Microsoft Powerpoint has long been our favorite choice to make presentations and it has been so for quite a good reason. It has lots of tools and is easy-to-use for all kinds of presentations. Right from schools to corporate offices, everyone knows only one presentation tool – Microsoft Powerpoint!
However, apart from being a bit overpriced, Microsoft Powerpoint also has a crowded interface which can be a bit overwhelming at times. And you would find that there are tools which you don’t even need most of the time to make your presentation. Likewise, it is not easy to use Microsoft Powerpoint and it requires some breaking in for you to actually create wonderful and meaningful visual stories in the best way possible.
If you also feel that Microsoft Powerpoint is not in your budget or you wish to explore the alternatives of Powerpoint, then read ahead. Many of these alternatives are good enough for you to completely substitute Powerpoint. However, before we proceed with the list of best powerpoint alternatives, I’d like to tell you about what things you should look out for in the alternative.
Which PowerPoint Alternative is Best for You?
You need to understand that words alone won’t do you any good when it comes to conveying your ideas in the most presentable manner. Neither can videos or graphics alone help you out in this regard. However, a wonderful combination of these three along with the following three elements would ensure that your presentation comes out great and impactful…
A simple yet aesthetic template to grab attention and engage the audience,
A highly-organized layout
And most importantly coherent and flawless presentation of ideas.
The answer to the question – ‘which powerpoint alternative is best for you?’, depends on your needs. Whether you require quick collaboration, complete customization, effortless experience, or several pro tools are your priority? Your requirements may differ and so would the best substitute for you.
Top 10 Powerpoint Alternatives You Can Use
1. Prezi
If absolute customization is your priority, then Prezi is your best bet. It even has an advantage over Powerpoint when it comes to customizations. It has a wide collection of a myriad of templates to suit all kinds of needs – right from sales and marketing to education and business, Prezi has it all! Furthermore, you can easily customize charts, layouts, and even images to suit your needs and make everything look just the way you want them to.
If you are not much into making new and customized presentations all the time, then here’s the good news – with Prezi you can reuse your previously created presentations on the go. You can also choose from amongst the plethora of presentations available on the platform and the variety ensures that you get precisely what you need.
When you want to bring out the best in your presentation, then you should go with Prezi as it has all the tools to make your presentation smart and impactful. You can even use your own brand color. What else could you ask for?
If collaboration is your requirement, then Prezi is as effective as Google Slides. You can work with your team on a particular presentation simultaneously. If you are opting for a desktop app, then you can also work offline. If analytics is what you need, then Prezi has some really efficient analytics that aid you to keep track of viewers and give you insights that help you align your presentation goals effortlessly.
Pros
- Reuse a presentation
- Analytics-enabled
- Smart branding feature
- A plethora of templates for various purposes.
Cons
- A bit slow while importing files.
2. Google Slides
Whether you need customization, or you have to collaborate seamlessly with your teammates, Google Slides is the best option to make impactful and value-oriented presentations. It is highly efficient and enables you to edit, comment on or view your teammates’ presentation in real-time. What else would you want? You also have lots of transition effects that offer you the freedom to make powerful slides just the way you want.
You can effortlessly insert and use videos, animations, and you can even make your own drawings to be inserted in the slides. Teaming up with your colleagues was never so easy before Google Slides – you can track each teammate’s edits and comments easily! Since Google Slides is free for use it surely is a great, if not better, an alternative to Microsoft Powerpoint.
If you are opting for G-Suite, then charges may apply.
Pros
- Repository of predefined templates
- Highly effective and efficient collaboration possible
- A good collection of transitions
Cons
- Some transitions may be a bit ineffective
3. LibreOffice Impress
Want a holistic, efficient yet free PowerPoint alternative? Then Libreoffice Impress can be a great option for you. It has all the necessary tools you require to create powerful and impressive presentations. This open-source software is free to use and offers various view modes to enable you to create and edit your presentation in the best possible manner.
The normal view mode assists in simple editing, whereas the outline helps in organizing the text and outlining. Similar to PowerPoint, you can create drawings and diagrams via a wide variety of available tools. With attractive effects and impressive animations for slideshows, LibreOffice Impress is most definitely a great option to create slides the way you need to. And the fact that it is absolutely free makes it even more favorable.
Pros
- Open-source and free software
- Several drawing and diagramming tools
- Variety of view modes
- Supports 2D and 3D images from text
Cons
- Fewer tools as compared to PowerPoint
- Dull UI
4. OnlyOffice
If you want a simplistic approach to creating wonderful presentations, then OnlyOffice is your best bet. This open-source software is a favorite PowerPoint alternative and has been liked by many because of its easy to use interface. If you are in a hurry or if you’re in no mood to go through unnecessary tools, then opt for OnlyOffice.
You can easily edit existing slides, create an impactful presentation quickly, and even collaborate with your teammates – OnlyOffice enables you to do everything and anything with your slides in a hassle-free manner.
This software enables real-time collaboration via several platforms including calendar, mail, CRM, etc. It has sufficient templates to meet your needs. If you want customization, then you don’t have to worry about OnlyOffice, as it has enough customization tools to support the seamless creation of presentations.
You can apply a setting to slides in bulk, which saves your time considerably. Another notable feature of OnlyOffice is that you can work with Microsoft PowerPoint and save it in a variety of formats including PPT, PPTX, PDF, and ODP.
If pricing is your concern, then rest assured because OnlyOffice offers a lifetime license in only $1200/server. The cost may seem a bit pricey but when you consider the benefits and advantages it has over several other competitors, it’s well justified. Especially if you’re an enterprise looking for seamless collaboration and effective presentations.
Pros
- A simple interface and easy to use
- Open-source software
- Enables seamless collaboration via multiple platforms
Cons
- Pricey
5. Zoho Show
In many ways, Zoho Show is similar to PowerPoint. The free version of Zoho Show is also quite competent and is a great alternative for those who can’t afford the pro version of Microsoft Powerpoint. With this software, you can easily import and work with PPT and PPTX. it maintains formatting accuracy which is quite commendable, especially considering that it offers these features for free.
You can use a variety of powerful tools and even customize your presentation just the way you want to. Zoho Show offers an easy-to-use and hassle-free platform to create impressive and unique presentations. Zoho Show is most definitely a great alternative of Microsoft Powerpoint,
Pros
- Large collection of templates
- Excellent formatting accuracy
Cons
- Size restriction
6. Visme
Visme is, in many ways, a boon for employees and professionals. This presentation app contains tons of tools, a giant library of templates and a plethora of icons, images, and fonts. These very features make it a great Microsoft PowerPoint alternative. You can even share presentations online or download for offline use.
With a clean interface, excellent privacy and controls, and hassle-free usage, Visme is a great option to create engaging presentations effortlessly. You can even allow it to be completely indexed by a search engine which makes Visme all the more admirable. Additionally, Visme is free to use. If you want to go for the pro version, it would cost you $14/month which is definitely a bit pricey but worth it.
Pros
- Lots of pro tools
- Enhanced privacy
- A plethora of icons, images, and fonts
Cons
- Tad costly
7. Haiku Deck
With lost of features Haiku Deck is easily one of the best PowerPoint alternatives which is both elegant and impressive. Although it has lots of features, it is relatively easy to use and doesn’t have a steep learning curve.
Haiku Deck has a library of more than 40 million images. You can choose from a plethora of layout, image filters, fonts and make use of customization tools. With an intuitive user interface, Haiku Deck is most certainly an excellent choice if you want to create unique presentations without having to learn a lot.
Pros
- Easy-to-use
- Lots of templates
- 40 million+ images
Cons
- Pricey
8. Canva
Want to create engaging and elegant presentations on the go? Need absolute customization? Then Canva is your best bet. Canva is one of the best Microsoft PowerPoint alternatives that you can use for free. You will find a plethora of templates, filters, and images to suit your needs no matter what.
Canva enables you to create truly impressive presentations and even including a wow factor in it easily. Canva is easy to use and helps you collaborate effectively. You can even create images, social media graphic content along with infographics by Canva.
Pros
- Tons of background images, filters, and templates
- Notable editing tools
- Plethora of images
Cons
- May take some time to use it efficiently
9. Keynote
Apple user? Keynote by Apple is an excellent choice in terms of UI, powerful presentation tools, along with ample customization options. Similar to Microsoft PowerPoint, Keynote features various cinematic transitions as well as charts.
This app comes with 30 built-in themes designed by Apple. Using these themes you can give your presentations an attractive appearance and present your ideas impressively. This app enables you to deploy advanced customization tools to create slides accordingly.
With effective collaboration and useful as well as powerful features, Keynote by Apple is most certainly a valuable alternative to Microsoft PowerPoint.
Pros
- Apple-designed themes
- Excellent collaboration experience
- Creative animations
Cons
- Not available for Windows and Android
10. SlideDog
When thinking of ‘multimedia’ think SlideDog. With a variety of powerful tools, SlideDog gives Microsoft PowerPoint a tough competition for sure. In some aspects, SlideDog even surpasses Microsoft PowerPoint. The best thing about this software is that you can effectively combine PPTs, PDFs, and Prezis to make a unique and impressive presentation. Likewise, all the elements are kept in their original format to help create extra impact.
With SlideDog you can live share your presentation easily. You simply have to share a link, accessing which all the participants can easily watch the presentation. SlideDog is an effective yet easy to use Microsoft PowerPoint alternative.
Pros
- Excellent multimedia presentations
- Combine PDFs, Prezis, PowerPoints
Cons
- A bit sluggish
Final Thoughts
So, these were some of the best PowerPoint alternatives you can find out there. Some are equivalent, if not better than PowerPoint. Some others offer different features that PowerPoint doesn’t. Some are available for free and some come with a price tag.
There is no single best PowerPoint alternative for you. It depends on your needs and the features that you are looking for. I have tried enlisting as many features as I can of the several alternatives. Choose the one which fits your needs as well as your budget.
Which PowerPoint alternative would you go for? Have you tried any of these PowerPoint alternatives? How has been your experience with that software?
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