what are some common presentations applications

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Presentations

The 11 Best Presentation Software to Use in 2023

The ability to effectively share ideas, illustrate a concept, and convince an audience is invaluable whether you’re a student or a C-level executive. These days, the presentation software you use to create presentations is just as important as your public-speaking skills.

On top of that, most companies have transitioned to remote work recently due to the current coronavirus situation, and now need to share their stories online through a virtual conference room with their distributed teams and external audience members.

That’s why we’ve come up with a list of some of the best presentation software available right now, so you can choose a compatible and innovative presentation maker that includes the best presentation tools to suit your specific needs.

Choose the best presentation software by weighing the pros and cons

You’ll see some of the most popular presentation apps: from free to paid subscription platforms, and slideshow applications to full-blown visual design presentation software with interactive features and more.

Each presentation software has its pros and cons, so it’s up to you to figure out which suits your needs best; consider the software learning curve, whether your company is made up of Mac users or Windows users and the software compatibility, if you need an enterprise account or free account, etc.

Let’s dive in!

1. Piktochart

Piktochart is a presentation software that can create a variety of design visuals, from infographics to social media stories.

An area in which Piktochart shines is crafting unique presentations. 

On Piktochart, users can choose from a wide range of professionally-designed presentation templates .

These custom templates include everything from monthly marketing reports to employee onboarding templates.

This broad selection of customizable templates is especially useful for those who don’t have much design experience or know-how but need to create a visually stunning unique presentation in a pinch. 

Piktochart’s presentation maker also makes it easy to edit presentations and include design elements such as lists, timelines, comparisons, graphs, and different types of charts through drag-and-drop tools.

You can even make visual maps and interactive charts to keep your audience engaged throughout your presentation. 

And if your company uses a Piktochart TEAM plan , you can enjoy the platform’s ability to store brand assets , color schemes, and bespoke templates. Here, replicating company-branded visuals is a breeze. 

Piktochart comes with a free version but with certain limitations. Active visuals are capped at five per month and published visuals have a Piktochart watermark.

If you want features such as team template collaboration, project sharing, and annotated commenting, you’ll have to get a Team account. To sum it up:

• Lots of professionally-designed templates 
• Good for both design professionals and non-professionals 
• Easy to store brand assets and bespoke templates for future presentations
• Access presentation tools from anywhere via a web browser
• Free presentation app version available
• Might take some getting used to if you’re used to PowerPoint presentations

Present and collaborate with ease using Piktochart’s presentation templates.

You don’t have to worry about how your presentation will look like. Piktochart’s easy-to-edit templates will take care of the visual aspect for you.

2. Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is often the first presentation software that comes to mind.

Once considered the “O.G.” and best presentation software available, it is still widely used and has a familiar interface—which means most users are comfortable with it. 

This presentation app has everything you need to create a presentation: from animated transitions for interactive presentations to pre-installed fonts and graphic elements.

Users can also upload their own fonts, graphics, and images into their finished presentation.

Lastly, it’s available as part of the Microsoft Office software package; and you can work on your presentations via the web and mobile devices, for offline viewing as well as online. 

However, PowerPoint is no longer considered the best presentation software, as it has very few templates to choose from, and these tend to fall quite flat compared to modern apps and software.

It’s easy to fall back into boring slideshow PowerPoint files if you don’t know what you’re doing.

And because most people use PowerPoint, you’re likely using the same template as the next guy. 

As standalone presentation software, PowerPoint is pricey at US$139.99—and accessible through only one device unless you upgrade your package.

And while PowerPoint is primarily a slideshow application and presentation maker, its strengths are limited to this category. 

So if you’re looking for the best presentation software, and bang for your buck for a robust presentation tool, you might want to look elsewhere. 

• Market leader in slideshow applications to create slides
• Widely used and familiar interface for the presentation process
• Reliable and usable on most devices as well as being a desktop app
• Flat templates
• Limitations with its standalone-presentation software price

3. Google Slides

Google Slides is a slideshow application that is very similar to PowerPoint.  But there are three main differences: it’s fully online (while also allowing for offline viewing), collaborative, and free. 

The great thing about Google Slides (besides the fact that it’s completely free for anyone with a Google account) is that you can log on via your browser or through its official app. 

You can access all Google Slides presentations from any device (mobile, tablet, and desktop), and share them with other people so you can collaborate in real-time. 

Google Drive allows all your presentations to live on the cloud, accessible to all marketing and sales teams, with unparalleled ease of use.

And there’s no need to worry about disruptions as all changes are saved as they happen, as long as you have an active internet connection. 

Additionally, anyone familiar with PowerPoint will be comfortable using Google’s iteration and likely be delighted by Google Drive and the slide library available. 

It’s also a lot simpler, so even those new to presentation-making will find it easy to navigate. 

However, some might find Google Slides too simple as it lacks the wealth of features available on PowerPoint. 

These include embedding videos from sources other than YouTube, plus adding audio tracks and sound effects, limiting the ability to create unique interactive presentations. 

Some users also encounter issues with downloading and exporting to different formats, including PowerPoint. 

Some slides may even turn out completely different from the original version. 

All in all, Google Slides is a great option for those who are looking for a free application and only need to create simple presentations. 

• The free plan supports professional presentations
• Web-based and collaborative to create presentations
• Simple and familiar interface for an online presentation software
• Too simple for advanced presentation making
• Difficult to export to other formats
• Limited templates and customization options for interactive content

You could say Keynote is Apple’s version of PowerPoint. It’s also a slideshow application—but in typical Apple fashion, it comes with a sleek, minimalist interface and is considered one of the best presentation apps on the market. 

There are 30 different themes to choose from, which serve as templates for those who need a quick fix. And it can do most of what PowerPoint can. 

Keynote’s main perk is that it’s part of the Apple ecosystem. 

That means it has built-in iCloud and Apple Watch support so users can control their presentation from their mobile device or even their wrists with just a click. 

This presentation app comes pre-installed on most Mac devices. Otherwise, you can purchase it from the Apple store for just US$9.99 for mobile and US$19.99 for OS X. 

The big downside is that Keynote is exclusive to Mac OS. 

Non-Apple users can create, upload, and sync their own Keynote presentations through their iCloud Drive, but this presentation app is only truly helpful only for those who use multiple Apple devices. 

And if you’re used to working on PowerPoint, you might find Keynote a bit confusing in the beginning, especially when editing presentations. 

• Sleek, minimalist interface 
• Free with most Apple devices
• No access for PC and Android devices except through iCloud

5. SlideDog

Sliding away from straightforward slideshow applications and other presentation apps, SlideDog is a web-based multimedia presentation tool that lets users combine different types of media to create and edit presentations. 

This includes everything from PowerPoint decks to videos and even PDFs that can all be played side by side without any awkward transitions. 

It’s also extremely easy to customize a SlideDog presentation. 

You just need to upload the files into the SlideDog web browser application, and then drag and drop them according to the order in which you want them to play. 

You can control your presentations and playlists from another device, and audience members can view your slideshow on their devices by clicking a link. 

SlideDog has a free presentation app version that provides all of the basic features. 

However, live sharing and premium support are only available with a Pro account that costs US$99 per year, and not via the free version alone.

While SlideDog is technically considered presentation software, you can’t actually create presentations on it. 

You can simply stitch together different pre-made presentations in various formats into what is essentially a playlist. 

Lastly, SlideDog supports only Windows devices, so Apple and Linux users can’t use it. 

• Supports a lot of different media
• Provides live-sharing
• More dynamic compared to the usual slideshow presentation
• Only collates media; doesn’t create them

6. Haiku Deck 

Ever come across presentations with size-eight fonts and blocks of indecipherable paragraphs on each slide? 

You can avoid such an unfortunate scenario with Haiku Deck. 

HaikuDeck is a web and mobile application that favors images over text. 

It works by limiting the number of words users can put on each slide, and allowing them to search for images on their platform related to the slide’s main idea. 

This makes it ideal for those who want to simplify their thoughts and let the images do all the talking. 

Users have over 40 million royalty-free photos to choose from, plus dozens of simple slide layouts on the platform itself. 

While this certainly simplifies the process of creating a visually rich presentation, it can be limiting for those who need to include more information into their slides. 

It’s a great option for someone giving a TED Talk, for example.

But for others who need to pass on more facts and figures, having a built-in word limit might be too restrictive.  

• Simple and easy to use 
• Access to millions of royalty-free stock images
• May be too simple for some
• No Android support
• Limited features

7. Prezi Business

Among the other presentation software on this list, Prezi Business might be one of the most unique presentation tools. 

Rather than offering a regular slideshow format, Prezi looks more like a 3D interactive mind map where viewers jump dynamically from one idea to the next. 

You can zoom in on one “slide” and then zoom out for the next. 

Prezi has over 100 templates to choose from and comes with a very simple interface and a drag-and-drop style of editing. 

It’s compatible with both Mac and PC desktops as well as smartphones. 

It’s also similar to a regular PowerPoint deck in that you can jump back and forth from one “slide” to the next. 

And like SlideDog, you can send viewers the link to the presentation as you’re presenting. 

Also, up to 10 people can work on a Prezi presentation at the same time, one of its main selling points. 

This is great for collaboration, but having so many hands-on deck at once can get messy. 

• Dynamic and immersive presentations
• Highly visual
• Easy to use
• May not be appropriate for all types of presentations

In a world of slides and presentations, standing out is the key. Ludus brings the flair of graphic design into the world of presentations.

At its core, Ludus is the bridge between presentation tools and design software. It enables users to infuse their slides with the kind of design elements you’d typically find in advanced design platforms.

Not only can you import assets from design giants like Adobe, but its seamless integration with tools like Unsplash and Giphy makes sourcing visuals a breeze.

It’s a fairly affordable tool for all its features compared to the other paid options in this list, as users pay 12.49 euros monthly (if billed annually).

However, while Ludus’ robust design capabilities can elevate the look of your presentation, those unfamiliar with design tools might find there’s a learning curve.

• Merges presentation creation with advanced design tools.
• Seamless integration with popular design platforms and visual databases.
• Offers a unique edge in presentation aesthetics.
• Might be a tad overwhelming for non-designers
• Can have a steeper learning curve for those used to more straightforward platforms

9. Slidebean

Crafting a compelling presentation demands not only compelling content but also a design that can captivate your audience. Enter Slidebean.

Slidebean offers an intelligent design solution, using AI to transform raw content into professionally styled presentations. This platform streamlines the design process, allowing you to focus on the message rather than fretting over aesthetics.

The basic plan is free and allows you to create a presentation. But if you want to share or download your presentations, as well as unlock the full suite of features, you’ll need to sign up for the All-Access plan priced at $199 per year.

While it provides a quick and efficient method to produce polished slides, it also offers features for sharing, collaboration, and viewer analytics, adding an edge to your presentation strategy.

However, for professionals who prioritize granular design control, the automated design might feel limiting at times.

• AI-driven design ensures visually appealing presentations.
• Features for collaboration and viewer insights.
• Efficient design process reduces time and effort.
• Might not offer the detailed design customization some users desire.
• Automated choices may not always align with specific branding or style preferences.

10. ClearSlide

Having great visuals to drive your point home can be the difference between getting a sale across the line or customers walking away. ClearSlide stands out in this area as a presentation tool for businesses laser-focused on boosting their sales and marketing game.

At its core, ClearSlide is all about leveling up business presentations. Whether you’re marketing a new product or tracking client engagement, it’s got tools that cater to every need.

Whether it’s a PowerPoint, a PDF, or something from Google Drive or Dropbox, ClearSlide makes it simple to upload and work with these files.

The unique edge? ClearSlide’s virtual meeting space pops open with just a click. It’s all about seamless, professional presentations without the hassle.

Beyond just slides, the platform dives deep into metrics and analytics, ensuring every presentation is backed by data-driven insights. And the tool is available for $35 per month, which isn’t too pricey for medium-sized businesses.

However, its complexity isn’t for everyone. For some, the variety of features might seem a tad overwhelming, and its focus on metrics might be a bit much for those just wanting a basic presentation tool.

• Seamless virtual meetings and presentations
• Integrates with popular platforms
• Offers insightful analytics for sales and marketing
• Might feel complex for some users
• Limited transition and design effects
• Mobile experience could be better

Stepping into the world of animation, Vyond, once known as GoAnimate, allows users to turn their narratives into professional animated videos. For those looking to elevate their content without diving deep into animation complexities, Vyond can be the go-to tool.

This platform is more than just drag-and-drop animations. It integrates AI capabilities with Vyond Go, which transforms text prompts into rough-cut videos.

Fancy a quick draft for your upcoming project? This AI assistant is up for the task. And if perfection is your game, take it to Vyond Studio, filled with an array of characters, templates, and backgrounds.

The Essential Plan at $25 per month is suitable for individuals on a budget. However, if you want to export videos at 1080p and above, have collaboration tools, or different export options, you’ll need to sign up for the Professional Plan at $92 per month.

As robust as the tool is, there are still some kinks to iron out. AI voiceovers might still need some tweaks, and detailed color customizations can be a bit tricky, but the tool’s strengths, especially for businesses, are undeniable.

• Hassle-free video creation for beginners to experts
• Generous library of pre-made assets
• AI-powered video and script creation with Vyond Go
• AI voiceovers might feel a bit robotic
• Some customization limitations for specific props and scenes

The best presentation software is…

 …completely up to you! 

When it comes to presentation software, the world is your oyster. 

Each of these tools either has a free or trial version for you to check out, so you don’t have to commit just yet. 

When it’s time to choose, consider the following aspects to find the right presentation software for you: 

• Ease of use. Is it easy for you to understand or will it require lots of training before you can start creating presentations? 
• Accessibility. Can you access your presentation software from any device or are you limited to carrying your laptop to every presentation? 
• Real-time collaboration. Can multiple people work on the same project or do you have to keep downloading and emailing drafts? 
• Create design tools. Can you create presentations with dynamic design elements or are you stuck with the same kind of slide each time? 
• Template availability. Is this tool only accessible to a design professional or can anyone create stunning presentations through pre-designed and updated templates? 

Piktochart , for example, would be a fantastic presentation software choice among the long list of PowerPoint alternatives for teams looking for a variety of eye-catching designs without requiring much technical know-how. Meanwhile, Microsoft PowerPoint might be the best presentation software for those who are just looking to play it safe. 

Hopefully, this best presentation software list sheds some light on the tools at your disposal. Choose wisely! 

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Robin Geuens is a writer turned SEO specialist. When he's not wondering what Google is up to next he's either reading, taking courses, playing video games, or wondering where to travel to next.

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Best presentation software of 2024

Make perfect slides for speeches and talks

Best overall

Best for branding, best for marketing, best for themes, best for media, best unique.

• How we test

The best presentation software makes it simple and easy to create, manage, and share slideshow presentations.

1. Best overall 2. Best for branding 3. Best for marketing 4. Best for themes 5. Best for media 6. Best unique 7. FAQs 8. How we test

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 .

<a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=92X363&xcust=hawk-custom-tracking&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fproducts.office.com%2Fen-us%2Fcompare-all-microsoft-office-products%3Ftab%3D2&sref" data-link-merchant="SkimLinks - office.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> 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, <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=92X363&xcust=hawk-custom-tracking&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fproducts.office.com%2Fen-us%2Fcompare-all-microsoft-office-products%3Ftab%3D2&sref" data-link-merchant="SkimLinks - office.com"" data-link-merchant="SkimLinks - office.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">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.

<a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=92X363&xcust=hawk-custom-tracking&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fproducts.office.com%2Fen-us%2Fcompare-all-microsoft-office-products%3Ftab%3D2&sref" data-link-merchant="SkimLinks - office.com"" data-link-merchant="SkimLinks - office.com"" data-link-merchant="SkimLinks - office.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> 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.

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 .

• ^ Back to the top

2. CustomShow

Reasons to avoid.

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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. SlideDog

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 .

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 .

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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The best presentation software

These powerpoint alternatives go beyond the basics..

The latest presentation apps have made it easier than ever to format slides and create professional-looking slideshows without giving off a "this is a template" vibe. Even standard PowerPoint alternatives have updated key features to make it easier than ever to collaborate and create presentations quickly, so you can spend more time prepping for your actual presentation.

If, like me, you've been using Google Slides unquestioningly for years, it's a whole new world out there. The newest crop of online presentation tools go way beyond the classic slideshow experience, with new features to keep your audience's attention, streamline the creation process with AI, and turn slide decks into videos and interactive conversations.

I've been testing these apps for the past few years, and this time, I spent several days tinkering with the top presentation software solutions out there to bring you the best of the best.

Beautiful.ai for AI-powered design

Prezi for non-linear, conversational presentations

Powtoon for video presentations

Genially for interactive, presenter-less presentations

Pitch for collaborating with your team on presentations

Zoho Show for a simple presentation app

Gamma for generative AI features

What makes the best presentation app?

How we evaluate and test apps.

Our best apps roundups are written by humans who've spent much of their careers using, testing, and writing about software. Unless explicitly stated, we spend dozens of hours researching and testing apps, using each app as it's intended to be used and evaluating it against the criteria we set for the category. We're never paid for placement in our articles from any app or for links to any site—we value the trust readers put in us to offer authentic evaluations of the categories and apps we review. For more details on our process, read the full rundown of how we select apps to feature on the Zapier blog .

When looking for the best presentation apps, I wanted utility players. After all, slideshows are used for just about everything, from pitch decks and product launches to class lectures and church sermons. With that in mind, here's what I was looking for:

Pre-built templates. The best presentation tools should have attractive, professional-looking templates to build presentations in a hurry.

Sharing and collaboration options. Whether you plan to share your webinar slides later, or you just want to collaborate with a coworker on a presentation, it should be easy to share files and collaborate in real-time.

Flexibility and customization options. Templates are great, but top presentation apps should enable you to customize just about everything—giving you the flexibility to build exactly what you need.

Affordability. Creating compelling presentations is important, but you shouldn't have to bust your budget to make it happen. With capable free tools on the market, affordability is a top consideration.

Standalone functionality. There's no reason to use multiple tools when one can do it all, so I didn't test any apps that require and work on top of another presentation app like PowerPoint or Google Slides.

Familiar, deck-based UI. For our purposes here, I only tested software that uses slides, with the familiar deck-based editor you expect from a "presentation" tool (versus, for example, a video creation app).

While many apps now offer AI features in one way or another, I found many of these features to be lacking still—they're often slow, struggle to pull in relevant imagery, and yield wildly inconsistent designs. For that reason, I opted not to make AI features a strict requirement (for now!), and I've still included apps that don't offer AI. (Of course, if you opt for one of those, you can still easily get AI-generated images from a separate tool and copy them into your presentation app of choice.)

Beyond that, I also looked for presentation apps that brought something unique to the table—features above and beyond what you can get for free from a legacy solution like PowerPoint or Google Slides. (And I opted not to test any brand new apps that are still in beta, since there are so many established options out there.)

Here's what my testing workflow looked like:

I went through any onboarding or guided tutorials.

I created a new deck, scanning through all available templates, noting how well-designed they were (and which were free versus paid).

I added new slides, deleted slides, edited text and images, and played around with other content types.

I changed presentation design settings, like color schemes and background images.

I reviewed and tested the sharing and collaboration options.

I tested out presenter view (when available).

After my first round of testing, I went back into the top performers to test any unique or niche features like AI, brand settings, interactive content, and more. With that, these are the best presentation apps I found—each one really brings something different or radically easy to the table.

The best presentation software: at a glance

The best free presentation software, canva (web, windows, mac, android, ios).

Canva pros:

Excellent free plan

Tons of amazing templates for all use cases

Feature-rich

Canva cons:

The Magic Design AI tool is still inconsistent and not super impressive

Canva offers one of the most robust free plans of all the presentation apps I tested. The app delays account creation until after you've created your first design, so you can get started building your presentation in seconds. Choose from an almost overwhelming number of beautiful templates (nearly all available for free), including those designed specifically for education or business use cases.

Anyone who's accidentally scrolled too far and been bumped to the next slide will appreciate Canva's editor interface, which eliminates that problem altogether with a smooth scroll that doesn't jump around. Choose from a handful of preset animations to add life to your presentations, or browse the library of audio and video files available to add. And Canva also has a number of options for sharing your presentation, including adding collaborators to your team, sharing directly to social media, and even via QR code.

Present directly from Canva, and let audience members submit their questions via Canva Live. Once you share a link to invite audience members to your presentation, they can send questions for you to answer. As the presenter, you'll see them pop up in your presenter view window, so you can keep the audience engaged and your presentation clear. Alternatively, record a presentation with a talking head bubble—you can even use an AI presenter here—to share remotely.

Canvas has added a number of AI-powered tools , but I wasn't super impressed by them yet. When I asked the Magic Design tool to generate a presentation from scratch, for example, the result was a bunch of unrelated images, inconsistent design, and surface-level copy. These features will likely improve in time, but for now, you're better off starting from one of Canva's many great templates.

Canva pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $119.99/year for 1 user and include additional features like Brand Kit, premium templates and stock assets, and additional AI-powered design tools.

The best presentation app for AI-powered design

Beautiful.ai (web, mac, windows).

Beautiful.ai pros:

True AI design

No fussing around with alignment

Still allows for customization

Beautiful.ai cons:

No free plan

Generative AI features aren't great yet

If you're like me, editing granular spacing issues is the absolute worst part of building a presentation. Beautiful.ai uses artificial intelligence to take a lot of the hassle and granular design requirements out of the presentation process, so you can focus on the content of a presentation without sacrificing professional design. If I needed to make presentations on a regular basis, this is the app I'd use.

Many apps have recently added AI design features, but Beautiful.ai has been doing it for years—and they've perfected the UX of AI design, ensuring the tool's reign as the most streamlined and user-friendly option for AI design.

The editor is a little different from most presentation apps, but it's still intuitive—and you'll start off with a quick two-minute tutorial. When creating a new slide, scroll through "inspiration slides" to find a layout you like; once you choose, the app will pull the layout and automatically adapt it to match the design of the rest of your presentation.

With 10 themes, several templated slides, over 40 fully-designed templates, and 23 different color palettes to choose from, Beautiful.ai strikes a perfect balance between automation and customization.

While Beautiful.ai doesn't offer a free plan, paid plans are reasonably priced and offer sharing and collaboration options that rival collab-focused apps like Google Slides. And speaking of Google, you can connect Beautiful.ai with Google Drive to save all your presentations there.

Note: I did test the newly released generative AI feature (called DesignerBot) and felt it wasn't much to write home about. It's great for adding individual slides to an existing presentation—automatically choosing the best layout and matching the design to the rest of the deck—but as with most other apps, it struggled to generate a quality presentation from scratch.

Beautiful.ai pricing: Plans start at $12/month for unlimited slides, AI content generation, viewer analytics, and more. Upgrade to a Team plan for $40/user/month to get extra collaboration and workspace features and custom brand controls.

If you're a founder looking for an AI presentation tool for your pitch deck, Slidebean is a great Beautiful.ai alternative for startups. The app offers a number of templates; a unique, content-first outline editor; and AI design help that you can toggle on or off for each slide. I didn't include it on the list mainly because of the price: the free plan is quite limited, and the paid all-access plan starts at $228/year.

The best presentation app for conversational presentations

Prezi (web, mac, windows, ios, android).

Prezi pros:

Doesn't restrict you to standard presentation structure

Lots of customization options

Prezi Video lets you display a presentation right over your webcam video

Prezi cons:

Steep learning curve

Struggling to squeeze information into a basic, linear presentation? Give Prezi a try. Unlike nearly all other presentation apps on the market, Prezi Present doesn't restrict the structure of your presentation to a straight line. The editor focuses on topics and subtopics and allows you to arrange them any way you want, so you can create a more conversational flow of information.

With the structural flexibility, you still get all the same customization features you expect from top presentation software, including fully-editable templates. There's a learning curve if you're unfamiliar with non-linear presentations, but templates offer a great jumping-off point, and Prezi's editor does a good job of making the process more approachable.

Plus, Prezi comes with two other apps: Prezi Design and Prezi Video. Prezi Video helps you take remote presentations to a new level. You can record a video where the presentation elements are displayed right over your webcam feed. Record and save the video to share later, or connect with your video conferencing tool of choice (including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet) to present live.

Prezi pricing: Free 14-day trial and a free plan that includes up to 5 visual projects; paid plans start at $5/month and include additional features like private presentations and Prezi Present.

The best presentation app for video presentations

Powtoon (web, ios, android).

Powtoon pros:

Timing automatically changes based on the content on the slide

Can toggle between slideshow and video

Can orient presentation as horizontal, vertical, or square

Powtoon cons:

Limited free plan

Powtoon makes it easy to create engaging videos by orienting the editor around a slide deck. Editing a Powtoon feels just like editing a presentation, but by the time you finish, you have a professional video. 

You can edit your slides at any time, and when you hit play, a video plays through your deck—the feel is almost like an animated explainer video. Each slide includes the animations you choose and takes up as much time as is needed based on the content on the slide. Powtoon figures the timing automatically, and you can see in the bottom-right of the editor how much time is used on your current slide versus the total presentation. If you ever want to present as a slide deck, just toggle between Slideshow and Movie.

You'll likely need to subscribe to a paid plan to get the most out of Powtoon—like creating videos longer than three minutes, downloading them as MP4 files, and white-labeling your presentations—but doing so won't break the bank. Plus, you'll unlock tons of templates complete with animations and soundtracks.

One of my favorite Powtoon features is the ability to orient your video: you can choose horizontal orientation (like a normal presentation) or opt for vertical (for mobile) or square (for social media). When your presentation is ready, you can publish straight to YouTube, Wistia, Facebook Ads, and any number of other locations.

Powtoon pricing: Limited free plan available; paid plans start at $20/month and include white-labeling, priority support, additional storage, and more.

The best presentation app for interactive presentations

Genially (web).

Genially pros:

Don't need a presenter (it's interactive)

You can set universal branding guidelines

Unlimited creations on the free plan

Genially cons:

Free plan has some limitations worth looking into (e.g., can only make public presentations)

While many presentation apps are built for presenter-led decks, Genially 's interactive features and animated templates make it easy to build a self-led presentation. A variety of interactive buttons allow you to show viewers additional context on hover, have them skip to any page of your deck, and let them navigate to external links.

This presentation program offers a bunch of searchable templates, including some for business proposals, reports, social media presentations, and more (though most of those are available on premium plans only). Genially also includes Smart blocks —templated blocks of content for elements like data visualizations and image galleries.

My favorite feature is the brand settings. Premium users can set universal branding guidelines that include your logo, color scheme, fonts, images, and backgrounds, among other options. Think of them like a custom template, created and customized by you, that the whole team can use. Once set, your team can easily create on-brand presentations that automatically apply your brand settings, without even thinking about it.

Plus, Genially supports additional content like training materials, infographics, and interactive images—all subject to your brand presets.

Genially pricing: Free plan available with unlimited creations and views and access to templates; paid plans start at $7.49/month and include additional download options, privacy controls, offline viewing, premium templates, and more.

The best presentation app for collaborating with your team

Pitch (web, mac, windows, ios, android).

Pitch pros:

Google levels of collaboration

Assign slides to specific team members

Start live video calls straight from decks

Pitch cons:

User interface is a little different than you're used to

Need to collaborate on presentations with your team? Pitch is a Google Slides alternative that gets the job done. As far as decks go, Pitch includes all the beautifully-designed templates, customizability, and ease of use you expect from a top-notch presentation tool. But the app really shines when you add your team.

The right-hand sidebar is all about project management and collaboration: you can set and update the status of your deck, assign entire presentations or individual slides to team members, plus comment, react, or add notes. Save custom templates to make future presentations even easier and faster.

You can also invite collaborators from outside your company to work with you on individual decks. And if you opt for a paid plan, Pitch introduces workspace roles, shared private folders, and version history.

The "Go live" feature is a personal favorite—with just a click on the camera icon in the top-right, you can start a live video call. Any team members who open the presentation can hop in and collaborate in real-time. 

Pitch pricing: Free plan offers unlimited presentations, custom templates, and live video collaboration; paid plans start at $8/user/month for additional workspace features, presentation analytics, and more.

The best simple presentation app

Zoho show (web, ios, android, chrome).

Zoho Show pros:

Simple and easy to use

Version history and ability to lock slides

Completely free

Zoho Show cons:

Templates are pretty basic

If you're looking for a simple, yet capable presentation app that's a step up from Google Slides, Zoho Show is a great option. It's completely free to use, offers a clean, intuitive editor, and includes a number of great templates.

While the handful of "Themes" offered are on the basic side, Zoho templates boast a more modern and professional design than much of what Google Slides or PowerPoint offer. And I love that you can set the font and color scheme for the whole template, right from the start.

The app doesn't skimp on collaboration or shareability either. You can invite collaborators via email or shareable link, and comments and version history make it easy to work together on presentations. Once you're ready to share, you can even broadcast your presentation to a remote audience right from within Zoho. Plus, you can one-click lock slides to prevent any more editing or hide individual slides to customize your presentation for different audiences.

You can even connect Zoho Show to Zapier , so you can do things like automatically create a presentation when something happens in one of the other apps you use most.

Zapier is the leader in workflow automation—integrating with 6,000+ apps from partners like Google, Salesforce, and Microsoft. Use interfaces, data tables, and logic to build secure, automated systems for your business-critical workflows across your organization's technology stack. Learn more .

Zoho Show pricing: Free

The best presentation app for generative AI

Gamma (web).

Gamma pros:

Creates fully fleshed-out presentations from a prompt

Chatbot-like experience

Can still manually edit the presentation

Gamma cons:

Not as much granular customization

I tested a lot of apps claiming to use AI to up your presentation game, and Gamma 's generative features were head and shoulders above the crowd.

Simply give the app a topic—or upload an outline, notes, or any other document or article—approve the outline, and pick a theme. The app will take it from there and create a fully fleshed-out presentation. It's far from perfect, but Gamma produced the most useful jumping-off point of all the AI presentation apps I tested. 

Here's the key: Gamma is much more geared toward the iterative, chatbot experience familiar to ChatGPT users. Click on the Edit with AI button at the top of the right-hand menu to open the chat, and you'll see suggested prompts—or you can type in your own requests for how Gamma should alter the presentation.

Once you've done all you can with prompts, simply close the chat box to manually add the finishing touches. While you do sacrifice some granular customizability in exchange for the AI features, you can still choose your visual theme, change slide layouts, format text, and add any images, videos, or even app and web content.

Gamma pricing: Free plan includes unlimited users, 1 custom theme, 400 AI deck credits, and basic view analytics; upgrade to the Pro plan ("coming soon," as of this writing) for $10/user/month to get additional AI credits, advanced view analytics, custom fonts, and more.

What about the old standbys?

You might notice a few major presentation players aren't on this list, including OGs Microsoft PowerPoint, Apple Keynote, and Google Slides. These apps are perfectly adequate for creating basic presentations, and they're free if you have a Windows or Mac device or a Google account.

I didn't include them on the list because the presentation space has really developed in the last several years, and after testing them out, I found these behemoths haven't kept pace. If they weren't made by Microsoft/Apple/Google, I might not even be mentioning them. They're pretty basic tools, they're behind the curve when it comes to templates (both quantity and design), and they don't offer any uniquely valuable features like robust team collaboration, branding controls, video, and so on.

Some of these companies (think: Microsoft and Google) are openly working on some pretty impressive-sounding AI features, but they haven't been widely released to the public yet. Rest assured, I'm watching this space, and the next time we update this article, I'll retest tools like PowerPoint and Google Slides to see what new features are available.

In any case, if you're reading this, you're probably looking for an alternative that allows you to move away from one of the big 3, and as the presentation platforms featured above show, there's a ton to gain—in terms of features, usability, and more—when you do.

Related reading:

8 Canva AI tools to improve your design workflow

The best online whiteboards for collaboration

How to share a presentation on Zoom without sharing your browser tabs and address bar

This post was originally published in October 2014 and has since been updated with contributions from Danny Schreiber, Matthew Guay, Andrew Kunesh, and Krystina Martinez. The most recent update was in May 2023.

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Kiera Abbamonte

Kiera’s a content writer who helps SaaS and eCommerce companies connect with customers and reach new audiences. Located in Boston, MA, she loves cinnamon coffee and a good baseball game. Catch up with her on Twitter @Kieraabbamonte.

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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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The 9 best presentation software platforms in 2023

You’re in the middle of a busy work week, and you‘re winding down after a particularly productive day. There’s still a lot more to accomplish, but you’ve got momentum and you’re making good progress. As you check your calendar for the following day, you see a two-hour morning time slot blocked out for a company-wide meeting. What’s your gut reaction?

Is it something like “I can’t wait—this is going to be so fun and interactive!” Or is it something more like “Ugh—I’ve got so much to do, and this is going to be such a long presentation. Maybe I can get some actual work done while it’s on in the background.”

If your inner monologue sounds more like the second example, you’re not alone. Research from Zippia shows 65% of employees believe meetings inhibit them from getting their work tasks done and that people are multitasking in at least 41% of meetings.

With so many potential distractions lurking in inboxes, Slack channels, and smartphones, meeting leaders must do everything they can to make their presentations interactive and engaging.

Fortunately, many presentation software platforms offer powerful tools to help presenters tell more captivating stories. Let’s take a look at a few of the factors that separate good apps from great ones.

What makes a great presentation app?

From pitch decks to progress updates, presentation apps have countless uses within the modern business environment. But regardless of the content being shared, there are a few things the best presentation software all has in common.

Intuitive, user-friendly interfaces

If an application is loaded with incredible features that are difficult to use, most users will prefer to take the path of least resistance rather than spending hours Googling how to accomplish their goal. Best-in-class presentation software makes it easy for users to learn the basics and get started, often with built-in tutorials.

Easy customization

Platforms that make it easy to plug in your logo, colors, fonts, and photos create polished presentations that wow internal and external audiences alike. Look for an app with a variety of tweakable templates that allow teams to share different types of information while sticking to your brand and identity standards.

Visual storytelling

If you’re squeezing several hundred words onto each presentation slide and then reading them all aloud, your audience’s attention is likely to wane. Research has long shown people absorb a combination of visual and verbal content much better than spoken lectures alone. All the best presentation software streamlines the use of visual aids to help your audience retain information more effectively.

Sharing and collaboration features

As asynchronous work becomes increasingly common, it’s important for your presentation software of choice to streamline collaboration between teams who may not be in the same location (or even the same hemisphere). When done well, sharing and collaboration features can save time and confusion regarding the latest versions or revisions.  

Integrations with other apps

Software that plays nicely with its binary counterparts can elevate a typical presentation into something compelling and visually stunning. Apps which enable embedding and presenting interactive features make outstanding add-ons that improve audience engagement while using your main slideware or communication tools.

1. Poll Everywhere

A versatile and customizable software platform for engaging your audience and encouraging participation, Poll Everywhere adds interactive elements to your presentation like polls, surveys, quizzes, word clouds, and much more. Made to turn dry lectures into two-way conversations, Poll Everywhere makes it easy to set up a variety of interactive activities for audience members. People can share their input via text, smartphone app, or web browser, which is then reflected on the screen in real time (don’t worry, there are moderation features for open-ended text responses).

Not only does Poll Everywhere enable more interactive presentations, it’s also a useful tool for things like employee surveys, group brainstorms, or submitting questions and agenda items ahead of meetings. It’s intuitive for new users to pick up and enables more open communication and team collaboration at every level of your organization.

For larger organizations, Poll Everywhere’s Enterprise plans let you customize the platform to reflect your company’s branding, logos, and colors (and remove the Poll Everywhere branding to give your presentations a more bespoke look). You also get additional features like Shared Activities for cross-team collaboration, upgraded security protocols, and robust reporting tools to translate audience responses into actionable insights.

• Easy integration with most industry-standard slideware and communication apps
• Encourages audience participation and engagement
• Wide variety of functions and activities
• Paid plans required for audiences larger than 25 people
• Audience members must have Internet or cellular access to participate

Poll Everywhere offers a free plan that allows polling limited audience sizes and paid plans starting at $120 per year. Higher-tier plans include additional users, greater audience sizes, and increased moderation and support tools. Custom enterprise solutions for large organizations are also available.

Powtoon takes your presentations to the next level by helping you create polished, professional-looking videos that are more captivating than your traditional text on a screen. Users edit “slides” similarly to how they would with most presentation software, except when you’re done, your deck becomes a seamless video complete with animations of your choosing. The software even figures out the correct timing based on how much content you add to each slide.

In addition to making your presentations sparkle, Powtoon is also useful for creating other marketing or social media assets. You can orient your videos to fit different dimensions and publish your finished creations directly to YouTube, Meta’s Ads Manager, and other platforms.

• Makes your presentations more captivating and memorable
• Useful for creating all types of videos
• Wide variety of templates, animations, and characters
• Limited templates on free version
• Paid plan required for MP4 downloads

Powtoon’s free offering is somewhat limited, though paid plans start at a reasonable $20 per month. Premium plans include more storage space, unlimited exports, and the ability to customize characters and add your own branding.

3. Genially

In the era of remote teams working across different time zones, not every presentation needs to have a presenter. Genially makes it easy to create interactive, self-led presentations that engage your audience much more than simply sending them a deck or a document to review. A huge variety of templates include predefined interactive elements, or users can customize their own.

A well-planned assortment of content blocks lets you showcase everything from image galleries to data visualizations. And while it takes a bit of work upfront, you can also create your own template using your organization’s branding and then have anyone on your team use it to create their own presentations.

• Anyone can create entertaining and interactive self-led presentations
• Solid variety of templates, even on free version
• Unlimited creations for all tiers, including free version
• Paid subscription required to view presentations offline
• Variety of options can be overwhelming at first

Premium plans range from $7.49 per month to $80 per month. As you go up the pricing tiers, you get access to more privacy and personalization features, plus integration with other platforms like PowerPoint and Google Analytics.

A software platform that’s shaking up the linear-presentation model, Prezi takes users out of the sometimes stifling flow of traditional slide deck design in favor of a more free-flowing approach. Prezi users list out ideas or topics they want to cover before threading them together into a compelling, visually striking presentation that’s more conducive to group conversations.

Prezi integrates particularly well with video conferencing tools, making it a great option for remote-first teams. You can even build your presentation as a Zoom overlay, which means your audience can see you and your slide content at the same time. It’s a nice way to maintain a human touch in video presentations, where audiences often miss out on seeing the presenter’s body language and facial expressions.

• Can inspire more creative thinking when developing content
• Robust library of templates and features
• Excellent integration with video conferencing platforms
• Can be a challenging transition for people used to the traditional slide deck model
• Free version limited to five projects

While you can create five projects for free, paid plans starting at $19 per month include much greater import and export options. The $59 per month Premium plan includes phone support, presentation analytics, and advanced training tools. Custom enterprise packages are also available for large teams.

5. Google Slides

Truly free presentation software—not just a free trial or a limited feature set—is increasingly difficult to come by. However, anyone with a Google account can use the full version of Google Slides, with no recurring subscriptions or trial periods to speak of. And because it’s fully cloud-based, teams can collaborate on the same presentation without having to keep track of multiple versions.

While its offerings of features and premade templates may not quite equal some of its subscription-based peers, Google Slides remains a viable solution due to its simple interface and easy integration with the rest of Google Workspace. You can also add powerful third-party add-ons to make your presentations more interactive and visually appealing.

• Cloud-based platform enables easy collaboration
• Shorter learning curve than some other platforms
• Can utilize add-ons to supplement the simple functionality
• LImited templates and transition effects
• No built-in asset library

The full version of Google Slides is free to use for anyone with a Google account.

If you need to create a beautiful presentation really fast, Canva is a fantastic software option. Its free plan offers some of the best-looking templates around, and because it’s a self-contained solution, you won’t need other apps like Photoshop to create eye-catching visuals. Drag-and-drop functionality makes it easy to add your own content and visual assets, or you can pick from an extensive library of free photos and graphics (even on the free version).

While it’s an excellent tool for creating polished presentations, Canva has other uses too. It’s incredibly helpful for creating marketing materials like videos, social posts, and even logos. While it’s not a replacement for your design team, it can free them up for other tasks while empowering anyone in your organization to embrace their creative side.

• Simplifies the creation of eye-popping presentations
• Massive variety of templates, even on free version
• Versatile platform for creating all types of materials
• Can be difficult to make complicated charts or graphs
• Cloud-based platform has limited offline functionality

Canva’s free version is excellent, though cloud storage space is limited. Paid plans start at $120 per year and include 24/7 support and an even bigger library of templates, photos, animations, and audio.

7. Beautiful.ai

If you’re the hawk-eyed type who spends just as much time fixing those annoying spacing issues as you do developing the actual content of your presentation, Beautiful.ai could be the software you’ve been looking for. As you might suspect from the name, it’s an AI-enhanced presentation platform that automates many aspects of layout to keep your slides looking professional and visually pleasing.

To help you get inspired when first starting a new project, you can browse through a number of slide types to find a layout you like, which then automatically applies to the rest of your presentation-in-progress, even on slides with other types of content. While templates and themes are somewhat limited compared to other platforms, all the included options are clean, modern, and well-designed.

• Automated layout for polished and professional designs
• Clean and intuitive user interface
• Helpful tutorial videos to minimize the learning curve
• Template, theme, and color options are somewhat limited
• Bare-bones collaboration features on the free version

Individual subscriptions start at $12 per month and unlock most of the app’s best features. Monthly Team plans with added customization and collaboration tools start at $40 per user, and large–scale enterprise plans are also available.

8. PowerPoint

We’d be remiss if we didn’t include this category-founding behemoth in our list, as it’s still one of the most popular presentation softwares in use around the globe. (There’s a reason many other presentation apps feature PowerPoint integration as a selling point.)

With a wide variety of templates, effects, animations, and customization options, experienced PowerPoint users can create presentations every bit as compelling as you’ll get with any other platform. And with useful extension apps available for both Mac and Windows versions, you can integrate additional interactive elements to make your next meeting more memorable.

• Compatible with the world’s most popular software suite
• Solid selection of templates and effects
• Easy to get started creating simple presentations
• Steep learning curve for advanced features
• Can take longer to create visually stunning presentations

PowerPoint is included in the Microsoft 365 software suite with plans starting at $6.99 per month. Standalone licenses are also available at a flat rate of $159.99.

If your organization makes heavy use of Apple products, Keynote is an excellent free presentation software option that rivals PowerPoint in terms of rich functionality. The interface is mostly intuitive, though perhaps slightly more complicated than the ultra-stripped-down feel of Google Slides (which makes sense, given Keynote’s additional features).

Built-in templates and asset libraries are plentiful, and in keeping with Apple’s brand aesthetic, help you create contemporary-looking presentations that wow your audiences. And while PowerPoint may have a wider variety of add-ons, Keynote still works with numerous third-party apps to incorporate interactive elements like polls, quizzes, word clouds, and more.

• Excellent variety of templates and built-in assets
• Creates clean, modern, and polished presentations
• Mobile, desktop, and web-based platforms
• Requires some time to master
• Few truly unique features

Keynote is free to use for all Apple users.

When done well, presentations are still one of the best ways to inform and invigorate an audience and align everyone regarding goals, priorities, and progress toward achieving them. With so much user-friendly presentation software available in 2023, there’s no need to host boring, lecture-style meetings that test your attendees’ attention spans.

If you’re looking for more ideas about how to make your presentations more engaging and interactive, check out our free guide detailing best practices for prese nters .

Related articles

The 10 Best Presentation & Tools On The Internet

Presentations are a fact of a business. You not only use them to give information to your colleagues, clients, and investors but also share data and ideas with the world.

But there are times when the task of creating an impressive presentation can seem overwhelming. The good news is that there are plenty of presentation software and tools to help you create professional and engaging presentations quickly and easily.

Here's a list of the top 10 best presentation software and tools that will make your work easier.

• For non-designers:  Canva , "An easy-to-use presentation assistant with thousands of free and paid templates that allows non-designers to make presentations quickly."
• To make feature-loaded presentations:  Powerpoint , "The ultimate platform to create presentations adding 3D animation, diagrams, text, photos, videos, sound effects, and more in an easy interface."
• For video-styled presentation: Loom "A pro-video-making tool that allows recording videos, async it in the presentation or sharing it otherwise to cut down time on meetings."
• To create visual and data-oriented presentations : Visme ,  "A fantastic platform which facilitates non-designers to work on data visualisation, presentations, documentation, and videos."
• To let AI develop your presentations: Beautiful.ai , "An efficient AI-Powered presentation tool with tons of smart slide templates that puts slides on autopilot, and slides adapt to content like magic."
• For the Students : Prezi , "An excellent platform to create animation-style interactive presentations that allow you to present over video, in person, and send out interactive information."
• For teams looking for real-time collaboration: Google Slides , "An outstanding platform to create presentations, collaborate with others in real-time, and present remotely."
• To help entrepreneurs develop a pitch deck: Slidebean , "The ultimate platform that allows an entrepreneur to make the pitching presentation in no time while collaborating on the document with the team."
• For animated style presentation: Vyond , "A cloud-based video animation tool where anybody can quickly make movable media, from GIFs to videos using various visual styles and characters in different resolutions."
• For macOS users: Keynote , "A powerful tool that makes developing stunning presentations easier on Apple devices. It allows creating of diagrams or illustrations and adding dynamic themes, backgrounds, videos, and more."

Recommended Presentation Software

If you do not have a graphic designer touch yet you are looking for a visually appealing presentation - Canva is for you. This easy-to-use and fully customisable presentation-making software, with thousands of templates at your disposal, is perfect for creating presentations in just a few minutes.

Canva boasts an incredible collection of features with a simple drag-and-drop interface to create your presentations successfully. All you have to do is select the images, fonts, colours, shapes, frames, grids, illustrations, and more to make presentations in minutes.

Canva is one of the most loved Presentation software as it allows you to:

• Make your presentation more visual using the stock library images.
• Use thousands of templates according to your needs.
• Access and edit the presentation from any device as it is cloud-based.
• Business Presentation
• Talking Presentation
• Mobile-First Presentation
• Brainstorm Presentation
• Game Presentation
• Education Presentation

The best part? Canva is suitable for beginners with no prior experience in presentation making or graphics. With advanced features offered by Canva, you can design your presentation without the hassle.

Besides, Canva is an outstanding graph designing tool you can use to design flyers , infographics, social media posts, logos and more.

This simple yet powerful presentation tool is for you if you want complete control over your presentation.

There is almost no feature PowerPoint does not have.

PowerPoint allows you to:

• Make your presentation more detailed by adding sheets, graphs, media, and more - as it lets you integrate with Google Analytics 360, social media applications, MySQL, Google Calendar,  Microsoft Excel and many more apps.
• Choose from an extensive collection of built-in templates, or create your own.
• Be more creative with the presentation, as you can add cinematic motion, 3D animations, transitions, and more features.
• Boost productivity and save time in communication as you can collaboratively create, share, and edit presentations with the team.

However, Powerpoint is an effort and time-intensive presentation software that requires you to have some design knowledge as well.

Beautiful.ai

Beautiful.ai uses artificial intelligence to help you create beautiful presentation on any topic and any design possible.

 Once you enter the content, the presentation tool uses AI to automatically:

• Arrange your slides
• Set slide elements rightly
• Make them appealing, and
• Size them appropriately according to their importance

This AI-powered presentation tool lets you create presentations in a time-efficient way without having you worry about design principles.

With Beautiful.ai, you can:

• Convey the message more easily as you can add a voiceover to every slide
• See which slide performed well and track the effectiveness
• Manage your own content library and get ideas from the build-in content library
• Boost team efficiency by collaborating, adding comments, and receiving notifications of activities in the presentation document
• Have better communication and add media from anywhere as it integrates slack and dropbox.

If you're looking for a non-traditional presentation software that lets you create presentations 'differently', Prezi has its unique style in store for you.

With Prezi, you can create non-linear interactive presentations that allow you to reach and present sections with more data without hopping from slide to slide.

On Prezi, you can:

• Create web-based unique presentations that use motion, zoom, and spatial relationships.
• Create presentations that don't use traditional slide-based approach. Instead, Prezi uses a canvas based approach where there is one large canvas with inner frames.
• Quickly zoom into the section you want to present by accessing the zoom reveals function.
• Get insight into which section attracted more user attention by tracking the results of every slide.
• You can now work across devices and present online as it is a cloud-based software.
• Make your presentation detailed with icons, symbols, and story blocks.

If you want to sync your presentation with your recorded video that guarantees your presentation goes precisely as planned - Loom is for you. Loom lets you capture screens or record front-facing camera video using the web interface and share them via a link.

It facilitates workplace communication through its screen recording or video recording and sharing capabilities.

With Loom, you can:

• Make a personalised presentation for existing and potential clients. It increases personalisation.
• Record a project presentation for stakeholders and attendees that can be shared and rewatched. It increases outreach.
• Record and share the presentation on project updates across the team/s to save precious meeting time. Make meetings more productive.
• Track engagement and see when the video is played and for how long. It gives you insight into what works best.
• While your screen is shared for visual reference, you can draw on the screen to emphasise points.
• Share the recorded presentation anywhere. It optimises enablement and enhances the sales cycle.

Moreover, when you have distributed teams and departments, you can plan, work asynchronously, and manage communication well.

Google Slides

Google Slides is a perfect platform for you looking to migrate online to scale up from PowerPoint but are not ready to hop on presentation software that work differently. 

Imagine it to be PowerPoint that works on your browser. You can easily collaborate and work with your team online using Google Slides

You can use Google Slides to prepare a presentation on any device, including Android, Windows, Mac, and iOS devices.

Moreover, you and the team can work together online, make real-time changes, add comments and tasks to the sheet and get notified.

There is a lot more you can do with Google Slides:

• You can keep the entire team in sync and make real-time editing online
• It makes it easy for you to present online remotely
• Access your presentation from any device and anywhere, as everything gets stored in cloud storage.
• You can also share presentations but control the permissions
• You can design your presentation as you want as you get access to numerous themes and templates on Google Slides
• You can easily import your presentations from PowerPoint and Keynote and make them more appealing by adding interesting YouTube Videos, graphics, and more.
• You can trim the video in the presentation and set it in autoplay.

The best part about the Google Slides is that it is free to use yet offers myriad features on paid versions specially designed for personal and business uses.

If you are someone who is starting a business and want to simplify the pitching process and make several business presentations for investors, Slidebean does the heavy lifting for you.

If you do not have the required technical and design skills, the software's algorithms make it really easy for you to prepare a presentation. It analyses the text and images and designs the slides using its Artificial Intelligence without human interference.

Slidebean has presentation templates from the most successful venture-backed startups ready to use.

Sildebean is a presentation-making platform for startup founders to get investor-ready.

With Slidebean, you can:

• Make visually appealing yet professional presentations by using ready-to-use templates.
• Get a prepared optimal layout of your content in no time with the help of its AI.
• Remove the watermarks.
• Customise, redesign, or edit the slides
• Export and share your presentation in PDF, Powerpoint, and more formats.
• Create an intuitive presentation by adding a variety of media from the media library
• Easily present offline and online
• Share the screen and the file and make real-time changes

If you do not have the budget to hire a designer, use Slidebean for free and upgrade eventually, as the pricing is quite reasonable.

Visme, a powerful yet easy-to-use platform, provides an effective solution for non-designers looking to prepare a visually communicative presentation that needs to add a lot of data. You can create presentations with more visual data in no time with Visme's dynamic functionality and intelligent tools.

You can scoop your presentation with visual data and interactive content using a straightforward interface and the effective tools it offers.

Visme is more than a presentation-making software because, with Visme, you can:

• Make the simple branded content more interactive and visually appealing
• Prepare an outstanding presentation if you are a business owner, marketing manager, project manager, or sales/account manager.
• Move from the first draft to the final format in no time, working collaboratively on the presentation.
• Connect with your team, exchange feedback on the presentation, discuss the idea and continue communicating on your conversation threads by connecting Visme with tools you are already using. 
• Make a presentation that suits your needs on any of the 1000+ built-in presentation templates.
• Save all your documents, manage, and access them from Visme.
• Add more visuals to the presentation by converting data into communicative visuals.

Visme gives the power of visualisation in your hand. The more you explore Visme, the more tools, templates, and features you unveil. Visme is free to use and very cost-effective to upgrade.

You can create engaging, professional, animated presentation videos using Vyond, a cloud-based animation solution. 

Vyond is not any other presentation software with templates for you to create a presentation. Instead, it is a platform where you can create presentations conveying the concepts clearly by using its story-based templates to develop an animated story-based presentation. 

Vyond is perfect for you, as with it, you can:

• Create data visualisation and animated videos based on a storyline
• Create a storyline just as you imagined using its vast media, content and image library.
• Super cool animated videos using any pre-built templates of your choice.
• Work with your team on the same project simultaneously and on different projects asynchronously.
• Manage - communication, content, digital assets, workflow, videos, privacy, and more.
• Make your video presentations more explicit by adding a voiceover.
• Create any movable content, graph, chart and more and insert them into the video presentation.

Vyond is a solution for everyone, from enterprises to startups. It offers a 14-day free trial, but subscriptions are a bit pricey.

If you are a MacOS and iOS user who wants to create a native presentation - Keynote is an Apple presentation software that is best for you.

The best thing about Keynote by Apple is it is free for Apple users.

Keynote is a perfect tool for you to create fantastic presentations, as you can:

• Create diverse presentations using the ready-to-use built-in beautiful templates according to the categories, including Basic, Minimal, Bold and others.
• Quickly prepare the presentation, as it is a user-friendly and decluttered interface that makes navigating the application and tools easy.
• You can convert your presentation into more visual content, including PDF, PPTX, HTML, GIF, Movie, and image formats.
• You can be picky about formats and make them super unique according to your taste.
• Make a presentation more attractive as you can add numerous animation styles and transitions.

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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.

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What is PowerPoint: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

What is PowerPoint? This blog provides the essence of PowerPoint, a versatile presentation software by Microsoft. Discover its features, uses, and the art of crafting compelling slideshows. Whether you're a student, professional, or simply curious, explore the power of PowerPoint and learn how to create impactful presentations effortlessly.

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According to Glassdoor , a PowerPoint designer's average salary in the UK is about £37,811 annually. In this blog, you will learn What is PowerPoint, its key features, its benefits, and how to use it, as well as learn some tips for creating effective presentations.   

Table of contents       

1)  What is PowerPoint?  

2)  Understanding the PowerPoint Interface  

3)  Key Features of PowerPoint 

4)  How to use PowerPoint to create a presentation? 

5)  Benefits of PowerPoint  

6)  Tips for Creating Effective PowerPoint Presentations 

7)  Conclusion      

What is PowerPoint?   

PowerPoint is a versatile and popular presentation software developed by Microsoft (MS). It is a part of the Microsoft Office Suite and offers various features and tools to create visually appealing and engaging presentations. MS PowerPoint allows users to combine text, graphics, multimedia elements, and animations to convey information effectively .   

Evolution of PowerPoint   

Understanding the PowerPoint Interface   

The PowerPoint interface provides a user-friendly environment for creating and editing presentations. Familiarising yourself with its essential components will help you navigate the software efficiently. Here's a breakdown of the MS PowerPoint interface:   

1)  Ribbon : The Ribbon is located at the top of the MS PowerPoint window and consists of multiple tabs, such as Home, Insert, Design, Transitions, and more.    

2) Slides pane : The Slides pane is on the left side of the PowerPoint window. It displays thumbnail images of your presentation slides, allowing you to navigate and rearrange them easily. You can add, delete, duplicate, or hide slides from this pane.   

3)   Notes pane : The Notes pane is located below the Slides pane. It provides space for adding speaker notes or additional information related to each slide.    

4)  Slide area : The Slide area occupies the central part of the PowerPoint window. It displays the selected slide, where you can add and arrange content such as text, images, charts, and multimedia elements .    

5)  Task panes : Task panes are additional panels on the PowerPoint window's right side. They offer various functionalities such as formatting options, slide layouts, animations, etc. Task panes can be opened or closed based on your specific needs.   

Understanding the MS PowerPoint interface will help you navigate the software effectively and make the most of its features. Whether you are creating slides, adding content, or applying formatting, having a good grasp of the interface ensures a smooth and productive experience .  

Key Features of PowerPoint  

When it comes to creating captivating and professional presentations, MS PowerPoint stands out as versatile and feature-rich software. Its array of tools and functionalities enables users to bring their imagination and ideas to life. Moreover, it also helps engage their audience effectively .    

1) Slide Templates : PowerPoint provides a collection of pre-designed templates that make it easy to create visually appealing slides.   

2)  Slide Master : The Slide Master feature allows users to define the overall layout, font styles, and colour scheme for the entire presentation .   

3)  Animations and transitions : PowerPoint offers various animation effects and slide transitions to add visual interest and captivate the audience .   

4)  Multimedia integration : Users can embed images, videos, and audio files directly into their presentations, enhancing the overall impact .   

5)   Collaboration tools : MS PowerPoint allows multiple users to work on a presentation simultaneously, making it ideal for team projects and remote collaboration .   

6) Presenter View : The Presenter View feature gives presenters access to speaker notes, a timer, and a preview of upcoming slides, enabling a seamless presentation experience .   

These features collectively contribute to PowerPoint's versatility and make it a powerful tool for developing engaging and impactful presentations.  

How to use PowerPoint to create a presentation?   

Creating a presentation in PowerPoint is a straightforward process. Whether it's simple animations or explainer videos learning H ow to use PowerPoint is an extremely valuable skill. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to create a presentation:   

1)  Launch PowerPoint and choose a template or start with a blank slide. 

2)  Add slides by clicking "New Slide" or using the shortcut key (Ctrl + M). 

3) Customise slide content by entering text and inserting visuals.  

4)  Rearrange slides for a logical flow by dragging them in the slide navigation pane.  

5)  Apply slide transitions for visual effects in the "Transitions" tab.  

6)  Add animations to objects in the "Animations" tab.  

7)  Preview your presentation by clicking "Slide Show".   

8)  Save your presentation and choose a format (.pptx or .pdf).  

9)  Share your presentation via email, cloud storage, or collaboration tools.   

By following these steps, you can create a well-structured and visually appealing presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint. Remember to keep your content concise, use engaging visuals, and practice your presentation skills to deliver an impactful presentation .   

Benefits of PowerPoint   

1) Visual appeal : Microsoft PowerPoint allows you to create visually appealing presentations with its wide range of design tools and features. You can use templates, themes, and customisable layouts to make your slides visually engaging and professional .   

2)  Easy to use : PowerPoint has a user-friendly interface, making it accessible to users of all levels. The intuitive tools and straightforward navigation make it easy to create, edit, and deliver presentations efficiently .   

3)   Flexibility : PowerPoint provides flexibility in terms of content creation. You can include various types of content, such as text, images, charts, graphs, videos, and audio files, to enhance your message and engage your audience effectively.   

4)   Organisation and structure : PowerPoint offers features to help you organise and structure your content. You can create multiple slides, use slide masters for consistent formatting, and arrange the sequence of slides to create a logical flow .   

5)  Presenter tools : PowerPoint includes built-in presenter tools that aid in delivering presentations smoothly. You can use presenter view to see your notes and upcoming slides while your audience sees only the presentation. Additionally, features like slide transitions and animations add visual interest and help you control the flow of information .   

6)  Collaboration and sharing : PowerPoint allows for easy collaboration and sharing of presentations. Several users can simultaneously work on the same presentation, making it convenient for team projects. You can also share your presentations via email, cloud storage, or online platforms, ensuring easy access for viewers .   

7)   Integration with other tools : PowerPoint can seamlessly integrate with other Microsoft Office applications, such as Word and Excel. You can import data and charts from Excel or copy and paste content between different Office applications, saving time and effort .  

8)   Presenter-audience interaction : PowerPoint provides features that facilitate interaction between the presenter and the audience. You can include interactive elements like hyperlinks, buttons, and quizzes to engage your audience and make your presentations more dynamic.   

9)   Portable and accessible : PowerPoint presentations can be saved in various formats, such as .pptx or .pdf, making them easily accessible on different devices. This portability allows you to deliver presentations on laptops, tablets, or even projectors without compatibility issues .   

10)  Time and effort savings : PowerPoint simplifies the process of creating presentations, saving you time and effort. The pre-designed templates, slide layouts, and formatting options enable you to create professional-looking presentations efficiently .   

Unleash your creativity to deliver captivating presentations that leave a lasting impact with our Microsoft PowerPoint Masterclass – Sign up now!   

Tips for Creating Effective PowerPoint Presentations   

1) Simplicity is key : Keep your slides clean and uncluttered. Use concise bullet points and simple visuals to convey your message effectively .   

2)  Visuals matter : Incorporate relevant, high-quality visuals such as images, charts, and diagrams to enhance understanding and engagement .   

3)  Limit text : Avoid overwhelming your audience with excessive text on slides. Use brief phrases or keywords to communicate key points .   

4)  Choose legible fonts : Opt for clear and readable fonts that are easy to read, even from a distance. Maintain consistency in font styles throughout your presentation .   

5)  Consistent design : Maintain a consistent design theme, including colours, fonts, and layout, to create a visually appealing and professional presentation.   

6)  Emphasise important points : Use visual hierarchy techniques, such as font size, colour, and formatting, to draw attention to essential information .   

7)  Use transitions and animations sparingly : Incorporate slide transitions and animations thoughtfully, focusing on enhancing content and transitions without distracting the audience .   

8)  S lide notes for guidance : Utilise the slide notes feature to include additional details, explanations, or reminders for a well-prepared and confident presentation.   

9)  Practice and time yourself : Rehearse your presentation to ensure smooth delivery and stay within the allocated time. Practice helps you refine your content and delivery.   

10)  Engage the audience : Encourage audience participation through interactive elements, questions, or discussions to foster engagement and make your presentation more memorable.   

By implementing these tips, you can create effective MS PowerPoint presentations that capture attention, communicate information clearly, and engage your audience effectively.  

Conclusion      

We hope this blog has helped you understand What is PowerPoint and how it can help you. It offers powerful features with a user-friendly interface for creating visually appealing presentations. With its tools for organising information, incorporating text and visuals, and delivering impactful content, PowerPoint is a valuable tool for beginners to communicate their ideas effectively .   

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8 Types of Presentations You Should Know [+Examples & Tips]

By Krystle Wong , Aug 11, 2023

From persuasive pitches that influence opinions to instructional demonstrations that teach skills, the different types of presentations serve a unique purpose, tailored to specific objectives and audiences.

Presentations that are tailored to its objectives and audiences are more engaging and memorable. They capture attention, maintain interest and leave a lasting impression. 

Don’t worry if you’re no designer —  Whether you need data-driven visuals, persuasive graphics or engaging design elements, Venngage can empower you to craft presentations that stand out and effectively convey your message.

Venngage’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface, extensive presentation template library and customizable design options make it a valuable tool for creating slides that align with your specific goals and target audience. 

Click to jump ahead:

8 Different types of presentations every presenter must know

How do i choose the right type of presentation for my topic or audience, types of presentation faq, 5 steps to create a presentation with venngage .

When it comes to presentations, versatility is the name of the game. Having a variety of presentation styles up your sleeve can make a world of difference in keeping your audience engaged. Here are 8 essential presentation types that every presenter should be well-acquainted with:

1. Informative presentation

Ever sat through a presentation that left you feeling enlightened? That’s the power of an informative presentation. 

This presentation style is all about sharing knowledge and shedding light on a particular topic. Whether you’re diving into the depths of quantum physics or explaining the intricacies of the latest social media trends, informative presentations aim to increase the audience’s understanding.

When delivering an informative presentation, simplify complex topics with clear visuals and relatable examples. Organize your content logically, starting with the basics and gradually delving deeper and always remember to keep jargon to a minimum and encourage questions for clarity.

Academic presentations and research presentations are great examples of informative presentations. An effective academic presentation involves having clear structure, credible evidence, engaging delivery and supporting visuals. Provide context to emphasize the topic’s significance, practice to perfect timing, and be ready to address anticipated questions. 

2. Persuasive presentation

If you’ve ever been swayed by a passionate speaker armed with compelling arguments, you’ve experienced a persuasive presentation . 

This type of presentation is like a verbal tug-of-war, aiming to convince the audience to see things from a specific perspective. Expect to encounter solid evidence, logical reasoning and a dash of emotional appeal.

With persuasive presentations, it’s important to know your audience inside out and tailor your message to their interests and concerns. Craft a compelling narrative with a strong opening, a solid argument and a memorable closing. Additionally, use visuals strategically to enhance your points.

Examples of persuasive presentations include presentations for environmental conservations, policy change, social issues and more. Here are some engaging presentation templates you can use to get started with: 

3. Demonstration or how-to presentation

A Demonstration or How-To Presentation is a type of presentation where the speaker showcases a process, technique, or procedure step by step, providing the audience with clear instructions on how to replicate the demonstrated action. 

A demonstrative presentation is particularly useful when teaching practical skills or showing how something is done in a hands-on manner.

These presentations are commonly used in various settings, including educational workshops, training sessions, cooking classes, DIY tutorials, technology demonstrations and more. Designing creative slides for your how-to presentations can heighten engagement and foster better information retention. 

Speakers can also consider breaking down the process into manageable steps, using visual aids, props and sometimes even live demonstrations to illustrate each step. The key is to provide clear and concise instructions, engage the audience with interactive elements and address any questions that may arise during the presentation.

4. Training or instructional presentation

Training presentations are geared towards imparting practical skills, procedures or concepts — think of this as the more focused cousin of the demonstration presentation. 

Whether you’re teaching a group of new employees the ins and outs of a software or enlightening budding chefs on the art of soufflé-making, training presentations are all about turning novices into experts.

To maximize the impact of your training or instructional presentation, break down complex concepts into digestible segments. Consider using real-life examples to illustrate each point and create a connection. 

You can also create an interactive presentation by incorporating elements like quizzes or group activities to reinforce understanding.

5. Sales presentation

Sales presentations are one of the many types of business presentations and the bread and butter of businesses looking to woo potential clients or customers. With a sprinkle of charm and a dash of persuasion, these presentations showcase products, services or ideas with one end goal in mind: sealing the deal.

A successful sales presentation often has key characteristics such as a clear value proposition, strong storytelling, confidence and a compelling call to action. Hence, when presenting to your clients or stakeholders, focus on benefits rather than just features. 

Anticipate and address potential objections before they arise and use storytelling to showcase how your offering solves a specific problem for your audience. Utilizing visual aids is also a great way to make your points stand out and stay memorable.

A sales presentation can be used to promote service offerings, product launches or even consultancy proposals that outline the expertise and industry experience of a business. Here are some template examples you can use for your next sales presentation:

6. Pitch presentation

Pitch presentations are your ticket to garnering the interest and support of potential investors, partners or stakeholders. Think of your pitch deck as your chance to paint a vivid picture of your business idea or proposal and secure the resources you need to bring it to life. 

Business presentations aside, individuals can also create a portfolio presentation to showcase their skills, experience and achievements to potential clients, employers or investors. 

Craft a concise and compelling narrative. Clearly define the problem your idea solves and how it stands out in the market. Anticipate questions and practice your answers. Project confidence and passion for your idea.

7. Motivational or inspirational presentation

Feeling the need for a morale boost? That’s where motivational presentations step in. These talks are designed to uplift and inspire, often featuring personal anecdotes, heartwarming stories and a generous serving of encouragement.

Form a connection with your audience by sharing personal stories that resonate with your message. Use a storytelling style with relatable anecdotes and powerful metaphors to create an emotional connection. Keep the energy high and wrap up your inspirational presentations with a clear call to action.

Inspirational talks and leadership presentations aside, a motivational or inspirational presentation can also be a simple presentation aimed at boosting confidence, a motivational speech focused on embracing change and more.

8. Status or progress report presentation

Projects and businesses are like living organisms, constantly evolving and changing. Status or progress report presentations keep everyone in the loop by providing updates on achievements, challenges and future plans. It’s like a GPS for your team, ensuring everyone stays on track.

Be transparent about achievements, challenges and future plans. Utilize infographics, charts and diagrams to present your data visually and simplify information. By visually representing data, it becomes easier to identify trends, make predictions and strategize based on evidence.

Now that you’ve learned about the different types of presentation methods and how to use them, you’re on the right track to creating a good presentation that can boost your confidence and enhance your presentation skills . 

Selecting the most suitable presentation style is akin to choosing the right outfit for an occasion – it greatly influences how your message is perceived. Here’s a more detailed guide to help you make that crucial decision:

1. Define your objectives

Begin by clarifying your presentation’s goals. Are you aiming to educate, persuade, motivate, train or perhaps sell a concept? Your objectives will guide you to the most suitable presentation type. 

For instance, if you’re aiming to inform, an informative presentation would be a natural fit. On the other hand, a persuasive presentation suits the goal of swaying opinions.

2. Know your audience

Regardless if you’re giving an in-person or a virtual presentation — delve into the characteristics of your audience. Consider factors like their expertise level, familiarity with the topic, interests and expectations. 

If your audience consists of professionals in your field, a more technical presentation might be suitable. However, if your audience is diverse and includes newcomers, an approachable and engaging style might work better.

3. Analyze your content

Reflect on the content you intend to present. Is it data-heavy, rich in personal stories or focused on practical skills? Different presentation styles serve different content types. 

For data-driven content, an informative or instructional presentation might work best. For emotional stories, a motivational presentation could be a compelling choice.

4. Consider time constraints

Evaluate the time you have at your disposal. If your presentation needs to be concise due to time limitations, opt for a presentation style that allows you to convey your key points effectively within the available timeframe. A pitch presentation, for example, often requires delivering impactful information within a short span.

5. Leverage visuals

Visual aids are powerful tools in presentations. Consider whether your content would benefit from visual representation. If your PowerPoint presentations involve step-by-step instructions or demonstrations, a how-to presentation with clear visuals would be advantageous. Conversely, if your content is more conceptual, a motivational presentation could rely more on spoken words.

6. Align with the setting

Take the presentation environment into account. Are you presenting in a formal business setting, a casual workshop or a conference? Your setting can influence the level of formality and interactivity in your presentation. For instance, a demonstration presentation might be ideal for a hands-on workshop, while a persuasive presentation is great for conferences.

7. Gauge audience interaction

Determine the level of audience engagement you want. Interactive presentations work well for training sessions, workshops and small group settings, while informative or persuasive presentations might be more one-sided.

8. Flexibility

Stay open to adjusting your presentation style on the fly. Sometimes, unexpected factors might require a change of presentation style. Be prepared to adjust on the spot if audience engagement or reactions indicate that a different approach would be more effective.

Remember that there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and the best type of presentation may vary depending on the specific situation and your unique communication goals. By carefully considering these factors, you can choose the most effective presentation type to successfully engage and communicate with your audience.

To save time, use a presentation software or check out these presentation design and presentation background guides to create a presentation that stands out.    

What are some effective ways to begin and end a presentation?

Capture your audience’s attention from the start of your presentation by using a surprising statistic, a compelling story or a thought-provoking question related to your topic. 

To conclude your presentation , summarize your main points, reinforce your key message and leave a lasting impression with a powerful call to action or a memorable quote that resonates with your presentation’s theme.

How can I make my presentation more engaging and interactive?

To create an engaging and interactive presentation for your audience, incorporate visual elements such as images, graphs and videos to illustrate your points visually. Share relatable anecdotes or real-life examples to create a connection with your audience. 

You can also integrate interactive elements like live polls, open-ended questions or small group discussions to encourage participation and keep your audience actively engaged throughout your presentation.

Which types of presentations require special markings

Some presentation types require special markings such as how sales presentations require persuasive techniques like emphasizing benefits, addressing objections and using compelling visuals to showcase products or services. 

Demonstrations and how-to presentations on the other hand require clear markings for each step, ensuring the audience can follow along seamlessly. 

That aside, pitch presentations require highlighting unique selling points, market potential and the competitive edge of your idea, making it stand out to potential investors or partners.

Need some inspiration on how to make a presentation that will captivate an audience? Here are 120+ presentation ideas to help you get started. 

Creating a stunning and impactful presentation with Venngage is a breeze. Whether you’re crafting a business pitch, a training presentation or any other type of presentation, follow these five steps to create a professional presentation that stands out:

• Sign up and log in to Venngage to access the editor.
• Choose a presentation template that matches your topic or style.
• Customize content, colors, fonts, and background to personalize your presentation.
• Add images, icons, and charts to enhancevisual style and clarity.
• Save, export, and share your presentation as PDF or PNG files, or use Venngage’s Presentation Mode for online showcasing.

In the realm of presentations, understanding the different types of presentation formats is like having a versatile set of tools that empower you to craft compelling narratives for every occasion.

Remember, the key to a successful presentation lies not only in the content you deliver but also in the way you connect with your audience. Whether you’re informing, persuading or entertaining, tailoring your approach to the specific type of presentation you’re delivering can make all the difference.

Presentations are a powerful tool, and with practice and dedication (and a little help from Venngage), you’ll find yourself becoming a presentation pro in no time. Now, let’s get started and customize your next presentation!

17 Pros and Cons of Google Slides! (Should You Use it?)

By: Author Shrot Katewa

If you are new to Google Slides and wondering whether it makes sense to spend the energy and time to learn how it works, then perhaps you may first want to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of Google Slides!

For years, Microsoft PowerPoint has been the quintessential presentation software. But over time, Google Slides have been gaining in popularity. 

A quick note here – if you want to make jaw-dropping presentations, I would recommend using one of these Presentation Designs . The best part is – it is only $16.5 a month, but you get to download and use as many presentation designs as you like ! I personally use it from time to time, and it makes my task of making beautiful presentations really quick and easy!

Okay, so Google Slides does provide unique features that are attractive to some users. These features give an advantage to Google Slides over other presentation applications. But, do these pros outweigh its cons? Let’s find out!

What are the Advantages of Using Google Slides?

One more thing before we begin – if you prefer to watch the video with the details instead of reading this article, you can do so by clicking on the video below –

When Google Slides was first launched in 2006, while some were excited about its prospects, many were actually skeptical about its success!

However, with time, Google Slides has made a solid case for itself. It has further re-iterated that Google Slides is here to stay!

A graph indicating an increase in popularity over time in Google Slides vs PowerPoint

As the above graph indicates, Google Slides is slowly but gradually increasing interest amongst users of presentation applications.

I’ve created a short video that explains the advantages and disadvantages of using Google Slides. You can watch this video. Alternatively, if you prefer reading, you can continue with the article below.

So, let’s look at some of the benefits of Google Slides –

1. Google Slides is FREE to Use!

One of the biggest advantages is that Google Slides is completely FREE to use for all its users.

There aren’t many powerful presentation applications that provide such flexibility and features as that of Google Slides and yet are completely FREE to use for the users.

The option to use Google Slides for free makes it a go-to presentation application for students, non-profits and other organizations who may not be in a position to spend on licenses of presentation softwares.

2. Allows Real-time Collaboration

What made Google Slides an immediate hit amongst its early adopters was the capability to provide real-time collaboration on presentations with other team members.

Real-time collaboration allows you and other members of your team to prepare, edit, or even work together on the same presentation at the same time! This means, you no longer have to wait for your team members or your reporting manager to confirm the final edits.

Other well-known presentation applications such as Keynote do not provide scope for such collaboration. While PowerPoint has recently added the collaboration feature, it is nowhere nearly as easy and convenient to use as it is in Google Slides.

In fact, in PowerPoint, you will have to manually save your slides in the OneDrive and invite team members to collaborate using PowerPoint. Moreover, the collaboration feature of PowerPoint is not that great for real-time editing compared to Google Slides.

3. Google Slides is a Web-based Tool (No Software Downloading Required!)

One of the biggest challenges that users face with some of the other most common presentation applications is the constant need to download or the need to update the software for it to function correctly.

If you are using Google Slides, you do not need to worry about this anymore as it is a web-based tool.

This means, you are ready from the get go to use Google Slides. There is no setup required, and no downloading and running of heavy software.

Moreover, Google Slides works directly in a web browser which ensures that your computer will not slow down due to overutilization of your computer’s processing power.

4. Slides are Automatically Saved (No More Data Loss!)

If you have ever used other presentation applications such as PowerPoint, you’ve surely at least once in your life experienced the agony of losing hours of hard work simply because you forgot to press Ctrl+S or save the file!

With Google Slides, you don’t have to worry about this anymore!

Your presentation will be automatically saved in the cloud. Whatever change or edit you make will also be saved instantly. It is also possible to revert and restore any edits that you may have made.

PowerPoint and Keynotes do not offer the instant auto-backup feature as that in Google Slides. You will have to manually save the presentation file using other presentation applications. 

If you are using Google slides, you don’t have to worry about losing the changes you made in the presentation slide because perhaps your computer shut off suddenly. Your presentation is saved automatically and always available.

5. Embedding Videos (and Other Elements) is a Breeze!

One of the other benefits of using Google Slides is the ease with which you can embed elements such as video, images, maps, etc. Embedding YouTube videos works especially well which otherwise is a cumbersome process if you are using other presentation applications.

I wrote a detailed article on how to embed literally anything in Google Slides. I showed just how easy it is to embed various elements in Google Slides through that article. Be sure to check it out!

How to Embed in Google Slides? The ONLY Resource You Need!

The flexibility to embed various elements along with the ability to embed them with ease is critical in a presentation application.

So, if you are a teacher and need to use some wonderful videos from YouTube to explain a concept, then Google Slides will work great for you!

There are several other use cases for just this feature alone for Google Slides.

6. Accessibility – Your Presentation is Always Accessible!

Remember the days when you had to carry your presentation on a pen drive (or a thumb drive) to your meeting just in case your boss was not able to open the presentation on his or her computer?

With Google Slides, those days are well behind us! And if you are still carrying a thumb drive to a meeting, then perhaps it is time to switch to Google Slides!

With Google Slides, accessibility to your presentation is not a problem since the presentation is stored in the cloud just like your email.

This means, even if you forgot your presentation on your computer at home, you can still access it during the meeting without having to rush back home to pick up your laptop!

7. Sharing a Presentation is Really EASY!

With PowerPoint or Keynote, one of the biggest challenges that people face is sharing the presentation with the client! But, this is really easy if you are using Google Slides. Let me explain.

Creating a presentation is not a 1 or 2-hour job. In fact, creating a good presentation can sometimes take days or even weeks together. Furthermore, if your presentation is quite detailed and has several slides in it, the file can easily exceed 10 or 20 MB in size. Such presentations files are a pain in the rear to share with clients or over email! Google Slides solves this problem for you.

If you are using Google Slides, your presentation is shared via a link to your file. This means, no more “Delivery Failed” notices on your email due to your presentation size, and you never have to worry whether the intended stakeholder received the presentation or not!

One of the other problems you encounter while sharing files with clients or beneficiaries if you are using traditional presentation applications is that if you have used some special fonts or colors, the formatting of your file may change once you have shared it with your clients.

However, with Google Slides, your slides ALWAYS look the same when shared with others ! It doesn’t matter who or which computer you may be opening the slides, the formatting and the look and feel of your presentation always remain the same!

8. Cross-Platform Availability

One of the other major advantage with Google Slides is that it is available across all the major devices and operating systems. In contrast, most other major presentation software is not available across all major devices and operating systems.

Table showcasing the cross-platform availability of Google Slides and other popular presentation applications

As you can see from. the table above, Google Slides can easily be accessed across any device as it is a web-based tool. While it also provides an app for android and iOS, but even without the app, it works just about fine on any device by simply using a web browser.

9. Google Slides also works Offline

By now, I’m confident that you have understood that Google Slides is a web-based tool. So, you may be wondering – “What happens if your computer get disconnected from the internet?”

Well, that’s exactly why Google Slides is now provided with a feature to function even when it is offline! Granted that some of the internet based embedded elements may not function while you are offline, however, you will surely be able to edit, add, remove and save your presentation.

Once you are back online and your computer is connected to the internet, Google Slides will automatically sync and update the file in your Google Drive!

So, not only does Google Slides work very well online, but it works flawlessly offline as well. To do all this without the installation of any software is quite impressive, to say the least!

What are the Disadvantages of Using Google Slides?

After reading the advantages mentioned above, I won’t be surprised if you are wondering what disadvantages can Google Slides possibly have!

After all, Google Slides is FREE, there is no software installation required, no loss of data and it has features that other applications can only dream of! What possible disadvantages can Google Slide have?

Don’t junk your current presentation software yet! Let’s read through some of the disadvantages of Google Slides first –

1. You need a Google Account to use Google Slides

In order to use Google Slides, you need to have a Google Account.

While some of you may not consider this as a disadvantage at all, but for those users who still find it hard to make a shift from Yahoo Mail or other email addresses, it is a task to not just learn how to operate Google Slides, but also an email account with Google.

That said, if you already have a gmail account, then you can pass this off of this list.

2. Availability of Limited Themes

Many people today like to use themes in order to make their presentation look nice.

Unfortunately, Google Slides comes with a very limited collection of themes for its users. This is perhaps one of the improvement areas that Google Slides may need to focus for the future.

Although you can easily overcome this issue by using a presentation template for Google Slides. There are a number of third-party presentation template providers. However, you may have to pay a few bucks for accessing these templates.

Furthermore, you perhaps will have to spend some time identifying just the right template design for your presentation. Additionally, you will also need to have some basic understanding of how to work with templates (which should not take too long to understand though).

3. Learning Curve

Like any new software, there is a bit of a learning curve when you first start using it. So, that is not really a challenge.

However, if you have used other presentation applications in the past, you will find a few things to be really annoying!

For example, when I first started using Google Slides, it took me FOREVER to get used to zooming in and zooming out on the slides! Now, I know you may be thinking – “How hard can it be!”.

Try this – if you have used PowerPoint or Keynote before, try figuring out how to zoom in on a slide (without searching this on Google obviously).

If you want to know the answer – you can read the article that I wrote about zoom in and zoom out on Google Slides.

How to Zoom in & Zoom Out in Google Slides? A Simple Trick!

I found it to be really annoying even after I found out how to do it simply because I had to first unlearn the way you zoom in on slides and then train yourself to learn again to do it the right way for Google Slides!

That said, a lot of the basic features work quite the same way and the slides look and feel pretty much the same way it does in PowerPoint or Keynote.

So, if you have used other presentations applications before, you won’t have to learn from scratch, but you will have to unlearn a few things first and then learn it specifically for Google Slides.

If, however, you have never used any of the other common presentation applications before, you won’t notice a thing different. Perhaps, you may be wondering what the fuss is all about!

4. Limited options for Animations and Transitions

Google Slide provides very few options when it comes to animations and transitions.

Animations and transitions often make a presentation a little engaging especially when used appropriately. While Google Slides does provide a few animations and transitions, the options are very basic.

While some would argue that the options provided for animations and transitions in Google Slide may get the job done, the fact of the matter is they are nowhere nearly as expressive as it is on PowerPoint or Keynote.

This is also one of the key reasons why you lose the animation effects when you open a PowerPoint file using Google Slides.

This part of Google Slides just feels very basic. It is one of those things that you would miss in Google Slides especially if you are transitioning over from other presentation applications. If you are creating presentations for the first time directly in Google Slides, you may perhaps have no clue on what you are missing out!

5. Formatting Loss when Importing to Google Slides

One of the key features that Google Slides provides is that it allows you to import a PowerPoint file. That’s great because if you decide to take a plunge and start using Google Slides while others around you are still using PowerPoint, you will definitely be able to open the presentations created by your colleagues.

The disadvantage, though, is that there is a loss in formatting when importing such presentation files into Google Slides.

This means, you may lose some of the animations or transitions, you may lose some of the fonts (if specialized fonts are used), and many other smaller tit-bits here and there.

One could argue that such an issue is faced by most presentation applications when importing a file format from a different software. For example, you face similar issues when opening a PowerPoint file using Keynote too. Nevertheless, this definitely remains a disadvantage.

6. Limited File Types for Exporting

One of the other disadvantages of using Google Slides is the limited options of converting your presentation into a different file type.

For instance, a Google Slide presentation can only be exported as either a PPTX file (opened using PowerPoint), ODP or Open Document Presentation (opened using Open Office), PDF file, Image (JPG & PNG), or an SVG or Scalable Vector Graphic file type.

PowerPoint and Keynote on the other hand provide great flexibility in the type of file format you want to export your presentation as. PowerPoint allows you to export a presentation as a PPSX file which opens directly as a PowerPoint Slide Show.

PowerPoint also allows you to save your presentation as a video (which greatly expands the ways in which PowerPoint can be used). Keynote also offers similar solutions.

That said, if you don’t intend to do something fancy and simply want to make a presentation, these limited file type options to export a presentation from Google Slides should be good enough .

7. Lack of Advanced Features

While Google Slides does provide some really innovative features, it doesn’t suffice the needs of advanced presentation creators.

There are several advanced features that can be seen missing in Google Slides.

For instance, if you feel the need to edit characteristics of the images that you are using in Google Slides, you will be disappointed with the lack of options.

Likewise, advanced designers who wish to ensure that all the text boxes on all the slides are aligned, will surely miss the ruler and grids in Google Slides.

The option to create unique shapes by merging or subtracting shapes is also a loss that is felt in Google Slides.

These are just a few of the advanced features that are lacking in Google Slides.

That said, such features are mostly used by advanced designers and are perhaps not needed for most people.

8. Access to Google Accounts is Restricted in Many Corporations

One of the biggest drawback of Google Slides is that access to this application requires a google account, and many corporate organisations avoid giving access to personal email accounts such as Gmail for security reasons.

Thus, even if you were to use Google Slides, but you work with a lot of large multi-corporations, sharing Google Slides with your clients may not work well with them.

You can, however, perhaps circumvent this issue by sharing a PDF file which will allow your client to surely open and read the presentation. However, features that are unique to Google Slides such as real-time collaboration get nullified if you are sending them a PDF file.

Nevertheless, if you are a student or if you work in such a workplace where there are no restrictions on access to Google Slides presentation, this drawback will not be applicable to you.

Verdict – Should you Use Google Slides?

Let’s face it – Google Slides is not a power-packed presentation software like PowerPoint and Keynote. But, it is an application that will get the job done for most users.

The Pareto Analysis is very much applicable in Google Slides. It almost feels like makers at Google have taken 20% of the most important and commonly used features of a typical presentation software that serve 80% of the needs of the users and bundled it together to form Google Slides .

So, should you be using Google Slides? If you are a graphic designer having an advanced understanding of presentation design applications and use advanced tools, then perhaps Google Slides will turn out to be a disappointment for you.

Google Slides is great if you just want to design a simple but attractive presentation. It is perfectly suited for beginners, amateurs, or even professionals. It has been created keeping in mind the requirements of the modern generation. It is easy to use has got some great collaboration tools.

For most presentation requirements, Google Slides will be good enough . Best of all, it is completely FREE. So, if you ever feel the need to move to the next level, you can surely shell out some money and go with PowerPoint or other presentation software.

Google Slides vs PowerPoint: Which is Better?

Google Slides and PowerPoint both come with strong advantages. PowerPoint with its vast clientele is more convenient to use in different situations. Its refined looks and various effects offer scopes for tasteful slide making. 

On the other hand, Google Slides is quickly climbing the popularity ladder with its easy to use innovative features. One such feature is the Q and A feature that allows for the presenter and audience to interact in a live meeting. 

With the growing popularity, there are also many Google Slides templates available online. You can persue them to make creative slides online. 

As to which is better between the two – my suggestion would be to self-assess and understand the type of presentations that you create.

If you like to create simple, basic, clean yet attractive presentations that do not have too much animation or transition, or if you feel that real-time collaboration is important for you, I would suggest going with Google Slides. Your budget is another factor when choosing between PowerPoint and Google Slides.

On the other hand, I would suggest going with PowerPoint if you find yourself using some of the advanced features of PowerPoint quite often. It does provide great flexibility in designing presentations and expressing creativity. So, if that’s you, choose PowerPoint.

Final Thoughts

Your presentation slides can be game-changing. It can turn a dull presentation topic into an interesting one. Hence, the importance of the presentation application you use cannot be understated. 

At the end of the day, choosing the right presentation application boils down to your situation, needs, comfort, and budget. 

However, I hope knowing  the pros and cons of Google Slides  helps you come one step closer to choosing the right presentation application for you. Best of luck with your presentation. Thank you for stopping by!

10 Uses of PowerPoint: Creating More than Just Presentations

📅 Updated on February 7th, 2024

PowerPoint, which is part of Microsoft Office Suite, is renowned for its capacity to create presentations across various sectors, such as business, education, and religious organizations. While PowerPoint is typically associated with slideshows, its features includes animations, text manipulation, and multimedia integration, offering a plethora of alternative applications that go beyond the conventional presentation.

Let’s delve into some innovative ways to use PowerPoint beyond presentations, expanding its usage to cater to a myriad of creative and professional needs.

1. Use PowerPoint for Crafting Engaging Digital Storytelling

PowerPoint can be transformed into a digital storytelling platform, where narratives are brought to life through a blend of text, images, and sound. This technique can be employed not only in educational contexts but also in crafting compelling marketing and advertising campaigns.

2. Use PowerPoint to Make Interactive Quizzes

Leverage PowerPoint’s hyperlink functionality to design interactive quizzes and games, providing an engaging tool for educators and corporate trainers alike to gauge knowledge and participation.

3. Use PowerPoint to Design Eye-Catching Resumes

Move beyond traditional word processors and utilize PowerPoint to design striking resumes. With its extensive design capabilities, you can create a visual resume that visually communicates your skills and experiences in a unique manner. Using resume templates for PowerPoint , you can save a lot of time creating your next resume to win the dream job.

4. Building a Professional Digital Portfolio with PowerPoint

For artists and designers, PowerPoint becomes a digital canvas to compile and display their work, creating a sleek electronic portfolio that can be easily shared via email or showcased online on platforms like Behance.

5. Creating Informative Infographics

Harness PowerPoint’s graphic design features to create infographics that visually represent data or information in a clear and engaging manner, making complex data accessible to all. Using Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides you can create attractive infographics by using human characters, metaphors or design elements that helps to convey a message to an audience in a visual way.

6. Developing Animated Content

Use PowerPoint to create simple yet captivating animations, incorporating music, sound, and effects to enhance the viewer’s experience. This can be utilized for educational content, marketing, or just for fun!

7. Crafting Brochures and Flyers

PowerPoint can be a cost-effective design solution for creating professional brochures and flyers, especially for small businesses and organizations that may not have access to specialized design software.

8. Constructing Interactive Maps

You can use PowerPoint to create interactive maps that allow users to explore different regions or data points with a click, offering an immersive experience for educational or business presentations.

9. Use PowerPoint to Produce Engaging Video Content

With its animation and multimedia capabilities, PowerPoint can be used to create simple explainer videos or animations, which can then be uploaded to platforms like YouTube or Vimeo. But you can also use it to create shorts for Youtube or videos for Tiktok and Instagram.

10. Implementing Project Planning

PowerPoint can be a visual aid in project management, allowing the creation of project timelines or Gantt charts to visualize key dates and tasks, ensuring everyone on the team is aligned. Leverage the creation of project management presentations by using our free Gantt Chart templates .

11. Designing Educational Tutorials

In educational settings, PowerPoint can be utilized to create worksheets, tutorials and training material for education, enhancing the learning experience by providing visually rich and interactive content.

12. Creating Personalized Photo Slideshows

Whether commemorating special occasions or creating a fun wedding reception display, PowerPoint can be used to create personalized photo slideshows that tell a story. In a real example and case study, a traveler once created a photo album of this adventure to the West coast with PowerPoint, then exported the final album PowerPoint presentation to video and uploaded it to Youtube. Finally, a QR Code was generated and the book with the review of his experience included the QR Code to bring the user directly to the photo album and live the whole experience.

13. Developing Flashcards for Review

PowerPoint slides can be transformed into digital flashcards, aiding in self-study and review for students and professionals alike.

14. Assembling a Visual Database

Consider using PowerPoint to create a visual database or catalog. For instance, a plant nursery might use it to showcase different plant species, with each slide offering images and details about a particular plant. In a business setting, you can use PowerPoint as a catalog of products and then share the catalog presentation with your clients and leads.

The versatility of PowerPoint opens up a world of possibilities, limited only by one’s creativity and innovation. From crafting interactive content to designing visually appealing resumes, PowerPoint proves to be more than just a presentation tool. By exploring and experimenting with its myriad of features, users can discover new and exciting ways to communicate, educate, and engage with their audience.

Ensure to explore various presentation templates and additional resources available online to enhance your PowerPoint creations, and stay tuned for more tips and tricks on maximizing the potential of PowerPoint in our upcoming articles.

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• Internet , Software & Tools

20 Examples Of Application Software

Application softwares are mostly productivity programs that help you to complete different tasks effectively.

Some are used to create and manipulate documents, and others will help you streamline processes and communicate professionally.

These tools are specific to the tasks they’re designed for. Most are used in combination, while others work independently.

Choosing the best application software can significantly impact your bottom line. These software programs can improve efficiency, function, and productivity for businesses, making your business scalable to a wide extent.

We have rounded up 20 best application software examples for various functions, including project management , customer relationship management , document processing , resource management , visual and video processing , music streaming , and more.

Let’s dive in to understand each program and its function.

20+ Application Software Examples

1. microsoft word.

Microsoft Word is one of the most popular application software for word processing. Developed by Microsoft, this application is part of the Microsoft Office Suite.

This word processing software is a versatile tool explicitly used for composing, editing, formatting, saving, sharing, and accessing documents , including project reports, correspondence, memos, and more.

You can also use this tool to design graphics. Although it isn’t as powerful as a graphic tool, most people with little or no graphic design knowledge find it easy to manipulate.

Microsoft Word features a text editor, font and paragraph formatting, grammar and spell check , HTML, and image support.

It also enriches content with features like a thesaurus, antonyms, synonyms, Word Art, and other effects. The spell and grammar check functions let you check content for errors.

Utilize colors, styles, and font styles to embellish your writing. Open, create, and read your text easily using this application. Besides Windows, this application is also available for iOS, Android, and Mac operating systems.

MS Word comes as part of the Microsoft 365 Suite. It offers a free trial and three pricing plans including a personal plan at $6.99/month, a family plan at $9.99, and an office, home, and student plan with a one-time purchase of $149.99.

2. Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel is another application software example from Microsoft Corporation. This spreadsheet software lets you carry out calculations.

MS Excel has separated cells that define fields, including time, date, text, and number. You can provide the functions and formulas and perform your calculations.

The application also allows you to make analyses and graphics. It is the most popular application used globally by bankers, researchers, students, accounts teams, and businesses. It has robust data visualization capabilities.

There’s a lot you can do with this tool, from data interpretation, field arrangement to data organization, filtering and restructuring, and more. It’s available for Android, Mac OS, Windows, and iOS operating systems.

Like Word, MS Excel comes as part of Microsoft 365. After the free trial, you get to pay $6.99/month for personal use, $9.99 for family, and a one-time purchase of $149.99.

Related : 16 Best Excel Alternatives For Mac

3. Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is a presentation application software that helps you present your ideas visually to your audience. With this presentation software, you get to display information in slide form.

To make your slides more compelling, you can add images, videos, animations, text, and graphs. It comes with an editor to input and format your text and other multimedia elements. The slide show pane lets you display information for ease of navigation.

MS PowerPoint is a Microsoft Office Suite component you can use personally or for business. It contains built-in templates, clip art, audio, and video support to enhance your presentations. It is an excellent program if you want to make a good first impression.

MS PowerPoint pricing is included in the Microsoft 365 Suite cost.

4. Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is a graphic design and image editing application software . With this tool, you can sketch, paint, and craft any concept art directly from your computer.

Designed by Adobe, Photoshop packs a lot of digital drawing/imaging features. It lets you create designs and photography, edit videos, create, edit, and organize digital images and graphic work, and more.

If you are a photographer, graphic designer, or video creator, you can use this image editor to create, convert, edit, manipulate, and resize your work.

Photoshop has a free trial and a paid version that costs $20.99/month.

5. CorelDraw

CorelDraw is a vector graphics editor from Corel Corporation. This graphics software has multiple capabilities for creating and editing images and graphics.

The robust graphic suite lets you create, edit and save your graphic images. It works with different layers and pages.

If you are eager to create any design using layouts and vectors, this graphic design software will do you justice. It is designed for graphic designers who work to create quality artwork and graphics.

As a business, you can use CorelDraw to improve your brand image or fastrack your business progress. Utilize its vast features to create company logos, complementary and business cards , flyers, and more.

CorelDraw has a learning curve, but your efforts will pay off in the end.

This computer program works well with Windows Operating System. It has a 15-day free trial and runs $20.75 per month for the Graphics Suite.

AutoCAD is the most used application software for CAD drafting . It works with Mac and Windows operating systems. This tool offers enhanced workflow documentation capabilities, excellent performance, and easy-to-use visual communication flow.

You can use AutoCAD for 2D and 3D design and drafting. It is mainly utilized by architects and drafters to construct and create blueprints and engineering plans.

It is available in 20 languages, and you can localize its command set. The tool supports API extensions to create 2D and 3D architectural products. Its customized extensions can help create third-party and automated applications.

AutoCAD offers flawless drawing and designing processes. You’ll also experience seamless automation of the transition between 2D and 3D modeling.

Its in-built tools can interact with computer-aided manufacturing packages automatically to design machine tool program setups for different activities. The tool has a flexible and user-friendly interface, with realistic renderings, minimum coordination areas, and smart data management and sharing.

AutoCAD reduces deployment, support time, and costs while offering more design alternatives, easy modification, and better scaling options.

AutoCAD’s monthly subscription is $185. It also has an annual subscription of $1470, a two-year subscription of $2940, and a three-year subscription of $4410.

7. Atom editor

Atom is an open source application software for text editing. It’s designed by developers for developers. The tool provides a sleek editor, neat collaboration tools , and organization tools that keep your projects intact.

With Atom, you can share and edit projects in real-time.

Its source code is available on Github.

Atom is a cross-platform tool that works with Windows, Linux, and Mac operating systems.

Atom comes with an auto-completion feature and multiple panes to edit the code between files. It allows you to install themes to make the editor more appealing.

Pricing for this tool is available upon request.

MySQL is a widely used open source application software for database management. Because of its powerful capabilities, this database management system anchors the back-end of a host of applications.

MySQL contains a multithreaded SQL server to support various backends, libraries, administrative tools, client programs, and plenty of APIs.

This tool enables you to power your business-critical systems, software packages, websites, and more. It features cloud server support with advanced clustering features. It also helps you create databases.

The best part about this software is its wide compatibility. It works well with different server management interfaces, including cPanel. It also offers compatibility with shared data from other databases.

MySQL runs on all operating systems and platforms, including Linux, Windows, Mac, and more. It makes it effortless to migrate your queries from other databases too. The tool has a wide knowledge base that allows you to access tutorials about just everything you need to know.

The pricing of this app is provided on demand.

9. VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player is a free and open source application software that plays multimedia files . If you want a tool that plays videos, music, or movies efficiently, VLC can do all that.

It plays all types of videos in formats like WMV, MP4, AVI, and more on computers or mobile phones . It also supports DVD ISOs, network streams, and network shares.

With VLC, you get full support for audio and video compression processes and file formats. Its interface is neat, fast and easy to use, and supports different multimedia channels.

Besides being free and open source, this program can run on all versions of Windows.

Skype is a video conferencing application software that lets you make video calls to friends, colleagues, family, business partners, customers, and more. If you don’t want to video call, you can chat with people to discuss projects or other matters.

Skype facilitates communication between different users and devices. It offers other features, including file sharing, conferencing, and more. It is available on Mac OS, Linux, Windows, and other operating systems. Skype offers free calls to other Skype users.

It is a free app.

11. WhatsApp

WhatsApp is a free, multiplatform application software offering instant messaging services , video and voice calling between parties. It also supports media transmission, images, web browsers , and documents over an internet connection.

WhatsApp lets you share your status too. While it’s designed for mobile use, you can use it on PCs too, though with limited functionalities.

What makes it appealing is that you can pair your phone to your PC and keep conversations going as you work. It also saves you on calling costs, especially when making an international call.

12. Spotify

Spotify is an application software for playing audio in Windows 10. This music streaming software helps you find the music or podcasts you’re looking for. It comes packed with different tracks and episodes to choose from.

You can use Spotify to browse a collection of albums, artists, celebrities , and much more. It has autoplay and shuffle features to mix up songs. And you can view the lyrics of the songs you’re playing and the artist’s profile.

If you have music on your device, you’ll easily play it with Spotify. The software application lets you sort the music filter you want and even share your music and podcast with people. It supports iOS, Mac, Linux, and Windows.

Spotify comes with a free plan, a premium individual plan at $9.99/month, a premium duo at $12.99/month, a premium family at $14.99, and a premium student at $4.99.

13. Adobe Acrobat Reader

Adobe Acrobat Reader is an outstanding application software from Adobe Inc. It helps you create, edit, view, manipulate, and print documents in portable document format . You can also share and access electronic documents.

Its pro version lets you scan, edit images and text, send, and convert PDFs into other supported files. Adobe Acrobat is synchronized to the cloud to help you save, access, and work on various files wherever they are.

Adobe Acrobat Reader has a free trial, a standard version that costs $12.99/month, and a pro version at $14.99/month.

14. Windows Photo Viewer

Windows Photo Viewer is another application software to use in viewing pictures . The evolution of webcam, mobile cameras, and other digital cameras make it easy to take lots of photos.

With the photo viewer , you can easily sample and view your pictures. It even lets you edit your photos through cropping, resizing, adding contrast, and other options.

It’s also easy to play slideshows of your pictures, mark your favorites, and more. The program comes built-in with the Windows operating system.

Enterprise Software

15. talentlms.

TalentLMS is a cloud-based business application software that offers training for all business stakeholders, including employees, customers, and partners. It is designed to help organizations deliver digital training on new processes, concepts, and content.

TalentLMS simplifies and enhances the way training is designed. It is a user-friendly SaaS training program with the purpose to provide a hassle-free learning experience to users.

You can customize this tool to suit your business needs, including streamlining your teams’ training efforts. It features course creation tools, blended learning, content assessment, engaging courses, mobile learning, sales training, analytics and reporting tools, video conferencing support, authoring tool, and more.

The platform helps you design eLearning courses within a short time. It has robust course creation tools that adapt to the diverse requirements of your eLearning. With gamification capabilities, you’ll manage to add excitement to the training to make it engaging.

TalentLMS is free. Paid plans include a starter pack at $59, basic at $129, plus pack at $249, and premium pack at $429.

16. Salesforce

Salesforce is a customer relationship management (CRM) system that enterprises use. Your business needs to maintain its direct line of communication between the executives, different departments, employees, and customers.

Salesforce offers an efficient customer relationship management solution that ensures all departments share a single view of all the customers. It integrates various support and customer services alongside CRM applications to help improve customer satisfaction.

This tool uses previous experiences and customer feedback to streamline processes. It also integrates social network data to generate reports that will help identify customer insights.

At the end of the day, your business will understand customer data and identify their interests. Its visual dashboard summarizes customer data and presents it in the form of pictorials, bar graphs, tabular forms, pie charts, and graphical forms.

Using Salesforce can help you regain old or inactive customers by improving your customer service and experience. Then you can increase your sales by tracking their interaction, identifying their interests, and working to provide for their needs.

Besides the free version, Salesforce has four paid plans including the Essentials at $25, Professional at $75, Enterprise at $150, and Unlimited at $300.

17. Monday.com

Monday.com is a popular collaboration and project management software businesses can use to manage workflows.

It helps teams collaborate efficiently on projects to ensure timely delivery.

It has various features, including kanban board integration, time tracking, multiple views, an integrated calendar, and more. Its collaborative environment allows teams to create a knowledge base, communicate, share files, designs and images, track project progress, and more.

The tool integrates with other third-party tools like Google Drive, MailChimp, Dropbox, and Google Calendar.

The application software lets you manage processes, data interactions, and customer data effectively. It will safeguard your information and allow you to capture, insert, and import leads from other sources.

Monday.com is available for Android, Windows, iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It features an audit log, automation of 100000 actions each month, creation and customization of the dashboard, a clear overview of performance, processes, and sales.

Other features include automation of repetitive tasks, automatic reminders, automatic assigning of new tasks, and due date notifications

With Monday.com , you have advanced search capabilities at your disposal. You can also customize it to suit your sales workflow. It also offers chart view, time tracking, and private board functions.

The app comes with four pricing plans, including a basic plan at $8/month, a standard plan at $10/month, a pro plan at $16/month, and a quote-based enterprise plan. It also has a free trial.

18. Forecast

Forecast is a full suite business application software for businesses that offer professional services. It helps in resource planning and finetuning of finances and operations using project automation.

Forecast focuses on increasing the predictability and profitability of projects. Its functionality helps to boost planning and productivity with artificial intelligence .

It makes it easy for the business to allocate and assign projects and smoothens project and resource management. With Forecast, you can manage your human capital and calendar effectively.

It has intelligent features, including auto-schedule, which you can use to plan your resources and projects through machine learning. This way, you will be able to estimate the duration of tasks, predict delivery dates, and allocate projects to teams based on their availability.

They can collaborate on projects flexibly and provide real-time updates. The built-in features let you manage workflows so that they align with your business processes to help you boost operations and project success rates.

Forecast offers a free trial, a Lite plan at $29, and a Pro plan at $49.

Trello is an application software that lets you customize reports and control your board activity and cards. This collaboration tool will organize your projects into boards, so you know which project is ongoing and who is handling what and where.

In Trello, each board has a task with details of the teams handling it. It has a built-in automation tool that automates tasks to allow team members to focus on the project. You’ll be able to customize meetings, events, and set goals to ensure the workflow is customized.

It will help you plan, organize, and manage all your resource tools and provide estimates for each project. Trello is pretty versatile, and it can help you handle costing better and regulate your expenses.

Its management and documentation capabilities are immaculate as it doubles as an administration system. All project stakeholders will enjoy the same level of communication.

Trello is a user-friendly program offering real-time collaboration with a superb notification system.

It comes with a free plan, a standard plan at $5, a premium plan at $10, and an enterprise plan at $17.50.

20. ClickTime

ClickTime is an application software you can use to plan, manage, and track employee time. It’s an easy-to-use time management tool you can utilize at any time.

ClickTime packs a lot of benefits, including minimizing administrative costs, streamlining operations, and enhancing employee productivity.

It achieves this by letting you manage operations and administrative costs.

The tool has an online expense and time tracking platform. It will help your managers analyze employee time to understand the resources used, the budget, and ensure they meet project deadlines.

ClickTime helps teams to stay organized and competent. It has tools that help automate daily tasks and reporting. With this tool, you can maintain compliance with SOX, DCAA, overtime, and various other regulations.

If you’re using Android, you can enter time, upload receipts, and approve the employee timesheets remotely. This program integrates solutions such as customer relationship management (CRM), payroll, and accounting solutions.

ClickTime has a free trial, a starter pack at $9, a team pack at $12, a premier pack at $24, and a quote-based enterprise pack.

21. Google Chrome

Google Chrome is an application software that lets you browse the internet , social media platforms, and send/receive emails. As with other web browsers, you can search for information on any topic, including technology, travel, politics, medicine, and much more.

Google Chrome lets you retrieve data across the web. It is a fast and easy-to-use web application software from Google. It also is a platform for browser app extensions.

Its popularity keeps growing due to its security and speedy and efficient execution of commands. The app works well on Windows, iOS, Android, and Mac operating systems.

With Chrome, you can browse through websites privately (incognito) without disclosing your details like your IP address and browsing history.

The other benefits the app offers include seamless access to information across devices, fast downloads, saving mobile data by toggling the data saver, performing a Google Voice Search, built-in translator, and more.

Chrome is a free tool.

22. Google Maps

Google Maps has made strides since its inception. It lets you use your smartphone as a GPS and map . The application software has plenty of features that lets you locate places, or businesses, plan a commute, take virtual tours, get voice, turn by turn navigation, and more.

Google Maps comes pre-installed in most Android phones alongside other apps from Google. It is available for iPad and iOS devices too. If you can’t access it from your smartphone, you can use the web version.

When you open Maps, it welcomes you with a colorful map of your location. Its maps are readable, with white color representing general streets, green color for parks, bright yellow for highways, grey for buildings, and blue for waterways.

Turning on location services will give you a blue dot indicating your location and a vision cone denoting the direction you are facing. It is the best navigation tool to help you get around.

The app has a search bar to help you input a town, business, city, or street name. Business locations are laid out in cards with the name and address, distance from wherever you are, and a call and directions icon to help you find the nearest route to the location .

Other features include a layers icon, satellite version, terrain view, 3D overlay, street view mode, augmented reality, Google Assistant, and more. This software is free to use.

WinZip is a file compression and management software. With this tool, you can compress images, folders, PDF, video, MP3 and more. You can also decompress folders by unzipping them. Besides, you can repair Zip files and extract multiple files.

WinZip uses encryption to protect your files similarly to the way financial institutions do. During the compression process, the tool reduces the file size to allow for minimal data usage during file sharing.

The program can be used on Windows, iOS, macOS, and Android. It has a free and pro version that goes for $29.95.

How is System Software Different from Application software?

System software and application software serve different roles in the world of computing. System software acts as the backbone, managing the hardware and enabling the system to function smoothly. It runs in the background and is essential for the operation of the computer system itself.

Think of it as the director of the computer, silently but powerfully orchestrating every action.

On the other hand, application software is the performer, carrying out specific tasks for the user. These are the programs we interact with daily, from word processing software to games. They are built with the end-user in mind, designed to fulfill particular objectives.

While system software remains largely invisible to the everyday user, application software takes center stage, providing the tools we use to complete various tasks.

Both are crucial, but they play distinctly different roles in our digital experience.

What Types of Application Software are available?

There are various types of application software available, each tailored to execute distinct tasks.

• Productivity software, like word processors and spreadsheets, helps users create and manage information.
• Database applications store, organize, and retrieve large volumes of data efficiently.
• Multimedia software handles video, audio, and images, enhancing the creation and editing of digital content.
• Educational software designed for learning and instruction, while simulation software allows for the modeling of real-world scenarios.
• Communication software enables users to connect and collaborate through email, instant messaging, and video conferencing.
• Finally, we have web browsers and email clients that connect us to the internet and help manage our online communications.

Each category serves a specific purpose, aiming to make tasks more manageable and more efficient for users.

Examples of Application Software – Conclusion

The software applications we’ve highlighted in this guide can help simplify your tasks. Whether you are an individual or a business, you can use these tools to simplify your processes.

Harness their computing capabilities to accomplish numerous tasks without putting in much effort. These tools will help you enhance productivity and efficiency at all times.

As digital operations continue to rise, more digital workplaces will keep emerging. This will cause the evolution of more programs and tools due to the demand for customized options.

This will benefit businesses and individuals looking to simplify their operations. There are plenty of application tools, and they all have specific functions that add value to your work or business. All you need is to pick one that suits your requirements.

Tom loves to write on technology, e-commerce & internet marketing. I started my first e-commerce company in college, designing and selling t-shirts for my campus bar crawl using print-on-demand. Having successfully established multiple 6 & 7-figure e-commerce businesses (in women’s fashion and hiking gear), I think I can share a tip or 2 to help you succeed.