11 Best PowerPoint Makers (2024) [FREE]

1. Introduction

Presentations are a powerful communication tool in any corporate, academic or personal context. They play a crucial role in elucidating complex information and in communicating concepts to a diverse audience. A key element behind impactful presentations is the software used to create them, often referred to as a PowerPoint Maker.

1.1 Importance of PowerPoint Maker

PowerPoint Makers are essential tools in the modern world. They serve as the backbone of presentations, providing a platform where ideas can be visually represented and narrated. From a professional standpoint, a good PowerPoint maker can make the difference between engaging and lackluster presentations, thereby having very real consequences on outcomes. A variety of PowerPoint makers are available today, each with their unique qualities and potential drawbacks.

1.2 Objectives of this Comparison

The purpose of this comparison is to provide insights on a range of PowerPoint makers available in the market. This involves describing key aspects such as the features, advantages, and limitations of each tool. The intent is to offer a comprehensive view of these platforms to help individuals and organizations make an informed decision when choosing a PowerPoint maker that aligns with their specific needs and preferences.

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2. Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is arguably one of the most widely recognized and used tools for creating presentations. Developed by Microsoft, it is a part of both Microsoft 365 suite and Office suite. Launched in 1987, it has since become the go-to choice for businesses, educators, and students alike to convey ideas effectively and visually.

2.1 Pros

• Feature-rich: Microsoft PowerPoint boasts a comprehensive set of features that can cater to a wide range of presentation needs. This includes media file support, a variety of slide transitions, animations, and a robust set of design tools.
• Widespread Usage: Being one of the pioneers in presentation software, PowerPoint is used and recognized worldwide. This means files can easily be shared and opened in almost any professional setting.
• Integration with Other Microsoft Products: PowerPoint seamlessly integrates with other applications in the Microsoft Suite. This can streamline workflows, particularly in a corporate environment where Office is prevalent.

2.2 Cons

• Complexity: The extensive feature set can make PowerPoint complex for beginners to navigate and utilize fully.
• Cost: Unless one has access to an Office Suite through a package deal (such as through work or school), PowerPoint can be relatively expensive compared to some other options.
• Template Limitations: While PowerPoint offers many templates, creativity can sometimes be restricted, unless one is adept at customizing slides from scratch.

3. Google Slides

Google Slides is a popular web-based presentation tool developed by Google. As a part of Google’s robust suite of productivity applications, Google Slides allows users to create, edit, and present professional slideshows from anywhere, as long as they have an internet connection.

3.1 Pros

• Collaboration Features: Google Slides provides exceptional real-time collaboration features. Multiple people can work on the same presentation simultaneously, making it ideal for teams.
• Cost: Google Slides is free to use, lowering barriers to entry and making it accessible to a wide range of users.
• Cloud Storage: Since Google Slides is a web-based tool, all presentations are automatically saved and backed up on Google Drive, minimizing the risk of data loss.

3.2 Cons

• Limited Features: Compared to some of its competitors, Google Slides lacks some advanced design features and functionalities, potentially limiting its versatility.
• Internet Dependency: As a web-based tool, Google Slides needs an internet connection to operate. Although offline editing is possible, it requires specific settings and does not offer the same seamless experience.
• Performance: When working on large, complex presentations, Google Slides might have performance issues. Lags and slow loading times can be experienced, particularly in slower internet environments.

4. Canva PowerPoint Maker

Canva is an online design tool that includes a powerful presentation maker. It is highly intuitive with an impressive set of features that even beginners can use to create visually stunning presentations. Canva equips users with a wealth of design resources, including a vast collection of templates and a robust library of graphic elements.

4.1 Pros

• Variety of Pre-made Templates: Canva offers a massive array of pre-designed templates. These professionally designed layouts can provide a strong starting point for a presentation, especially for those who might not have much design experience.
• Easy to Use: Canva’s user interface is remarkably straightforward and intuitive, which makes it accessible to a wide variety of skill levels.
• A Wealth of Design Elements: With Canva, users can use thousands of graphic elements, including charts, images, and icons, offering significant freedom to personalize presentations.

4.2 Cons

• High Quality Elements Cost Extra: While Canva does offer many free elements, users will need to pay for premium ones. This can become pricey for those who require high-quality resources frequently.
• Limited Advanced Features: Unlike dedicated presentation tools, Canva does not offer a rich set of advanced editing and interaction features.
• Internet Connection: Like other cloud-based tools, Canva requires a stable internet connection to work smoothly.

5. Visme Online Presentation Maker

Visme is a robust online presentation tool designed to help individuals and businesses create engaging, interactive and visually appealing presentations with ease. It offers a wide array of customization options, allowing users to demonstrate their creativity and infuse unique elements into their presentations.

5.1 Pros

• Interactive Elements: A standout feature of Visme is its ability to add interactive elements to slides, such as pop-ups, rollovers, and embedded videos or links. This can help to elevate the overall engagement of a presentation.
• Data Visualization: Visme shines in data visualization, offering an impressive library of charts, graphs, and infographics. This is particularly useful for businesses and educators who desire to represent data in an easily digestible form.
• High Quality Templates: Visme offers a variety of professionally-made templates that are both attractive and functional.

5.2 Cons

• Requires Learning: Due to its wealth of features, getting the hang of Visme can take some time. It may require a learning period, especially for users not familiar with digital design tools.
• Free Version Limitations: While Visme offers a free version, it has many restrictions including a limited number of projects, lack of premium assets, and lower quality exports.
• Internet dependent: Visme operates entirely online, which means it requires a stable internet connection to work smoothly and efficiently.

6. Mentimeter Online Presentation Maker

Mentimeter is an interactive presentation software that is designed to create a two-way communication between presenters and audience. It allows you to build presentations with real-time feedback features such as polls and quizzes, creating an engaging and dynamic experience for the audience.

6.1 Pros

• Interactive Features: Mentimeter excels in creating interactive presentations, allowing audience participation via their own devices. This feature helps in retaining audience interest and increasing engagement.
• Immediate Feedback: With Mentimeter, presenters can get immediate feedback from their audience, making it a powerful tool for workshops, classrooms, or any situation where instant audience input is beneficial.
• Easy to Use: Creating presentations with Mentimeter is a straightforward process. Its user-friendly interface allows for a fluid creation experience.

6.2 Cons

• Paid Plan for Unlimited Access: To access the full set of features like unlimited slides and questions, you need to opt for a paid subscription.
• Internet Requirement: Given its design for real-time audience interaction, a stable internet connection is essential for a smooth experience in Mentimeter.
• Limited Customisation: While Mentimeter provides several pre-designed templates, the ability to fully customize these templates is limited.

7. Venngage Free Online Presentation Maker

Primarily known as a powerful infographic creator, Venngage also offers a presentation maker tool. It allows you to create eye-catching presentations using an array of customizable templates. Its drag-and-drop editor and a wide range of features make creating compelling presentations easier.

7.1 Pros

• Simple to Use: Using a drag-and-drop interface, Venngage simplifies the process of creating visually appealing presentations, even for those with minimal design experience.
• Templates and Designs: Venngage offers access to numerous professionally-designed templates, making the task of starting a presentation much easier.
• Focus on Visuals: Given Venngage’s strength in infographics, the tool provides significant scope for creating presentations heavy on visual data and graphics.

7.2 Cons

• Limited Free Plan: While Venngage offers a free version, it is quite limited, with access to a limited number of templates and features. Plus, downloads in the free plan come with a Venngage watermark.
• Offline Access: Venngage is an online tool and requires an internet connection for operation. There’s no option to work offline.
• Lack of Advanced Features: Unlike specialized presentation tools, Venngage lacks some sophisticated features such as embedding videos or advanced animations.

8. Zoho Show

Zoho Show is a part of the Zoho Docs suite and serves as an online PowerPoint Maker. It is designed to cater to both individuals and enterprises, offering a rich set of tools to create, collaborate, present, broadcast, and publish presentations effectively.

8.1 Pros

• Collaboration: Zoho Show allows multiple users to collaborate on a presentation, bringing forth a collective effort for presentation creation.
• Integration with other Zoho apps: It integrates smoothly with other apps in the Zoho ecosystem. Users can conveniently explore and embed Zoho Survey results, Zoho Sheet spreadsheets, and more in their presentations.
• Offline Mode: Even though it’s cloud-based, Zoho Show provides an offline mode for users to create and edit their slides without an internet connection.

8.2 Cons

• Limited Design Elements: While Zoho Show provides a variety of standard tools, it might not win out in terms of innovative design elements and templates compared to other specialized presentation-makers.
• Desktop App Limitations: Some features are not available in the Zoho Show Desktop app, such as broadcasting, removing the Zoho brand logo, and more.
• User Interface: Some users may find the user interface less intuitive than some other online presentation makers.

9. Piktochart Online Presentation Maker

Piktochart is a web-based tool that is specifically tailored for creating engaging infographics, presentations and printables. Due to its emphasis on visual design, Piktochart gives users a unique opportunity to design visually impacting presentations using its colossal library of images, icons, and templates.

9.1 Pros

• Vast Library of Images and Icons: Piktochart boasts an extensive library of images and icons that users can utilize to make visually engaging presentations.
• Simple Interface: Piktochart’s user interface is intuitive and easy to understand, making the process of creating a presentation significantly smoother.
• High Quality Output: One of Piktochart’s distinct advantages is the quality of its output. As a tool primarily used for creating infographics, it is designed to produce visually stunning presentations.

9.2 Cons

• Pricey Pro Plan: If you require more comprehensive features, you might find the Pro Plan a bit pricey.
• Online Tool: Given its cloud-based nature, creating and modifying presentations requires a stable internet connection.
• Limited Editing Features: While it is great for creating image-heavy presentations, Piktochart lacks some advanced editing features that other specialized presentation tools provide.

10. ONLYOFFICE Presentation Editor

ONLYOFFICE Presentation Editor is a part of the ONLYOFFICE productivity suite that provides a platform to create, edit, and collaborate on presentations. It supports the most popular formats and offers a broad array of tools for adding and formatting text, images, and various graphical objects.

10.1 Pros

• Compatibility: ONLYOFFICE Presentation Editor can handle PowerPoint files well, maintaining the formatting and layout accuracy during import and export.
• Collaboration Features: It offers robust features to collaborate with teammates, making it suitable for remote teams and group projects.
• Free Offline Version: For users who prefer to work offline, ONLYOFFICE offers a free desktop version that encompasses the main features.

10.2 Cons

• Features Overload: The host of features offered by ONLYOFFICE Presentation Editor can be overwhelming for beginners and occasional users.
• Limited Templates: Compared to other online presentation colleagues, ONLYOFFICE offers fewer templates, which could limit the look and feel of presentations.
• Subscription fees: For small businesses and large enterprises, ONLYOFFICE requires subscription fees to access the full-featured version.

11. Visual Paradigm Online Presentation Maker

Visual Paradigm Online Presentation Maker is a versatile presentation tool that caters a wide range of needs, from creating simple slideshows to designing comprehensive business presentations. It is a part of Visual Paradigm’s suite of online tools for diagram making, customer journey mapping, and other project management tasks.

11.1 Pros

• Range of Tools: With Visual Paradigm, users get access to a suite of design tools, from simple presentation tools to advanced diagramming features.
• Low Learning Curve: Visual Paradigm Presentation Maker provides an intuitive interface for creating presentations, reducing the learning curve for new users.
• Collaboration Capabilities: It allows multiple users to collaborate on a single presentation, making it ideal for teams and collaborative projects.

11.2 Cons

• Pricing: While there is a free version, access to advanced features and higher storage is limited to paid plans.
• Internet Dependence: As it is an online tool, users need a stable internet connection for a smooth experience.
• Limited Templates: Compared to other presentation tools, it offers limited ready-made templates which could hamper the design process for non-designers.

12. Apple Keynote

Apple Keynote is a powerful presentation tool developed by Apple. Renowned for its clean and intuitive interface, Keynote is well-suited for creating professional and beautiful presentations. Keynote comes pre-installed on all Apple devices and is also available online as part of iCloud.

12.1 Pros

• Integrated with Apple Ecosystem: Keynote is fully integrated with the Apple ecosystem, allowing seamless sharing across all Apple devices and easy insertion of images and videos from Photos or music from iTunes.
• High-Quality Designs: Keynote is known for its high-quality designs, with a range of professional and sleek templates and animations to choose from.
• Free for Apple Users: Keynote is free for all Apple users, providing access to a professional-grade presentation maker without an additional cost.

12.2 Cons

• Compatibility: While Keynote can open and save to PowerPoint format, it may not always carry over the formatting perfectly which could lead to some issues when sharing with non-Keynote users.
• Lower Popularity: Given its exclusive availability on Apple devices, Keynote is not as widely used as PowerPoint, which could be a limitation in certain professional environments.
• Limited Customization: Some users may find the customization options offered by Keynote to be less compared to other leading presentation tools.

13. Summary

13.1 Overall Comparison Table

Tool	Features	Ease of Use	Price	Customer Support
Microsoft PowerPoint	Various slide transitions, animations, and design tools	Intermediate	Part of Microsoft Office subscription	Via Email, Live Support, and Phone
Google Slides	Collaboration tools, cloud storage	Easy	Free	Online Help Center and Community Forums
Canva PowerPoint Maker	Pre-made templates, design elements	Easy	Free, with premium assets extra	Email Support
Visme Online Presentation Maker	Interactive elements, data visualization tools	Intermediate	Free Basic Version, Paid for Premium	Email and Knowledge Base
Mentimeter Online Presentation Maker	Interactive features and audience feedback	Easy	Free version, Paid for Premium	Email and Online Help Center
Venngage Free Online Presentation Maker	Drag-and-drop interface, focus on visuals	Easy	Free with a Pro Version	Email and Help Center
Zoho Show	Collaboration features, integration with Zoho apps	Intermediate	Free for Basic, Paid for Extra Features	Email, Phone, and Forum
Piktochart Online Presentation Maker	Image and Icon Libraries, Simple Interface	Easy	Free Version with a Pro Version	Email Support
ONLYOFFICE Presentation Editor	Compatibility with PowerPoint, collaboration features	Intermediate	Free Offline Version, Paid for Premium	Email and Community Forums
Visual Paradigm Online Presentation Maker	Suite of design tools, collaboration capabilities	Intermediate	Free with Paid Subscriptions	Email and Knowledge Base
Apple Keynote	Integration with Apple ecosystem, high-quality designs	Intermediate	Free for Apple Users	Email, Phone, and Community Forums

13.2 Recommended Tool Based on Various Needs

If cost and collaboration are of utmost importance, Google Slides is a great option, offering both for free. Canva PowerPoint Maker or Venngage are recommended for novice users or those in need of design inspiration, providing easy-to-use interfaces and pre-made templates. For more complex needs or professional settings, Microsoft PowerPoint or Visme are strong choices with comprehensive feature sets and high-quality visuals. Ultimately, the right choice depends on the specific needs and constraints of the user.

14. Conclusion

14.1 Final Thoughts and Takeaways for Choosing a PowerPoint Maker

Every PowerPoint Maker comes with its unique set of strengths and weaknesses. The right choice heavily depends on one’s specific requirements, preferences, and of course, budget. The central aspect to consider while choosing a PowerPoint Maker is to clearly outline your presentation needs. Are you looking for a solution that offers advanced features, or are you more focused on cost-effectiveness and ease of use? Is your priority collaboration and real-time updates, or do you prefer a standalone program with more customization options?

Another critical factor to contemplate is your audience and the environment in which the presentation will be shown. Some tools offer more animated and interactive features, while others focus on providing a well-structured, professional-looking presentation. These considerations, as well as the exploration of different offerings outlined in this guide, should help to make an informed decision about the PowerPoint Maker that is best suited for you.

Author Introduction:

Vera Chen is a data recovery expert in DataNumen, which provides a wide range of products, including a powerful PDF repair tool.