key Features
- Easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface
- Wide range of templates and design assets
- Collaboration with team members
- Ability to create a wide range of content types
Pricing
- Visme offers a free plan as well as paid plans starting at $25/month.
Best for
- Visme is best for users who want a versatile platform for creating a wide range of content types, including presentations, infographics, and social media graphics.
Pros and Cons
- Versatile platform for creating a wide range of content types
- Good collaboration tools
- Wide variety of templates and design assets
- Good value for money
- The platform lags sometimes
- Customer support is not great
8. Zoho Show
Zoho Show
Zoho Show is a cloud-based presentation software that allows users to create visually appealing presentations with a variety of interactive features. It has seamless integration with other Zoho products.
Key Features
- Wide range of templates and themes
- Interactive features such as polls and surveys
- Collaboration with team members
- Seamless integration with other Zoho products
Pricing
- Zoho Show offers a free plan as well as paid plans starting at $5/month.
Best for
- Zoho Show is best for users who want a cost-effective presentation software with good collaboration tools and seamless integration with other Zoho products.
Pros and Cons
- Good value for money
- Wide variety of templates and themes
- Great collaboration tools
- Good for presenting complex data
- Limited customization options compared to other presentation softwares
- Features can be more advanced
9. Powtoon
PowToon
wtoon is a web-based presentation software that allows users to create animated videos and presentations. It has a user-friendly interface and a variety of features for creating engaging presentations.
Key Features
- Ability to create animated videos and presentations
- User-friendly interface
- Wide range of templates and assets
- Collaboration with team members
Pricing
- Powtoon offers a free plan as well as paid plans starting at $19/month.
Best for
- Powtoon is best for users who want to create engaging and animated presentations quickly and easily without needing design expertise. It provides helpful graphic design tips to ensure visually appealing results.
Pros and Cons
- Great for creating engaging presentations
- Good range of templates and assets
- Easy to use for non-designers
- Good customer support
- Export options limited in the free plan
10. Piktochart Visual
Piktochart
Piktochart is a web-based presentation software that allows users to create infographics, presentations, and reports. It has a drag-and-drop interface and a variety of templates and design assets.
Key Features
- Easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface
- Wide range of templates and design assets
- Collaboration with team members
- Ability to create a wide range of content types
Pricing
- Piktochart offers a free plan as well as paid plans starting at $29/month.
Best for
- Piktochart is best for users who want a versatile platform for creating a wide range of content types, including infographics, presentations, and reports, with good collaboration tools and a wide variety of templates and design assets.
Pros and Cons
- Versatile platform for creating a wide range of content types
- Good collaboration tools
- Wide variety of templates and design assets
- Good value for money
- The features could be more advanced
- Limited customization options compared to other presentation software
Editor’s Favorite PowerPoint Alternative
While the decision to select the best PowerPoint alternative depends on the company’s key requirements, below I have provided the 3 most efficient PowerPoint alternatives from the list above.
- Keynote – Free to use and has excellent features
- Prezi – Cost-effective along with great designing options and presentation templates
- Canva – Easy to use and provides robust features
Conclusion
There are a variety of PowerPoint substitutes that can assist you in making interesting and successful presentations. Your personal requirements and tastes will determine which software is best for you. Each software has its own distinct features and advantages.
When selecting presentation software, factors like usability, adaptability, collaboration tools, design options, and cost should be taken into account. You may choose the ideal PowerPoint substitute for your requirements by taking these criteria into account and experimenting with several possibilities.
This will help you produce presentations that successfully convey your message and captivate your audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, there are several free alternatives to PowerPoint, including Google Slides, Prezi, and LibreOffice Impress. These free alternatives offer many of the same features as PowerPoint, such as slide creation, text formatting, and multimedia insertion.
Similar to PowerPoint in a way that it enables users to make visual presentations, Canva is a presentation tool. Canva does, however, also include a large selection of design tools and templates for producing various visual content, such as infographics, posters, and social media graphics.
While Canva and PowerPoint do share some similarities, Canva is more geared toward design and visual communication.
Depending on personal preferences and needs, one may choose between Keynote and PowerPoint. Keynote is a fantastic option for visual presentations because of its slick aesthetic and cinematic transitions. Additionally, Keynote works flawlessly with other Apple products. However, PowerPoint is a more flexible tool for creating presentations because it provides a wider range of features and customization options. In the end, the user's particular demands will determine which of the two to use.
Rohit Rajpal is an accomplished writer and data enthusiast passionate about unraveling the intricacies of information and data. With a deep understanding of the subject matter, Rohit strives to simplify complex concepts and make them accessible to readers. Rohit’s expertise in the field and his knack for clear and concise communication make his blog an invaluable resource for those seeking clarity in the data-driven world.