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15 software used for mac presentation, 6 online presentation software for mac, does mac have presentation software, how do you create a presentation on mac, is there a mac version of powerpoint, is powerpoint better than keynote, let your presentation talk, related articles, 15 best presentation software for mac [reviewed & ranked].

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Updated on: February 08, 2024

Presentations are integral to any design: how else would you explain your idea to your client or team? People tend to leave presentations as the last possible step of their process and don’t give them as much time and attention as they need.

If you are a designer, architect, artist, businessman, or any other person that regularly makes subpar presentations, take your game to the next level with some of the best presentation software for mac !

You don’t want to download or install any App? Then check these 6 online presentation software for mac .

Here is some of the best presentation software for Mac that you can use to make your ideas and design extraordinary:

Price: Free Best for: Mac users

Keynote is one of the top presentation software for Mac and comes included with most Apple devices.

With its stunning features and powerful tools, you can bring your slides to life and create the most effective presentations for your clients or your boss.

• Best in-built presentation software for Mac
• Simple and intuitive
• Poor compatibility with windows presentation software
• Presentations can take too much storage
• Does not have as many editing tools as PowerPoint

2. FlowVella

Price: Free (limited version) or $10/month Best for: Mac users

This presentation software is excellent to combine words, images, videos, links, PDFs, and other media into a presentation.

This way, having an interactive presentation is easy.

It’s oriented towards marketing, HR professionals, and sales teams.

• Great Drag & Drop Feature
• Dozens of free templates
• You have to buy the software to use all the features and tools

3. Prezi for Mac

Price: Free (limited version) or starting at $10/month Best for: Mac users

Prezi for Mac is another great Mac presentation software that lets you create dynamic presentations. It has a trial version of 14 days.

The bad thing about making presentations is choosing a video or image to put into it. But not with Prezi.

Prezi is a leader in the video presentation movement and allows you to make the most interactive slides for your presentation.

• Great User Interface
• Zoom and overview feature
• Integration with Zoom Software
• It takes time and practice to learn how to work on Prezi.
• Not easy for beginners.

Price: Starting at $35 Best for: Mac users

Deckset is a unique presentation software that lets you put your ideas and thoughts into it and makes the slides for you.

This is great for people that want to spend less time and energy making slides for their presentation but is only for text-based presentations.

It includes a trial version to try before purchasing the complete presentation software.

• It designs your slides for you, taking off most of the pressure of creating a presentation
• Trial Version
• It is a very costly software to buy

5. PowerPoint

Price: Free (With a Microsoft 365 subscription) Best for: Mac users

PowerPoint for Mac is old but gold.

It is one of the oldest presentation software and allows you to create beautiful slides with multiple templates of your choice.

This software has many tools and features that make the presentation process fun and easy.

• Easy and simple to use
• Multiple free templates
• Lack of creativity in the included templates
• Display Compatibility issues

6. LibreOffice’s Impress

In this software for Mac, multiple editing and viewing modes make the process of editing and creating slides versatile and interactive.

This software is great for presentations that are mostly text-based.

• Free software
• It does not put a lot of strain on your system
• Not very good user interface
• Lack of integration with other presentation software

7. iSkySoft Slideshow Maker

Price: $59.95 Lifetime Best for: Mac users

iSkyDoft Slideshow Maker has to be one of the best presentation software for Mac.

It allows the user to add text, photos, and videos to the slides and music, which makes the entire experience of watching a presentation even better.

This presentation software can be used to beautifully commemorate an event, activity, design process, or team activity in one file.

Moreover, the software also has a ton of features and aftereffects that can be added to make the presentation even better.

• Easy-to-use interface with a ton of incredible features
• It has a steep subscription fee that might not be good for beginners or one-time users

8. Focusky 3D

Price: starting at $9.9 Best for: Mac users

If you want to make a presentation on your desktop but also want it to work on other devices, such as your phone or tablet, Focusky is the perfect software for you.

Focusky is a powerful 3D presentation software for Mac with a wide range of tools that allows you to customize your presentation according to your taste.

to customize your presentation according to your taste.

• It works great offline and doesn’t require any internet
• Powerful export functionality (slides into gift/flash)
• Unexciting slide visual effects
• It requires a bit of learning before you can successfully use it

9. TouchCast Pitch

TouchCast Pitch is one of the presentation software that you automatically gravitate towards when you want to make a meaningful, impactful, and interactive presentation.

Pitch turns boring presentations into winning experiences that make it hard to forget.

• It has a huge library of tools and interesting features for your use
• A bit hard to learn and teach students

If you’re trying to make a presentation in less time with the least effort and still hoping it will come out beautiful, Canva is the perfect software to use.

With its extensive features and tools, the software allows you to edit, customize, and create your slides for presentation in record time.

• It is free, simple, and has a good user interface.
• It allows you to create stunning designs in mere minutes
• It is not a specific software for presentations.
• It does not have as many interesting features as other presentation software

Price: Free or $8/month Best for: Mac users

If the presentations that Pitch lets you make are half as interactive and fun as their website, there is no better software for Mac to do presentations.

It has multiple great tools, effects, templates, and designs available for you to use for your presentation or get inspired to create your own.

• Team Collaboration feature
• Great Support Team
• It has a bit of a learning curve, especially for a beginner
• A limited selection of templates

12. WPS Office for Mac

Price: Free (limited version) or $ 25.21 / year Best for: Mac users

WPS Office must be the essential software on your desktop, whether it is Windows or Mac.

The WPS Office for Mac has all the features and tools that let you document your process and create some of the simplest and easiest presentations for your work meetings and project discussions.

• It allows for collaboration
• Easy documentation
• It doesn’t have a lot of tools for PDF editing or grammar-check for text

13. Premast Plus

Price: Free or $5.99/month Best for: Mac users

If you are a designer, or any other creative folk, looking for beautiful graphic presentation software, there is none better than Premast Plus.

It gives you a wide range of tools, templates, illustrations, and icons to use for your presentation to make it the best you can!

• Very simple
• Wide Range of rich templates
• A lot of the tools and features of this software are available only after you purchase a subscription
• A bit unstable.

14. Movavi Slideshow Maker

Price: Free Trial or $37 Best for: Mac users

Movavi Slideshow Maker is great for unconventional presentations as it lets you add images, videos, text, music, transitions, and effects to your file.

It allows you to create a movie out of your work, making the entire presentation fun and engaging.

• It has great and simple user-interface
• It lacks a lot of features and does not have the tools for professional editing and presentation-making

15. Propresenter – Church Presentations

Price: starting at $399 Best for: Mac users

Propresenter is a church presentation software for Mac that allows you to create a beautiful presentation for a sermon.

It can include worship lyrics, sermon notes, videos, images, etc., to create an impactful and powerful presentation.

The best thing about this software is that it is excellent for beginners.

• Perfect presentation software for church
• It has all the tools that you might need to add music, lyrics, sermon, and text.
• Very expensive software and only best for professionals

1. Slidesbean

Slidesbean is an innovative online presentation software for Mac that does most of the heavy lifting while making the presentation.

It has great features and interactive tools that offer everything you need to build the perfect pitch for your presentation!

Great for entrepreneurs who want to create a beautiful pitch deck.

• Great analytics
• The templates look great
• The result looks very professional
• Videos have to be uploaded to third-party platforms
• The AI feature is not too helpful
• Export for PowerPoint only exports as image

2. Renderforest

Looking for a great online presentation software for Mac that allows you to create stunning videos, animations, branding, mockups, presentations, and more?

Renderforest is the perfect site for beginners and professionals.

• High quality & professional looking templates
• Mind-blowing animations
• Video templates look great
• Free version available
• Limited customization
• Can be a bit pricy
• No iOS or Android app
• Video render time can take long

3. Zoho Show

The great thing about this online presentation software for Mac is that it allows for a group/team to collaborate on the process of creating a presentation.

It is a clean, simple, and easy software that makes creating presentations seamless and simple.

• Includes infographics
• Supports real-time collaboration
• It has good template designs
• It has a Chrome web browser extension that makes it easier to work on the slides.
• It allows broadcasting presentations
• Easy-to-use transitions
• Interface can be a bit slow on low-end devices
• Interface could be better
• No desktop App available

Visme is a fan favorite for brands, big and small, to create stunning presentations.

It has numerous templates and color pallets to choose from that make the entire process of making a presentation easy.

• Allows you to create a brand identity with “My brand” feature
• Disk capacity and usage limit can be low on basic and free plans
• No support for collaborators
• Learning curve
• Free version is way too limited
• The interface could be better

5. Google Slides

Google Slides is the most popular online presentation software that is used by millions worldwide.

It provides the basic tools and features necessary to create a striking presentation.

• Fast and easy to use
• Includes real-time collaborative mode
• It’s free
• Connected with Google services like Google Drive
• It doesn’t support non-Google-based fonts
• Limited templates
• Limited transitions and animations
• It won’t provide support for audio imports

Slides are one of the online presentation software that makes your presentation look extremely sleek and professional.

It is a must for all designers and project managers!

If you need to bring project management to the next level, then you must check out the best project management software for Mac .

• Supports custom HTML and CSS
• Supports two directions (vertical & horizontal)
• Smooth and fast interface
• Supports LaTeX
• It doesn’t provide templates
• It doesn’t support PowerPoint exports

Mac has a presentation software already preinstalled in all Apple devices called Keynote. It is completely free and it allows you to create stunning presentations for school projects, your business, your office, etc. It is available for Mac, iPhone, iPad, and even for PCs.

Keynote includes real-time collaboration with your team, which is an essential feature now that everything is done online.

You can create a presentation on Mac with the help of Keynote. To create a keynote presentation follow these 3 steps:

• Choose a theme.
• Add your content to the placeholder images and texts.
• Create a presentation from the slides.

Yes. Microsoft PowerPoint is available for download on Mac and your phone, tablet, or PC, but you would need a Microsoft 365 subscription on your device to use it on Mac. The software isn’t identical to the Windows one but is quite similar with only a few minor differences in menu and layout.

Where PowerPoint is the most common presentation software for everyone worldwide, Keynote has been declared a better presentation software for Mac users, especially for professionals.

But if you are looking for a variety of editing tools, features, and templates for your presentation, there is nothing that trumps PowerPoint.

Creating a powerful presentation is an essential part of your strategy, whether you are a businessman, a designer, an architect, or a project manager.

It would be best if you had a presentation that doesn’t bore your audience and manages to convey all the key information in the best possible way.

All the software mentioned above are some of the most extraordinary presentation software for Mac and can help you create a memorable presentation.

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Juwairiah Zia

Juwairiah Zia is a seasoned professional, a full stack developer and writer in her free time. She’s deeply immersed in various tech domains such as web and mobile application development and mentorship.

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15 Best Video Presentation Software to Try in 2024

Ready to make an outstanding video presentation? Here are the best tools to help you learn how to make video presentations and create one in no time.

Victoria Greywing

11 minute read

With the rise in remote work, online classes, and virtual events, video presentations have become a crucial aspect of effective communication.

In fact, having a video in a presentation already shows that 32% more people will interact with your content .

Making a video presentation takes time, so having a reliable tool is more important than ever. That's why we've compiled a list of the best video presentation software to try this year.

Whether you're a marketer, educator, or business owner, these tools offer a range of features to help you create engaging and memorable presentations.

Factors to consider when choosing video presentation software

1. ease of use.

The worst thing you need to avoid is spending hours learning how to use tools, not getting any work done, and then giving up in frustration. The software should be easy to use, even for those with limited technical skills. This will ensure that you can create presentations quickly and efficiently.

2. Customizability

Customization is the part that adds a creative look to your presentations. Such tools should allow you to customize your presentations to suit your needs and the preferences of your customers.

This includes the ability to add your branding elements like logo, banner, etc., choose from a range of templates, and add multimedia.

3. Interactive features

Although not essential, interactive elements help engage your audience. Adding quizzes and polls, allowing users to comment on slides, and even embedding videos or other content makes your presentations more memorable.

4. Advanced editing tools

There is no good video presentation without editing. You need tools like an image editor that offer important features like transitions, filters, captions, pitcure upscaling , etc. This will help you create more professional-looking presentations that can grab the viewers’ attention.

5. Compatibility & sharing options

The best video presentations are those that can easily be shared with others. The tool should offer quick export options and compatibility with different devices.

Whether it’s through email or social media, you should be able to easily share the presentations with other users.

Our top 15 video presentation software

Jump ahead to page section.

Powtoon is a cloud-based animation tool that is ideal for displaying data visually . It's an excellent option for HR teams, educators, and marketers who want to create eye-catching materials for their presentations.

The tool offers a range of templates, characters, and backgrounds that you can customize as you like.

Powtoon’s drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to create videos even if you have no prior experience.

You can add text, images, and other visual elements to quickly compose captivating animated videos that share your ideas and stories.

Plus, you can upload audio clips or background music to accompany your visuals and further enhance the impact of your message.

Powtoon is compatible with both Windows and Mac and offers a range of subscription options, making it accessible to everyone.

This versatility further cements its reputation one of the best ai video editing software apps available.

Source: Powtoon

• Great for creative video content
• Drag-and-drop interface
• Wide range of templates
• Quick share to social media and other platforms
• Offers team collaboration
• Slow loading speed for some users
• Watermark in the free plan

Pricing: 3-month free trial, $15/month for Lite, $60/month for Professional, $100/month for Agency

Movavi Video Editor

Movavi Video Editor helps you learn how to make effective presentations with its intuitive tools. It's user-friendly and offers plenty of features for both beginners and professionals alike.

Do you need a specific transition or title effect? This tool offers a wide selection of them. You’ll also find a library of sounds, music, backgrounds, and text editing options.

Furthermore, you can record your voice and add it to your video as a separate audio track.

Movavi Video Editor has many filters and special effects that will fit any occasion. From retro filters to artistic effects, you can add unique touches to your presentation to impress your audience.

More advanced features include AI background removal , denoizer, and upscaling feature as well as audio editing tools, color correction, and more.

Source: Movavi

• Intuitive interface
• Supports all popular video and audio formats
• Great editing features
• Massive media library
• Intel, NVIDIA, and AMD hardware acceleration
• Free trial limits the audio length and adds a watermark on the output video

Pricing: 7-day free trial, $54.95/year, $74.95 for a lifetime license

A video maker for presentation videos, Lumen5 has everything from business and marketing to educational or training materials, suitable for all types of presenters.

The uniqueness of this platform is its AI-driven text-to-video feature. You can simply enter your text, and Lumen’s video maker will automatically create a video based on your content.

The tool offers a library of images, videos, and music, which you can use to create professional-looking video presentations. You can also upload your images, videos, and audio to customize your video.

Source: Lumen5

• Easy to use
• AI-powered video maker
• Millions of images, videos, and music
• Real-time collaboration feature
• Fewer animation options
• Slow render speed

Pricing: Community (free), $79/month for Basic, $199/month for Starter, $29/month for Professional, Enterprise (custom price)

Storydoc is a revolutionary interactive platform for efficient content creation. It combines templates and a powerful drag-and-drop builder to help you create stories, reports, presentations, and other content quickly.

This online tool provides an intuitive visual editing experience, allowing you to add text, images, GIFs, videos, music, and more.

This tool turns static documents into immersive content experiences that boost engagement, encourage conversion, and stay memorable in readers’ minds.

Storydoc also comes with comprehensive content analytics that lets you see how readers interact with your content and optimize based on what you find.

• Ready-made business templates
• Interactive elements
• Integrations with CRM tools and other apps
• Limited customization
• Few editing options

Pricing: 14-day free trial, $30/month for Starter, $45/month for Pro, Team plans (contact for details)

With Canva, you can easily make professional-looking visuals for websites, social media posts, presentations, posters, and more, without needing any design experience.

Just drag and drop elements onto the slides, add your own images, videos, or audio, or pick one from Canva's library. You can even customize the fonts, colors, and other details for each design. Canva also provides a vast library of event templates like invitation templates , poster templates, flyer templates, and many more.

The best thing is that by using the “Present and record” feature you can transform your presentation into a video format. Select your microphone and webcam and quickly record yourself talking as you show your slides.

Source: Canva

• Variety of templates
• Highly customizable
• Quick share
• Free version limitations
• Can't mix different designs

Pricing: Canva Free, 1-month free trial or $119.99/month for Canva Pro, $149.90/month for Canva for Teams

Biteable is a simple and powerful online video maker that anyone can use. There are many animations, videos & images, soundtracks, and recordings you can add to your project as well as upload your own content.

With a script mode, you can entirely avoid complex editing and use Biteable’s built-in text editor to write out your script. Once you’ve finished, the platform automatically creates an animation based on the script.

All the media is stored in different categories, making it easy to find what you need. You can also measure the performance of your video using Biteable’s analytics feature.

Source: TechCrunch

• Various tools and media are available
• Simple sharing by email, Slack, WhatsApp, and even SMS
• Online collaboration
• Limited editing options
• Can't download video files directly from the platform

Pricing: 7-day free trial, $99/month for Pro, $199/month for Teams

Synthesia is an AI-driven tool for any content creator who loves storytelling and presenting information. It's ideal for creating short animated explainer videos, tutorials, and product demos, as well as for crafting impactful marketing stories.

The platform helps you create a video in minutes with its AI-powered technology. You simply type the text you need to create a video, choose your desired avatar and voice style, and Synthesia does the rest.

You can also customize your video by adding text, shapes, images, and music, and even recording your presentation .

Source: Synthesia

• Intuitive user interface
• Simple video creation process
• Ready-made avatars, voices, and scenes
• Few features in a personal plan
• No collaboration options

Pricing: Free demo (200 words limit), $30/month for Personal, custom price for Corporate

Animoto is an incredibly versatile platform that’s made for various kinds of videos, including video presentations, slideshows, social media content, and more.

Featuring advanced tools like automatic video production and an array of aesthetic templates, it's easy to create eye-catching presentations in minutes.

Animoto offers a library of royalty-free stock footage so you can find the perfect scene to fit your project.

Best of all, users can make their work stand out by adding custom branding and logos, music, transitions, captions, and graphics.

Source: Animoto

• AI-powered smart video creator
• Customizable templates and themes
• Limited customization options
• No advanced audio editing tools are available

Pricing: Free, $8/month for Basic, $15/month for Professional, $39/month for Professional Plus

Animaker is a DIY tool that offers a wide selection of animated styles like 2D and 3D objects, whiteboards, and infographics as well as vibrant backgrounds and scenes.

You can customize the content with text, voiceover, and music options and drag and drop them into your project.

The interesting part is you can build a character representing you to enliven your presentation. Animaker also offers 100M+ stock images and videos and 1000+ templates to choose from.

Source: Animaker

• User-friendly & intuitive interface
• Drag & drop editing
• Versatile animations
• Character builder for personalization
• Limited music library
• Few scene templates

Pricing: Free trial, $10/mo for Basic, $19/mo for Starter, $49/mo for Pro, Enterprise (contact for details)

Wideo is a web-based video maker for industries like marketing, education, and e-commerce.

You can create explainer videos, promotional videos, product demos, and more. With a rich library of cartoon elements, you can build a video from scratch or take advantage of the professional templates that come with the platform.

In Wideo player automatically generates a transcript based on the video’s text and you can switch between video and presentation modes to get a better idea of how the video will look.

Video saves in MP4 format and you can share it on YouTube and other social media.

Source: Wideo

• Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor
• Text-to-speech feature
• Pre-made templates for quick creation
• Low-quality templates compared to other tools

Vimeo is a well-known video hosting platform where you can upload and share videos. But it also has an easy-to-use video maker, allowing you to create attention-grabbing videos.

The platform offers a large music library where you can find the perfect tune for your video. With Vimeo’s portfolio feature, you can organize your videos into collections and even create a custom URL for your portfolio.

For making video presentations, Vimeo has many templates you can customize and add your own visuals. Change the scale, opacity, and style of text and graphics, and add layouts, transitions, stickers, narration, and more.

Source: Vimeo

• Built-in sharing options
• Customizable templates
• Integration with multiple popular tools, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and Slack.
• Few advanced video editing options
• Very limited access to features in a free plan

Pricing: Free plan, $12/month for Starter, $20/month for Standard, $65/month for Advanced, Enterprise (contact sales)

Vyond provides cartoon animations and videos with customizable characters, scenes, and text effects. This easy-to-use software helps bring your stories and brand presentation messages to life.

The platform comes with many templates based on job roles, categories, and styles.

You can mix them up or start from scratch with a blank canvas and add your own visuals. You can also record your voice directly from the microphone or use text-to-speech .

Source: Vyond

• Big library of characters, props, and backgrounds
• Wide range of styles to choose from
• Version history for collaboration
• Few character and scene customization options
• Hard to manage multiple scenes and characters
• No closed captioning

Pricing: 14-day free trial, $49/month for Essential, $89/month for Premium, $179/month for Professional, Enterprise (custom pricing)

Moovly is an online video maker for presentations with many visual styles like doodles, cartoons, motion graphics, and more. You can quickly add voiceovers using built-in AI voices, generate subtitles, and even translate them to any language you need.

The tool offers great animations and effects for your videos and allows work collaboration. There is also a library of images, videos, music, and sound effects to choose from.

Source: Moovly

• Straightforward interface
• Easy management
• Integrations with YouTube, Google Drive, Dropbox, and other tools
• Free trial limitations
• Lack of variety in designs
• No advanced animation capabilities

Pricing: Free, $99 per month for Pro, $199 per month for Max, Enterprise (custom pricing)

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is the go-to presentation-building tool for countless businesses and professionals. It's a staple of creating stunning visuals and helpful resources for any type of presentation.

Combined with a creative mind, creating presentations no longer remains complicated or time-consuming. With everything from templates to animations, PowerPoint provides all the necessary tools for designing exceptional video presentations.

Customize your slides with whatever images and videos you need to represent your ideas. Then, just export the presentation as a video. You can also upload a voice-over narration or add sound effects.

Source: Microsoft

• All-in-one presentation solution
• Familiar with many users
• Limited advanced design capabilities
• Not good for complex animations
• Large file size when exporting as a video

Pricing: 1-month free trial, $6.99/month with Microsoft 365 or $159.99 one-time payment

Prezi is cloud-based presentation software that allows users to create dynamic and engaging presentations using a range of templates and multimedia elements. It's a great option for industries like education, marketing, and business.

One of the standout features of the tool is its zooming presentation interface, which allows presenters to create a more immersive and interactive experience for viewers.

With Prezi, you can easily create and customize templates, add animations and transitions, and collaborate with others in real time, making it ideal for remote teams and learners.

The basic plan is limited in features, while the advanced plans offer more opportunities like offline access, PowerPoint presentation converter, voiceover, custom branding, analytics, and more.

Source: Prezi

• Easy-to-use interface
• Feature-rich
• Wide range of templates and multimedia elements
• Limited free trial features
• Animations can distract viewers
• The zooming interface can be overwhelming for some viewers

Pricing: 14-day free trial, $7/mo for Standard, $12/mo for Plus, $16/mo for Premium

Enhance the impact of your messages with video presentations

Here they are, video presentation software options available this year, each with its own unique features and capabilities.

By considering the factors outlined in this article, you can select the right software option for your needs and create engaging and memorable presentations that leave a lasting impression on your audience.

And don't forget to check some great presentation examples for inspiration.

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Victoria is a content manager with 4+ years of experience and has formerly worked in marketing and blogging niches. She likes writing texts and researching new complicated topics to share her expertise with trustworthy resources.

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Best Presentation Software of 2024

Table of Contents

• Best Presentation Software
• Things To Consider When Buying
• How We Chose

Everyone has a message to share in some form. With presentation software, you can communicate that message a little easier and with more spark. If you don't have design and animation skills, don't worry; apps like Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint make it easy to craft a slideshow that helps people understand the concepts you're trying to convey.

Many of the apps in this buyers' guide are geared toward business presentations since that is often the primary use case. However, a few provide some slick tools for educators, entrepreneurs, community groups, and even family members to make a photo slideshow for a family reunion. Read on for the best presentation software available today.

• Best Overall: Google Slides »
• Most Compatible: Microsoft PowerPoint »
• Best For Mac Users: Apple Keynote »
• Most Flexible: Prezi »
• Best Budget: Visme »
• Best For Entrepreneurs: Slidebean »
• Most Powerful: Canva »

Best Overall: Google Slides

Highly integrated With Other Apps

Totally free

Not integrated with Microsoft products

Minimal support

When Google Slides debuted in 2006, it took the world by storm. That’s because it was integrated even back then with Gmail, Google Docs, and other popular Google apps many of us use in business, at school, and in our personal lives.

Google Slides is entirely free, and there are no hidden costs or upgrade plans. What’s surprising, though, about Google Slides is that it is a highly capable app for presentations – easy to use, with plenty of templates, fonts, animation options, and integrations.

Apart from that, the key feature here is real-time collaboration. Other users can join you as you create and edit slides. They can comment and make suggested changes, or simply start editing the slides on their own. (You can decide if other users can suggest changes or make them directly.) You also can view speaker notes on a laptop when you run the slideshow on an HDTV or projector. Google Slides integrates nicely into the online meeting app Google Meet, and it can open Microsoft PowerPoint files and export in that format as well.

Overall, Google Slides wins extra points because of how intuitive it is. There’s hardly any learning curve with the app, and since it runs in a browser window, everything you create and edit will be saved automatically. For business users, teachers, or just about anyone in a hurry to share a complex message, creating a Google Slides presentation is a snap – which is why it is our overall top pick.

Specifications:

• Operating systems are supported: Windows, Mac, Web, iOS, Android, Linux
• Number of templates and designs available: 23
• Integrated apps: Adobe Creative Cloud, Dropbox, Box, LumApps
• Collaboration features: Live editing, suggested edits
• Multimedia supported: Photos, videos, audio, GIFs, and stickers
• Export options: PDF, PowerPoint, Webpage, JPEG
• Customer support options: Google Workspace only
• Added features: Google Duet AI
• Interface enhancements: Real-time editing and collaboration

Most Compatible: Microsoft PowerPoint

Highly compatible

Online and desktop versions

Easy to use

No free version

Templates are not as trendy

Microsoft PowerPoint is the app you want for compatibility with other apps and programs. Released in 1990, this presentation app is well-known in business circles and runs on just about any computer in the world. Because it’s so compatible, you will likely not have any trouble running the app on your phone or a tablet, in a browser, or even on seriously outdated PC laptops and desktops.

While apps like Prezi add slick animations and transitions that make a presentation come to life, PowerPoint is more like a trusted business partner; it works on just about any computer, the interface is well-known and straightforward, and it’s likely that everyone you know and collaborate with is already familiar with the app. Every other presentation app we reviewed also supports PowerPoint in terms of directly opening or importing the file, and exporting as a PowerPoint file.

You'll need a Microsoft 365 Personal Edition subscription to use PowerPoint. It may be an app that’s already installed and included with a new computer, at least for a trial period.

• Operating systems are supported: Windows, Mac, Web, iOS, Android
• Integrated apps: Adobe PDF, Shutterstock, YouTube, and many others
• Multimedia supported: Photos, videos, audio
• Export options: PowerPoint, XML, PDF, JPEG, and many more
• Customer support options: Personal or business support
• Added features: Integrated live camera, Microsoft Teams integration
• Interface enhancements: Microsoft Copilot, speaker coach

Best For Mac Users: Apple Keynote

Exceptional designs

Desktop only

Graphic designers love Apple Keynote, mostly because the included templates and design options are so stellar. Your presentation will really come to life, helping you communicate about even complex subjects with flair and a trendy look.

Using the app feels a bit like you're the late Steve Jobs creating an award-winning presentation that will grab an audience. Jobs had a way of captivating those in the audience, and Keynote helps you do that with some of the best presentation templates around. For example, there are 40 templates to choose from, many of them full of color and using the trendiest fonts. Keynote also includes 100 transitions and animations to liven up a presentation. The app also includes 700 different shapes and icons that will help you enhance your slides.

Apple Keynote is powerful enough for any user, but it’s important to know the limitations. For starters, Keynote only runs on Mac computers. That makes it less compatible with Google Slides or Microsoft PowerPoint. You can export the presentation from Keynote as a PowerPoint file, which is fine, but it means no one can edit the Keynote slides directly; they will have to use PowerPoint.

Keynote also only runs as a desktop app. That means you won’t benefit from the live editing and commenting features of Google Slides, where you can collaborate with anyone in real time on the same file. Instead, Keynote is more static, as slideshows can't be edited as a group in a browser window. It’s still incredibly powerful and intuitive but with a few key downsides.

• Operating systems are supported: Mac, iOS
• Number of templates and designs available: 50
• Integrated apps: FaceTime, WebEx, Zoom, iCloud
• Collaboration features: Collaborate through iCloud
• Multimedia supported: Video, audio, images, 3D objects, stickers
• Export options: PDF, PowerPoint, Movies, animated GIFs, images
• Customer support options: Online help, support communities
• Added features: Cinematic transitions, Keynote Remote on iPhone
• Interface enhancements: Inspectors help with formatting

Most Flexible: Prezi

Unique concept

Trendy visuals

Unique design templates

Harder to learn

There’s something very compelling about Prezi, the presentation app that provides the most flexibility in terms of the message you are communicating. For starters, this is an app that knows it’s all about the message, whether you're an educator, business owner, entrepreneur, or even a scientist or engineer. Instead of a slideshow, you create a “canvas” with topics and subtopics. Think of it as a way to augment what you are saying with animated annotations, swoosh effects, and charts.

Prezi is the best at guiding you to the most powerful design features and giving you the tools to make even a complex subject more interesting and easier to understand. Part of this extreme flexibility has to do with how you're not creating slides at all, but enhancing a topic. Another way to think of Prezi is more like an animated whiteboard; when you show a presentation, it can come to life as you speak through a webcam.

All of this flexibility means you aren't limited to a boring slideshow, although there may be times when you are asked to make a slideshow and nothing more. For example, a school assignment or a boss might dictate that you need to create basic slides, not an animated whiteboard session. This is where you have to decide if Prezi matches the goals of the message you are communicating about.

• Pricing options and plans: Standard ($7/month), Plus ($15/month), Premium ($19/month)
• Operating systems are supported: Windows, Mac, Linux
• Number of templates and designs available: 210+
• Integrated apps: Google Drive, Slack, Canva, Zoom
• Collaboration features: Real-time editing, comments
• Multimedia supported: Photos, icons, video, GIF
• Export options: PNG, JPG, PDF, GIF, and MP4.
• Customer support options: Knowledgebase, online support
• Added features: Offline mode, analytics
• Interface enhancements: Broadcast link, tool tips

Best Budget: Visme

Free version available

Added visual tools

Good overall value

It takes more time to learn

Expensive pro plans

Visme is the best budget option because there is a free version that still provides many of the features you might need. It’s also a good value, because (similar to Canva) you can access all of the graphic design features to create infographics, brochures, logos, and rich documents all without paying for the premium version.

Even more important, Visme is a good value if you do choose the Starter or Pro plans because you can then unlock advanced features you might only find in Adobe Visual products. For example, at the Pro level, you can create an entire brand kit for a company including logos, brochures, and flyers that all have the same look.

While it's called an all-in-one marketing design platform and has hints of Canva, the first tool you would likely use is for creating presentations (e.g., It's the most prominent tool listed on their site). Because everything is geared more toward marketing and sales, Visme templates emphasize things like growth metrics, charts, and bullet points used to explain a product or service. Visme is also meant more for a group of business users. You can collaborate in real-time, leave comments on presentations, and even follow a workflow to mark presentation tasks as in progress or done.

Like Canva, because the Visme app is part of a suite of visual design products, it might take a little more time to learn all of the added tools. The presentation tool is just one of many included, even if this tool alone is easy to learn.

Visme is an extensive product with an upgrade path that unlocks more templates, customer support, and more supported file formats. Overall, it’s a good value because you can still create presentations without having to pay extra.

• Operating systems are supported: Mac, PC, iOS, Android
• Number of templates and designs available: 13,000
• Integrated apps: Google Drive, Vimeo, Dropbox, Survey Monkey, and many more
• Collaboration features: Real-time collaboration, assign tasks
• Multimedia supported: Photos, videos, audio, GIFs, 3D graphics
• Export options: JPEG, PNG, PDF, MP4, GIF, PPTX, HTML5
• Customer support options: Email, chat, in-app
• Added features: AI features, forms
• Interface enhancements: Tool tips, video training

Best For Entrepreneurs: Slidebean

Design for entrepreneurs and salespeople

Unique features

Not as powerful as some

Not as well-known

Most presentation software is flexible and powerful enough for any message and for any purpose. However, Slidebean focuses on a more narrow segment. The app is designed to create a “pitch deck,” which is something an entrepreneur or salesperson uses to pitch a product.

For example, let’s say your company sells a new widget. Using Slidebean, you can explain the features and benefits, include a slide about pricing, and use the tools that are intended more for selling a concept than perhaps merely explaining it.

Once you finish creating the pitch deck, you can share it as a link for others to view. You can then measure how much time people spend viewing the slides, including time spent on specific slides in the presentation. Another major differentiator with Slidebean is that you can work with professional designers and writers (for a fee, of course) who will create the pitch desk and write all of the copy for you.

• Operating systems are supported: Windows and Mac browsers
• Number of templates and designs available: 160
• Integrated apps: None
• Collaboration features: Editing (not simultaneous), sharing
• Multimedia supported: Images, icons, GIFs
• Export options: PPT, PDF, and HTML
• Customer support options: Knowledgebase
• Added features: Consult with experts, finance templates
• Interface enhancements: Startup video lessons

Most Powerful: Canva

Thousand of templates

Integrates with other Canva tools

Limited export options

Known as an “online graphical design platform” for everyday users, Canva provides plenty of tools for creating logos, brochures, postcards, and presentations.

Because these tools are all integrated, Canva is powerful enough for any message you want to communicate. It’s ideal for business, personal use, and schools. If you decide to build a presentation, you can also incorporate logos, fonts, clip art, and animations that are built into Canva. It means the palette for creating a presentation is more flexible because all of the other design tools are right at your fingertips. Let’s say you want to create a pitch deck about a new startup. You can create the logo, choose the colors and fonts, and then create the slideshow. Most presentation apps in our buyers' guide other than Visme don’t provide this level of flexibility and power in one online app.

Canva lets you run the presentation from within Canva itself, or you can export the slides and use them in Microsoft PowerPoint. There are thousands of templates available. Once you select a look and feel for your presentation, you can pivot and use those same graphics, fonts, and designs in a brochure or other material.

With all of this power in terms of visual design software comes a slight learning curve. Canva is intuitive and the interface is well-designed, but there are so many tools available that it takes some time to learn them all.

• Operating systems are supported: PC, Mac, iOS, Android, browser
• Number of templates and designs available: Thousands
• Integrated apps: Google Drive, Dropbox, Slack, HubSpot, and many more
• Collaboration features: Real-time editing, whiteboards
• Multimedia supported : Photos, icons, graphics, data visualizations, media elements
• Export options: PDF, JPG, PNG, PPTX, MP4
• Customer support options: Email
• Added features: Magic Switch, Magic Write, Magic Animate
• Interface enhancements: Search for designs, generate with Magic Design

The Bottom Line

If you're short on time and just need to create a presentation without a lot of hassle, Google Slides is the app for you. It’s completely free without any trial versions of “pro” upgrades, yet it's also quite powerful and intuitive to learn. Google Slides is also our top pick because it integrates into other Google apps like Gmail and Google Docs, is widely used and highly compatible, and still gets the job done when the main goal is to finish a slideshow and share your message.

Things To Consider When Buying Presentation Software

Features and functionality: When it comes to presentation software, it’s all about the templates. As you are considering which app to use, it’s a good idea to evaluate which templates are available and if they meet your needs. We’ve also noted how many templates are included with each app. Beyond that, look for the supported file formats since that will determine who can use and open the presentation. Collaboration features are also important, making it easier to work on a presentation within a group and make comments for everyone to see.

Ease of use and user interface: Creating a presentation shouldn't feel cumbersome. When you start the app, it should be easy to create the first slide from a template, add more slides, fill in the text and images, and finish the entire project without having to learn complex features. Apple Keynote is a good example of an app that's intuitive at first, and then you can always explore more advanced features later on.

Compatibility with different file formats: The most well-known presentation app is Microsoft PowerPoint. So it’s important that the app you choose supports the popular PowerPoint format. Beyond that, look for software that also supports PDF files in case you want a printed version of your slideshow or to share it online.

Collaboration and sharing capabilities: With presentation software, being able to work on a slideshow with a group of people all at the same time can be a time-saver but also produce better results. It should also be easy to leave comments for others to review. Once you're done with the presentation, it should also be easy to share the file or an online version of the presentation with others.

Customization options for design and branding: Visme and Canva allow you to customize the graphics and even make logos and experiment with a variety of fonts. All presentation apps provide ways to edit graphics, resize photos, and even incorporate video into your slideshow. Not every app makes it as easy to edit graphics as Google Slides does, however.

Availability of templates and pre-designed layouts: As with many software programs, templates save time and effort. An app like Microsoft PowerPoint includes pre-designed templates and graphics you can use to enhance a slideshow. Visme is a good example of an app with extensive templates (it has thousands built-in). While Apple Keynote doesn't have as many templates, the ones that are included tend to be more well-designed and trendy.

Pricing and licensing: Most presentation apps offer a monthly subscription to help you get started making a slideshow. In some cases, such as Visme and Slidebean, there’s a basic free version to help you experiment with the app right away. Only Google Slides is entirely free with no extra pricing options. Microsoft also offers a fully licensed version of PowerPoint as opposed to paying for a monthly subscription. The full licensed version costs $159.99.

Customer support and training resources: Microsoft is arguably one of the best companies to choose if you're interested in customer support. Because the product costs a little more – especially if you purchase the full licensed version – it includes extensive technical support. That said, even though Google Slides is free and customer support can be hit or miss, there are so many people using that product that you can usually find answers to questions by doing a simple Google search or asking on public support forums. Also, training videos are more readily available for Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint because they're both so popular.

Integration with other software and tools: Integration is key when it comes to presentation software because you want to be able to access important graphics, photos, and videos easily. Canva is perhaps the most integrated option for that reason alone. It's a graphics platform for creating graphics and other design materials, so when you make a presentation, you can easily find what you need.

Security and privacy features: Security and privacy might not be the first concern when it comes to presentation software, since you might be making a simple how-to for employee orientation or a photo slideshow of your vacation. However, for a business creating a new product or for a new startup that has not launched yet, be sure there is a way to protect your presentation from prying eyes.

How We Chose The Best Presentation Software

Our contributor John Brandon poured over specifications and features for the best presentation software around. He’s used presentation apps since the debut of Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides. He also consulted with business owners who have started companies and need to communicate about their firms. This includes David Ciccarelli, an entrepreneur who started a company called Voices (an audio and video tech startup) and is the CEO of Lake , a vacation rental business. He also tapped Stephen Gagnon, a web designer with the search engine optimization company Web Scour , who has visual design and branding experience.

WHY SHOULD YOU TRUST US?

John Brandon worked in the corporate world for 10 years, often creating presentations for large teams and at corporate functions. He worked as an Information Design Director at Best Buy Corporation. Since then, he has tested and reviewed thousands of tech products including presentation apps, Wi-Fi routers, televisions, office products, and everything in between. His writing has appeared in Wired magazine, Inc. magazine, FoxNews.com, LAPTOP magazine, and many others.

For anyone who wants to communicate about a new product or service, help new employees with onboarding, or even share photos from a recent vacation, presentation software helps you communicate visually. The basic idea is that you can create a slideshow that augments and enhances what you have to say.

Presentation software is designed to help you communicate a message to an audience, either in a classroom, a conference room, or at home. You create a slideshow, insert graphics, photos, and videos, and then run the slideshow full-screen. When you run the presentation, you can click the mouse button or press the arrow keys on a computer to go back and forth in the slideshow.

Most modern presentation apps charge a monthly fee, usually around $8 or $12 per month. Google Slides is the exception to this rule since it is entirely free. Typically, with higher costs for the pro and premium plans, you gain access to more templates, more graphics, and the ability to export in more file formats, such as HTML or video files. At the high end, Microsoft PowerPoint also offers a fully licensed version, as opposed to a monthly charge.

The classic, tried-and-true presentation apps like Microsoft PowerPoint and Apple Keynote are available as a desktop version you install. In most cases, you will sign up for the app and then download the installation file and run that installer. However, more modern apps like Google Slides and Canva run in a browser window and don't require any installation.

PowerPoint is sometimes included on a Windows laptop. However, if you're looking for a fresh start with new templates and features for animation and video that go beyond PowerPoint and Keynote, you might consider upgrading. Also, presentation tools are now included in apps like Canva and Visme, making them more integrated.

U.S. News 360 Reviews takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.

12+ Presentation Software for Mac | 2024 Reveals | Tested and Approved By Experts

Leah Nguyen • 17 April, 2024 • 15 min read

Hang tight because this is where all Mac users unite 💪 These are the best presentation software for Mac !!

As Mac users, we know it’s sometimes frustrating to find a compatible software that you prefer contrary to the sea of wonders Windows users can get. What would you do if your favourite presentation software refused to go along with your MacBook? Taking a huge load of Mac memory disk to install Windows system?

In fact, you don’t need to go through all that hassle since we’ve put together this handy list of Mac presentation software that is powerful, easy to use and runs perfectly on all Apple devices.

Ready to wow your audience with free presentation software for Mac? Let’s jump right in 👇

Table of Contents

• TouchCast Pitch
• Adobe Express
• Google Slides

Frequently Asked Questions

Tips for better interactive presentation.

• How to make a presentation interactive
• Interactive presentation techniques
• Interactive presentation ideas for students

Start in seconds.

Get free templates for your next interactive presentation. Sign up for free and take what you want from the template library!

App-Based Presentation Software for Mac

There’s no place more convenient and friendly for Mac users than the default App Store. Explore some of the options without the hassle of going through the enormous app library we listed below:

#1 – Keynote for Mac

Top feature: Compatible with all Apple devices and has cross-platform sync.

Keynote for Mac is that popular face in your class that everyone knows, but not everyone is fully acquainted with.

Pre-installed as a complimentary on Mac computers, Keynote can be easily synced to iCloud and this compatibility makes transferring presentations between your Mac, iPad and iPhone incredibly simple.

If you are a pro Keynote presenter, you can also make your presentation come alive with illustrations and such with some doodling on the iPad. In other good news, Keynote is now exportable to PowerPoint, which allows for even more convenience and creativity.

#2 – TouchCast Pitch for Mac

Top feature: Make live or pre-recorded presentations.  

TouchCast Pitch blesses us with many quintessential online meeting features, such as intelligent business templates, real-looking virtual sets and a personal teleprompter, which is super helpful to ensure we’re not leaving anything out.

And if you want to record your presentation without using a third-party recording app? TouchCast Pitch gives you the power to do that and polish it with their simple editing tool besides presenting live.

As with many other choices for presentation software for Mac, there are numerous templates to choose from. You can also create your presentation from scratch and show off your design skills.

You can make changes to your slides from anywhere, as this bit of kit is available to download straight from the App Store.

#3 – FlowVella for Mac

Top features: Mobile-friendly and Adobe Creative Cloud integrated with a multi-purpose template library.

If it’s a quick and rich presentation format that you’re looking for, then try FlowVella . Whether you’re presenting a pitch in front of investors or designing a lesson for the class, FlowVella lets you create embedded videos, links, galleries, PDFs and such at the touch of your fingertips. No need to pull out a laptop as everything is “drag-and-drop” simply on an iPad.

The interface for FlowVella on Mac isn’t quite perfect, some of the text is hard to read. But, it’s an intuitive system and if you’ve used any other kinds of software for presentations on Mac, you should be able to pick it up easily enough.

Also, thumbs up for their customer support. You can contact them via live chat or email and they’ll address your problems quick as lightning.

#4 – PowerPoint for Mac

Top features: Familiar interface and file formats are widely compatible.

PowerPoint really is a staple for presentations, but to use it on your Mac, you will need to own a license for a Mac-compatible version of the presentation software. These licenses can be a bit pricey, but that doesn’t seem to deter people, as it’s estimated that around 30 million PowerPoint presentations are created every day.

Now, there is an online version that you can access for free. The limited features will be enough for most simple presentations. But, if you put diversity and engagement to the front, you are better off using one of the many alternatives to PowerPoint software for Mac.

💡 Learn how to make your PowerPoint truly interactive for free . It’s an absolute audience favourite!

Web-Based Presentation Software for Mac

Although convenient, the app-based presentation software for Mac’s biggest weakness is they are only available to your own kind, which is a turn-off for any presenter who yearns for two-way interaction and lively engagement with their audience.

Our proposed solution is simple. Migrate your ordinary presentation to one of the best web-based presentation software for Mac below👇

#5 – AhaSlides

Top features: Interactive presentation slides all for free!

AhaSlides is a cloud-based interactive presentation software born from a group of tech guys who had experienced Death by PowerPoint firsthand

It gives you the means to create an interactive presentation with which your audience can respond to your questions using just their phones.

From live quiz options with leaderboards to brainstorming tools perfect for gathering opinions and adding Q&As , there’s something for every type of presentation.

For presenters in business, you could try adding sliding scales and polls that will contribute to real-time graphics when your audience interacts via their smartphones. If you’re exhibiting at a show or presenting in front of large numbers of people, this can be a great tool for gathering opinions and encouraging focus. It’s great for any type of iOS device and it’s web-based – so it’s great for other systems tools!

So, Is there a Canva app for Mac? Of course, Yes!! 👏

Top features: Diverse templates and copyright-free images.

Canva is free presentation software for Mac that you’re after that’s all about design, then there are few options better than Canva. With a huge array of elements and copyright-free imagery available, you can drag and drop them straight into your presentation.

Canva prides itself on ease of use, so even if you’re not the most creative person in the world, you’re still able to create your slides on the go with Canva’s drag-and-drop functionality. There’s also a paid version if you want to access more templates and elements created by professional designers from around the world.

Even though Canva has the option to convert your presentation to PDF or PowerPoint, we recommend you present it straight from its website since we’ve encountered text overflow/errors in the designs while doing that.

📌 Learn more: Canva Alternatives | 2024 Reveal | Updated 12 Free and Paid Plans

#7 – Zoho Show

Top features: Multi-platform integration, minimalist designs.

If you are a fan of minimalism, then Zoho Show is the place to go.

One of the key differences between Zoho Show and some of the other web-based presentation software is its compatibility features. With integration to sites like Giphy and Unsplash , Zoho makes adding graphics directly to your presentations easy.

It’s a great option if you’re already using some of the Zoho suites, and therefore probably most suitable as a free presentation option for businesses.

Still, like Canva, Zoho Show also encounters the same problem with its export to PDF/PowerPoint feature, which often results in blank or damaged files.

Top features: Template library and animated elements.

Prezi is a bit of a unique option in this list. It’s one of the top bits of linear presentation software out there, meaning you can see your presentation as a whole and head to different sections in fun and imaginative ways. 

You can also present live and overlay your video on the slides just like TouchCast Pitch . Their huge template library is a great bonus for most presenters getting started, but you likely won’t be able to flex much creativity using Prezi’s free version.

📌 Learn more: Top 5+ Prezi Alternatives | 2024 Reveal From AhaSlides

#9 – Slidebean

Top features: Business templates and a pitch deck design service.

Slidebean is designed mostly for businesses, but its functionality would be suitable for other uses. They provide pitch deck templates that you can reuse and repurpose for your own business. The designs are smart, and it’s no real surprise that they also offer a pitch deck design service.

It’s simple to use and simple in its offerings. If you’re keeping things simple, try it out!

#10 – Adobe Express (Adobe Spark)

Top features: Stunning templates and team collaboration.

Adobe Express (formally Adobe Spark) is quite similar to Canva in its drag-and-drop feature to create graphics and other design elements. Being web-based, it is of course a compatible Mac presentation software and also offers integration with other Adobe Creative Suite programs which is useful if you create any elements with Photoshop or Illustrator.

However, with so many design assets going on, the website can run pretty slowly.

#11 – Powtoon

Top features: Animated slides and one-click animation

You might know Powtoon from their video animation creation feature, but do you know that they also offer a different, creative way to design a presentation? With Powtoon, you can easily create video presentations with no skills from thousands of custom designs.

For some first-time users, Powtoon can be a bit confusing because of its overburdened interface. You’ll need a bit of time to get used to it.

#12 – Google Slides

Top features: Free, accessible and collaborative.

With many features basically the same as PowerPoint, you won’t have much trouble creating a presentation on Google Slides .

Since it’s web-based, you and your team can seamlessly collaborate, comment or make suggestions for others. If you want to get interactive, Google Slides’ plugin library also has different, fun third-party apps to integrate directly into the slides.

Just a warning – sometimes the plugin can make your presentation VERY laggy, so use with caution.

📌 Learn more: Interactive Google Slides Presentation | Set Up with AhaSlides in 3 Steps | 2024 Reveals

So, now you have more than enough interactive presentation software options for Mac – all that’s left is to pick a template and get started.

Which presentation software is a free product that you can install on your Windows or Mac computer?

Microsoft PowerPoint and AhaSlides.

Why do you need to use AhaSlides together with traditional presentation software?

To gain better attention, along with interaction with the audience during gatherings, meetings and classes.

Can I convert Keynote to PowerPoint?

Yes, you can. Open Keynote presentation, then  Choose File > Export To, and select the format .

Leah Nguyen

Words that convert, stories that stick. I turn complex ideas into engaging narratives - helping audiences learn, remember, and take action.

Tips to Engage with Polls & Trivia

More from AhaSlides

The best presentation software in 2024

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 used 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 25 of the top presentation software solutions out there to bring you the best of the best.

The best presentation software

What makes the best presentation app, how we evaluate and test apps.

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 interface. 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).

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.

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, and interactive content. 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

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Canva pros:

Excellent free plan

Tons of amazing templates for all use cases

Feature-rich

Canva cons:

The AI tools aren't groundbreakingly useful

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.

Canva pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $120/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

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Beautiful.ai pros:

True AI design

No fussing around with alignment

Still allows for customization

Beautiful.ai cons:

No free plan

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 experience 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 more than 20 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 re-tested the generative AI feature (called DesignerBot) this year. 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 pull in relevant images.

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.

The best presentation app for conversational presentations

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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's generative AI feature works ok, but it's more useful as a wireframe. When I asked it to create a presentation about the Stanley Cup Playoffs, for example, the resulting content read a lot like a student writing a term paper in the broadest strokes possible to avoid doing any actual research.

The best presentation app for video presentations

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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.

The best presentation app for collaborating with your team

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Pitch pros:

Google levels of collaboration

Assign slides to specific team members

Excellent generative AI feature

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 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.

Pitch also offers one of the most impressive generative AI features on this list. It still struggles to pull in relevant images, but I found the AI-generated written content and design to be top-notch.

The best presentation app for conversational AI

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Gamma pros:

Creates fully fleshed-out presentations from a prompt

Conversational 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 conversational AI 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 produces a very useful jumping-off point. (Last year, it was by far the best, but this year, other apps are catching up.)

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.

The best presentation app for audience engagement

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Mentimeter pros:

Tons of audience engagement features

Simple for participants to interact

Mentimeter cons:

Less granular customizability

Bit of a learning curve

If you need to engage with an audience during your presentation, Mentimeter makes that easy. The app is designed around interactive elements like quizzes, surveys, Q&As, sliders, and more (even a Miro whiteboard!).

Each of these is included in a number of different, professional-looking templates, so you can build a fully interactive presentation super quickly.

When it's time to present, your audience members can scan the QR code with their phone cameras or type in the URL and access code to participate. There's one code per presentation (so they won't have to do this on every slide), which gives access to each slide as you move through the presentation.

There are two main drawbacks to this one, though. First, there's a bit of a learning curve and less familiar editing interface (but I found it pretty easy to learn with some practice). The other drawback is that you can't get as granular with the visual customization as you can with many other presentation tools.

The best presentation app for generative AI

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Top-tier generative AI features

Simple, customizable templates

Intuitive doc-style editor

There's definitely a learning curve

Tome is one of the new additions to this list that I'm most excited about. If you're looking for generative AI that just genuinely works , it's definitely worth a look. The editor is a bit more stripped down than most presentation apps but intuitive nonetheless—it's almost a cross between your standard deck editor and a Notion-style doc.

To generate an AI deck, click Generate with AI in the top right, and either write your own prompt or choose from the example prompts that cover a handful of common use cases, like sales enablement and company pitches. Edit or approve the suggested outline, then generate the full presentation.

From there, you can edit each slide as a doc via the right-hand menu—without limits on how much information you can include. During the presentation, you simply size down any slides that take up more than the standard amount of space. It's super simple but somehow feels revolutionary in a presentation app.

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.

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.

What about PowerPoint and Google Slides add-ons?

While I focused my testing on tools with full feature-sets—those that can serve as your sole presentation tool—there are a ton of add-on tools you can use atop big name tools like PowerPoint and Google Slides.

Related reading:

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 April 2024.

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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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Features available with Keynote.

Keynote lets you create presentations as groundbreaking as your ideas. So go ahead. Wow people like never before.

Get the updates. Then get in touch.

Stay up to date when people join, edit, or comment in collaborative presentations and easily get in touch with your team using Messages and FaceTime.

Get more done on iPad.

Quickly insert objects, find settings, and get to your favorite tools with the customizable toolbar. And Stage Manager extends multitasking across the big screen when working with multiple apps at the same time. 1

Captivate your audience with dynamic backgrounds.

Make your presentation stand out by adding stunning color and visual interest to your slides. Create motion on a title or closing slide for a bold statement, and keep viewers engaged with subtle movement throughout the presentation. To get started, choose one of three new themes featuring dynamic backgrounds, or customize any of the 18 presets.

Add live video feeds in any slide.

Appear in a window, right on your slides, with a picture-in-picture display in remote presentations, how-to videos, and lectures. Add live video from the built-in camera on Mac, iPad, or iPhone — you can even remove or replace the background for a dramatic effect. Or when presenting on your Mac, include a live feed of your iPhone or iPad screen to show off apps.

Present with your team. Seamlessly.

Say goodbye to saying “Next slide, please.” For slideshows with multiple presenters, you can take turns controlling a single deck — from anywhere — on Mac, iPad, and iPhone.

Outline your presentation. Easier.

With outline mode for iPhone and iPad, you can look at your presentation in a whole new way. Quickly jot down your thoughts, restructure ideas, and move concepts from slide to slide. Then switch to slide view and start designing.

Showcase videos like never before.

Play videos and movies continuously across slides, without the need to start and stop, find where you left off, or edit them into clips. Change the position, size, or rotation, and the video will animate seamlessly. The audio can even fade between slides or adjust when there is dialogue or voiceover.

Turn handwriting into text. Magically.

With iPadOS and Apple Pencil, your handwriting will automatically transform to typed text, so you can get back to what you were doing without interrupting your flow. Jot down a text bullet or scribble a date, and see it quickly turn into text.

Make backgrounds disappear.

Now you can more easily remove backgrounds from supported images — and even live videos — or adjust them to your liking.

Present over video conference. Like a pro.

Keynote for Mac delivers a seamless experience over video conferences. Play a slideshow in its own window so you can access other apps while you present. You can view your presenter notes, current and upcoming slides, and slide navigation in a separate window as well.

Other Key Features

Accessibility descriptions

Add accessibility descriptions to images, image galleries, movies, and audio to help people using assistive technology.

Easily record, edit, and play audio directly on a slide.

Captions and titles that stick with objects

Easily add text to images, videos, and shapes. Your words will automatically stay with objects — if and when you move them.

Color, gradients, and images

Apply a color, gradient, or image to the background of any presentation, to your text, or to any shape.

Custom themes

Create themes to use as a model for new presentations, and access them on any device using iCloud.

Enable Dark Mode to give Keynote a dramatic dark look and emphasize your content.

Add a large, decorative letter to make the beginning of your story or paragraph stand out.

Export your presentation as a movie or an animated GIF to share online.

Gorgeous charts

From columns to donut charts, there are many ways to display your data. You can also create an audio representation of your chart using VoiceOver on iOS and iPadOS.

iCloud Drive folder sharing

Add a Keynote presentation to a shared iCloud Drive folder, and automatically start collaborating.

Image background removal

Quickly remove an image’s background to isolate its subject or make unwanted parts of an image transparent.

Image gallery

Add and view a collection of photos on one slide, and include a unique caption per photo.

Interactive presentations

Turn text, text boxes, images, shapes, lines, arrows, videos, and more into links. Then, during a presentation, tap to open web pages or email messages, to jump to other slides, or to exit the slideshow.

Math equations

Add elegance to your mathematical equations using LaTeX or MathML notation.

Offline collaboration

Edit shared presentations while offline, and your changes will automatically upload when your account’s online again.

Paragraph styles

Use paragraph styles to achieve a consistent look throughout your presentation, and to quickly make global changes to your text.

Precise object editing

Use more precise editing controls to fine‑tune the look and placement of your objects.

Reading Mode

Scroll through your presentation, zoom in and out, and interact with it — without accidentally changing anything.

Shapes library

There are over 700 Apple-designed shapes to choose from. You can change the color and size, add text, and even create and save your own shapes.

Trackpad and mouse support on iPad

Use Keynote with Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, or Magic Trackpad for a new way to work with your presentations.

Embed a video from YouTube or Vimeo, then play it right in your presentations, without the need to download or open the video in a media player. 2

See everything that’s new in Keynote

• What’s new in Keynote for iPhone and iPad
• What’s new in Keynote for Mac
• Keynote for iCloud release notes

Additional Resources

• Get Keynote support
• Learn about Microsoft Office compatibility
• Learn about collaboration for Pages, Numbers, and Keynote
• Use Keynote in a video conference app

Keynote User Guides

• Keynote User Guide for Mac
• Keynote User Guide for iPad
• Keynote User Guide for iPhone
• Keynote User Guide for Web

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Best presentation software of 2023

By Steven T. Wright

Posted on Jun 22, 2022 3:22 PM EDT

12 minute read

Best overall

Microsoft PowerPoint

Best for professionals.

Best for Zoom

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›

Teemu Paananen/Unsplash

Whether you’re a student or a working professional, everybody has to make presentations from time to time and that usually involves presentation software. But when you’re frantically Googling around to refresh your PowerPoint knowledge, it’s only natural to wonder what is really the best presentation software out there. Yes, everybody knows that Microsoft’s the biggest player in the slideshow game but there are actually a lot of alternatives to explore. If you expand your horizons, you may find another app that makes more sense for you. Expand your office app horizons and see how the best presentation software can make your job a little easier.

Best overall: Microsoft PowerPoint

Best for professionals: canva, best for zoom: prezi.

• Best for Mac: Apple Keynote  

Best for students: Beautiful.ai

Best budget: google slides, how we chose the best presentation software.

As a journalist with over a decade of experience, I know how to present information to all sorts of audiences effectively and efficiently. Over the years, I’ve worked with a variety of clients to craft copy for presentations, as well as the slideshows themselves. I’ve used the best software in the business, as well as quite a lot of the bad stuff, so I know what will work for you and your needs. 

In making this list, I relied on my own firsthand experience with presentation software, as well as consulting professional tutorials and critical reviews. I also personally created a number of sample slideshows using prebuilt templates and custom layouts of my own in order to put the programs through their paces. I used both the stalwart software suites that everyone knows, as well as a number of lesser-known alternatives that have emerged over the past few years. If an impressive new program hits the block, we will update this list accordingly once we get some hands-on time with it.

Things to consider when buying presentation software

There has been an explosion of presentation software over the past few years, and each of the program’s developers has their own pitch to lure people away from PowerPoint. The most important things to consider when choosing presentation software will vary from person to person. A small business owner putting together a professional presentation with original branding may need different tools to make an appealing pitch, versus a student building a last-minute slideshow for a group project to present the results of their research in Econ class.

There are a wide variety of bells and whistles that presentation building programs boast as their killer features, including brand kit integration, easy social media sharing options, offline access, seamless collaboration, AI suggestions, and analytics. These extra features will seem very helpful to enterprise customers, but the average person should realistically prioritize more traditional factors like ease-of-use, customizability, and cost. There are, however, a few elements that every single person who uses presentation software needs, so let’s walk through the fundamentals.

Ease of use

No one wants to spend hours learning how to make a basic slideshow. While all of these programs take time to master, some of them are easier to pick up quickly than others. An intuitive piece of software grabs your attention and allows you to perform basic actions like adding slides and assets without time-consuming tutorials. The more professional-grade programs out there might take a little more time to master, but they’re rarely difficult to use.

Prebuilt templates

The number one thing that you want from a presentation software is a good-looking final product, and templates help you achieve that goal quickly and easily. All of the competitive presentation software suites out there have a library of pre-built templates that let you plug in information quickly. Quality and quantity separate the good programs from the great ones, though. Some apps have more templates than others, and some templates look better than others. On top of that, some programs lock their best templates behind a premium subscription, which leaves you relying on the same basic structures over and over. 

The truly professional-grade software also includes a selection of prebuilt art assets to help you bring a personal touch to the presentation. If a program doesn’t have an impressive set of templates, it isn’t worth using.

Customizability

While most people want to start building their presentations with a template, you need to change some things around if you want to keep things looking fresh. Professionals, in particular, will probably want to customize every aspect of their slideshows, from the color of the background to the exact pixel position of images. This obviously increases the amount of time it takes to craft a presentation, so it’s important that the systems for making those tweaks are intuitive and easy to use. Not every user is going to need the level of customizability, but it’s definitely something worth considering.

Who’s it for?

Every presenter needs to build a slideshow for their audience. They should probably ask that question when they pick which presentation software to use as well, as it can help determine what software they should use. Students might need the expansive collaboration tools of certain platforms but might not need the pinpoint design controls in others. While the presentation software listed below can all make a great slideshow with enough time and effort, your own use case and the intended audience will have a big impact on your choice.

Cost & affordability

Very few presentation builders have a simple, one-time price tag. Most operate on a subscription model, where you can buy a month’s use for a certain amount, or save money by buying a year at a time. A few are free, though many appear to only offer a free trial or stripped-down version that will allow you to put together something basic before quite literally buying in.

If you’re looking to build just one or two presentations a year, it’s probably best to stick to one of the free options. However, if you have to build slideshows on a regular basis, it’s probably worth sinking your money into a subscription to the program you really like.

Generally speaking, as you might expect, the more impressive and in-depth software costs more than the more traditional fare. However, because many of the most popular programs in the space (such as Microsoft PowerPoint) come as part of a suite, you will need to weigh the benefits of not only the presentation software but also the other programs that come along with it. If you’re a die-hard Microsoft Word user, for example, you’re already paying for the Microsoft Office suite, but the calculus gets more complicated if you prefer Google Docs.

The best presentation software: Reviews & Recommendations

By now, you probably have a good idea of what you should be looking for in presentation software, so now we’ll get into the interesting part. As mentioned above, we’ve broken down our picks based on a few common use cases, as well as the criteria we mentioned above. Regardless of which one you decide on, all of these programs are powerful tools that can produce a slick slideshow with a little time and effort, and you’d be well served by any of them.

Why it made the cut: Whether you’re a broke student or a busy professional, Microsoft PowerPoint can do whatever you need. It’s also reasonably priced.

• Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web
• Suite or standalone: Microsoft Office 365 Suite
• Special features: Designer, MS Office integration
• Free version: Yes
• Well-known interface imitated by competitors
• Powerful and accessible
• Good templates
• Part of a popular software suite
• Slight learning curve

Even after testing more than a dozen programs, Microsoft PowerPoint remains the go-to presentation software for most people. Setting the industry standard, it offers great templates, an accessible interface, an impressive library of prebuilt art assets, and plenty of tools for building a slick slideshow. It also supports real-time collaboration, offline editing, and third-party content embedding. At $70 a year, PowerPoint is significantly cheaper than most of its competitors and it’s part of Microsoft Office, a software suite that most companies pay for and workers can’t live without. 

Of course, it isn’t perfect. PowerPoint makes it very easy to make a basic presentation, but it will likely take you longer to make something that looks polished and professional in PowerPoint than with design-forward programs like Canva or Prezi. Even top-flight presentations are achievable, though, in a reasonable timeframe. PowerPoint might not be the best presentation program for every situation, but it’s certainly the best for the average person.

Why it made the cut: Canva creates beautiful, professional-grade presentations faster than its rivals, and it’s easier to use than most.

• Platforms: Web, Windows, iOS, Android
• Suite or standalone: Standalone
• Special features: Amazing templates, very customizable
• Excellent free version
• Extremely easy to use
• Makes beautiful presentations fast
• Eye-catching templates
• Harder-to-use advanced features
• Limited offline use

If you need to make a striking business presentation in an hour, Canva is absolutely the software for you. Designed from the ground up for business professionals who don’t want to have to use another program (i.e., Photoshop or GIMP) to create visually compelling content, Canva delivers on this promise in spades. 

Canva’s gorgeous templates are the best of any of the programs we tested, and its free version is far more robust than you’d expect for a costless trial. Unlike many of these other programs, it creates virtually any marketing material you can imagine, including videos, logos, social media posts, and even resumes. It also includes splashy features that most people won’t use, like brand kit support and easy sharing to social media.

Canva’s simplicity has drawbacks, too, though. It can be a bit difficult to get it to make complicated charts, tables, or diagrams, and it lacks the familiar (but clunky) customizability of PowerPoint. However, if you’re looking to make the most beautiful presentation you can, Canva is a great choice for your business.

Why it made the cut: Prezi is a strong program that structures its basic features in a completely different manner than its competitors. It also has very good Zoom integration.

• Platforms: Web
• Special features: Zoom integration, unique structure
• Free version: No (Two-week free trial)
• More creative structure than competitors
• Intuitive interface
• Expansive feature set
• Doesn’t work for everyone
• Must pay more for advanced features

If you’re really tired of the straight-line structure mandated by other presentation software, Prezi gives you a little more freedom to build things your way. Prezi uses a topic-oriented form that allows you to easily string your ideas in an order that makes sense to you. The basic idea behind Prezi is that you create bubbles of individual content, and then you thread a path through those ideas to create a presentation with a physical form that’s more enticing and conversational than just a linear succession of slides.

While this unique approach makes Prezi a worthy alternative on its own, the app also boasts plenty of specialized features you’d want in a premium program, including a large asset library, social media integration, and collaboration support. 

Though any presentation software can work with Zoom via the screen-share function, Prezi features a very useful video call-focused mode, Prezi Video, which allows you to build a presentation as an overlay that appears in your Zoom window so people can see you and your slides.

Prezi’s freeform structure isn’t going to work for everyone, but if Powerpoint feels stifling, it might open new doors for you.

Best for Mac: Keynote

Why it made the cut: Apple’s answer to PowerPoint might not be as popular as its competitor, but it’s still pretty powerful in its own right.

• Platforms: macOS, iOS, Web
• Suite or Standalone: Apple Software Suite
• Special features: iCloud support, multiple formats
• Free version: Yes (with an Apple account)
• Familiar to most Mac users
• Better asset library than most
• No-frills feature set
• Lacks unique selling points

If you’re a Mac user , you’ve probably at least considered using Keynote to put a presentation together. While all of the other programs on this list work on a Mac as web apps, Keynote is the only app made specifically for the platform.

Like PowerPoint, Keynote is a wide-reaching program designed to help anyone make a sharp-looking presentation, from students to professionals. It has a more robust feature set than other PowerPoint competitors–including better default templates, a bigger asset library, and desktop support. It doesn’t quite have the versatility of enterprise-facing apps like Canva, but you can put together a great-looking slideshow for school or a recurring meeting.

On the other hand, it can be a little tricky to pick up: The interface isn’t quite as intuitive as Google Slides, which is also free. If you have access to both, you get a choice: Build a more striking presentation in Keynote, or put something together quickly in Slides.

Why it made the cut: Beautiful.ai’s AI-powered presentations allow you to make a sharp slideshow in no time flat, and its generous free trial gives time to try it out.

• Special features: AI integration
• Clean interface
• Modern features
• Simple and effective
• Expensive for what it is
• Limited assets and templates

Looking to build a clean, modern presentation in as little time as possible? Beautiful.ai uses AI to help you build a visually stunning presentation in no time flat. While it’s less of a household name than our other picks, it’s the choice of many tech companies for its uncluttered interface, eye-catching templates, and overall no-fuss approach. 

Compared to PowerPoint or Canva, Beautiful.ai does not have a rich feature set or an infinite variety of template options. What the content library lacks in volume, it makes up for in style, though. Its appealing, elegant content elements lend themselves to clean, modern presentations. More importantly, the program’s AI assistant knows how to use those assets. It automatically tailors your slideshow’s design to fit the information you want to present, so you’ll wind up with something thoughtfully prepared before you know it.

Why it made the cut: Google Slides is not only an excellent presentation program—it’s also one of the only ones actually free with no strings attached.

• Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
• Suite or standalone: Google Workspace
• Special features: Easy collaboration, Google integration
• Free for anyone with a Google account
• Familiar interface
• Easy to share and collaborate
• Decent templates
• Somewhat basic in functionality
• Clunky for some users

When it comes to software, there’s “free to use,” and then there’s free. Most of the software on this list offers either a restricted free mode or a time-limited trial. Google Slides is actually free, fully free, for another with a Google account. And it holds its own, even compared to its premium competitors.

Google Slides feels like a simplified version of PowerPoint. It’s a little easier to learn the basics, but also offers fewer templates, screen transitions, and content. It also lacks a built-in asset library to fill dead space, though the program’s Google Drive integration makes it easy to add your own. Like most Google programs, it also supports add-ons that give it enhanced features, like the ability to solve equations within the slideshow.

If you’re looking to make an extremely sharp presentation, Google Slides will take a bit more effort than most. If you need to make a basic slideshow and you grew up on earlier versions of PowerPoint, you’ll feel right at home using Slides.

Based on our research, the three most popular programs are Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Keynote, roughly in that order. PowerPoint is far more popular than the other two, though. All three are good options, depending on what you’re looking for. All things being equal, though, we recommend PowerPoint.

Generally, most of the programs listed here cost between $7 and $15 a month for their premium packages. However, Google Slides and Keynote are free, so we recommend those for customers on a budget.

Canva and PowerPoint are both great programs that offer about equal value. It’s much easier to create a beautiful, eye-catching presentation in Canva, but PowerPoint’s advanced features give you more options. If you need to make slick-looking professional presentations on a frequent basis, we recommend Canva for its superior ease-of-use.

Adobe had its own competitor to PowerPoint, Adobe Presenter. The company recently ended support for Presenter on June 1, 2022.

Final thoughts on the best presentation software

While everyone wants to use the best program for the job, the truth is that all presentation builders have a lot in common with each other. If you’re familiar with one, it often makes sense to stay put. Despite all the similarities, it can take some time to learn a new system. If you’re constrained and frustrated, or are using presentation software for the first time, you should consider a wide range of options beyond PowerPoint.

Though alternatives like Beautiful.ai, Canva, or (especially) Prezi cost a bit more, they each have strong features that may work better for your purposes. That said, sometimes the most popular presentation software options are the best. If you don’t have specific expectations or need to clear a high bar for design, PowerPoint and free options like Google Slides should work well, and have the benefit of wide adoption in corporate workplaces.

Presentify - Screen Annotation 4+

Screen draw. highlight mouse‪.‬.

• 4.3 • 80 Ratings
• Offers In-App Purchases

Screenshots

Description.

The best screen annotation app recommended and used by Harvard and MIT professors. Featured by Apple three times. A macOS menu bar app that helps you give better presentations, online classes, or video tutorials by letting you annotate any screen, highlight your cursor, and more. You can annotate anything on the screen, be it images, videos, pdfs, code, you name it. Presentify is quite helpful for online teaching, recording video tutorials, giving a demo, working remotely, and the list goes on. FEATURES ======== ANNOTATION - You can draw on or annotate any screen you wish. Select `Annotate Screen` from the menu bar and start doodling. - A lot of drawing shapes to choose from. You can even write Text now. - Draw with random gradient colors instead of just plain colors. - Auto-erase your annotations. Perfect for emphasizing something specific or explaining your thoughts. Also, toggle its behavior by pressing the Control Key. - You can draw even when other applications are running in full-screen mode. Great for live presentations and during video calls when working remotely. - New Interactive Mode: This opens up Presentify in the background letting the user use other apps and allowing them to annotate by pressing and holding the Fn key. - Now users can interact with the underlying apps when annotating (in default mode) with Presentify. Just press and hold the Fn key to do so. You no longer have to toggle Presentify to advance your presentation slides, play/pause videos, etc. - Highlighter feature lets you highlight portions of text without obscuring it. - You get a Straight Line by pressing and holding the Shift Key while Freehand drawing. And, you can fill the Rectangles and Circles with a semi-transparent color by pressing and holding the Option Key. - Works on iPad connected to a Macbook via Sidecar, Astropad, or Duet. - Works with Keynote (even in Presentation mode). - Compatible with all video calling software like Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, etc. - Works with drawing tablets like XP-Pen, Wacom, etc. WHITEBOARD - Draw on a whiteboard (and not over other apps) if you wish. - You can even change the color of your whiteboard to whatever you feel like. ANNOTATE CONTROLS - A handy control panel to switch between different annotate tools and colors. - Move the control panel anywhere on the screen by dragging it. - Completely hide the control panel. UNDO/REDO SUPPORT - Do not have to worry about mistakes while annotating. KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS - You can start annotating the screen, highlighting your cursor, changing pencil colors and shapes, etc. from any app with simple keyboard shortcuts. - Customize the key shortcuts as you like. HIGHLIGHT YOUR MOUSE POINTER - With Presentify you never have to keep moving your cursor to grab the attention of your audience. - Change your cursor highlight color, opacity, size, and more. - You can even choose to highlight only when you move your cursor/mouse. UPCOMING FEATURES ================= ANNOTATION - Ability to cut and move annotations - Spotlight feature - Zoom MOUSE HIGHLIGHT - New mouse highlight designs and animations OTHERS - Change the slides of your presentation from your iPhone - And, many more PRESS ===== Featured by Apple multiple times. Also, on Hacker News, Reddit, Product Hunt, and various other blogs like ifun.de, igeeksblog.com, etc. with more than 230 upvotes in each. CONTACT ======= For any questions or concerns, you can head to presentify.compzets.com and see the faq page or click on the Support link.

Version 4.2.0

ANNOTATE - Two new favorite color options. This makes the total number of favorite colors to five. - You can now choose between two keys for Interactive mode. Choose Fn if you're a fan of press & hold, or Caps Lock if you prefer to press it just once. OTHERS - Minor bug fixed where the key shortcut wasn't getting displayed for Cursor Highlight in the dropdown menu. - Sharp new menubar icon.

Ratings and Reviews

Really close to perfect, just needs more color buttons and keystroke eraser.

This app is the closest answer I've gotten to my perfect annotator prayers. It's clear that the developer has thought this app through carefully and worked hard on it. It's so incredibly functional, fast, and easily accesible. The hotkeys, in particular, are very well thought out and puts other apps to shame. Please, please consider adding the below 2 items to get this app to top-tier level. I'll gladly rate up to 5 stars. 1. Add more color buttons to the tool bar. I use 4 colors on a daily basis and this is sorely needed. 5 would be even better. If toolbar size is a concern, perhaps make it an option to display 3, 4, or 5 color selections at a time. 2. Keystroke eraser with eraser size option (like the [ ] function) is needed so that can erase selected items only.

Pretty good - couple recommendations

Overall, decent app, and am happy I purchased it. With that being said, here's a couple recommendations for the developer to make this a 5-star application: 1. Add the ability to erase under cursor (as opposed to only being able to clear the entire screen or edit undo currently). There are manu scenarios where I want to erase something written down several minutes ago as part of problem solving. 2. When using "Interactive Mode", allow us to configure in the preferences whether we want to "hold" the button down as it is today, or instead use said button as a "toggle" to flip between so that we don't need to hold down the button for the duration. 3. Add thin, medium, thick (customizable) to the toolbar to allow for quick switching between thicknesses (I frequently need to switch between the thinnest for regular writing, and a super fat thickness when using the highlighter mode).

Developer Response ,

Thanks for such a detailed review. I will definitely work on them. However, just fyi, you can change thickness easily by pressing [ and ] keys. Have you tried it? Best, Ram

Great! Needs a keystroke eraser and one more thing to be 5 Star

Great app - I use it everyday as a virtual classroom teacher. It's minimal design isn't distracting from what I'm teaching and demonstrating. For me though, it needs 2 things. 1. A keystroke eraser - Right now its either erase everything or use the control z undo. If I need to erase something from the beginning of the writing, I have to undo every stroke or just erase it all. 2. A pointer/click/mouse ability - I cannot interact with any button while I'm writing. I would love to be able to switch back to my pointer mouse without turning off presentify and everything erasing everything.

Thanks for your insightful review. The two features you have requested are currently being developed. Will be live soon. I can update this comment once I release them. Stay tuned and thanks again for using and reviewing Presentify. Cheers, Ram

App Privacy

The developer, Ram Patra , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Not Collected

The developer does not collect any data from this app.

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

English, German, Russian

• High Five $8.99
• Salute $17.99
• Cheers $3.99
• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

Featured In

More by this developer.

Cluedo Notes

13 Best Video Presentation Software in 2024

By Eva Williams 10 days ago, Software reviews

With proper video marketing strategy and the best video presentation software, your brand and business will be developing. There is a strong demand for bringing personalized content to education and business training. The best choice for creating screencasts and authoring is animated educational videos and informative webinars.

Top 13 Video Presentation Software

• Powtoon - Free animated presentation software
• Prezi - Free non-linear live video presentation software
• Microsoft PowerPoint - Slideshow video presentation software for Windows
• Biteable - Universal presentation maker
• Google Slides - Free presentation software for all Google account holders
• Keynote - Free software for Mac and iOS
• Animaker - The best video presentation software
• TechSmith Camtasia - Supports screen recording
• Pitch - Beautiful presentation templates
• iSpring Suite - For video courses development
• Vyond Studio - For DIY animated video presentation with characters
• Wideo - The easiest online tool for creating video presentations
• Animoto - Simple video presentation maker from photos

Presentation video software helps you create a presentation that effectively tells your story without your participation. Video presentations can also be formatted as video ads in email newsletters, video graphics in social networks, video stories and video banners: you only need to change the size.

Video presentations provide a visual and compelling way to deliver content for commercial, educational and technological purposes. The best way to engage your audience is with eye-catching visuals and smooth animations that can unleash your creativity and produce a vivid presentation.

1. Powtoon – Our Choice

• Free and intuitive with Drag’n’drop
• Ready-made templates
• Easy content sharing
• Customizable characters, animations
• Media without license fees
• Limited free version

Verdict: This cloud-based online tool creates animated slides with audio, comments and embedded videos. Slides are used to control and drag elements from the image library (dynamic transitions, shapes, backgrounds, speech bubbles). The familiar Powtoon interface has an editor with content settings in the template and a creator with many other options.

This video presentation software integrates with Google Disc and Fiverr to hire a professional composer. It is suitable for voice-over or recording music directly in the software. There are thousands of animated characters and graphics, icons, shapes and video clips.

You can use charts as data visualization tools and import PowerPoint presentations. Videos can be embedded and uploaded in MP4, PPT or PDF formats, published in social networks or shared.

• Animated or live presentations
• Easy and smooth to use
• Collaborative video editing
• Unique dynamic formats
• Talking head video
• No chat for co-authors
• Makes it difficult to visualize structured data

Verdict: Prezi suggested an alternative to the slide show format for correcting a typical corporate presentation. This live video presentation software gives you one giant canvas in a mind map style.

If you need to jump around a lot of content, Prezi lets the speaker easily proceed to any part of the presentation by moving around the canvas and zooming in with the virtual camera. The difference is in adding animated paths from one part of the canvas to another.

Some viewers may find the flight animation style unusual. You can use it to create interactive presentations, talking head videos and more. You can add blocks of text and images, or create miniature slides, record your speech and add graphics. Prezi is an excellent alternative to traditional slide decks.

3. Microsoft PowerPoint

• User-friendly interface, QuickStarter
• Collaboration, cloud storage
• Detailed analytics
• Corporate identity with logo and template
• No restrictions on the duration
• Doesn’t correspond to the formats compatible with LMS
• No sharing via social networks or email

Verdict: It is a robust multi-functional platform for digital slide show presentations with various design themes, collaborative real-time editing, as well as an array of creative transition tools, animated titles and glossy effects. Use any of the classic templates or download them from specialized sites. You can manage access rights and permissions, track statistics via filtering by slides, views or tasks.

In this free presentation software you can save the presentation as an mp4 or .mov video. The output is played in a browser that supports HTML5. There are many visual elements: shapes, images, text animations, tables, charts, graphs and 3D models.

You can import data from Excel or enter it. Import audio files or voice-over recordings directly into the platform. The smart design section offers visual element templates: flowcharts, loops and other types of layouts.

4. Biteable

• Professional video templates
• Easy-to-use helpful guide
• Ready-made templates, media library
• Unlimited video duration
• Integration with social networks
• Restrictions in the free version
• No undo, redo, or data visualization tools

Verdict: Biteable refers to its cloud-based software as the easiest creator of marketing video presentations and animated infographics from your materials or hundreds of pre-designed templates.

The library of images and videos offers thousands of ready-to-use photos and clips from Unsplash. Styles range from animated graphics to live performances, covering ads, presentations, invitations, logo animation and slide shows.

This online video maker is divided into text, video and music tracks. A simple drag-and-drop timeline is easy to set up. It is possible to add a watermark, upload fonts and brand colors. Biteable offers a standard sound, but you can upload your own. Videos can be published on the Internet or uploaded in .mp4 format to social networks.

5. Google Slides

• Free in Google Docs
• Import of new templates
• Reliable collaboration features
• Ability to send questions to the audience, integrated chat
• User-friendly
• Without importing audio, exporting to video
• Limited templates, transitions and effects

Verdict: Being a part of the Google G Suite cloud office package, it helps you edit and collaborate on presentations. This video presentation software supports embedding videos, creating charts and adding animation to slides. You can import hundreds of additional templates or create your own ones. Several people can work on a slideshow at the same time. Besides, there is an integrated group chat.

One of the strengths of Google Slides is that you don’t need to install, pay or learn much. With a Google account, you can create a slideshow, collaborate with others on it, present it quickly and easily. Also, Slides offers several bonuses, such as the ability to generate a unique URL where the audience can send questions to the speaker in real time.

• Appealing, customizable templates
• Intuitive UI
• Tight integration with macOS
• No restrictions on duration
• Cancellation and refund options
• MP4 isn’t supported for export
• No library or integration with social networks

Verdict: This video presentation app comes free for all Apple devices. Windows users can get Keynote with an Apple iCloud account. Great templates and close integration with Apple apps cover a simple, no-frills interface. There are several templates available, and you can import any template from third-party sites, such as Envato.

Visual elements in Keynote are icons, graphs and charts in three different styles: flat, three-dimensional and interactive. All available visual effects can be animated. Images, audio and video can be downloaded from your device. There are no audio files available within the app, but you can record a voiceover using a microphone. You can upload video presentations in .mp4 or animated GIF format.

7. Animaker

• No time limit
• Two versions of the interface
• Many templates, tools and resources
• Extensive character animation options
• Animated or live video
• No data visualization, branding, undo and redo tools
• Not the easiest video editing process

Verdict: Animaker provides a platform for corporate teams to create professional video presentations using the drag-and-drop interface. It has a full and lightweight version of the interface with switching: all the tools for creating scenes, parameters for animated characters, and frame editing. With 8 visual tools, multi-user collaboration features and the largest animated library, it is the best video presentation maker for businesses.

Animaker offers millions of image templates and animated video clips, audio files, shapes, icons, text layouts, customizable characters and scene effects in animation or live-action format. The video can contain music or voiceover. You can also upload audio files.

With one of the best YouTube intro makers , video presentations can be published on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, uploaded to certain social networks, such as Slack and Flickr, with optimization for each channel.

8. TechSmith Camtasia

• No duration limit
• Multiple video editing options
• Integration with PowerPoint, social networks
• Support for major media formats
• Interactive video, built-in hyperlinks
• No web option, heavyweight
• No digital camera support

Verdict: If you need to record your actions on a monitor, consider Camtasia as the best video presentation software. The function of capturing and displaying screen activity is powerful and convenient, with high-quality recording. For presentations, there is a special add-in panel that lets you control the recording process: open the file in PowerPoint, launch the presentation and start recording. Then you can add graphics and music, titles, animations, transitions, edit audio and video.

Camtasia offers an expandable multi-track timeline that, thanks to the drag-and-drop approach, can include screen content, recordings of streaming webcams , multiple audio tracks, effects, callouts, etc.

When recording is finished, Camtasia will mark the output so that you can edit the system sound by removing background noise and adjusting the levels; video, cursor and microphone separately. The software provides open and hidden subtitles. Also, you can export captions for translation.

• Feature-rich
• Web, desktop, and mobile versions
• Impeccable security
• Limited storage
• Some features are unavailable in a free version

Verdict: Using Pitch , it is possible to make bite-size clips and add them to presentations to attract more viewers. The best part is that you can create slides on any device and at a convenient tempo.

There is a library replete with stylish presentation templates that you can use to embed your videos. Just choose a suitable template and start customizing it. It is great that you can alter pre-designed elements and even set the playback speed.

Another advantage of Pitch is that it comes with multiple integrations, even if you use a free plan. Besides, all processes are straightforward, so even beginners will understand how to make a catchy presentation. You can insert tables by providing links to Google Sheets, or metrics by linking Google Analytics. Moreover, it is even possible to add video content from YouTube and Vimeo, as well as images from Unsplash and Giphy.

10. iSpring Suite

• Converts PowerPoint to Flash/HTML5
• Integration, support for PowerPoint effects
• Detailed reporting on grades and courses
• Easy publication in social networks
• MS PowerPoint is required for recording
• No advanced video editing, screen recording features

Verdict: If you need to improve your slides with a speaker, iSpring Suite is an effective way to convert PowerPoint slides into an interactive video presentation. It expands the possibilities of video communication and interaction with the audience.

The integrated editor lets you add videos from the Internet or a live presentation using webcams for YouTube , record voiceover or import audio files, and sync it with slides and effects.

In this presentation video software, you can add tests, Flash videos, web pages with navigation, files, documents and links to your slides. The output file is converted to a browser-friendly Flash, HTML5, MP4 or LMS-compatible format.

11. Vyond Studio (GoAnimate)

• Excellent combination of video and infographics
• Customizable charts, font import
• Online guide, integrated learning
• Lip auto-sync, camera movement
• Undo and redo, preview
• Limitations of the free version
• Requires some skills

Verdict: Vyond offers cloud-based features for creating custom animated videos using drag-and-drop tools. The main visual effects are characters, props, backgrounds and music. Characters are customizable, including the face angle and animated actions. The software includes libraries with numerous backgrounds, characters, interactions, props, tracks, sound and video effects.

When you select a template, Vyond opens the start scene with an expandable timeline editor that lists scenes, frames and objects in the order of animated settings. There are hundreds of props and scenarios that can be infinitely combined with characters and backgrounds. If you want to make a flipbook in addition to a presentation, have a look at the tool by Flipsnack .

• Preview of a single scene or the entire video
• Unlimited length video in the premium version
• Horizontal, square, vertical orientation
• Detailed control of animations and transitions
• Ability to embed
• Restrictions in the free trial
• No data visualization, branding

Verdict: Wideo is a simple cloud-based video presentation software that lets you activate social media campaigns using professional videos. The interface of the video editor appears neat and has enough space to work from a template or from scratch. At the bottom, there is the timeline editor, which controls one scene at a time, and there are undo and redo controls.

You have a choice of about a hundred video presentation template options. If that isn’t enough for you, head to the TemplatesWise resource and download more cool templates there. You can still add slides to the selected template. Besides, Wideo offers visual effects and elements – backgrounds, images, videos, text effects, and scenes with animated text.

13. Animoto

• A quick way to make a video from photos
• Simple drag and drop interface
• Access to over a million stock assets
• Universal professional templates
• You can’t control the properties of a video
• You can’t edit one section of a video separately

Verdict: Making a short family video will require a few photos and minutes, as well as your creativity. You don’t need to know anything about video editing, because Animoto will do everything for you. Just mix the photos, add a soundtrack and click the “Create video” button. If you aren’t satisfied with the results, the software offers other mixing options.

This online slideshow maker meets the needs of the business. You can add video frames and text frames to your photos, making your project more attractive, and quickly apply styles.

In addition, you can create video clips for marketing purposes with minimal effort and cost. This lets any video creator work productively in social networks.

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7 Best Video Presentation Maker for Mac: Make Amazing Video Presentation on Mac Devices

A quality video presentation is worth your time, since it will maximize the impact of your ideas, and brings about an ideal result that answers your needs well. Of course, even if you have realized the importance of video presentation, there’s still the issue of actually creating an amazing video presentation. In order to do that, you need a video presentation maker. Here, we have listed the 7 best video presentation makers for Mac .

> Part 1: 7 Best Video Presentation Maker for Mac > Part 2: Fantastic Presentation Made by Focusky

Part 1: 7 Best Video Presentation Maker for Mac

1. focusky (strongly recommended).

Non-liner presentation software is growing more and more popular. One of software leading this industry is Focusky. It gives you the ability to pan and zoom from one path point to the next putting the impression of moving to a new slide to an end. Compared to linear presentation, Focusky presentation makes it easier for the audience to understand the relationship of your points, by displaying visual connections between ideas. Furthermore, you can publish this presentation as a video to create a dynamic video presentation that is available on many video websites.

Start Creating Animated Presentation with Focusky

2. PhotoPeach

VideoScribe is designed for you to easily create an amazing video presentation on various devices including Mac. Get your creativity flow on a blank canvas that allows you to add texts and images. A huge library of free images and soundtracks is available to save you a lot of trouble. Set the animated way of these elements to turn them into an engaging video.

Moovly claims to empower everyone to create fabulous video presentations by making the creation process intuitive. The simple-to-use interface enables you to avoid trouble shuffling through technical support documents. It is entirely cloud-based so that you can get started to create the presentation on any working browser of any device like Mac, with an active internet connection.

Like Moovly, Animoto provides cloud–based video creation service. You can make an amazing video presentation on Mac from photos, video clips and music. With the use of collage blocks, a selection of images can be displayed at once. Try to tell a better story by recording short voice-over segments, and inserting them into the presentation.

5. Animaker

With this video presentation maker, you can use a pre-made template to simplify the creation. You also have the option to combine the excitement of cartoon characters and visual awesomeness of typography, giving the presentation a cool style. A lot of infographics help you to tell amazing data stories to impress any kind of audience.

6. iSkysoft

As a professional video presentation maker for both Windows and Mac users, iSkysoft allows you to make fantastic photo video slideshows out of your videos and photos. It is very easy for you to share your work online via Youtube, Facebook and Twitter. You can also burn the slideshow straight to a DVD for viewing on television.

Promo is a social video creation platform for businessmen to create instant promotional videos, by using premium videos with licensed music and attention-grabbing copy. You have easy access to millions of premium video clips and hand-picked music. Then add your logo and text to get a professional video in minutes.

Part 2:  Fantastic Presentation Made by Focusky

Video tutorial, get started, create a project, add multi media, publish and share, learn focusky in minutes, related article.

What is the Best Alternative Presentation Software to PowerPoint and Prezi

6 Best Interactive Presentation Software for Mac Presenters

6 online animated presentation creator - distribute your content every where

9 Best Online Presentation Maker Software to Create Amazing Online Slideshows

Try Focusky free and enjoy a brand new experience of presentation

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6 Best Slideshow Makers for Mac in 2024 (Free & Paid)

Searching for the best slideshow maker for Mac? If yes, then you have come to the right platform. We have listed down the top 6 slideshow apps that you can use on your Mac. Read on the entire write-up for complete details! 

Who doesn’t love sharing/uploading pictures of special occasions with their family and friends? Undoubtedly, you also love to do the same. Didn’t you? But, do you know that you can also make a slideshow of those pictures, it adds extra spark and excitement to your photos or videos.

A slideshow is something that also helps you make an attention-grabbing, or eye-catching presentation for your work purposes. Something that will get your boss, clients, or colleagues excited in your meeting. However, it can take a lot of time to make a good slideshow if the application you use does not offer advanced features like drag & drop functionality, numerous formatting options, and seamless transitions.

So, we decided to help you out in finding the best app for the slideshow. We have thoroughly researched and then, we have prepared this guide discussing the 6 best slideshow makers for Mac in 2024.

A List of 6 Best Slideshow Makers for Mac in 2024

Following are the few most dedicated applications that you can use to create an engaging slideshow on Mac. Without further ado, let’s read about the best slideshow makers for Mac in 2024.

1. Movavi Slideshow Maker

Movavi Slideshow Maker is a globally recognized software for both professionals and beginners. It offers various visual features such as transitions, stickers, filters, and more. This slideshow maker can be used on Mac as well as Windows.

It has an Easy Mode which enables users to create a professional-looking slideshow in a few minutes, without any hassles. All you need to do is, just upload the important media files (like videos/images, etc.,) and then choose slide transitions. You can also add music to your slideshow, and doing so is very straightforward too.

To make everything simpler for their users, Movavi also provides tutorials, so you can use them if in case any step is not 100% clear to you. It supports more than 14 different languages including English, Italian and more.

Download Now

Also Read: Best Video Repair Software for Mac

Keynote is another best slideshow maker for Mac that you can use. It is especially useful for people who own the complete ecosystem of Apple products like iPhones, Macbooks, and iPads. Keynote is powerful, versatile, and free slideshow software for Mac.

The app’s current version allows Mac users to collaborate with people regarding presentations, and tweak slides from their iPhones with the mobile application of Keynote. Additionally, let users transform handwriting into text on their device. If you are an Apple fan, then Keynote is an easy and effective way to create slideshows, and present video, visual, and text information in a professional as well as informal manner. It offers 30+ templated themes and the potential for creating customized templates for further use. In sum, Keynote is worth trying software.

Next on this list of best slideshow apps for Mac is Prezi- best for business. Presentation software that uses zoom, motion, and spatial relationships to bring your ideas to life and make a great presenter. The software is fully dedicated to helping Mac users meet better and communicate more effectively. It has lots of customization options that help amateurs to build professional-like presentations. It provides dynamic transitions and involves zooming in & out of the overall presentation canvas. You can use Prezi if you want to make presentations in a completely new way.

Also Read: Best Image Viewer for Mac

iMovie is a free slideshow maker and video editor for Mac. It comes built-in on Mac systems, iPads, and iPhones. With this application, you can begin video editing on one device and then complete it on another device with the help of Apple integration. Apart from that, you can easily & quickly import pictures and videos from your Photos application. Not only that, you can even use videos from FaceTime.

This tool has a friendly interface and lots of effects for video editing. You can easily add music either from your iTunes account or choose from the default library. In addition to this, you can also add several types of sound effects, voice-overs, titles, and transitions. To be more specific, iMovie is a profoundly excellent tool for video editing , but as a slideshow maker, it can let you down as it doesn’t have dedicated slideshow tools or templates.

Kizoa is a completely free slideshow maker for Mac. Using this tool, you can adjust your slides to any screen with up to seven distinct aspect ratios. This means you will have the correct size slideshow for computers, TVs, mobile devices, and tablets. Furthermore, there is also a cropping tool that helps you fit the photo on the screen without cutting out crucial parts.

To get started with this free slideshow maker, you simply need to select a template and add your pictures and videos. You can also add text, effects, and GIFs to your slideshow. Kizoa also lets you share your video slideshow online on numerous social media platforms like YouTube, Twitter, and more.

6. PhotoStage

The next best slideshow maker for Mac is PhotoStage. You can change the color scheme of the collage by choosing different colors from the ones that are already pre-set. The colors are also adjustable, allowing you to choose whether or not to use bright, vibrant colors, or neutral tones. Your slideshow can be displayed on your desktop, TV, iPod, or iPhone for the full effect.

PhotoStage enables you to drag and drop your photos on the stage, create text frames around each photo, and then add special effects and transitions to the picture. This slideshow maker is also great for editing and organizing your pictures before you start working on them in Photoshop.

Also Read: Best Video Compressors for Mac to Compress Video Size

Final Words on Best Slideshow Maker for Mac in 2024

In this write-up, we have explained the top 6 best slideshow makers for Mac. You can choose either of the following based on your requirements.

That’s all! We hope this informative guide helps you in the best way possible. If there is anything you want to share with us, then please drop us a comment in the section below.

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Best free presentation software of 2024

Find an alternative to PowerPoint

Best overall

Best for speed, best for functionality, best for collaboration, best user interface.

• How we test

The best free presentation software makes it simple and easy to create presentations as an alternative to subscribing to Microsoft PowerPoint.

1. Best overall 2. Best for speed 3. Best for functionality 4. Best for collaboration 5. Best user interface 6. FAQs 7. How we test

While PowerPoint is the market leader when it comes to presentation software, some people may be unwilling to subscribe to a Microsoft 365 subscription, especially if they don't expect to need to use it very often.

However, there are plenty of great alternatives to PowerPoint available for free that you can use. While these won't have the same advanced features as PowerPoint, they still offer a very competent platform to design most any presentation that you need.

To help you choose, we've listed below the best free presentation software currently available.

Add images to your presentations using the best free photo editor .

Google Workspace : Collaboration + productivity apps There are many different presentation software packages but Google Workspace formerly known as G Suite remains the original cloud office software and one of the best business office suites, offering a huge range of features and functionality that rivals can't match, especially when it comes to presentation software. Try it free for 14 days .

The best free 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.

Our expert review:

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid.

Prezi turns the traditional approach to presentations on its head. Instead of creating slide after slide, this presentation software gives you a single giant canvas. You can add blocks of text or images, or even create miniature slides. During your presentation, you can seamlessly fly around the canvas and zoom in to look at individual chunks of content.

For how complex Prezi seems, it’s impressively simple to use the platform. The only major divergence from Microsoft PowerPoint is that you need to add animated paths from one part of the canvas to another. The tools for this are fairly straightforward, especially if you’ve ever used an animation or video editing software.

Of course, this type of presentation structure isn’t always ideal. Prezi makes it hard to visualize structured data like financials, which can make it difficult to use in business applications. Some viewers also might not appreciate the fly-around animation style that’s inherent to the presentation software.

Read our full Prezi review .

• ^ Back to the top

Canva is perfect for making speedy presentations right in your web browser. This software offers a handful of free layouts to help you get your slideshow started, and it’s easy to customize the templates to fit your needs. There isn’t a huge variety of content elements to add to your presentation, but Canva makes up for this with a searchable library of more than 1 million images you can use.

Your Canva presentations live online, which makes it extremely easy to collaborate. You can invite colleagues to edit your slideshow (although simultaneous editing is not supported) or seamlessly share your finished presentation. However, beware that Canva can’t import presentations from Microsoft Powerpoint or export finished work to a Powerpoint-editable format.

Read our full Canva review .

3. LibreOffice

LibreOffice is a free alternative to Microsoft Office, and it includes a Powerpoint equivalent called Impress with nearly all of the same functionality. The only big difference you’ll find between the two slideshow creation tools is the LibreOffice lacks some modern features like built-in collaboration and integration with Microsoft OneDrive.

However, Impress does have a few advantages of its own. The software can import files from Keynote, the default presentation software on Mac computers. Plus, there are hundreds of free templates that you can download for free. Even better, there’s no limit on what fonts you can use with Impress, so it’s easy to change the look of your presentation from what Powerpoint typically allows.

On the whole, LibreOffice Impress is about as close as it gets to simply replicating Microsoft Powerpoint for free.

Read our full LibreOffice review .

4. Google Slides

Google Slides is part of Google Workspace (formerly G Suite), and it does a nice job of matching a number of PowerPoint’s capabilities. This free presentation software supports embedding videos, creating diagrams, and adding animations to your slides. While the selection of templates is somewhat limited, you can easily import hundreds of additional templates for free or create your own.

Even better, Google Slides supports the collaboration tools users have come to expect from Google. Multiple people can work on a slideshow simultaneously, and there’s a built-in group chat so you can keep track of what everyone is doing. It’s also nice that you can play your presentation in presenter mode, which allows you to preview how it will look to your audience and rehearse timing.

The only downside to Google Slides is that bloated slideshows can experience some loading delays. Also beware that while you can move between Slides and Powerpoint, the conversion often messes with the layout of your slides.

Read our full Google Slides review .

5. WPS Office Free

WPS Office Free is a Microsoft Office look-alike that fully support PowerPoint files without any layout issues during import. The WPS Presentation tool has all of the same capabilities of PowerPoint, including tons of animations, slide transitions, content effects, and video embedding. The selection of included presentation templates is also very impressive for a free software.

One of the best things about this presentation software is that the user interface will feel incredibly familiar if you’re coming from Microsoft. All of the tools are displayed in a top ribbon, with your slides shown on the left side of the screen for easy navigation. It’s simple to display your presentation right from WPS Presentation, which means there’s no unexpected troubleshooting when it’s time to show off your work.

There’s not much to dislike about WPS Presentation. However, keep in mind that the software is supported by ads. Some users find the ads annoying, but they’re not overly in the way.

Read our full WPS Office Free review .

We've also featured the best free office software .

Best free presentation software FAQs

Which alternative to powerpoint is best for you.

When deciding which alternative to PowerPoint 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.

How we test the best free presentation software

To test for the best free 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 .  

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Michael Graw is a freelance journalist and photographer based in Bellingham, Washington. His interests span a wide range from business technology to finance to creative media, with a focus on new technology and emerging trends. Michael's work has been published in TechRadar, Tom's Guide, Business Insider, Fast Company, Salon, and Harvard Business Review. 

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Best Video Editing Software Tools in 2024 (User Tested)

Learn which video editors are worth your time and money in this comprehensive, no-nonsense guide to the best video editing software of 2024.

Software | By Tania Braukamper | Last Updated: February 14, 2024

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This guide will help you choose the best video editing software to create amazing movies in less time.

All modern cameras and smartphones can create videos that look great.

However, you’ll need to use video editing apps to turn your film footage into engaging video content.

I edit videos for YouTube regularly and have tried all the best video editing tools out there… and trust me – there are a lot of them!

Familiar editing interface, powerful tools and seamless integration with Adobe apps caters perfectly to multimedia content creators. Works with Mac and PC.

Searching for the right software can be confusing, so I’ve written this guide to help save you some time and money.

You’ll discover free video editing software, inexpensive options (plus some premium ones), and the pros and cons of each.

I’ll also tell you about the essential video editing tools you need and the advanced features required to create content professionally.

Whether you’re creating movies for YouTube or just to enjoy at home, there’s a great video editor out there for you, much like with photo software .

So, let’s look at the recommendations in this video editing software comparison.

Best Video Editing Software for Movie Making in 2024

Adobe premiere pro | best professional video editing software for mac & windows.

• Finely-tuned controls
• Customisable interface
• Powerful & professional effects
• Unlimited multicam editing
• Motion tracking
• Integration with Adobe suite
• Works on Mac and PC
• Steep learning curve
• Powerful system specs required

If you want professional video editing features and a familiar nonlinear editing interface, Adobe Premiere Pro is arguably the best video editing software, especially if you use a PC or Mac.

(While it’s not markedly  better than Final Cut Pro in terms of features and performance, FCP isn’t available for Windows users, which cuts out a huge portion of the video editing market.)

Adobe Premiere Pro is an industry-standard tool , used for everything from 4K YouTube videos to Hollywood movies .

The user interface is clean and fairly intuitive (though, if you’ve never done any video editing before, there’s going to be a learning curve with any video editing software).

One thing we really appreciate is how flexible the interface is: you can undock windows, drag them around, float panels wherever you want them… All this means you can create a customised workspace that fits your editing style and needs.

As for the video editing itself, Premiere Pro is one of the most powerful applications out there, but you do need a powerful computer to take full advantage, especially when editing multiple tracks at once – however, one common workaround is to use proxies.

Editing clips in Premiere Pro is simple and precise and can be done while playback is rolling. The multi-cam editing supports an unlimited number of angles, and the automatic sync makes it super easy to import and manage them.

The tools for audio syncing and editing are similarly impressive. For example, the one-click ability to automatically duck music or ambient noise any time there’s dialogue will save you a lot of time.

Footage-wise, the level of control you get over colour is incredible. As you’d expect from the company that created Photoshop, the colour and light correction tools are finely tuned and far more powerful than those available in most video editing software.

There’s also a core stable of superb transitions and effects that will give any video a polished, professional look.

The latest updates to the Premiere Pro include some extra-neat features like intelligent reframing, automatic captioning, video upscaling , AI-driven colour matching, and Adobe Stock integration – dragging in assets to your timeline has never been easier.

Another plus side is that it works seamlessly with other Adobe apps like Photoshop, After Effects and Audition. So, if you’re a Creative Cloud user, it’ll fit right into your editing workflow.

Of course, this level of software comes at a cost, and if you don’t already have the All-Apps Creative Cloud plan , you’ll either have to get one or pay a monthly subscription for the stand-alone version of Premiere Pro.

Still, if you regularly edit videos, it’s not hard to justify the cost. You’ll probably use all the other Adobe apps and graphic design software eventually, too.

With support for both Windows and Mac on desktop and mobile, Premiere Pro suits everyone from social media content creators to feature film editors.

• Adobe Premiere vs Final Cut
• Adobe Premiere Pro review
• Adobe Premiere Elements review

Cyberlink PowerDirector 365 | Affordable Subscription Video Editing Software for Windows & Mac

• Fast rendering speeds
• Frequent feature updates
• Multicam editing
• Screen recording
• Vast library of royalty-free assets
• Complex interface
• Underwhelming colour tools

In many ways, PowerDirector 365 comes close to – and even rivals – Adobe Premiere Pro.

The first and most obvious similarity is the pricing structure: a yearly or monthly subscription model gives you access to both the software itself and a slew of regular updates and added features.

Subscriptions aren’t popular with consumers for obvious reasons, but they do usually help fund more regular (and larger) updates throughout the year than standalone software purchases.

PowerDirector 365 is another great video editing software if you want incredible flexibility and professional results, while still retaining a high degree of consumer-friendliness.

With PowerDirector , you can take advantage of the millions of royalty-free assets available from both Getty iStock and ShutterStock, including videos, images and audio tracks to spruce up your videos.

There’s also a huge library of ready-made transitions and visual effects that are simple to apply – this is also the case with PhotoDirector , Cyberlink’s software for photographers that is equally impressive on the effects front.

The color correction tools included in PowerDirector 365 are expansive, though not up to the level of Adobe’s.

One area it excels in is performance. CyberLink has greatly boosted performance via 64-bit optimizations, graphics hardware acceleration, OpenCL support, and a proprietary rendering technology known as intelligent SVRT (Smart Video Rendering Technology).

Thanks to all this, it’s definitely one of the best video editing software options if speed of rendering is a priority.

With a wealth of powerful tools and versions for Mac, Windows and even Chromebook , CyberLink’s PowerDirector 365 is definitely a top choice for enthusiasts and budding professionals.

• Mobile video editing apps

Wondershare Filmora | Easy Video Editing Software

• Attractive interface
• Fast rendering
• Easy to use
• Lots of transitions and effects
• Interface not touch-friendly
• Effects lack fine-tuning

Sitting at the intersection of affordability and power is this gem of a program from Wondershare that’s becoming more and more popular with YouTube creators.

Filmora can be bought outright for around US$80, thus earning our label as the best video editing software for those on a budget.

One thing we love about Filmora is the clean and appealing interface. It’s far less daunting than the complex-looking UIs of more professional programs, making it perfect for beginners .

On top of that, Wondershare offers a wealth of video tutorials and guides that are comprehensive and helpful – most of which can be found online via a quick Google search.

Feature-wise, Filmora has you covered for all the essential video editing types you’d expect from a video editor: functions like trim, rotate, color correction, color match and green screen are all there.

There’s also a very decent library of transitions and effects, several of which you’ve probably seen in use by your favourite YouTubers – it’s considered to be the best software to edit vlogs  due to ease of use.

Filmora ‘s features can be applied simply via drag-and-drop, which removes complexity and makes the learning barrier to entry much lower when it comes to making professional-looking videos.

The only downside of this is that the tools aren’t so finely-tuned, and you can’t make complex edits to the level that you can with programs like Premiere Pro or PowerDirector 365.

It also requires a lot of RAM (over 16GB is recommended), especially when editing multiple clips in one timeline. Reducing the quality of playback helps somewhat, but we still experienced lagging on the latest M1 Macbook Air.

Still, if you’re looking for simple video editing that’s user-friendly and doesn’t put a big hole in your pocket, Filmora is the best video editor in this price bracket.

• Filmora review

Apple Final Cut Pro | Best Professional Video Editing Software for Mac

• Efficient media organisation
• Multicam support
• Unique magnetic timeline
• Best software for video content creation for macOS
• Powerful compositing tools
• Fast performance
• One-time payment video editing software
• No Windows version
• No inbuilt motion tracking

The best video editing software for you can come down to which environment you’re used to operating in. If you’re a Mac OS user and want pro-level video editing , Apple Final Cut Pro is definitely the professional’s choice.

At around US$299, this video editing software isn’t the cheapest. However, consider that this is a one-time cost that gives you access to all the updates with no subscription required – unlike Premiere Pro, for example.

That’s why it’s our pick of the bunch as the best premium video editing software that can be bought outright.

The interface of Final Cut Pro is about as stylish as you’d expect from an Apple product, and it’s simple enough to satisfy prosumer-level users while retaining all the pro features you’d want.

The latest update delivers big advances in 8K video performance, taking full advantage of the powerful new M1 Pro and M1 Max Apple Silicon chips. (Even if you have an Intel-based Mac, performance is still decent.)

The layout is quite customisable in Final Cut Pro, but unlike in Premiere Pro, you can’t completely undock panels so they float free.

One unique element of Apple’s video editing software is the trackless Magnetic Timeline:

Unlike traditional track-based editing,\ where everything is constrained by placement and time, Final Cut Pro’s Magnetic Timeline opens up the possibility of focusing on the story and how the various elements fit within it.

It’s also a pretty neat time-saver once you get the hang of it.

Part of the complexity of video editing is managing all your assets, but Final Cut Pro makes that more efficient thanks to its powerful organisation tools.

Organise your work into libraries, apply ratings and custom keywords, and make use of dynamically-organised Smart Collections to quickly find any shot – really useful for B-Roll footage.

Another great feature is the 360-degree video editing. This video software comes with VR headset support, true 360-degree titles, and Apple’s 360° Patch, which lets you clone over the camera rig for seamless, immersive footage.

Editing videos shot in Cinematic mode on the new iPhone 13 in Final Cut Pro even allows you to change the focus points or modify the intensity of the depth of field, after the footage has been shot!

Then, of course, there’s a bunch of customisable effects, integrated audio editing, intuitive colour grading and generally great performance speeds.

The biggest downside of Final Cut Pro? You’ll need a Mac (and one with decent specs) to run it. However, for Mac users who want to edit up to seven streams of 8K ProRes at full resolution, it doesn’t get any better than this.

• Final Cut Pro Review

Adobe Premiere Elements | Good Video Editing Software for Beginners

• Easy to learn
• AI-based tools
• Handy guided edits
• Shareable outputs
• No 360-degree support
• No multicam editing
• Mediocre rendering speeds

Not everyone wants complex, pro-level features. For the consumer market, Adobe brings us Premiere Elements – arguably the best video editing software for beginners.

Elements may be cheaper and simpler, but don’t be fooled: it still turns out some impressive videos thanks to a bunch of great features.

The latest versions of Adobe Elements are heavily based on automated processes and Adobe Sensei AI technology, meaning much of the hardest video editing work is done for you.

There’s also a suite of more than two dozen guided edits, so you can follow along step-by-step to create easy timelapse videos, double exposures, animated overlays, and more.

If you want more freedom and creative flexibility, simply switch from Guided Mode back to Expert Mode for full manual control.

Adobe Premiere Elements is the kind of video editing software that’s designed for creating shareable videos: there’s plenty of control over your output files, and you can upload directly to apps like Facebook and YouTube.

(You can do this with the other video editing apps in this list, but Elements just makes it simpler and more user-friendly.)

Just two downsides of the software to mention: there’s currently no multi-cam editing, nor support for 360-degree and VR editing. Lastly, rendering speeds lag when compared to some other programs.

Still, if you’re just starting out on your video editing journey and want a way to easily create attractive, shareable videos with impressive video effects, Adobe Premiere Elements is a stellar option for a great price – check out the full Adobe Elements review to learn more.

DaVinci Resolve | Another Great Video Editing Software (Free Version)

• Powerful features
• Mac, Windows and Linux compatible
• Impressive color grading
• Well-designed interface
• Integrated motion graphics editing
• Free version available
• Heavy on system resources

This video editing software from BlackMagic Design is billed as Hollywood’s number one post-production solution.

And here’s some great news: if you want to want to learn how to use the very same tools as Hollywood artists, you can do so at no cost. There’s a completely free version of DaVinci Resolve available!

Of course, the free version has its limits – and purchasing the full DaVinci Resolve Studio will give you the complete pro-level editing experience, but it’s nice to get a glimpse at what all the fuss is about.

DaVinci Resolve has a well-designed interface that’s divided into a number of different “pages” – each page offering a dedicated workspace for a specific task.

These include Media, Cut, Edit, Fusion, Color, Fairlight and Deliver.

Each of these areas includes a wealth of powerful, pro-level tools. The Fairlight page, for example, offers impressive inbuilt audio editing. Work with up to 2,000 tracks at a time with real-time effects, EQ, and dynamics processing.

There’s also integrated motion graphics editing via the Fusion page, keeping all your professional post-production tasks in one program.

DaVinci Resolve is really geared at the professional market, so whether it’s the best video editing software for you comes down to your needs.

It’s currently the only post-production software that lets a whole team of editors work together on the same project at the same time. You can even get dedicated Resolve keyboards and other accessories.

If you want Hollywood-level video editing features in a collaborative environment that’s perfect for team projects, DaVinci Resolve is where it’s at. Just take into account that you’ll need some powerful hardware to run it and some time to conquer the learning curve.

• Which is easier to use DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro?

Digiarty VideoProc | Simple Video Editing Software

• Ultra-fast processing
• Lightweight software
• Smooth editing even at 8K
• Powerful video converter
• Basic editing tools
• No social sharing or collaboration

Each video editor has its claim to fame, and where Digiarty VideoProc wins is in its processing speed.

The full GPU acceleration feature is a major selling point. It allows for lightning-fast processing as well as buttery smooth video editing and transcoding at 4K/8K – all without compromising on quality.

On top of that, it’s number one in the world when it comes to compression.

Digiarty’s VideoProc video editor can compress down a large video by up to 90% and you’d still have to zoom in to pixel level to see the difference.

The flipside of all that is that VideoProc is first and foremost a media converter – the video editing tools were developed as secondary. Still, if you want to polish up your video clips, you can certainly do it from right within the program.

Features available include cropping, cutting, rotating, merging and adding subtitles to footage. There’s also a library of pre-set visual effects that are quick and easy to apply.

It may be a little more niche, but if you’re looking for the best video editing software for processing speed, it’s well worth giving VideoProc a look.

Movavi Video Editor | Comprehensive Video Production Software for Mac

• Clear and simple interface
• Motion tracking tools
• Value for money
• No 360-degree/VR support

Post-pandemic life has opened up a new use case for video production, and Movavi is using that as a way to distinguish itself in the competitive video editing software market.

Though the company has been around since 2004, Movavi is now billing its software as “an all-in-one video maker, perfect for remote work and distance learning.”

So whether you’re a school kid working on a fun video project or a white-collar professional putting together a presentation for your colleagues, Movavi offers both the features and simplicity of use to have you covered.

One of the biggest advantages of Movavi is the unintimidating interface. It’s always been the company’s mission to make video editing and media distribution as accessible as possible – and the interface is an expression of that.

You also get a lot for the price you pay, with one-time purchase costs and no subscription required, making it an excellent option for students or those on a tight budget.

It may not be the best video editing software in terms of advanced features – it lacks some of the fine-tuning of higher-level applications, as well as lacking support for multicam editing, 360-degree, VR and 3D – but that may not be a deal-breaker, especially for beginners.

If you’re looking for video editing software that hits a sweet spot between features and price, and an intuitive interface is a priority, you’d do well to check it out. It’s available for both Mac and PC.

• Movavi Video Editor Review

Corel VideoStudio Ultimate | Windows Video Making Software

• Multipoint motion tracking
• Competitive pricing
• Intuitive controls
• 360-degree VR support
• Low system requirements
• Windows only
• Limited audio editing

Mac users miss out here, but PC users can take advantage of this competitively-priced video editing software to produce high-quality videos at home.

One benefit of Corel VideoStudio Ultimate is that the system requirements to run it are relatively low. So if you happen to be running a dusty old Windows 7 machine, you still shouldn’t have too many problems doing all the video editing basics.

This consumer-level video editing software may not satisfy the demands of top-level professionals, but it still packs plenty of punch in terms of features.

To start with, there’s all the basic editing features, plus screen recording, 360 video support and multi-cam editing.

Then there’s advanced editing functions like color grading and video masking, along with more than 2000 customizable filters and a range of video effects.

The latest version of VideoStudio Ultimate includes enhanced video stabilization, making it easier to turn shaky action footage into smooth and usable video content.

We also found the latest version to have much better performance and stability than previous versions, which is a big plus for the software.

Finally, as is now pretty standard with video editing software, you can export your projects in range of video formats or share them directly to YouTube or Vimeo.

In all, Corel VideoStudio Ultimate may lack some of the sophistication of the very best video editing software solutions on the market, but it’s a highly capable and user-friendly option. One of its biggest downsides is that there’s no version for Mac users.

Apple iMovie | Best Video Editing Software for Mac (Free)

• Completely free
• Beginner-friendly interface
• Fun video filters
• Green screen effects
• Movie trailer templates
• Basic editing features

If your criteria for the best video editing software happens to be “something easy to use and completely free”, then Apple iMovie might just win you over.

Novice Mac users can create slick-looking videos in mere minutes using iMovie’s included templates, and it’s easy to import video clips from all your Apple devices.

iMovie’s interface is clean and easy to get the hang of, and its dozen-odd cinematic video filters are a snap to apply.

Using the filters, you can automatically give your video footage looks like vintage western, comic book styling, and silent movie nostalgia.

You also get some great templates for making Hollywood-style movie trailers – just be aware that these templates will be used online by thousands of other Mac owners, so don’t expect them to be exclusive in any way!

Also, iMovie is great for creating basic clips and for cutting your video editing teeth if you’re a beginner, but you’re likely to outgrow it quickly… and the step up to Final Cut Pro X is a big one!

In the meantime, Mac users can get plenty of mileage out of this excellent video editing tool – iMovie has been an Apple-user favourite for years, and it’s easy to see why.

How to Choose the Best Video Editing Software

Here is a selection of features you should look for when choosing between the recommended video editing programs.

Depending on your needs and experience level, we’ve categorised the features based on how relevant they are for basic or advanced video editors.

Essential Features

• User interface

Most video editing software is scary when you sit down and face it for the first time. That’s just par for the course: video editing is by nature a complex process.

That said, not all video editing software is created equal when it comes to simplicity of use. Choosing one with an intuitive interface can make all the difference in how well you overcome the learning curve – especially if you’re a beginner.

Do consider that the simplicity of the interface tends to align with the simplicity of the tools. If you want to tightly control every aspect of your video and fine-tune your edits in a highly personalised way, there’s no way around it: you’ll have to embrace a more complex (and daunting) interface.

So, it’s up to you to find the right balance based on your experience level. Suffice to say, if you’re new to video editing, opting for a simpler and more intuitive interface would be a wise move.

• Supported file formats

Not all video editors accept all file formats, so before you choose a program, check that it’s capable of accepting the input you need.

High-end programs like Adobe’s Premiere Pro support all different video formats, including 8K, 360-degree and Virtual Reality footage. Other programs are more limited in what you can input.

If you’re not sure, check what type of video files are outputted by your devices as this will immediately help to narrow down the best video editing software for you.

• System requirements

Do you have a high-end computer with bucketloads of RAM, high-speed SSD storage, and the latest OS version? If so, good for you – you can run pretty much any video editing program without issues.

If your machine is a little on the outdated side, don’t worry: there are still plenty of options available to you. It just means you have to be more careful about which one you choose.

All video editors have different system requirements, so just be sure to check that you meet them before you buy. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck with software that runs poorly (or not at all).

• Tools for basic editing

The tools you need for editing videos will depend on what kind of projects you’re creating.

If you’re creating simple YouTube videos, for example, your requirements may not go beyond cutting, cropping, adding background music and applying basic video transitions (like dissolve and fade to black).

If that’s what you need, all of the video editors on this list will have you covered – though some will be overkill.

So, a good question to ask yourself is, “What do I want to achieve?” and from there check which features you need to do it. It may be that you can start with a free program until you decide to expand your video editing skills.

Cheap video editing software will usually offer the basic tools, but you’ll need to pay for access to more complex editing features.

• Stock assets

A library of stock assets is a handy thing to have for video editing. Many apps offer royalty-free images, audio files and stock footage you can use to build up your personal and even professional projects and take them to the next level.

While such resources are available separately (StoryBlocks is a good resource), having them integrated into your video editor makes life easier – and gives you access to media you might otherwise have to pay additional fees for.

Advanced Features

For more advanced or professional video projects, you might look for some of these additional features:

Looking to load in footage from several devices so you can cut to different angles of the same scene? If so, you need multicam support.

Take into account the number of angles you’ll likely want to use – each software has different limits on how many it can support.

Premiere Pro, for example, supports an unlimited amount, while some programs have no multi-camera support at all.

Motion tracking is an advanced feature with several useful applications. For example, use it to stabilize footage, blur out faces or pin text captions to moving objects.

Motion tracking tools used to be the domain of pro-grade special effects software, but these days many programs make them available even to beginners. You see this at work on social media platforms, where text, stickers and emojis “stick” to people or objects and follow them around.

There are different types of motion tracking tools and they range in complexity, from single-point to multi-point or 3D tracking. If complex motion tracking is a requirement, you’ll need to invest in a higher-level piece of video editing software.

• Advanced colour tools

Tools like colour correction, colour matching and colour grading add an extra layer of control to your video editing. For professionals, it’s important to be able to finely tune these settings to gain exactly the look you’re after.

Enthusiasts may not require the same level of control, but having these tools can certainly help you change the look and mood of a video in a more nuanced way.

• 360-degree support

Not everyone needs 360-degree support, but if you happen to be shooting spherical footage (e.g., from a 360-degree action cam), you’re going to need it.

Not all video editors offer this support, and the ones who do offer it with varying degrees of functionality – so if VR or 360 video is your thing, do check the software support for it before you buy.

• Other advanced features

Depending on what kind of videos you want to produce, you might look for a range of other advanced features. Think about things like audio editing, closed captions and speech-to-text, chroma key / green screen editing, masking, motion graphics, and special effects.

A good place to start is to make a list of all the features you think you’ll need, and narrow it down from there.

What is the Best Free Video Editing Software?

If you’re looking for the best video editing software you can get without spending a cent, you’re in luck: there are actually some very powerful options out there.

Here are some of the best free video editors to check out:

Clipify is a lightweight free automatic video editor that works well on all PCs – you don’t need to have the most powerful setup to take advantage. The simple drag-and-drop workflow and streamlined interface is fun to use and all the standard tools are there. As free video editing software, it’s a great option, and you can upgrade to one of the paid options for even more features.

Apple’s iMovie is a fun-to-use video editor for dummies which is packed with easy-to-apply special effects. While the tools do lack a high degree of refinement, that can only be expected from a completely free video editing program. If you’re a Mac user, iMovie is definitely an excellent budget-friendly solution and the best freeware video editor for iOS.

• PowerDirector Essential

This free video editing app is a stripped-back version of Cyberlink’s impressive PowerDirector 365. You still get many of the features of the latter program, and it’s an excellent way to cut your video editing teeth. The only downside is limited export options and a subtle but non-removable watermark on your finished output.

DaVinci Resolve

This Hollywood-level video processing software is available in a completely free version that works on Windows, Mac and Linux. It’s an excellent choice for high-level enthusiasts: it’s powerful, but the advanced features do have a learning curve. If you want to get started on the path to becoming a pro, this is a great free choice.

• HitFilm Express

This free movie maker warrants a mention for its free VFX toolkit, professional editing tools, and extensive free tutorials. For creatives with no budget to spare, it’s another great option that’s available for both PC and Mac.

Canva Video Editor

Canva offers a free video editor lets you create and edit videos on any device and on different platforms. Since it’s entirely online, you can take advantage no matter what computer system you use.

CapCut is a popular free mobile video editing software app that allows users to create, edit, and enhance videos all from their mobile devices.

FAQs about Video Editing Tools

What do most YouTubers use to edit their videos?

Adobe Premiere Pro, iMovie and Final Cut Pro tend to be the three most popular programs among YouTubers.

What is the easiest video editing software?

There are several easy-to-master video editing programs, but Adobe Premiere Elements is definitely one of the simplest. It features a wealth of AI-based tools that make video editing easy, plus guided edits that step you through various processes.

What is the Best Free Video Editor for PC?

• DaVinci Resolve 17
• Windows 10 Free Video Editor

Does Google have a free video editor?

The Google Photos app has a free inbuilt video editor. This allows you to do basic edits like trim, stabilize, crop and rotate your videos, and add a selection of filters and granular edits.

Is Adobe Premiere Pro free?

There is a free seven-day trial for Adobe Premiere Pro but beyond that, you’ll need to pay a subscription fee.

Final Words

We hope this guide helped you to single out the best video editing software for your needs.

Remember that most vendors offer a free trial – if not completely free, there’ll be a stripped-back version of their software.

So once you’ve narrowed down the playing field, don’t be afraid to download and test out a few apps to be sure you find the right one before you buy.

Got any other questions? Need help deciding? Leave us a comment and we’ll do our best to help!

We’d also love to hear about your experience with video editing software and your tips and recommendations, so join the conversation below.

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Tania Braukamper is an Australian-born writer who also loves to take pictures on her banged-up (yet surprisingly resilient) Canon 5D Mark III. She currently lives in Portugal.

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10 Best Productivity Apps for Mac in 2024 (For Digital Specialists)

Published: March 26, 2024

Last year, I finally made the switch to a Mac.

As a marketer by day and business development specialist by night, I use many different tools to manage my time, track tasks, keep my creative juices flowing, stay in touch, automate stuff, and keep everything nice and organized.

So, I was worried if my usual productivity apps and tools, especially the ones needing downloads, would work well on a brand-new Mac. Turns out, they all did. And my productivity surged.

So, in this piece, I’m sharing the 10 best productivity apps for Mac with all their features and golden highlights.

Table of Contents

What are productivity apps?

10 best productivity apps for mac.

Productivity apps help you work better and faster, freeing up your mental energy. Their main goal is to make you more focused and productive at a given moment.

According to employee performance research , productivity tools have an extremely positive impact on employee performance. Those who use them are more relaxed and achieve better results.

In essence, productivity apps help with task management, calendar organization, note-taking, team collaboration, and time tracking. For example, project management tools fall under this category. They let you sort tasks into boards, lists, and cards, which is super handy for staying on track.

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