Cloud Storage
Custom Business Email
Video and voice conferencing
Shared Calendars
Word Processing
Spreadsheets
Presentation Builder
Survey builder
Google Workspace
An integrated suit of secure, cloud-native collaboration and productivity apps powered by Google AI.
Tell impactful stories, with Google Slides
Create, present, and collaborate on online presentations in real-time and from any device.
- For my personal use
- For work or my business
Jeffery Clark
T h i s c h a r t h e l p s b r i d g i n g t h e s t o r y !
E s t i m a t e d b u d g e t
Make beautiful presentations, together
Stay in sync in your slides, with easy sharing and real-time editing. Use comments and assign action items to build your ideas together.
Present slideshows with confidence
With easy-to-use presenter view, speaker notes, and live captions, Slides makes presenting your ideas a breeze. You can even present to Google Meet video calls directly from Slides.
Seamlessly connect to your other Google apps
Slides is thoughtfully connected to other Google apps you love, saving you time. Embed charts from Google Sheets or reply to comments directly from Gmail. You can even search the web and Google Drive for relevant content and images directly from Slides.
Extend collaboration and intelligence to PowerPoint files
Easily edit Microsoft PowerPoint presentations online without converting them, and layer on Slides’ enhanced collaborative and assistive features like comments, action items, and Smart Compose.
Work on fresh content
With Slides, everyone’s working on the latest version of a presentation. And with edits automatically saved in version history, it’s easy to track or undo changes.
Make slides faster, with built-in intelligence
Assistive features like Smart Compose and autocorrect help you build slides faster with fewer errors.
Stay productive, even offline
You can access, create, and edit Slides even without an internet connection, helping you stay productive from anywhere.
Security, compliance, and privacy
Secure by default
We use industry-leading security measures to keep your data safe, including advanced malware protections. Slides is also cloud-native, eliminating the need for local files and minimizing risk to your devices.
Encryption in transit and at rest
All files uploaded to Google Drive or created in Slides are encrypted in transit and at rest.
Compliance to support regulatory requirements
Our products, including Slides, regularly undergo independent verification of their security, privacy, and compliance controls .
Private by design
Slides adheres to the same robust privacy commitments and data protections as the rest of Google Cloud’s enterprise services .
You control your data.
We never use your slides content for ad purposes., we never sell your personal information to third parties., find the plan that’s right for you, google slides is a part of google workspace.
Every plan includes
Collaborate from anywhere, on any device
Access, create, and edit your presentations wherever you are — from any mobile device, tablet, or computer — even when offline.
Get a head start with templates
Choose from a variety of presentations, reports, and other professionally-designed templates to kick things off quickly..
Photo Album
Book Report
Visit the Slides Template Gallery for more.
Ready to get started?
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
Beautiful.ai for AI-powered design
Prezi for non-linear, conversational presentations
Powtoon for video presentations
Pitch for collaborating with your team on presentations
Gamma for conversational AI features
Mentimeter for audience engagement
Tome for generative AI features
What makes the best presentation app?
How we evaluate and test apps.
Our best apps roundups are written by humans who've spent much of their careers using, testing, and writing about software. Unless explicitly stated, we spend dozens of hours researching and testing apps, using each app as it's intended to be used and evaluating it against the criteria we set for the category. We're never paid for placement in our articles from any app or for links to any site—we value the trust readers put in us to offer authentic evaluations of the categories and apps we review. For more details on our process, read the full rundown of how we select apps to feature on the Zapier blog .
When looking for the best presentation apps, I wanted utility players. After all, slideshows are used for just about everything, from pitch decks and product launches to class lectures and church sermons. With that in mind, here's what I was looking for:
Pre-built templates. The best presentation tools should have attractive, professional-looking templates to build presentations in a hurry.
Sharing and collaboration options. Whether you plan to share your webinar slides later, or you just want to collaborate with a coworker on a presentation, it should be easy to share files and collaborate in real-time.
Flexibility and customization options. Templates are great, but top presentation apps should enable you to customize just about everything—giving you the flexibility to build exactly what you need.
Affordability. Creating compelling presentations is important, but you shouldn't have to bust your budget to make it happen. With capable free tools on the market, affordability is a top consideration.
Standalone functionality. There's no reason to use multiple tools when one can do it all, so I didn't test any apps that require and work on top of another presentation app like PowerPoint or Google Slides.
Familiar, deck-based 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).
While most apps now offer AI features in one way or another, it isn't a universal feature yet—and some apps' AI features leave a lot to be desired. For that reason, I opted not to make AI features a strict must-have for this year (though it probably will be a requirement next time I update the article). That means I've still included some apps that don't offer AI—if you opt for one of those, you can still easily get AI-generated images and text from a separate tool and copy them into your presentation app of choice.
Beyond that, I also looked for presentation apps that brought something unique to the table—features above and beyond what you can get for free from a legacy solution like PowerPoint or Google Slides.
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
The best free presentation software, canva (web, windows, mac, android, ios).
Canva pros:
Excellent free plan
Tons of amazing templates for all use cases
Feature-rich
Canva cons:
The 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 has added a number of AI-powered tools , but I wasn't super impressed by them yet. The Magic Design tool, for example, isn't much more useful than the many pre-designed templates already available, while Magic Write is basically just white-labeled ChatGPT. These features will likely improve in time, but for now, you're better off starting from one of Canva's many great templates.
Canva pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $120/year for 1 user and include additional features like Brand Kit, premium templates and stock assets, and additional AI-powered design tools.
If you're looking for a capable free presentation tool with a more affordable upgrade, Zoho Show is worth a look. It's completely free for most features, offers a clean, intuitive editor, and includes a number of great templates. Plus, you can automate Zoho Show by connecting it with Zapier .
The best presentation app for AI-powered design
Beautiful.ai (web, mac, windows).
Beautiful.ai pros:
True AI design
No fussing around with alignment
Still allows for customization
Beautiful.ai cons:
No free plan
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.
If you're a founder looking for an AI presentation tool for your pitch deck, Slidebean is a great Beautiful.ai alternative for startups. The app offers a number of templates; a unique, content-first outline editor; and a generative AI tool that builds a whole pitch deck based on your website. I didn't include it on the list mainly because of the price: the free plan is quite limited, and the paid all-access plan can only be billed annually.
The best presentation app for conversational presentations
Prezi (web, mac, windows, ios, android).
Prezi pros:
Doesn't restrict you to standard presentation structure
Lots of customization options
Prezi Video lets you display a presentation right over your webcam video
Prezi cons:
Steep learning curve
Struggling to squeeze information into a basic, linear presentation? Give Prezi a try. Unlike nearly all other presentation apps on the market, Prezi Present doesn't restrict the structure of your presentation to a straight line. The editor focuses on topics and subtopics and allows you to arrange them any way you want, so you can create a more conversational flow of information.
With the structural flexibility, you still get all the same customization features you expect from top presentation software, including fully-editable templates. There's a learning curve if you're unfamiliar with non-linear presentations, but templates offer a great jumping-off point, and Prezi's editor does a good job of making the process more approachable.
Plus, Prezi comes with two other apps: Prezi Design and Prezi Video. Prezi Video helps you take remote presentations to a new level. You can record a video where the presentation elements are displayed right over your webcam feed. Record and save the video to share later, or connect with your video conferencing tool of choice (including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet) to present live.
Prezi'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.
Prezi pricing: Free 14-day trial and a free plan that includes up to 5 visual projects; paid plans start at $7/month and include additional features like private presentations and Prezi Present.
The best presentation app for video presentations
Powtoon (web, ios, android).
Powtoon pros:
Timing automatically changes based on the content on the slide
Can toggle between slideshow and video
Can orient presentation as horizontal, vertical, or square
Powtoon cons:
Limited free plan
Powtoon makes it easy to create engaging videos by orienting the editor around a slide deck. Editing a Powtoon feels just like editing a presentation, but by the time you finish, you have a professional video.
You can edit your slides at any time, and when you hit play, a video plays through your deck—the feel is almost like an animated explainer video. Each slide includes the animations you choose and takes up as much time as is needed based on the content on the slide. Powtoon figures the timing automatically, and you can see in the bottom-right of the editor how much time is used on your current slide versus the total presentation. If you ever want to present as a slide deck, just toggle between Slideshow and Movie.
You'll likely need to subscribe to a paid plan to get the most out of Powtoon—like creating videos longer than three minutes, downloading them as MP4 files, and white-labeling your presentations—but doing so won't break the bank. Plus, you'll unlock tons of templates complete with animations and soundtracks.
One of my favorite Powtoon features is the ability to orient your video: you can choose horizontal orientation (like a normal presentation) or opt for vertical (for mobile) or square (for social media). When your presentation is ready, you can publish straight to YouTube, Wistia, Facebook Ads, and any number of other locations.
Powtoon pricing: Limited free plan available; paid plans start at $15/month and include white-labeling, priority support, additional storage, and more.
The best presentation app for collaborating with your team
Pitch (web, mac, windows, ios, android).
Pitch pros:
Google levels of collaboration
Assign slides to specific team members
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.
Pitch pricing: Free plan offers unlimited presentations, custom templates, and live video collaboration; paid plans start at $22/month for 2 users with additional workspace features, presentation analytics, and more.
The best presentation app for conversational AI
Gamma (web).
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.
Gamma pricing: Free plan includes unlimited users, 400 AI deck credits, and basic view analytics; upgrade to the Plus plan for $8/user/month to get unlimited AI credits, remove Gamma branding, and more.
The best presentation app for audience engagement
Mentimeter (web).
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.
Mentimeter pricing: Free plan includes 50 participants per month and 34 different slide types; upgrade to the Basic plan for $11.99/presenter/month to get unlimited participants and slide types, private presentations, and more.
The best presentation app for generative AI
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.
Tome pricing: Free plan available for manual editing without AI; upgrade to the Professional plan for $16/user/month to use the generative AI and design tools, plus engagement analytics, branding tools, and more.
What about the old standbys?
You might notice a few major presentation players aren't on this list, including OGs Microsoft PowerPoint, Apple Keynote, and Google Slides. These apps are perfectly adequate for creating basic presentations, and they're free if you have a Windows or Mac device or a Google account.
I didn't include them on the list because the presentation space has really developed in the last several years, and after testing them out, I found these behemoths haven't kept pace. If they weren't made by Microsoft/Apple/Google, I might not even be mentioning them. They're pretty basic tools, they're behind the curve when it comes to templates (both quantity and design), and they don't offer any uniquely valuable features like robust team collaboration, branding controls, video, and so on.
Some of these companies (think: Microsoft and Google) are openly working on some pretty impressive-sounding AI features, but they haven't really been focused on their respective presentation solutions just yet. Rest assured, I'm watching this space, and the next time we update this article, I'll re-test tools like Copilot for PowerPoint and Gemini for Google Slides to see what new features may be available.
In any case, if you're reading this, you're probably looking for an alternative that allows you to move away from one of the big 3, and as the presentation platforms featured above show, there's a ton to gain—in terms of features, usability, and more—when you do.
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.
If you're looking to expand what you can do with PowerPoint or Google Slides, apps like Marq (formerly Lucidpress), Plus AI , Slidesgo , and Simplified can help you do things like access additional templates, save branded assets, and generate AI presentations from the app you're already using.
Related reading:
Canva AI tools to improve your design workflow
The best online whiteboards for collaboration
How to share a presentation on Zoom without sharing your browser tabs and address bar
This post was originally published in October 2014 and has since been updated with contributions from Danny Schreiber, Matthew Guay, Andrew Kunesh, and Krystina Martinez. The most recent update was in April 2024.
Get productivity tips delivered straight to your inbox
We’ll email you 1-3 times per week—and never share your information.
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.
- Presentations
Related articles
The best appointment schedulers and booking apps in 2024
The best appointment schedulers and booking...
The best AI content detectors in 2024
The 4 best AI website builders in 2024
The 12 best online form builder apps in 2024
Improve your productivity automatically. Use Zapier to get your apps working together.
What’s it for?
Make interactive presentations
Create show-stopping presentations and clickable slide decks with Genially’s free online presentation builder. Leave boring behind and tell a story that’s interactive, animated, and beautifully engaging.
INTERACTIVE CONTENT
A presentation that works like a website
Engage your audience with interactive slides that they can click on and explore. Add music, video, hotspots, popup windows, quiz games and interactive data visualizations in a couple of clicks. No coding required!
NO-CODE ANIMATION
Make your slides pop with animation
Bring a touch of movie magic to the screen with incredible visual effects and animated page transitions. Add click-trigger and timed animations to make any topic easy to understand and captivating to watch.
INTEGRATIONS
Live from the world wide web
Embed online content directly in your slides for a media-rich interactive experience. From YouTube and Spotify to Google Maps and Sheets, Genially works seamlessly with over 100 popular apps and websites.
TEMPLATES & TOOLKIT
Genius design tools
With Genially, anyone can create a polished and professional presentation. Choose from over 2000 pre-built templates, or create your own design using the drag-and-drop resources, color palettes, icons, maps and vector graphics.
ONLINE PLATFORM
Safe and sound in the cloud
Because Genially is online, you can relax knowing that your slides are always up-to-date. There’s no risk of forgetting to save changes or accessing the wrong file. Log in from anywhere, collaborate with your team, and make edits in real time.
All-in-one interactive presentation maker
Real-time collaboration
Co-edit slide decks with others in real time and organize all of your team projects in shared spaces.
Multi format
Present live, share the link, or download as an interactive PDF, MP4 video, JPG, HTML, or SCORM package.
Engagement Analytics
See how many people have viewed and clicked on your slides and keep tabs on learner progress with User Tracking.
Import from PPTX
Give your old decks a new lease of life by importing PowerPoint slides and transforming them with a little Genially magic.
Keep content on-brand with your logo, fonts, colors, brand assets, and team templates at your fingertips.
Quiz & Survey Builder
Use the Interactive Questions feature to add a fun quiz to your slides or gather feedback from your audience.
Beautiful templates
Make your next deck in a flash with Genially’s ready-to-use slides.
OKR Presentation
School Notebook Presentation
Animated Sketch Presentation
Minimal presentation
Land Of Magic Presentation
Onboarding presentation
Visual Presentation
Animated chalkboard presentation
Online Education Guide
Terrazzo presentation
Startup pitch
Historical presentation
THEMES FOR EVERYONE
Interactive presentation ideas
From classroom materials to business pitches, make an impact every day with Genially.
Education presentations
Pitch decks
Business presentations
Thesis defense
What our community says about us
Share anywhere
Present live
From the front of the room or behind a screen, you’ll wow your audience with Genially. Heading off grid? Download in HTML to present dynamic slides without WiFi.
Share the link
Every Genially slide deck has its own unique url, just like a website! Share the link so that others can explore at their own pace, or download an MP4 video slideshow or PDF.
Post online
Embed the slides on your website or post them on social media. Upload to Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom, Moodle or any other platform.
The benefits of interactive slides
🗣️ Active participation An interactive slide deck gives your audience cool things to click on and discover, boosting learning and engagement.
👂 Multi-sensory experience Audio, video, animations, and mouse interactions make your content immersive, entertaining and accessible.
🧑🤝🧑 People-friendly format Pop-ups and embeds condense more material into fewer slides so you can break information down into digestible chunks.
🎮 Gamification Games, quizzes and puzzles make information more memorable and enable you to gather feedback and check understanding.
How to make an interactive presentation
With Genially’s easy-to-use presentation platform, anyone can make incredible visual content in moments.
Choose a template or a blank canvas
Get stunning results in less time with a ready-made template. Feeling creative? Design your own slides from scratch.
Customize the design
Add animations and interactions
Resources to become a pro presentation creator
VIDEO TUTORIAL
How to create an interactive presentation: Get started in Genially.
EXPERT TIPS
How to present data without sending your audience to sleep.
MICRO COURSE
No-code animation: Bring your slides to life with cinematic visual effects.
PRESENTATION IDEAS
The art of digital storytelling: Engage and thrill on screen.
Genially in a nutshell
How do I make a presentation interactive and how does Genially work? Find the answers to all of your slide-related questions here!
What’s an interactive presentation?
Interactive slides contain clickable hotspots, links, buttons, and animations that are activated at the touch of a button. Instead of reading or watching passively, your audience can actively interact with the content.
Genially’s interaction presentation software allows you to combine text, photos, video clips, audio and other content in one deck. It’s a great way to condense more information into fewer slides.
If you’re a teacher, you can share multiple materials in one single learning resource. Students can create their own projects using digital media and online maps. For business or training, try embedding spreadsheet data, PDFs, and online content directly in your slides.
An interactive slide deck is more user-friendly than a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation or Google Slides document. That’s because you can break information down into chunks with pop-ups, labels, voiceovers and annotated infographics.
The other benefit of interactive content is increased engagement. It’s easier to keep your audience’s attention when they’re actively participating. Try Genially’s presentation software and free slideshow maker to see how it’s better than other presentation websites. You won’t go back to standard presentation apps!
How do you make a clickable slide?
The best way to make slides clickable is to use Genially’s free interactive presentation program. Design your slide then apply an interaction. In a couple of clicks, you can add popup windows, hyperlinks, close-up images, games, animations, multimedia and other content.
Choose from the library of hotspot buttons and icons to show people what to click on. Go to Presenter View to get a preview and see how your content will appear to your audience.
How do I create presentations that look professional?
You’ve got a deadline looming and you’re staring at the screen with a blank presentation. We’ve all been there! Starting a presentation design from scratch is tricky, especially if you’re short on time.
Genially’s free online presentation maker has over 2000 ready-to-use templates for professional slide presentations, photos slideshows, and more. Each slide design has been created by our team of top graphic designers. No need to worry about fonts, centering images, or designing a matching color scheme. It’s all done for you.
Start by browsing our layouts and themes for education, business and then customize with your own text and images.
How do I share or download my slides?
Because Genially is a cloud based presentation software, you can simply share the link to your slides. Like other online presentation tools, there are no files to download or store on your computer. Everything is saved online.
When you publish your slide deck, it gets its own unique url, just like a website. Share the link with others to let them explore the content in their own time. If you’re presenting live, just click the Present button.
You can also embed your presentation on your website, company wiki, or social media. Genially is compatible with WordPress, Moodle, Google Classroom, and other platforms. If you use an LMS, you can also download your interactive design slides in SCORM format.
For slideshow videos and slideshows with music, share online or download as an MP4 video. Check out our free slideshow templates for ideas.
Can I make a free presentation in Genially?
You bet! Genially is an easy-to-use slide maker, with a free version and paid plans. The free plan allows you to create unlimited slides with interactions and animations. Subscribe to one of our paid plans for more advanced features.
Discover a world of interactive content
Join the 25 million people designing incredible interactive experiences with Genially.
Presentations that move audiences
Refine, enhance, and tailor your content quicker than ever before.
Prezi is good for business
Keep teams engaged and customers asking for more
Prezi is smart for education
Make lessons more exciting and easier to remember
Millions of people — from students to CEOs — use Prezi to grab attention, stand out, and capture imaginations
The most engaging presentations happen on Prezi
Create with confidence
Professionally designed templates.
Choose from hundreds of modern, beautifully made templates.
Millions of reusable presentations
Focus on your own creativity and build off, remix, and reuse presentations from our extensive content library.
Real creative freedom
Open canvas.
Create, organize, and move freely on an open canvas. Create seamless presentations without the restrictions of linear slides.
Ready-made asset libraries
Choose from millions of images, stickers, GIFs, and icons from Unsplash and Giphy.
A presentation that works for you
Present in-person.
Have the confidence to deliver a memorable presentation with presenter notes and downloadable presentations.
Present over video conference
Keep your audience engaged by putting yourself in the center of your presentation.
Your own ideas, ready to present faster
Prezi AI is your new creative partner. Save time, amplify your ideas, and elevate your presentations.
The specialists on visual storytelling since 2009
From TED talks to classrooms. In every country across the world. Prezi has been a trusted presentation partner for over 15 years.
*independent Harvard study of Prezi vs. PowerPoint
See why our customers love us
Prezi is consistently awarded and ranks as the G2 leader across industries based on hundreds of glowing customer reviews.
Prezi powers the best presenters to do their best presentations
20 Great Examples of PowerPoint Presentation Design [+ Templates]
Published: January 17, 2024
When it comes to PowerPoint presentation design, there's no shortage of avenues you can take.
While all that choice — colors, formats, visuals, fonts — can feel liberating, it‘s important that you’re careful in your selection as not all design combinations add up to success.
In this blog post, I’m sharing some of my favorite PowerPoint tips and templates to help you nail your next presentation.
Table of Contents
What makes a good PowerPoint presentation?
Powerpoint design ideas, best powerpoint presentation slides, good examples of powerpoint presentation design.
In my opinion, a great PowerPoint presentation gets the point across succinctly while using a design that doesn't detract from it.
Here are some of the elements I like to keep in mind when I’m building my own.
1. Minimal Animations and Transitions
Believe it or not, animations and transitions can take away from your PowerPoint presentation. Why? Well, they distract from the content you worked so hard on.
A good PowerPoint presentation keeps the focus on your argument by keeping animations and transitions to a minimum. I suggest using them tastefully and sparingly to emphasize a point or bring attention to a certain part of an image.
2. Cohesive Color Palette
I like to refresh my memory on color theory when creating a new PowerPoint presentation.
A cohesive color palette uses complementary and analogous colors to draw the audience’s attention and help emphasize certain aspects at the right time.
10 Free PowerPoint Templates
Download ten free PowerPoint templates for a better presentation.
- Creative templates.
- Data-driven templates.
- Professional templates.
You're all set!
Click this link to access this resource at any time.
Tell us a little about yourself below to gain access today:
It‘s impossible for me to tell you the specific design ideas you should go after in your next PowerPoint, because, well, I don’t know what the goal of your presentation is.
Luckily, new versions of PowerPoint actually suggest ideas for you based on the content you're presenting. This can help you keep up with the latest trends in presentation design .
PowerPoint is filled with interesting boilerplate designs you can start with. To find these suggestions, open PowerPoint and click the “Design” tab in your top navigation bar. Then, on the far right side, you'll see the following choices:
1. “The Search for Meaning in B2B Marketing,” Velocity Partners
We've said it once , and I'll say it again: I love this presentation from Velocity Partner's Co-Founder Doug Kessler. Not only is the content remarkable, but the design is also quite clever.
What I like: While each slide employs the same background visual, the copy in the notebook unfolds brilliantly through a series of colorful doodles and bold text. This gives the presentation a personal feel, which aligns with the self-reflective nature of the concept.
2. “You Don't Suck at PowerPoint,” Jesse Desjardins
If the contrast used throughout this PowerPoint presentation design were a human, I'd marry it.
This skillful presentation from Jesse Desjardins employs the perfect color palette : balancing black and white photos with pops of fluorescent pink, yellow, and blue.
What I like: The cheeky vintage photos work to reinforce the copy on each slide, making the presentation both interesting and visually appealing.
3. “Accelerating Innovation in Energy,” Accenture
Balancing visual backgrounds with text isn't easy. More often than not, the text is formatted in a way that winds up getting lost in the image. Not for Accenture.
What I like: This presentation combated this issue by combining shapes and graphics to create contrast between the text and the background. Well done.
4. “Visual Design with Data,” Seth Familian
Whenever I’m tasked with presenting a lot of information in a little bit of time, things can get sort of messy. To simplify this type of presentation, I like to use a visual agenda like the one shown above.
What I like: This index clearly signifies the start and finish of each section to make it easier for the viewer to follow along. The presenter takes it further by including an additional agenda for each exercise, so that the audience knows exactly what they're supposed to do.
5. “How to Craft Your Company's Storytelling Voice,” MarketingProfs
Do you love these hand-drawn illustrations or do you love these hand-drawn illustrations? I mean, c'mon, this presentation by MarketingProf is amazing.
What I like: Certainly, it would have been easier to generate these designs online, but this approach highlights their commitment to creating an out-of-the-box piece of content. And as a result, this presentation stands out in the best way possible.
6. “Blitzscaling: Book Trailer,” Reid Hoffman
If you're going to go the minimalistic route, I’d take note of this PowerPoint presentation example from Reid Hoffman.
This clean design adheres to a simple, consistent color scheme with clean graphics peppered throughout to make the slides more visually interesting.
What I like: Overall there are no frills or unnecessary additions, which allows the informative content to take priority.
7. “Healthcare Napkins,” Dan Roam
This presentation dates back to 2009, but the design is still as good as ever. The colorful, quirky doodles help tell the story while also serving as an interesting way to illustrate data (see slides 20 and 21).
What I like: For visual learners, this approach is much more inviting than a series of slides riddled with text-heavy bullet points.
8. “One Can Be Diverse: An Essay on Diversity,” With Company
This presentation employs both powerful images and modern typography to illustrate the point.
What I like: While many of the slides contain long quotes, they are broken up in a way that makes them easily digestible. Not to mention all of the text is crisp, clean, and concise.
9. " 10 Things Your Audience Hates About Your Presentation ," Stinson
This simplistic presentation example employs several different colors and font weights, but instead of coming off as disconnected, the varied colors work with one another to create contrast and call out specific concepts.
What I like: The big, bold numbers help set the reader's expectations, as they clearly signify how far along the viewer is in the list of tips.
10. “Pixar's 22 Rules to Phenomenal Storytelling,” Gavin McMahon
This presentation by Gavin McMahon features color in all the right places. While each of the background images boasts a bright, spotlight-like design, all the characters are intentionally blacked out.
What I like: This helps keep the focus on the tips, while still incorporating visuals. Not to mention, it's still easy for me to identify each character without the details. (I found you on slide eight, Nemo.)
11. “Facebook Engagement and Activity Report,” We Are Social
Here's another great example of data visualization in the wild.
What I like: Rather than displaying numbers and statistics straight up, this presentation calls upon interesting, colorful graphs, and charts to present the information in a way that just makes sense.
12. “The GaryVee Content Model,” Gary Vaynerchuk
This wouldn‘t be a true Gary Vaynerchuk presentation if it wasn’t a little loud, am I right?
What I like: Aside from the fact that I love the eye-catching, bright yellow background, Vaynerchuk does a great job of incorporating screenshots on each slide to create a visual tutorial that coincides with the tips. He also does a great job including a visual table of contents that shows your progress as you go .
13. “20 Tweetable Quotes to Inspire Marketing & Design Creative Genius,” IMPACT Branding & Design
We‘ve all seen our fair share of quote-chronicling presentations but that isn’t to say they were all done well. Often the background images are poor quality, the text is too small, or there isn't enough contrast.
Well, this professional presentation from IMPACT Branding & Design suffers from none of said challenges.
What I like: The colorful filters over each background image create just enough contrast for the quotes to stand out.
14. “The Great State of Design,” Stacy Kvernmo
This presentation offers up a lot of information in a way that doesn't feel overwhelming.
What I like: The contrasting colors create visual interest and “pop,” and the comic images (slides 6 through 12) are used to make the information seem less buttoned-up and overwhelming.
15. “Clickbait: A Guide To Writing Un-Ignorable Headlines,” Ethos3
Not going to lie, it was the title that convinced me to click through to this presentation but the awesome design kept me there once I arrived.
What I like: This simple design adheres to a consistent color pattern and leverages bullet points and varied fonts to break up the text nicely.
16. “Digital Transformation in 50 Soundbites,” Julie Dodd
This design highlights a great alternative to the “text-over-image” display we've grown used to seeing.
What I like: By leveraging a split-screen approach to each presentation slide, Julie Dodd was able to serve up a clean, legible quote without sacrificing the power of a strong visual.
17. “Fix Your Really Bad PowerPoint,” Slide Comet
When you‘re creating a PowerPoint about how everyone’s PowerPoints stink, yours had better be terrific. The one above, based on the ebook by Seth Godin, keeps it simple without boring its audience.
What I like: Its clever combinations of fonts, together with consistent color across each slide, ensure you're neither overwhelmed nor unengaged.
18. “How Google Works,” Eric Schmidt
Simple, clever doodles tell the story of Google in a fun and creative way. This presentation reads almost like a storybook, making it easy to move from one slide to the next.
What I like: This uncluttered approach provides viewers with an easy-to-understand explanation of a complicated topic.
19. “What Really Differentiates the Best Content Marketers From The Rest,” Ross Simmonds
Let‘s be honest: These graphics are hard not to love. I especially appreciate the author’s cartoonified self-portrait that closes out the presentation. Well played, Ross Simmonds.
What I like: Rather than employing the same old stock photos, this unique design serves as a refreshing way to present information that's both valuable and fun.
20. “Be A Great Product Leader,” Adam Nash
This presentation by Adam Nash immediately draws attention by putting the company's logo first — a great move if your company is well known.
What I like: He uses popular images, such as ones of Megatron and Pinocchio, to drive his points home. In the same way, you can take advantage of popular images and media to keep your audience engaged.
PowerPoint Presentation Examples for the Best Slide Presentation
Mastering a PowerPoint presentation begins with the design itself.
Get inspired by my ideas above to create a presentation that engages your audience, builds upon your point, and helps you generate leads for your brand.
Editor's note: This post was originally published in March 2013 and has been updated for comprehensiveness. This article was written by a human, but our team uses AI in our editorial process. Check out our full disclosure to learn more about how we use AI.
Don't forget to share this post!
Related articles.
17 PowerPoint Presentation Tips From Pro Presenters [+ Templates]
How to Write an Ecommerce Business Plan [Examples & Template]
How to Create an Infographic in Under an Hour — the 2024 Guide [+ Free Templates]
Get Buyers to Do What You Want: The Power of Temptation Bundling in Sales
How to Create an Engaging 5-Minute Presentation
How to Start a Presentation [+ Examples]
120 Presentation Topic Ideas Help You Hook Your Audience
How to Create the Best PowerPoint Presentations [Examples & Templates]
The Presenter's Guide to Nailing Your Next PowerPoint
How to Create a Stunning Presentation Cover Page [+ Examples]
Marketing software that helps you drive revenue, save time and resources, and measure and optimize your investments — all on one easy-to-use platform
Microsoft 365 Basic now includes ransomware protection for your files and photos at no extra cost.
Use Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more for free on the web
Office is now Microsoft 365
Get the free Microsoft 365 mobile app*
Start using Microsoft 365 today
Anywhere access
Whether you’re at work or on the go, create your best work on your favorite browser.
Familiar experience
The familiar Microsoft 365 experience you know and trust, so there’s nothing new to learn.
Work with anyone
Share your documents with anyone and work together in real-time.
Word for the web
Craft great-looking resumes, newsletters, and documents while inviting others to review and coauthor in real time. Plus, access free Word templates, formatting tools for APA, MLA, and Chicago style, and add functionality with free add-ins.
Excel for the web
Organize your data in familiar spreadsheets and workbooks, with all changes saved automatically. Create modern visuals that turn numbers into valuable insights. Work together in real time knowing that everyone is on the same page.
PowerPoint for the web
Turn your ideas into compelling presentations using professional-looking templates. Use animations, transitions, photos, and videos to tell one-of-a-kind stories. Co-author team presentations at the same time, from anywhere.
Start now at Microsoft365.com
No installation required. It's free.
* Availability of mobile apps varies by country/region.
Follow Microsoft 365
- Chat with sales
- Contact sales
Available M-F 9 AM to 6 PM.
5 Free Alternatives To Microsoft PowerPoint
M icrosoft PowerPoint has always been the default choice for creating professional meeting briefs or fun little project demonstrations in schools. Its inclusion as a free service for students or working professionals makes it a no-brainer to use. However, for the general public, it can get quite expensive to pay for a subscription just to be able to create simple presentation slides. Although you can subscribe to Microsoft's Office Suite and get more bang for your buck, the pricing still doesn't hit the affordable range for most.
Fortunately, completion has been growing, and a sea of strong contenders offer similar services to PowerPoint. After considering feature sets, here are five of the best free alternatives to Microsoft PowerPoint. At the end of the article, you can find a detailed explanation of why we've chosen the services, alongside useful comparisons that may help you make your decision easier.
Read more: The 20 Best Mac Apps That Will Improve Your Apple Experience
When it comes to productivity apps, Zoho makes some of the better ones in the market. Zoho Sheet, for example, is one of the best Microsoft Excel alternatives out there — owing to its extensive product catalog, there is a great way to view and edit presentations. The aptly named Zoho Show lets you design and demonstrate professional-looking slides, all without having to download the program.
Zoho takes a minimal approach to most of its services, and its PowerPoint application is no different. You'll find that most menus are contextually aware of what tasks you're currently performing, which helps keep unnecessary tools out of the way and bring the important ones in focus. There is also a huge library of customizable templates you can choose from, making it easier to kickstart your presentation work.
Zoho Show is completely free to use for individuals and offers unlimited cloud storage. No features are locked behind a paywall, and rest assured, you can fully rely on this online presentation-making tool for all your needs, be it for school or work.
Canva is a service that can easily climb up to becoming everyone's favorite once they start using it. While most applaud it for its graphic designing prowess, there are many other things Canva can do that you probably aren't aware of . Among them is the ability to craft beautiful slides for your presentations and projects.
By creating a free account, you can access thousands of templates on Canva. You can filter these by use case—maybe you need one for a professional business briefing or a casual one explaining why your pet dog is the best canine. There is a whole section of ready-to-use templates dedicated to mobile-friendly viewing as well, which is something you don't usually find to be as accessible with other tools.
Like most presentation apps, Canva lets you collaborate with your team members and work across devices seamlessly. The Canva app for mobile also lets you control your slides remotely during your presentation. Some menus also feature AI-featured tools to add one-click enhancements to your slides -- unfortunately, these are locked behind premium subscription tiers. However, for the cent percent of the population, Canva can be used without spending a dime to meet a plethora of creative needs.
Apple takes great pride in developing in-house solutions to meet every user requirement. While most of its products dominate the competition in popularity, the same cannot be said for Keynote , the company's version of Microsoft PowerPoint. The program was first released in 2003 with macOS Big Sur and has largely remained one of those icons you glance over and forget about.
However, recent versions of Keynote have made it a compelling alternative to PowerPoint. Not only is it pre-installed on every Apple device, including your iPhone, but it also works best with the iPad touchscreen. Keynote has a largely clean and professional approach to the built-in templates, but nothing is stopping you from going creative. Animations are one of Keynote's strongest suits, allowing you to create near cinematic-looking presentations with just a few clicks.
While you can still use Apple Keynote through iCloud on Windows devices, this alternative is clearly meant for people surrounded by the walled garden of Apple technology. It makes use of features like AirDrop, Live Photos, and VoiceOver — all of which are technologies available across Apple devices. Using Apple Keynote is completely free, and the app has easy exporting tools that make working with Microsoft PowerPoint less of a hassle.
WPS Presentation
WPS Office makes some of the best solutions for creating and editing documents on smartphones , but their service offerings extend to Windows, macOS, and even Linux. WPS Presentation is perhaps the closest you'll get to Microsoft PowerPoint in terms of the user interface and how most tools are bundled in familiar locations.
This PowerPoint app offers real-time collaboration where you can invite your team members and work on the same document remotely. Like most collaboration tools, users can leave comments to suggest changes or add information for other people on the team.
WPS Presentation is not the only free product; you can utilize every app in the WPS Office suite. Unlike most competitors, you don't need to download or use a separate mini-app to make presentations. WPS Office has a document editor, PowerPoint creator, spreadsheet manager, and other tools all within its umbrella. Premium plans for this service exist, but they mostly cater to unlocking features for editing PDFs.
Google Slides
As a netizen, you most likely already have a Google account. Not only is it required to make any meaningful use of your Android phone, but popular services that we take for granted, like Gmail and Drive, all fall under Google's umbrella. One such free service that the tech giant has at its disposal is Google Slides . While the barebones UI might seem lackluster at first, Slides has nearly the same level of functionality as Microsoft PowerPoint and can even be supercharged by add-ons.
All of Google's workspace apps, such as Docs, Sheets, and Slides, provide an intuitive way to work in a team. You can add comments, use annotations, and share the presentation with limited access to others. You can use one of the many predesigned Google Slides templates for simple presentations , or browse for templates that cater to specific needs. Being part of a bigger service catalog has its obvious advantages, such as seamless integration with Google Meet, Gmail, and other products from Google that you already use.
We recommend Google Slides to anyone who needs to create and edit PowerPoint presentations on the go and can't be bothered with working in a complicated environment. The service is also available as an app for Android and iOS, and you can export your presentations in a wide range of formats, including PPT, PDF, or PNG for individual slides.
To Pay Or Not To Pay?
You'll notice that all the services we've mentioned on this list are free to use. In fact, you can use Office 365 apps online for free — including PowerPoint, which makes purchasing a standalone subscription to the Microsoft PowerPoint app quite redundant. However, nearly every free alternative here short of Keynote also offers premium plans, but should you consider buying one?
For the vast majority of people who are looking for a robust software to create, edit, and share presentations with — these free options deliver exceptionally well in every aspect. Some apps like Google Slides and Apple Keynote let you work in smaller teams with the free tier as well. Apps like WPS Office and Canva tend to lock new and exciting features like AI tools behind a paywall, and while these are nice to have, you definitely can do without them.
If you're looking for a presentation tool for a company with multiple people, you can scale up using any of the alternatives mentioned on this list. Both Google Workspace and Zoho offer reliable and enterprise-level plans you can upgrade to. For everyone else — enjoy creating and demonstrating your PowerPoint presentations for free.
Read the original article on SlashGear .
How-To Geek
6 ways to create more interactive powerpoint presentations.
Engage your audience with cool, actionable features.
Quick Links
- Add a QR code
- Embed Microsoft Forms (Education or Business Only)
- Embed a Live Web Page
- Add Links and Menus
- Add Clickable Images to Give More Info
- Add a Countdown Timer
We've all been to a presentation where the speaker bores you to death with a mundane PowerPoint presentation. Actually, the speaker could have kept you much more engaged by adding some interactive features to their slideshow. Let's look into some of these options.
1. Add a QR code
Adding a QR code can be particularly useful if you want to direct your audience to an online form, website, or video.
Some websites have in-built ways to create a QR code. For example, on Microsoft Forms , when you click "Collect Responses," you'll see the QR code option via the icon highlighted in the screenshot below. You can either right-click the QR code to copy and paste it into your presentation, or click "Download" to add it to your device gallery to insert the QR code as a picture.
In fact, you can easily add a QR code to take your viewer to any website. On Microsoft Edge, right-click anywhere on a web page where there isn't already a link, and left-click "Create QR Code For This Page."
You can also create QR codes in other browsers, such as Chrome.
You can then copy or download the QR code to use wherever you like in your presentation.
2. Embed Microsoft Forms (Education or Business Only)
If you plan to send your PPT presentation to others—for example, if you're a trainer sending step-by-step instruction presentation, a teacher sending an independent learning task to your students, or a campaigner for your local councilor sending a persuasive PPT to constituents—you might want to embed a quiz, questionnaire, pole, or feedback survey in your presentation.
In PowerPoint, open the "Insert" tab on the ribbon, and in the Forms group, click "Forms". If you cannot see this option, you can add new buttons to the ribbon .
As at April 2024, this feature is only available for those using their work or school account. We're using a Microsoft 365 Personal account in the screenshot below, which is why the Forms icon is grayed out.
Then, a sidebar will appear on the right-hand side of your screen, where you can either choose a form you have already created or opt to craft a new form.
Now, you can share your PPT presentation with others , who can click the fields and submit their responses when they view the presentation.
3. Embed a Live Web Page
You could always screenshot a web page and paste that into your PPT, but that's not a very interactive addition to your presentation. Instead, you can embed a live web page into your PPT so that people with access to your presentation can interact actively with its contents.
To do this, we will need to add an add-in to our PPT account .
Add-ins are not always reliable or secure. Before installing an add-in to your Microsoft account, check that the author is a reputable company, and type the add-in's name into a search engine to read reviews and other users' experiences.
To embed a web page, add the Web Viewer add-in ( this is an add-in created by Microsoft ).
Go to the relevant slide and open the Web Viewer add-in. Then, copy and paste the secure URL into the field box, and remove https:// from the start of the address. In our example, we will add a selector wheel to our slide. Click "Preview" to see a sample of the web page's appearance in your presentation.
This is how ours will look.
When you or someone with access to your presentation views the slideshow, this web page will be live and interactive.
4. Add Links and Menus
As well as moving from one slide to the next through a keyboard action or mouse click, you can create links within your presentation to direct the audience to specific locations.
To create a link, right-click the outline of the clickable object, and click "Link."
In the Insert Hyperlink dialog box, click "Place In This Document," choose the landing destination, and click "OK."
What's more, to make it clear that an object is clickable, you can use action buttons. Open the "Insert" tab on the ribbon, click "Shape," and then choose an appropriate action button. Usefully, PPT will automatically prompt you to add a link to these shapes.
You might also want a menu that displays on every slide. Once you have created the menu, add the links using the method outlined above. Then, select all the items, press Ctrl+C (copy), and then use Ctrl+V to paste them in your other slides.
5. Add Clickable Images to Give More Info
Through PowerPoint's animations, you can give your viewer the power to choose what they see and when they see it. This works nicely whether you're planning to send your presentation to others to run through independently or whether you're presenting in front of a group and want your audience to decide which action they want to take.
Start by creating the objects that will be clickable (trigger) and the items that will appear (pop-up).
Then, select all the pop-ups together. When you click "Animations" on the ribbon and choose an appropriate animation for the effect you want to achieve, this will be applied to all objects you have selected.
The next step is to rename the triggers in your presentation. To do this, open the "Home" tab, and in the Editing group, click "Select", and then "Selection Pane."
With the Selection Pane open, select each trigger on your slide individually, and rename them in the Selection Pane, so that they can be easily linked to in the next step.
Finally, go back to the first pop-up. Open the "Animations" tab, and in the Advanced Animation group, click the "Trigger" drop-down arrow. Then, you can set the item to appear when a trigger is clicked in your presentation.
If you want your item to disappear when the trigger is clicked again, select the pop-up, click "Add Animation" in the Advanced Animation group, choose an Exit animation, and follow the same step to link that animation to the trigger button.
6. Add a Countdown Timer
A great way to get your audience to engage with your PPT presentation is to keep them on edge by adding a countdown timer. Whether you're leading a presentation and want to let your audience stop to discuss a topic, or running an online quiz with time-limit questions, having a countdown timer means your audience will keep their eye on your slide throughout.
To do this, you need to animate text boxes or shapes containing your countdown numbers. Choose and format a shape and type the highest number that your countdown clock will need. In our case, we're creating a 10-second timer.
Now, with your shape selected, open the "Animations" tab on the ribbon and click the animation drop-down arrow. Then, in the Exit menu, click "Disappear."
Open the Animation Pane, and click the drop-down arrow next to the animation you've just added. From there, choose "Timing."
Make sure "On Click" is selected in the Start menu, and change the Delay option to "1 second," before clicking "OK."
Then, with this shape still selected, press Ctrl+C (copy), and then Ctrl+V (paste). In the second box, type 9 . With the Animation Pane still open and this second shape selected, click the drop-down arrow and choose "Timing" again. Change the Start option to "After Previous," and make sure the Delay option is 1 second. Then, click "OK."
We can now use this second shape as our template, as when we copy and paste it again, the animations will also duplicate. With this second shape selected, press Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V, type 8 into the box, and continue to do the same until you get to 0 .
Next, remove the animations from the "0" box, as you don't want this to disappear. To do this, click the shape, and in the Animation Pane drop-down, click "Remove."
You now need to layer them in order. Right-click the box containing number 1, and click "Bring To Front." You will now see that box on the top. Do the same with the other numbers in ascending order.
Finally, you need to align the objects together. Click anywhere on your slide and press Ctrl+A. Then, in the Home tab on the ribbon, click "Arrange." First click "Align Center," and then bring the menu up again, so that you can click "Align Middle."
Press Ctrl+A again to select your timer, and you can then move your timer or copy and paste it elsewhere.
Press F5 to see the presentation in action, and when you get to the slide containing the timer, click anywhere on the slide to see your countdown timer in action!
Now that your PPT presentation is more interactive, make sure you've avoided these eight common presentational mistakes before you present your slides.
- Weird But True
- Sex & Relationships
- Viral Trends
- Human Interest
- Fashion & Beauty
- Food & Drink
trending now in Lifestyle
Dear Abby: I spent a decade faithful to my wife just to find she...
My husband said he wants to divorce because I breastfed my son:...
Brazen couple has sex romp in packed NYC park in full view of...
I caught my dad watching my OnlyFans and that's not even the...
Video showing how McDonald's burgers are made ripped online: 'I...
Mommy blogger slams beloved childrens' book 'Love You Forever,'...
Space laser transmission strikes Earth from 140 million miles...
4 morning habits to ditch for a happier day — and 5 to do...
Breaking news, gen z thinks the best kind of party is to make powerpoint presentations together.
- View Author Archive
- Email the Author
- Follow on Twitter
- Get author RSS feed
Contact The Author
Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.
Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.
PowerPoints are all the rager.
Gen Z’s idea of “work-life balance” was stifled during the COVID-19 lockdown — and now their parties even feature PowerPoint presentations.
A PowerPoint party is pretty self-explanatory: People get together and show each other PP presentations on a topic of their choosing for “fun.”
The, um, point is for friends to get to know each other’s silly, niche interests and funny thoughts.
The get-togethers rose in popularity during the pandemic, but they’re still a big hit among Gen Z today — despite utilizing something seen regularly in corporate environments.
Searching for PowerPoint parties on TikTok will bring up an endless stream of examples, with topics including A-list actor Pedro Pascal , “ Things that give me the ick ” and a meta presentation of “guessing what PowerPoint everyone prepared.”
It’s such a common occurrence that Cosmopolitan even put out a list of “55 PowerPoint Night Ideas to Spice Up Your Next at-Home Hang.” Some examples include Disney Channel movie supremacy, the most iconic set of twins in history, and the best chain restaurant and why.
People tend to be quite split on whether they find PowerPoint parties fun.
McCall Mirabella told CNN that she asked all her friends to prepare a PowerPoint for her recent 21st birthday celebration — and she loved it.
“They’re so unserious,” she told the outlet of PP nights she’s attended and hosted. “Most of the time, people are left crying from laughing so hard, or bent over wheezing.”
Others disagree, thinking we should leave the PowerPoints in the office — and not bring them into the home.
“I love my friends, and also I absolutely do not want to do this with any of them,” Emily Stewart of Business Insider wrote about the “weird” craze. “Must we turn something we do at work into something we do in our personal lives? Just hanging out without a plan is fine and pleasant.”
Why Gen Z is so infatuated with PowerPoints as a fun pastime isn’t exactly clear.
Perhaps their work and personal lives are blurred due to remote work, or maybe they’re just used to interacting via technology rather than in person.
Share this article:
Got any suggestions?
We want to hear from you! Send us a message and help improve Slidesgo
Top searches
Trending searches
memorial day
12 templates
17 templates
26 templates
20 templates
american history
73 templates
11 templates
School Presentation templates
Use the best school powerpoint templates and google slides themes to engage your students and educators with your presentations. all slide designs are easy to edit and 100% free to use..
World Health Day Activities for Elementary
Download the "World Health Day Activities for Elementary" presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and easily edit it to fit your own lesson plan! Designed specifically for elementary school education, this eye-catching design features engaging graphics and age-appropriate fonts; elements that capture the students' attention and make the learning experience...
Premium template
Unlock this template and gain unlimited access
Multiplying Integers
Download the "Multiplying Integers" presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and teach with confidence. Sometimes, teachers need a little bit of help, and there's nothing wrong with that. We're glad to lend you a hand! Since Slidesgo is committed to making education better for everyone, we've joined hands with educators....
Online Language Center
Download the Online Language Center presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. Are you looking for a way to make your school or academy stand out among the competition? This template is designed to showcase all the fantastic aspects of your center. With perfect slides that allow you to easily add...
Notebook Lesson
These are the last days before the Summer break! We know that there are some pending lessons that you need to prepare for your students. As they may be thinking about their friends and their holidays, catch their attention with this cool template!
World Health Day Activities for Middle School
Download the "World Health Day Activities for Middle School" presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. If you’re looking for a way to motivate and engage students who are undergoing significant physical, social, and emotional development, then you can’t go wrong with an educational template designed for Middle School by Slidesgo!...
Ballpoint Pen Planner
The ballpoint pen is considered one of the most important inventions of history. Did you know that Ladislao Biro, its inventor, got the idea from a group of children that were playing in the street? They were rolling a ball trough a puddle, and it would leave a trace. That...
DNA Lesson for High School
Download the "DNA Lesson for High School" presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. High school students are approaching adulthood, and therefore, this template’s design reflects the mature nature of their education. Customize the well-defined sections, integrate multimedia and interactive elements and allow space for research or group projects—the possibilities of...
Ideas for Incorporating Movement in the Classroom
Download the "Ideas for Incorporating Movement in the Classroom" presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and teach with confidence. Sometimes, teachers need a little bit of help, and there's nothing wrong with that. We're glad to lend you a hand! Since Slidesgo is committed to making education better for everyone,...
Team Building Class for Elementary
Your students spend most of their days at school, so building a good atmosphere in the class is vital for their happiness. Why don’t you dedicate a day to team building activities? This will help new students make friends and older students create deeper relationships with their classmates. It that...
Pretty Aesthetic Notes for School
You've seen many notebooks. Now, you'll see the ultimate one! Well, we may be exaggerating a bit, but we're very proud of the aesthetics of this new template! Each slide looks like a page of a notebook, complete with doodles, some stickers and a handwritten font for the titles. It's...
School Subjects and Classroom Objects - German - 2nd Grade
Download the "School Subjects and Classroom Objects - German - 2nd Grade" presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and easily edit it to fit your own lesson plan! Designed specifically for elementary school education, this eye-catching design features engaging graphics and age-appropriate fonts; elements that capture the students' attention and...
No More Interrupting
Download the "No More Interrupting" presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and teach with confidence. Sometimes, teachers need a little bit of help, and there's nothing wrong with that. We're glad to lend you a hand! Since Slidesgo is committed to making education better for everyone, we've joined hands with...
Food and Drink Vocabulary - Spanish - 1st Grade
Download the "Food and Drink Vocabulary - Spanish - 1st Grade" presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and easily edit it to fit your own lesson plan! Designed specifically for elementary school education, this eye-catching design features engaging graphics and age-appropriate fonts; elements that capture the students' attention and make...
Project Evaluation in Pre-K and Elementary
Download the "Project Evaluation in Pre-K and Elementary" presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and prepare to receive useful information. Even though teachers are responsible for disseminating knowledge to their students, they also embarked on a learning journey since the day they decided to dedicate themselves to education. You might...
Dividing Integers
Download the "Dividing Integers" presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and teach with confidence. Sometimes, teachers need a little bit of help, and there's nothing wrong with that. We're glad to lend you a hand! Since Slidesgo is committed to making education better for everyone, we've joined hands with educators....
Building Positive Relationships and Conflict Resolution - 4th Grade
Download the "Building Positive Relationships and Conflict Resolution - 4th Grade" presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and easily edit it to fit your own lesson plan! Designed specifically for elementary school education, this eye-catching design features engaging graphics and age-appropriate fonts; elements that capture the students' attention and make...
Elegant Education Pack for Students
The way in which we study has changed drastically in the last year, that's why we need to be more organized than ever. In Slidesgo we want to help your students and have designed this elegant template full of resources for your classes. We added everything you could possibly ask...
Meet Our Professors
The beginning of the school year is always synonymous with nerves for teachers and students. To break the ice, why not introduce your professors in a different way? We propose you this original template with a dark background and abstract and colorful shapes. It features doodle-style illustrations related to teaching,...
- Page 1 of 157
New! Make quick presentations with AI
Slidesgo AI presentation maker puts the power of design and creativity in your hands, so you can effortlessly craft stunning slideshows in minutes.
Register for free and start editing online
The weird PowerPoint craze
Exhibit A that work still dominates our lives: PowerPoint parties
The pandemic made hanging out weird in a lot of ways. Group activities became highly coordinated — if they happened at all. There was a ream of questions to answer before even the most casual interactions: Who's going to be there? Who else have they seen lately? Are they vaccinated? Have they tested recently? Even once you got to wherever you were going, there were rules and expectations. You were supposed to awkwardly stand or sit 6 feet away from each other and try to figure out what everyone was saying from behind a mask, with all the muffled noises and half-blocked facial expressions that came with them. A lot of social interactions moved online, which came with its own sense of formality — group Peloton rides , Zoom trivia, whatever the Houseparty app was , or Clubhouse . Chill time, for good reason, required work to achieve.
Over the past few years, life has become much more normal for many people. They're back in the office, going to restaurants and live events, gathering with friends and family in person. Some of the structured nature of their social interactions, however, have not reverted to their previous form. The stilted nature of some pandemic-era habits — many that come with a dash of work — stuck around as a permanent feature. Case in point: the PowerPoint party, where people get together to show each other presentations on various topics in the name of having fun.
PowerPoint parties supposedly started in 2012 as "drink, talk, and learn" gatherings in Canada. Over time, they spread. Kids at Harvard were doing them in 2018 because, come on, it's Harvard kids. Of course, they were. When COVID-19 hit, they really took off, especially among the youngs. It made some sense during the period when we were trapped inside. It's easy enough to share your screen on Zoom or Google Meet, and it was better to have some sort of activity to do instead of just staring at people's faces (and your own) for the eighth day in a row.
But even as we've gotten back to normal hangouts, people are still connecting their laptops to TVs and sharing slides in social settings. Take a spin around TikTok, and you can find loads of PowerPoint-party content. There are presentations on which Beyoncé songs best represent each friend, what to do if you're trapped in an elevator, or whether pigeons are a pest or a pet. In March, Cosmopolitan put out a list of 55 PowerPoint ideas to "spice up your next at-home hang," which included ideas such as making a pitch for each of your friends' celebrity look-alike or "ranking cartoon characters by hotness."
Must we turn something we do at work into something we do in our personal lives? Just hanging out without a plan is fine and pleasant.
I guess I can see how this might be enjoyable, and some of the presentations do seem genuinely clever and funny, but I don't know, man. I love my friends, and also I absolutely do not want to do this with any of them.
Sure, a PowerPoint night is not that far off from, say, a game or movie night. It's a chance to be creative and turn something you do at work into something silly and social. But also, must we turn something we do at work into something we do in our personal lives? Just hanging out without a plan is fine and pleasant. Spontaneity is exciting! Another way to be creative is to put yourself in a situation where you have to be creative by thinking on your feet about conversation topics and activities at random.
The rise of the PowerPoint party also speaks to the workification of our day-to-day lives. The border between work and time off has been blurring for years. The ability to always respond to emails or messages on your phone has made "personal" time more porous . And especially among young, ambitious people, there's a sense that you constantly have to be busy, that everything has to be optimized, that there's always space for programming or growth. People post their workouts on Strava to show off their activity and compare it with their friends' and obsess over their VO2 max to track their fitness. They maintain tightly managed to-do lists and approach even a casual encounter like a networking opportunity. It's a constant rat race that feels exhausting. Even if it's supposed to be goofy, making a presentation for a party entails a level of productivity that we already have to bring to so many other spaces at work or school.
We should be able to embrace unstructured time. Indeed, culturally, that's a norm that's declining, especially for kids. As Vox's Anna North laid out last year , the amount of children's unstructured playtime in the US dropped by 25% from 1981 to 1997. For various reasons, kids don't have as much experience just getting along doing stuff on their own anymore, which can influence their sense of autonomy and deprive them of opportunities to develop important social skills and tools to combat anxiety and depression. It may also mean that as adults, they struggle to go with the flow. Perhaps it's no surprise that young adults who had their childhood activities scheduled down to the minute are embracing the PowerPoint party. But unstructured time is good for people of all ages. It can help with stress and anxiety, add space for rest, relaxation, and creativity, and give people a mental break.
Even if it's supposed to be goofy, making a presentation for a party entails a level of productivity that we already have to bring to so many other spaces at work or school.
Instead of embracing a bit more randomness, people are constantly squeezing friends and family into their calendars. It's not uncommon for someone to send out a Google form to pick out a new book-club book and date, just like they might at work. Responding to a group text message using classic office speak like "touch base" or "circle back" has become the norm in some circles. And, yes, this isn't to say there hadn't been theme parties that required a little planning or game nights with structure, but using products made by tech giants like Microsoft and Google to enjoy a night in with friends feels a lot sadder than relearning the rules of Monopoly. Bonding is important for forming relationships, and collective effervescence is a real thing, but it's hard not to wonder whether there are ways to achieve those things without emulating what we do 9 to 5 or requiring homework before the "fun" begins.
If you absolutely insist on having a PowerPoint party, God bless. Good for you. I don't want to yuck your yum. But also, maybe think about why you feel the need to do it, and, really, don't invite me.
Emily Stewart is a senior correspondent at Business Insider, writing about business and the economy.
About Discourse Stories
Through our Discourse journalism, Business Insider seeks to explore and illuminate the day’s most fascinating issues and ideas. Our writers provide thought-provoking perspectives, informed by analysis, reporting, and expertise. Read more Discourse stories here .
Related stories
More from Tech
Most popular
- Main content
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
With Visme's Presenter Studio, you can record your presentation and share it with your audience. Record your screen, audio, and video, or switch off your camera for an audio-only presentation. Present asynchronously on your own time, at your own pace. Let your colleagues watch it at their convenience. Create Your Presentation.
Use Google Slides to create online slideshows. Make beautiful presentations together with secure sharing in real-time and from any device.
5. SlideShare Scribd. SlideShare Scribd isn't a presentation authoring software tool, but rather a free presentation sharing software tool. If you need to get your slideshow in front of a large professional audience, then this online presentation software is worth knowing about.
Plus, you can easily download and convert your presentation as PNG (opens in a new tab or window), JPEG (opens in a new tab or window), PDF (opens in a new tab or window), or PDF files. Or, you can also convert your slides as PowerPoint or Google Slides presentations. The best feature-rich PowerPoint alternative
Free online presentation maker. Try our new tool to edit this selection of templates for people that want to let their creativity run free. Create interactive resources easily, quickly and without the need for any software. A really useful tool for teachers and students. Move the content, add images, change colors and fonts or, if you prefer ...
Choose a design from our presentation templates or create your own from scratch. Customize your presentation with colors, fonts, and key information. Add animations, videos, images, illustrations. Use assets and other media content from your Brand Kit (Pro) to stay consistent with your business or school brand.
Record and share your presentations so your audience can watch when it works best for them. Stay safe. Your data is encrypted by default, and an array of safety measures - like advanced client-side encryption, ... You can convert Microsoft PowerPoint presentations into Google Slides format, or you can directly edit PowerPoint presentations ...
One person. Sharing and real-time collaboration. PowerPoint for the web and PowerPoint desktop app for offline use. Premium templates, fonts, icons, and stickers with thousands of options to choose from. Dictation, voice commands, and transcription. Advanced spelling and grammar, in-app learning tips, use in 20+ languages, and more.
The best presentation software. Canva for a free presentation app. Beautiful.ai for AI-powered design. Prezi for non-linear, conversational presentations. Powtoon for video presentations. Pitch for collaborating with your team on presentations. Gamma for conversational AI features.
Download your presentation as a PowerPoint template or use it online as a Google Slides theme. 100% free, no registration or download limits. Content PowerPoint
An interactive slide deck is more user-friendly than a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation or Google Slides document. ... The best way to make slides clickable is to use Genially's free interactive presentation program. Design your slide then apply an interaction. ... Genially's free online presentation maker has over 2000 ready-to-use ...
Design powerful slides with an online. presentation maker. Take your audience on a spellbinding journey with an effective presentation. Use the customizable slides of Renderforest's presentation maker to bring your creative vision to life. Create a Presentation. Trusted by 23M+ users and 100k+ high-end companies.
Design Inspiration Theme for Education. Download the Design Inspiration Theme for Education presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. The education sector constantly demands dynamic and effective ways to present information. This template is created with that very purpose in mind. Offering the best resources, it allows educators or students ...
Welcome to Prezi, the presentation software that uses motion, zoom, and spatial relationships to bring your ideas to life and make you a great presenter. ... *independent Harvard study of Prezi vs. PowerPoint See why our customers love us ... 2,010 Reviews. 4.6. 1,934 Reviews. Prezi powers the best presenters to do their best presentations See ...
A good presentation needs two fonts: a serif and sans-serif. Use one for the headlines and one for body text, lists, and the like. Keep it simple. Veranda, Helvetica, Arial, and even Times New Roman are safe choices. Stick with the classics and it's hard to botch this one too badly.
As PowerPoint is the dominant presentation software available, many workplace professionals who have a need for online presentations already know about PowerPoint. This spreadsheet program is extremely useful for creating business presentations and laying out detailed plans in a creative, image-friendly manner.
6. "Blitzscaling: Book Trailer," Reid Hoffman. If you're going to go the minimalistic route, I'd take note of this PowerPoint presentation example from Reid Hoffman. This clean design adheres to a simple, consistent color scheme with clean graphics peppered throughout to make the slides more visually interesting.
Craft great-looking resumes, newsletters, and documents while inviting others to review and coauthor in real time. Plus, access free Word templates, formatting tools for APA, MLA, and Chicago style, and add functionality with free add-ins.
Zoho Sheet, for example, is one of the best Microsoft Excel alternatives out there — owing to its extensive product catalog, there is a great way to view and edit presentations.
AI presentation maker. When lack of inspiration or time constraints are something you're worried about, it's a good idea to seek help. Slidesgo comes to the rescue with its latest functionality—the AI presentation maker! With a few clicks, you'll have wonderful slideshows that suit your own needs. And it's totally free!
2. Embed Microsoft Forms (Education or Business Only) If you plan to send your PPT presentation to others—for example, if you're a trainer sending step-by-step instruction presentation, a teacher sending an independent learning task to your students, or a campaigner for your local councilor sending a persuasive PPT to constituents—you might want to embed a quiz, questionnaire, pole, or ...
PowerPoints are all the rager. Gen Z's idea of "work-life balance" was stifled during the COVID-19 lockdown — and now their parties even feature PowerPoint presentations.
Use the best School PowerPoint templates and Google Slides themes to engage your students and educators with your presentations. All slide designs are easy to edit and 100% free to use. ... Download the "Food and Drink Vocabulary - Spanish - 1st Grade" presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides and easily edit it to fit your own lesson plan ...
An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down. PowerPoint parties, where people get together to show each other presentations on various topics in the name of having fun, is a terrible way to ...