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Creative Presentation Ideas Without PowerPoint: 7 Unique Ways to Engage Your Audience

Are you in a creative rut when it comes to making presentations and engaging your audience? Have you found yourself relying too much on good ol’ PowerPoint and need a breath of fresh air? We have the ultimate answer to your woes – 7 unique ways to present your subject without PowerPoint! These top 7 suggestions guarantee to get your audiences’ attention, keep them engaged, and make them beg for more. From utilizing props and infographics to interactive activities and storytelling, you’ll be able to find the method that works best for you. And they all come without having to use PowerPoint! So Read on to discover the secrets behind our top 7 creative presentation ideas without PowerPoint, and how you can make your next presentation a smashing success!

Quick Breakdown

There are many creative ways to present information without using PowerPoint, such as creating a hands-on demonstration , using scanned images with voiceover narration, or making a video. You can also use posters, flipcharts , props, and other visuals to help engage your audience.

Explaining Concepts with Storytelling

Storytelling can be a powerful way to explore complex concepts and engage with audiences. Using stories to explain ideas encourages critical thinking, increases audience engagement, and gives meaning to abstract topics. Unlike the structure of PowerPoint slides, storytelling allows for organic dialogue between presenter and audience, creating an environment where both are actively involved in exploring concepts. Furthermore, by using a narrative approach to present information, ideas become easier to remember as they are given much-needed context. Arguments against using stories as a means of communication focus on its relative unstructured nature and the lack of advantages that tangible visuals provide. Others find it difficult to measure engagement when using stories as opposed to traditional PowerPoint slides or other visual aids . However, the most effective storytellers understand how to use emotion, tension, humor, surprise, and suspense to narrate concrete arguments that will stay with their audiences long after their presentations have ended. Storytelling is one of the oldest forms of interpersonal communication; it’s no wonder the listener’s attention is captured from start to finish. By creatively utilizing this ancient technique in combination with modern teaching practices, presenters can captivate their audiences with gripping narratives about important topics. Such engagement not only encourages comprehension but also sparks curiosity and debate among listeners. With so much potential for success, explain concepts with storytelling has become increasingly popular in business settings and other professional environments. Ready to take your presentation skills up a notch? By engaging audiences with interactivity you can ensure that your audience members leave with a full understanding of the concept you were trying share while having a great time doing it!

Engaging Audiences with Interactivity

Interactivity is a great tool for engaging (and not boring) audiences in a presentation. Interactivity can come in many forms and can be tailored to the subject matter, needs of the presenter, and objectives of the audience. Depending on the environment and resources available, there are several ways to introduce interactive elements into presentations. Two popular types of interactivity that can be used are Q&A sessions and polling or surveys . Q&A sessions can be structured by designating time at the end of the presentation or set up as an ongoing part of the presentation. This allows the presenter to quickly address questions from the audience while also staying on topic and providing additional clarity when necessary. Polling or surveys are great for getting more in-depth opinions from participants on a specific topic, helping to provide further context around various aspects of presentation topics . Another method for introducing interactivity is game-based activities. This could include quizzes, challenges, puzzles, scavenger hunts, and other types of games depending on the objectives. Games are often a great way to get people engaged with one another as well as pique interest in the content presented. It’s important to carefully consider whether this type of activity is appropriate for your particular situation prior to implementing it into a presentation. Overall, there is no single best way to incorporate interactivity into your presentation but it is a powerful tool that can help make it successful if used correctly. It’s important to understand how certain interactive elements might affect your message by building in enough time for feedback and thorough responses if needed. With careful planning and consideration for all audiences involved, you can craft engaging presentations without relying on PowerPoint alone. Next we will look at how using an interactive whiteboard is another great alternative for presenting without PowerPoint.

Interactive Whiteboard

Interactive whiteboard technologies offer content-rich, audience-engaging presentations without the same level of formality as PowerPoint. With an interactive whiteboard, you can tap into a wide variety of multimedia content that encourages audience engagement and creativity while reducing any text-heavy messages. A well-made and engaging presentation on an interactive whiteboard can provide students or trainees with an immersive experience, allowing them to visualize and understand complex topics in ways that are not possible with traditional paper-based materials. From the point of view of traditional powerpoint presentations, one advantage of an interactive whiteboard is the fact that the audience can actively participate in the process by sharing their thoughts or responses via either verbal discussion, written comments, or drawings in real time. Other benefits include simple navigation and navigation tools for finding specific parts or pages within a presentation. Additionally, sound effects like music or videos may also be included to make the presentation more attention-grabbing and creative. A disadvantage is that interactive whiteboard systems are typically more expensive than traditional PowerPoint software. Moreover, they often require additional hardware such as a projector or other devices needed to connect it to media sources such as computers and tablets. Furthermore, without technical support assistance at hand, it can be difficult for those who are unfamiliar with this technology to operate the interactive board effectively. Therefore, it is important to take into consideration these potential cons before planning a presentation on an interactive whiteboard system. Overall, when used responsibly and creatively, an interactive whiteboard provides a captivating alternative to PowerPoint presentations without diminishing its educational value and potential effectiveness in communicating key messages and ideas to your target audience. As the next section will discuss further, adding hands-on activities to your presentation is another way create impactful and engaging experiences for your attendees.

Hands-On Activities

Hands-on activities evoke a sense of participation and engagement that can be just as powerful as engaging with a PowerPoint presentation. However, they work best with smaller audiences where the participants are able to get up close to the facilitator and interact with one another. Depending on the type of message you’re trying to convey, different types of hands-on activities may be suitable. For example, if you want to capture creative ideas in a group setting, an exercise such as “speed sketching” could be conducted. Everyone in the group would have to collaboratively draw a set concept or idea in five minutes or less . Alternatively, if you’re trying to inspire people about a specific topic, physical representation will help them retain more information and give them a better understanding of complex topics . More traditional activities such as panel discussions and debates are also great options for fostering an interactive environment amongst any audience. Leading into the next section: Illustrating ideas with multimedia has been tried and tested by many businesses and organizations for its ability to effectively engage larger audiences who may have varying interests or perspectives on the topic being presented.

Illustrating Ideas with Multimedia

When it comes to creative presentation ideas without PowerPoint, leveraging multimedia to illustrate ideas can be an effective method of bringing the audience into an experience and capturing their attention. Multimedia elements such as images, videos, audio clips, and even live web streams can help bring the presentation to life and add a “wow” factor that PowerPoint cannot provide. Not only can visuals help encourage engagement, but this type of multimedia also helps break up the monotony associated with lecturing for long periods of time. By introducing multimedia elements during a presentation, audiences will find this type of approach to be interesting and memorable. Using multimedia for presentations can also add to the impact of narrative content. Rather than just reading from a script or speaking from memory, adding visuals or sound effects can make stories more captivating while strengthening an argument. That said, it’s important to remember there are drawbacks associated with multimedia elements. If not used sparingly, they can quickly become too distracting or take away from the message you’re trying to convey. Ensuring multimedia adds value instead of detracts from your talk is key when leveraging multimedia in creative presentations. Finally, leveraging multi-media is only one side of incorporating creative techniques into a presentation — performance demonstrations are another great way to engage an audience. In the next section we’ll look at how you can use props and physical demonstrations to capture the audience’s attention and create a lasting impression.

According to a 2004 study , PowerPoint is just presentation technology’s latest iteration and will eventually be replaced by something else.

Performance Demonstrations

Performance Demonstrations are a great way to keep your audience engaged and excited about your presentation. Whether you decide to show off a skill you possess or hire an expert in their field, an engaging, “real performance” is sure to leave a lasting impression on your audience. The advantages of performing a demonstration are that it keeps the audience focused, provides an interactive element to the presentation and makes for a more creative form of communication. Additionally, it allows the presenter to explain some abstract ideas in concrete terms. For example, when explaining aerodynamics, if you have an expert mathematician available, they could use calculus to calculate air resistance and lift force while teaching the audience a physical demonstration. On the other hand, there are potential downsides when incorporating performance demonstrations into your presentation. Not everyone will understand the topic presented; visual learners may comprehend more easily than those with auditory learning styles and vice-versa. Additionally, performance demonstrations run the risk of not being done effectively causing confusion instead of clarity during the presentation. Regardless of these drawbacks, if done correctly, performance demonstrations can be a great way to engage any audience. Following this section about Performance Demonstrations we will explore how Presenters can use Physical Objects as another unique way to capture an audience’s attention and lead them through their message without PowerPoint.

Present Ideas Using Physical Objects

Using physical objects to convey a message can be an effective and creative means to engage an audience. By incorporating tangible elements, such as props, displays, and other materials, presenters can physically demonstrate a concept or idea in a way that captures attention and encourages interaction. Additionally, physical objects can enable the audience to have both tactile interaction as well as visual stimulation. This can help to keep individuals focused on the presentation and more likely to remember what is being said. For example, while explaining increasing sales numbers over time, a presenter may use a graph written on a whiteboard with colored markers. As each section of the graph is explained, the presenter can point to sections of the board with the markers to emphasize certain points or data points. This allows for visual tracking of progress on the graph, as well as directing attention away from other slides or topics being discussed. Furthermore, using physical markers instead of electronic slides gives the audience something tangible with which to interact and remember. Physical objects may also be used as props for storytelling or examples within a presentation. However, this approach can prove difficult if not done correctly due to unexpected issues with transport or storage of materials. If not managed properly ahead of time, these unforeseen problems can have an impact on the quality of the presentation and its potential success. For this reason it is important to weigh all options carefully before selecting any physical props for incorporation into the presentation.

Visual Props

Visual props are a great way to engage audiences and create interesting presentations. These props can include items such as whiteboards and markers, storyboards, sculptures, or even art installations. Visual props can be used to illustrate complex concepts, break up information into more concentrated bits, and make your audience feel like they are actively participating in the presentation. On one hand, visual props might help enhance rather than dominate a presentation. Rather than simply showing an audience slides of written words on a screen and speaking over them, visual props may allow the presenter to incorporate elements of drama and interaction with the audience. For example, depending on the type of prop you choose, viewers may be encouraged to ask questions or share their experiences in relation to what is being presented. On the other hand, using too many props can become overwhelming for an audience and detract from the larger message you want to convey. Additionally, if your chosen prop is too heavy or bulky it can become difficult for a presenter to move around while speaking over them. It is important to focus on how much of your prop should be seen and how much of it should remain behind-the-scenes or in storage during a presentation so that it has maximum impact if needed but also won’t distract from the topic at hand. Overall, visual props provide an effective way to engage viewers in a presentation without the use of PowerPoint. With thoughtful planning, visuals can be used in strategic ways that emphasize key points and foster a greater understanding rather than being distracting or overwhelming to your audience. In order to reach your audience with flashcards – the next step after incorporating visual props – additional considerations have to be taken regarding content selection as well as readability and accessibility.

Reaching the Audience with Flashcards

Using flashcards is a great way to engage an audience and make sure information is retained. This can be done before your presentation, during question and answer, or at the end as a review for what has been discussed. Flashcards are especially helpful for presentations that include a lot of facts and/or data, as they allow individuals to easily retain information without relying on taking notes. Moreover, flashcards can be used in creative ways to keep an audience’s attention. For example, a presenter can set up different stations throughout the room that have cards which can be collected during the presentation. Additionally, they can be used as an interactive prop to illustrate points or ask questions to audience members. Finally, they can be used as part of a game or challenge to test how well attendees absorbed the content. The downside is that using flashcards can take up considerable time depending on the size of the audience and it must be incorporated correctly into the flow of the presentation to avoid disruption. Additionally, it may not be effective if you are presenting topics with limited supporting numbers or facts. That being said, incorporating flashcards into an engaging presentation when done properly adds excitement and encourages participation among attendees. As mentioned previously, there are many different ways to creatively engage your audience without having to rely on tools like PowerPoint. However, having a few final tips will help make sure your unique presentation goes off without a hitch so let’s discuss that in the following section: A Few Final Tips on Creative Presentations.

A Few Final Tips on Creative Presentations

Creating a successful and engaging presentation without PowerPoint can be difficult. Apart from frameworking it differently and using alternative tools, there are a few time-tested approaches that could help you create powerful presentations. Here are a few tips to consider when creating creative presentations without PowerPoint. 1. Develop Your Story: Whether it’s one of your own experiences or craft an interesting case study for the audience to learn from, using the story format allows for naturally captivating presentation. By starting with a hook and weaving through historical perspectives and facts, you can make sure your presentation will be more memorable and enjoyable for the audience. 2. Have Fun With It: When developing your presentation without PowerPoint, it’s essential that your main focus is getting the information across in an easy-to-understand yet engaging way. Having fun while delivering the content will make it easier for audience members of all age ranges to remember what they were taught. 3. Enrich with Visuals: A presentation isn’t complete if there aren’t visuals to enhance the delivery of your message or topic. Tools like Prezi and PowToon are great alternatives to PowerPoint that you can use if you want to add visual appeal to your next presentation; similarly, incorporating images or art into your slides will guarantee attendees understand essential points they need to take away from your content delivery process. 4. Set Your Audience Expectations: Prepare a clear plan before presenting so that every component found within each slide is communicated effectively and thoroughly explained during the talk; also tell your audience exactly what you should expect from them as well – is there a question and answer session ? Do they have an activity or assignment to complete by the end? By providing these expectations ahead of time, navigating through the material will appear much easier both visually and mentally. 5. Practice & Rehearse: No matter how great of an idea you come up with, if you don’t practice it beforehand then it won’t go over as smoothly as intended. Make sure you’re well rehearsed on all topics covered within the presentation so that no questions go unheard due to memory recall issues caused by stress in public speaking contexts; additionally, rehearsing frequently also allows for polish lines that add even more flavor to any speech! When crafting a creative presentation without PowerPoint, following these top tips helps ensure success in each delivery. As long as thought is put into their approach beforehand, practically anyone can develop an effective method for teaching others without relying solely on slideshows generated through computer software programs like Microsoft Office Suite products!

Responses to Frequently Asked Questions

What are the advantages of using alternative presentation ideas without powerpoint.

The advantages of using alternative presentation ideas without Powerpoint are plentiful. For starters, they allow speakers to be more creative and expressive since they don’t need to limit themselves to text-based slides and static visuals. Additionally, these alternatives can be especially effective for highly interactive or participatory presentations. For example, having audience members take part in activities such as role playing, group exercises and simulations can help create an engaging dynamic and offer a much more immersive experience than a traditional powerpoint presentation. Finally, alternative presentation ideas allow the speaker to use a wide range of media formats including videos, visuals, music and sound effects to present their message in a compelling way. These elements can create emotional connections with the audience that are unlikely to be achieved through static “bulleted text” slides.

How can I make an effective presentation without Powerpoint?

Making an effective presentation without Powerpoint can be achieved by leveraging various creative techniques. Firstly, it is important to know your audience and the message which you are trying to convey. When beginning a presentation without Powerpoint, it is beneficial to start strong with a short introduction of yourself and the topic. This will help the audience to more easily relate to what you are sharing. Secondly, using hands-on activities such as demonstrations or simulations are powerful teaching tools that could help to engage your audience in the presentation. You may also consider using props, videos/animations or storytelling techniques as they can draw in an audience and bring to life the subject matter. Thirdly, focus on keeping your audience well informed throughout the duration of the presentation by strategically placing breaks or visual cues. This can make the content easier to digest, in addition to lightening up any dull sections with humour or anecdotes. Lastly, end on a strong note and ensure that there is closure after delivering your message. Acknowledging any questions from the audience, a summary of what was discussed and thanking them for attending will help round off a successful presentation without Powerpoint.

What are some creative presentation formats that do not require Powerpoint?

Creative presentation formats that do not require Powerpoint include: 1. Storytelling – Use stories to bring your message to life and engage your audience. Telling an interesting, engrossing, or even personal story can be a great way to capture and retain the attention of your audience. 2. Role Play – An interactive way to demonstrate a concept is by having people act out scenarios related to the topic at hand. Whether it’s two people performing a skit or a large group of volunteers playing characters in a scene, role play can make abstract concepts concrete while providing a visual aid for the rest of your audience to latch onto. 3. Visual Presentations – One of the most common forms of presentations rely on visuals such as diagrams, maps, charts, etc., rather than words. Incorporating some visual elements will make it easier for people to understand certain key points in your discussion as well as help you keep your audience engaged during long sections of speech. 4. Demonstration – Show don’t tell is an old adage that applies when presenting without Powerpoint. You might prefer to use the time allotted for interactive demonstrations either in person or video clips that show the product or service in action. 5. Workshops – Teaching your audience a new skill or practice can be incredibly engaging while managing to educate them along the way as well. Setting up guided workshops with activities designed around group dynamics can also be highly effective in terms of creating lasting engagement with everyone present.

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10 things to do instead of powerpoint.

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The bad news: there are thousands of presentations every day, everywhere around the world. Most of them use PowerPoint, badly, as speaker notes, with more words or numbers on each slide than anyone can read.

The results are predictably boring – no, excruciating -- for their hapless audiences. That’s human misery on a massive scale.

The good news: in an effort to make the world a better place, here are 10 things to do instead of PowerPoint. Ways to make your points without the sleep-apnea-inducing effects of boring slides. Ways to pep up your presentations without much additional effort. Your audiences will thank me.

1. Use props. For most workers, in a cubicle world, it’s sensory deprivation from 9 – 5. The whirr of computers and the A/C. The hum of colleagues chattering away. The beige walls of the cube farm. The fluorescent lighting. It’s amazing anyone stays awake. Offer the audience, then, something physical. Instead of describing that new product on a slide, show them a prototype. Pass it around. Let the audience get physical.

2. Use music. We have an emotional response to music which is much more powerful than we do to most words. Especially words like “3rd Q results” and “product optimization.” So add a soundtrack to your presentation. It will bring it to life. Do obey copyright and licensing laws, please.

3. Use video. Video –good video -- has all the life in it that static slides lack. A good clip can enchant, move, and thrill and audience in 60 seconds. You can create the right emotional atmosphere to begin or end a speech – or to pick it up in the middle.

4. Use a flip chart. Create any visuals you need right there in front of the audience. No need for technology. Just a magic marker and your arm. The act of creation draws the audience in where a slide doesn’t.

5. Ask the audience. Of course, the best way to draw the audience in is to draw them in. Ask them to tell you their stories – as they relate to the topic at hand. Ask the whole audience or just selected volunteers.

6. Ask the audience – 2. Break the audience up into small groups and get them to respond to a challenge that you set, a question that you ask, or a problem that you pose. Then have them to report back to the whole group.

7. Ask the audience – 3. Play a game with the audience – relevant to the topic. Award prizes. Audiences love to compete. Just don’t make the questions too difficult or the prizes too expensive – or too cheap. Only Oprah gets to give away cars.

8. Ask the audience – 4. Get the audience to design something – new products, plans, or ideas. Give them plenty of paper, sticky notes, ipads, or whatever you have on hand that they can play with.

9. Ask the audience – 5. Have the audience create video responses to what you’re talking about. Hand out a dozen flip cams and get them in groups. Give them a limited amount of time – 10 minutes, perhaps. Then show some of the video to the whole group on the big IMEG screen.

10. Combine any 3 of these to create huge audience buzz. Stop thinking of a presentation as a static activity where you show slides to a catatonic group of fellow humans. You passive, them active. Instead, treat them as co-conspirators in something exciting, educational, and fun.

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Ditch the slides: deliver great presentations without powerpoint.

Written by Colin James
Last Updated December 2, 2023

Introduction

Have you ever sat through a boring presentation? I’m going to guess your answer is “yes”. Invariably, when we ask this question to our program participants, all hands go up.

Think back to those presentations. I’m willing to bet there was a common element: a deck of densely packed PowerPoint slides behind the speaker.

Now, I don’t know about you, but as soon as I see slides like this in a presentation, my attention immediately starts to wane. You would think that visual information, graphics and graphs would enliven and enrich a presentation. But it’s not the software itself that’s the problem – it’s how it’s being used.

So how can we communicate more effectively – without relying heavily on PowerPoint ?

In part one of our two-part video series Presenting Without Slides, I talk about why PowerPoint is such a presentation killer, and how to reframe your approach to using slide deck software in a way that is more engaging to your audience .

How to Present Without Powerpoint

01. only use slides if they add value to your presentation.

For tens of thousands of years, humans have demonstrated effective communication without PowerPoint. Global businesses have been built, wars won and lost, worlds ‘discovered’ and centuries of learning compiled and shared without the use of PowerPoint. Projected imagery itself is, of course, a modern invention.

And while there is value in visual aids, we need to start thinking of ourselves as communicators first.

If the PowerPoint deck communicates the message or is used to simply format content ideas, then hand it out for people to read and follow it with a Q&A. Presenting is foremost a spoken, auditory experience with the visuals providing support and value.

Each slide needs to be rigorously and brutally assessed with this question: “How does this slide enrich, deepen or support the message?”

While stepping away from PowerPoint might seem daunting, numerous engaging visual aids can captivate your audience. Consider utilizing:

Whiteboards or Flip Charts: Engage your audience by sketching diagrams, mind maps, or key points as you speak. This interactive approach allows for real-time interaction and visual learning.

Props and Objects: Incorporate relevant props or physical objects related to your topic. For instance, if discussing teamwork, use a puzzle or rope to illustrate your point visually.

Handouts or Infographics: Prepare concise handouts or visually appealing infographics that complement your verbal presentation. These can be distributed before or after your talk to reinforce key information.

02. Be Confident Presenting Without Props

Imagine you walk into the room – no PowerPoint presentation behind you, no notes, no visual aids, no clicker in hand. You simply stand there in front of your audience and speak with zest and authenticity.

If you do this, you convey to your audience the quality of authority . You’re saying, “I am confident enough to stand before you without the props to help me, because I am enough. What I have to share and say is enough value in and of itself.”

When you own the space, you become the powerful communicator.

Ask yourself, “If the projector exploded, or the whiteboard magically melted, could I still deliver the outcome? Would I have enough confidence in myself to articulate and convey my messages in a manner that engages and enriches my audience – and deepens their ability to apply what I have presented?”

Your answer must be “Yes!” It’s that simple. And that challenging.

Don’t believe me? Well, why not try it for yourself?

If you do get stuck try encouraging audience participation to create an immersive experience and take some the pressure off you.

These could include:

Group Activities or Exercises: Break your presentation into segments where the audience collaborates in small group discussions, activities, or problem-solving exercises. This fosters active engagement and reinforces learning.

Q&A and Discussion: Allocate time for open discussions, allowing attendees to ask questions or share opinions. This promotes dialogue and deeper understanding while keeping the presentation dynamic.

03. See Yourself as a Visual Aid

The third step to avoiding a dreary presentation is to think of yourself as a visual aid. Yes – you are the reference point! The other stuff you bring into the room is just collateral that either supports or distracts from what you have to say.

Your physiology, gestures and voice can create interest, intrigue, imagery and emphasis.

Your presence on stage is a significant visual aid itself. Consider these tips:

Body Language and Delivery: Use expressive gestures, varying tones, and impactful body language to emphasize key points. Your physical presence and energy level play a crucial role in engaging your audience.

Eye Contact and Connection: Establishing eye contact and connecting with your audience builds rapport and ensures their attention remains focused on your message.

Examples of Successful PowerPoint-Free Presentations

TED Talks: Many TED speakers deliver powerful presentations without relying heavily on slides. They use storytelling, props, and personal anecdotes to convey their messages effectively.

Live Demonstrations: Tech companies often showcase product features or concepts through live demonstrations instead of slides. These real-time examples create an engaging experience for the audience.

Remember, effective presentations rely on your confidence, communication skills, and ability to connect with your audience. PowerPoint is just one tool among many for communication. By exploring alternative methods, you can create impactful presentations that resonate long after the session ends.

Don’t shy away from experimenting with different presentation styles and tools to find what works best for you and your audience. It’s about delivering a memorable experience that leaves a lasting impression!

If you don’t feel quite up to it yet, don’t worry – we’ve got just the thing to help.

Join us at our next Public Speaking Workshop. Break the shackles of nerves and learn how to build and deliver engaging presentations to amplify your audience experience.

No more hiding behind PowerPoint slides – remember, it’s your message (and how you deliver it) that will make you a star!

The Colin James Method® Facilitators train corporate executives to improve their professional development with a proven methodology. Our highly trained Facilitators and Coaches are recognised for their experience in their fields and have worked with many individuals and organisations around the world to master the art of communication.

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17 PowerPoint Alternatives To Help You Avoid Death by PowerPoint

Let’s be honest about your presentations. You need a PowerPoint alternative.

Let’s be honest about how dreadful it is to see overcrowded slides.

Honest about how people seem to think using PowerPoint is an excuse to be boring and vanilla.

Honest about how it’s a crutch.

Let’s be honest about how simply outdated it is.

It’s so horrible that “Death by PowerPoint” is a certifiable cultural phenomenon.

You need something different, a PowerPoint alternative to blast past your old ways.

It’s time to spruce up the standard business presentation and these tools will help you do it.

If you’re already in love with Canva for all things online photo editing, you’ll find it easy to fall in love with Canva Presentations . It’s one of the most visually stunning options on this list of PowerPoint alternatives.

There’s loads of free design options and a few inexpensive ones too, but you really can get the full Canva Presentations experience entirely for free.

Pricing: Free!

Here’s what makes Emaze different: the fact that the back end of an Emaze presentation is built with HTML5 means it’s an ultra-reliable slideshow option for those who rely on mobile devices and need to make sure their presentations look good while doing it.

But that doesn’t mean you need to know anything about HTML5. Don’t sweat it—Emaze does all that stuff in the background while you use their easy-to-use interface in the foreground.

Pricing: There’s a free option! You can also upgrade to a Pro plan for $10/month or a Business plan for $39/month.

The specialty of Focusky ? HTML5 presentations and animation-based presentations backed by Flash. Their free vector library (more than 5,000 vectors!) makes creating animations easy. Way better than in PowerPoint!

Pricing: Free, Standard ($9.99/month), Professional ($99/month), or Enterprise ($399).

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4. Google Slides

google slides is a powerpoint alternative

Another one of my favorites, Google Slides makes collaborating on presentations incredibly easy.

With real-time collaboration, an intuitive interface, and easy integration with all things Google, it’s exactly what you’d expect from a Google web app. Here’s to an easy-to-use (and share-able!) alternative.

5. Haiku Deck

A haiku about Haiku Deck :

Pretty visuals

But less customization

Still better than Pow……erpoint.

(Can we pretend it’s okay to end a haiku with a 7-syllable line?)

Oodles and oodles of stock photos! If you see a slideshow with big, bold text and lots of colorful stock photos, you’re probably looking at a Haiku Deck. Only con? It’s just not as customizable as other alternatives on this list.

Pricing: The Pro plan costs $9.99/month while the Bulk plan starts at $499/year.

Apple geeks in the house say Heeeey! Hoooo!

Keynote is Apple’s PowerPoint alternative, originally part of the iWork suite for Macs. But imagine my surprise when I found out you can use Keynote entirely for free through your iCloud account online.

Cons? None. Just kidding. Some people don’t like that it’s not widely used and switching a Keynote presentation over to PowerPoint doesn’t usually go well. Pros? Everything else.

Project management software can upgrade your presentations. Check out our list of the Top Monday.com Alternatives!

7. Kineticast

Salespeople, this one’s for you. Especially you B2B salespeople.

It ain’t the prettiest thing in the world, but that’s because it doesn’t need to be. Kineticast is for salespeople who care about results, stats, and presenting their content more than fiddling with PowerPoint menus.

You can change your message depending on who you’re selling to, but other than that, you’re locked into a pretty standard template and style. Salespeople rejoice. You don’t have to be makeshift designers, but can still deliver a professional and compelling presentation to your top prospects. A top choice for those serious about finding a real, workable alternative to PowerPoint.

Pricing: Plus plan: $24/month; Preferred plan: $39/month; Premium plan: $59/month.

If you like videos—if you like animation— PowToon’s here to save the day.

You know those fun animated videos you sometimes see for product demos? Or those little animations that make understanding complicated ideas a lot more fun? PowToon’s probably how they did it. If your content is more dynamic than text and is all about explaining things through animation, PowToon’s for you.

Pricing: There’s a basic Free plan; there’s also Pro and Business plans at $89/month and $197/month, respectively.

15 Excel Alternatives To Help Your Team

Prezi : one of my personal favorites and the first PowerPoint alternative to prove (to me at least) that presentations don’t have to be lethally boring.

I love it for its non-linear presentation style, but its inability to support anything additional might be a turn-off for some people. Biggest pro? Simply beautiful, chock-full of brilliant and visually appealing templates. Biggest con? Not totally customizable.

Pricing: There’s a free plan; there’s also Enjoy, Pro, and Pro Plus plans at $4.92/month, $13.25/month, and $20/month, respectively. Businesses can save with volume-based pricing.

10. SlideCamp

If you want your presentations professional, but not too flashy, then a SlideCamp slide library may just be your thing.

Easily build up business presentations by searching for the slides you need, then open them up straight in PowerPoint. No complicated software. No new concepts to get your head round.

They’ve got sleek designs which can be edited so ridiculously easily in PowerPoint or Excel, that you’ll wonder why you ever found presentations time consuming.

Pricing: Free Trial, $69 Lifetime access, and deals for team accounts

11. Slidebean

If you’re in a pinch and don’t have time for all the bells and whistles (like animation), Slidebean is your solution.

It ain’t fancy, but it gets the job done and it’s reliable to boot. If you’re looking for top-notch visuals, you’ll probably want to check out a different alternative. But if you’re looking to focus on the bare bones of a slideshow and put content and accessibility front and center? Slidebean’s got your back.

Pricing: Individual plan: $49/month; Teams plan: $99/month for 5 users; Corporate plan available for bigger companies.

12. SlideDog

Let’s get a bit more meta with SlideDog .

If you don’t want to give up PowerPoint for some reason ( why?! who are you? have you not been reading about all these other awesome alternatives?!), you can still use SlideDog in conjunction with PowerPoint to make things run a bit more smoothly.

SlideDog is a multimedia lover’s best friend and is known for its ease of use when incorporating PowerPoint files, Prezi files, video files, PDFs, and plenty of other multimedia types into one nice and easy slideshow.

Pricing: Free or starting at $8.33/month for more features.

13. Slidely

Here’s a super fun one for all my art friends out there! It’s less for business and educational purposes and more for sharing photos and videos with loved ones in a visually stunning way.

But you can totally use it for business, too. How about—instead of cramming all those photos from the last company 5k into a PowerPoint—using Slidely to combine a curated collection of photos with some music and visual effects? All hands meetings just got a lot more fun.

Pricing: It’s free! Businesses can benefit from their Promo library service, great for finding stock content to use in marketing videos. Here’s more info on Promo pricing .

What doesn’t Slides do? Not much. Like their Features page says, it’s got a ton of functionality but manages to do it without bogging you down. Easy to use on and offline, its only drawback might be that its limited template library mean it’s not 100% customizable. But the templates they do have look pretty great to me.

Pricing: There’s a free option; there’s also Lite, Pro, and Team plans at $5, $10, and $20 per month, respectively.

You didn’t think we’d poo poo all over Microsoft without giving them a chance to redeem themselves, did you?!

I was pleasantly surprised to find that Microsoft has waken up to the “death by PowerPoint” phenomenon and has answered beautifully. Meet Microsoft Sway . It basically does everything PowerPoint does but just…way, way, WAY better. Honestly, I’m just downright impressed.

Pricing: It’s free!

Have you ever seen someone using a PowerPoint presentation for something that’d do much better in a different format? You watch a PowerPoint full of sales reports with lines of numbers and cringe and just want to help the poor soul who thought a set of slides was the most engaging way to present this information.

Have no fear. Visme is here. It’s simply beautiful— and not just for slideshows. Open your mind to infographics, data visualizations, and visually stunning reports as fresh ways to present information to your audience.

Pricing: The Basic plan is free! Standard plan: $10/month; Complete plan: $19/month; Team plan: $57/month for 3 users.

17. Zoho Show

Because of Zoho Show ’s precise importing and exporting functionality, it’s safe to use Zoho Show when you’re editing from (or will be exporting to) a PowerPoint file. So your PowerPoint-allegiant colleagues (are there actually people like this?) can’t complain.

It’s a pretty solid PowerPoint alternative with all the features you’d expect: cloud-based, offline presentation mode, and easy sharing and collaboration. Already use the rest of the Zoho Suite? Then Zoho Show is a no-brainer for you.

Pricing: They’ve got a free option which allows for up to 25 users! For everything you get, it’s got one of the best free plan options we’ve seen so far. Upgrade to Standard for $5/user/month or Premium for $8/user/month.

Slideshows CAN Be Fun

Believe it or not, they actually don’t have to be soul-sucking.

And we don’t want to give the wrong impression that we just hate Microsoft, because that’s not true! When PowerPoint first came out in 1987, Ronald Reagan was president. Gas was 89 cents a gallon. The Simpsons had just debuted its first season. It was a different time back then.

PowerPoint isn’t this big, evil thing, but we do have to admit it is outdated. The fact it’s stuck around this long is—seriously, nothing but respect here—truly remarkable.

It’s time. Which tool will you use for the next few (maybe even 30!) years?

Steve Pogue is the Marketing Operations Manager at Workzone . He writes about project management tips and the buying process. When not at Workzone, you can find him playing vintage base ball or relaxing with his family at home.

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5 Creative Presentation Ideas That Can Be Done Without PowerPoint

Have you ever been 15 minutes deep in a presentation wondering why the presenter chose to use the same bulleted text format for every single slide in the deck? The lack of creativity could have been for a number of reasons; 1) time restraints, 2) no design skills, 3) software limitations, or 4) a combination of all of the above. Regardless of the reason, there’s nothing worse than sitting through a boring presentation.

If your deck design misses the mark, you run the risk of losing the attention of your audience.

Creative presentation ideas that will take your design to the next level

We recognize that not everyone looks at a blank presentation and is struck with inspiration, and that’s okay. We can’t all be Picasso when it comes to presentations. Luckily, there are simple ways to take your presentation to the next level that don’t require design skills or PowerPoint. And they can all be found in Beautiful.ai.

Here are 5 creative presentation ideas that you can incorporate in your next deck to wow your audience.

Ditch the bullet points and create inspiring content that will engage your audiences. Using animations will help you better illustrate your story and bring complex information to life. Animations are a creative presentation idea that directs the audience’s attention to exactly what you want them to consume.

In Beautiful.ai, we give you the power to decide how your animations will build on each slide. You control the speed, the order, and whether they build automatically or advance with a click. You can create a custom timeline, which is a manual control of your animation build. And you can also customize the animation timing and style to choose overlapping, simultaneous, sequential, or no animation at all. Depending on your content, and talking points, you may select a slow, normal, or fast animation speed.

Video bubbles

Using a video in a presentation isn’t groundbreaking. But what we’re seeing more of is video bubbles— an added element to the corner of the presentation slide— that give your slides a human element that might be missing otherwise.

If you're looking for creative ways to spice up your next presentation deck, consider using a video bubble to add something personal to your story. Here are five ways you can incorporate this feature into your Beautiful.ai presentation;

Introduce yourself at the beginning of the presentation
Add context to more complex data or information
Narrate each slide for a remote presentation
Upload customer testimonials in a new way
Show something in action as an anecdote to informational text or data on the slide

Infographics & charts

We know what you’re thinking: infographics and charts are boring. Maybe that’s true in PowerPoint, but this is Beautiful.ai.

In Beautiful.ai you can throw out the rule book for charts and graphs. With pre-built templates you can experiment with new, creative ways to layout your data and craft your story. We encourage you to play around with different formats and see where it takes you.

Colors are your friend, too. They can help you convey things within your graphs and charts more effectively, while adding a bit of style. We suggest using different colors to provide contrast between data sets and force the eye to the most important metrics.

Engaging visual assets

A no-brainer for a more creative presentation is incorporating strong visuals. You can play around with different ways to add photos, videos, gifs, and icons throughout your presentation to keep your audience interested. But let’s take it a step further and think outside the box. Instead of defaulting to a solid color background on your slide, try using a background image instead. Or rather than using our stock image library, you might opt to use Beautiful.ai’s AI image generator to create a visual asset unique to you and your story. The possibilities are endless with supporting visuals, so it’s up to you to let your creativity shine.

Custom fonts & colors

The fonts and colors you use in your presentations are a way to show some personality.

By default, presenters are more likely to stick to a simple color palette in their deck. But colors can make all the difference when it comes to creativity. Instead of settling for the obvious primary colors, try using a combination of muted and bold colors that complement each other. Tweaking the colors— even slightly— can take your presentation from corporate to cool.

Similarly, you can get really creative in your presentation design by uploading custom typography. Simply upload your custom font in your theme and set it and forget it. It will automatically be applied to each slide in the deck. Don’t be afraid to take a chance on a bolder, more modern font to make a bigger impact.

Jordan Turner

Jordan is a Bay Area writer, social media manager, and content strategist.

Anything but PowerPoint: Five fresh presentation alternatives

What application springs to mind when you think of creating visual aids to accompany your business presentation? For most people, it’s Microsoft’s PowerPoint. But that’s certainly not the only game in town. Plenty of other tools and services are cooler, faster, easier to use, and—in almost all cases—less expensive.

We’ve rounded up five compelling alternatives to PowerPoint, including Web apps that let you dispense with installing software, and mobile apps that allow for presentation-building (and presenting) on the go. Not included are well-known options such as Google Docs , OpenOffice , and Zoho Show , all of which offer basic slide-builders that can easily pinch-hit for PowerPoint and don’t cost a dime. Those tools, however, haven’t changed much in recent years.

Our goal is to showcase presentation options that will help you get your point across a little differently, so your audience’s eyes don’t glaze over in the middle of your pitch. And if your business saves a bit of cash in the process, all the better!

Haiku Deck (iPad)

Haiku Deck for iPad is designed to turn your ideas into beautiful presentations in about the time it takes to ride the train to work. The secret? It gives you built-in access to a wealth of free art.

Indeed, half the battle in crafting attractive slides is finding appropriate artwork to go with the text. Haiku Deck lets you add your own (from your iOS device’s camera roll or from any other image library), but it can also search millions of free, Creative Commons-licensed images based on the words you’ve chosen for that slide.

Let’s say your slide contains the word profits and the phrase 3D printing: You’ll quickly get a list of thumbnails matching those terms. Tap one you like, and presto! You have the perfect background for your slide. Alternatively, you can choose a solid background color or insert your choice of a bar, pie, or numeric chart (with manually added labels and numbers).

Ultimately, Haiku Deck is all about whipping together attractive slides, and it’s great for that task. When you’re done, you can share your deck via Facebook, Twitter, or email. You can also grab embed code for your blog or website. On top of that, Haiku Deck lets you export your presentation for further tweaking in, say, PowerPoint or Apple’s Keynote.

The app doesn’t support sound, transitions, or animations, though, and you can’t manually place your text or change the background color for charts. In fact, trying to make any major slide changes often causes you to lose the work you’ve already done. A save option is desperately needed here.

That said, once you figure out Haiku Deck’s mechanics, you’ll find it a great tool for building short, simple, and attractive slide decks on the run. And you can’t beat the price: It’s free. If you want extra themes, they’re available for purchase in-app.

Kingsoft Presentation Free 2013

If you’re looking for a more traditional alternative to PowerPoint, one that runs in Windows and closely emulates the standard slideshow-building process, Kingsoft offers a compelling option in Presentation Free 2013 . Available separately or as part of the Kingsoft Office Free 2013 suite, this program should satisfy most of your slide-deck needs.

If you’re already familiar with PowerPoint, you’ll have a huge head start on Presentation Free: Its default interface borrows heavily from Microsoft’s Ribbon, though it has a second interface option that closely resembles older versions of PowerPoint. It’s an easy product to learn either way. Whichever interface you choose, Presentation Free has one amenable feature that still eludes PowerPoint: document tabs that make switching between multiple open presentations much easier.

Kingsoft supplies a generous library of presentation templates that you can use as a jumping-off point, along with a nice selection of layouts, color schemes, animations, and the like. You can add a wealth of elements to your slides, everything from sounds and background music to movies and Flash animations.

Perhaps of greatest importance, Presentation Free can open existing PowerPoint presentations, including those saved in the newer .pptx format. It can save only to the older .ppt format, or to Kingsoft’s native .dps format. You also have the option of converting presentation files to PDFs.

Presentation Free 2013 is without question the prettiest PowerPoint clone you can get, and save for VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) support, the free version is every bit as capable as its commercial counterpart, Office Suite Pro 2013 (which also includes word processing and spreadsheet programs).

Pixxa Perspective (iPad)

What is a presentation if not an audiovisual story? That’s the idea behind the iPad app Perspective . It’s a powerful tool, though it does come with a learning curve—and a price tag.

Building a story works the same as building a presentation: You create individual slides (known here as scenes ) and populate them with data. For each scene, Perspective gives you a choice of image/text, diagram, various charts (bar, bubble, line, and the like), and PDF. You can also import a wealth of file types, including locally stored Excel and CSV files, the contents of the clipboard, or anything you have stored in Google Drive.

These needn’t be static additions, either: Perspective’s bar and bubble charts are “motion” charts, meaning that you can animate the elements to better highlight data such as sales forecasts and market trends. If you’re short on artwork, the app’s handy Web-search option makes it easy to find online images for your story. And for anyone serious about presenting data, Perspective supports the creation of Sankey diagrams (a specialized kind of flow diagram), though this feature requires a separate in-app purchase ($100).

Alas, the app doesn’t let you embed videos or webpages, and you can’t add audio elements such as music or sound effects. You can, however, record a voice-over after your story is complete and ready for presenting. Speaking of which, you can share a snapshot from your story via email or Twitter, and a recently added Airshow option lets you share stories directly from your iPad to up to ten other iPads.

It may take you some time to learn how to use Perspective’s various tools, especially for arranging elements in a scene and tweaking the data in motion charts. But it’s not unlike learning PowerPoint: Once you know what you need to do, presentation-building goes pretty quickly.

Although the Perspective app is initially free, you can use it to create only one story—think of it as an app test drive. To unlock all the features and create unlimited stories, you must upgrade to Perspective Pro, which costs $50.

That’s a little steep relative to some of the other tools here, but Perspective offers robust data-visualization options. And since it’s entirely mobile, you needn’t stay tied to a PC.

Far too many presentations are boring, with a capital B. In many cases, it’s not because the content is dull, it’s just that audiences have seen enough static slideshows to last a lifetime. Prezi creates eye-catching custom animations that blow ordinary slide decks out of the water.

It works like this: You assemble various snippets of information—text, graphics, videos, and the like—onto the virtual equivalent of a giant, themed poster board. (Think PowerPoint slides splayed out on a single surface.) Instead of flipping from one page to the next, PowerPoint-style, Prezi flies around that poster board, zooming in to one area for viewing, then up, out, and onto the next.

All of this happens with a dazzling, animated flow. It looks like something a professional effects shop would take weeks and thousands of dollars to create. But it’s really just a Prezi template stocked with your data and some extra infographics.

Earlier this year, Prezi added a long-awaited new feature: sound. You can now include background music that plays during the presentation, or even add voice-overs or sound effects to “path steps” (the transitions between areas of the scene). That might not seem like a huge deal, but Prezi delivers such a smooth, cinematic experience, it almost begs to have a soundtrack.

Prezi has also added a creator app for iPad and a viewer for iPhone, meaning that you can build and/or make your pitches on the run. They’re free, as is Prezi Basic. Upgrade options start at $59 per year.

This is one of the coolest PowerPoint alternatives I’ve seen, period. If you’re as sick of creating static slide decks as people are of seeing them, you should give Prezi a try.

SoftMaker Presentations Mobile (Android)

If Microsoft ever decided to release PowerPoint for Android , it would probably have a lot in common with SoftMaker Presentations Mobile . This powerful app belies its $5 price tag, allowing you to not only create slide decks from scratch right on your Android device, but also to import and save your existing .ppt and .pptx files.

To be fair, Presentations Mobile offers little of the mobile-presentations finesse of Haiku Deck or Pixxa Perspective. It is, at best, a rudimentary PowerPoint clone, allowing for the creation of only the most basic slides. Even something as simple as changing a slide’s background is elusive within the app’s toolbar system, which consists entirely of unlabeled icons.

It can, however, import presentations from a variety of sources, including local memory and online services such as Dropbox, Evernote, Google Drive, and SkyDrive. Once you have those files in place, you can make basic edits and then restore the files to their homes, or forward them via email. Depending on which Android device you’re using, you can also connect to an external display to deliver your presentation—complete with any embedded sounds, transitions, and animations. (Unfortunately, it doesn’t support videos.)

In our tests, Presentations Mobile did a great job importing a 54-slide PowerPoint file from a Google Drive account to a Barnes & Noble Nook HD. The process went slowly, however, requiring several minutes to download and open the slideshow. But it played back perfectly, transitions and all.

Ultimately, this app isn’t so much about replacing PowerPoint as it is about making PowerPoint mobile, with simple tools for building basic slides and robust tools for accessing your existing presentations on the go. For a mere $5, it’s hard to beat.

Take the ‘no boring presentations’ pledge

The only experience more painful than sitting through a boring presentation is giving a boring presentation. If a concept is worth presenting, it’s worth presenting effectively.

Take the “no boring presentations” pledge: Invest a little time, give these programs a try, and create a slideshow that will capture your audience’s attention so that you can persuade them to embrace your ideas. It could make all the difference for your business.

The 7 Best Free PowerPoint Alternatives for Presentations

Microsoft PowerPoint is great, but what if you can't afford it? Here are the best free PowerPoint alternatives for presentations.

Microsoft PowerPoint has been around for a long while and so far it has served users well. However, because it's a paid program, not everyone can afford it.

Thankfully, there are many options available for users who want the functionality of Microsoft PowerPoint in a free-to-use package. In fact, some of them don't even require any downloads and are completely web-based.

1. Google Slides

By far the most popular PowerPoint alternative out there, Google Slides shines when it comes to collaboration. Multiple people can work simultaneously on a presentation and add new slides.

This is further strengthened by its availability. Google Slides works on your web browser and has apps for both iOS and Android.

Additionally, Google Slides keeps a record of all the changes users have made to a presentation, and you can easily restore your slideshow to a previous version. While anyone with a Gmail account can use Google Slides, G Suite users get added data protection.

Compared to PowerPoint, the number of templates, animation forms, and fonts is somewhat lacking. However, businesses tend to overlook these shortcomings on a day-to-day basis.

While Canva is primarily known as a photo editor and design tool, it is also a competent MS PowerPoint alternative.

One of Canva's main strengths is its ease of use. There are many beginner tutorial videos on the website if users do not understand something. Complete beginners can easily navigate through the minimalistic interface.

With the free version of Canva, you get access to over 8000+ presentation templates that exponentially speed up your workflow. Additionally, Canva still remains one of the easiest services to create infographics and charts in.

The only limiting thing with Canva is that it offers a basic set of tools and transitions at users' disposal. It's apparent that the company places more focus on photo editing and design aspect than anything else.

The Prezi presentation format is unique in the way that it lets you view slides. Instead of addressing multiple elements at once, Prezi gives viewers a single canvas that allows them to zoom in on different presentation parts. This provides a much more immersive experience.

Similar to Google Slides, Prezi supports the real-time collaboration of up to 10 users. Users can also add comments to indicate changes or report missing information. Prezi works on any modern web browser, and there are Android and iOS apps available as well.

Related: Powerful Google Chrome PDF Extensions and Apps

The Prezi software also has an analytics feature that helps users optimize their presentation by showing them which slides were the most viewed as well as which ones were skipped.

Even though the basic version of Prezi is free to use, it doesn't allow users to control the privacy of their presentation, which could be a dealbreaker for many. Additionally, due to the way Prezi works, there is a steep learning curve associated with it.

4. WPS Office Free

WPS Office is the closest alternative to PowerPoint when it comes to functionality and user interface. Plus, unlike the other web-based services on this list, you don't always need an active internet connection to use it.

With its complete support for PowerPoint files, users can edit existing PowerPoint documents with ease in WPS Office. They can also embed videos and animate individual objects, just like in Microsoft PowerPoint. It also offers many templates, so users can pick their favorite.

However, users should keep in mind that while the software is free, it is supported by ads, which may be a bit intrusive at times. In addition to this, collaboration is less straightforward than with Google Slides.

WPS Office is available across all major platforms such as Windows, macOS, Linux. iOS, and Android. There is a web-based version available as well. Alternatively, you can check out this handy guide to smoothen your transition to WPS Office from Microsoft .

Xtensio is one of the best options for business users. It has many templates available regarding various organization sections, such as marketing, UX design, etc.

With Xtensio's easy-to-use interface, even newbies can create professional-looking reports and presentations. Additionally, they offer even greater flexibility in terms of design. You can edit each object in a template to suit your specific needs.

But it does have some shortcomings. For one thing, users cannot export their presentations in PowerPoint format. Additionally, the free version supports only one user at a time with a storage space of 1MB.

6. LibreOffice

LibreOffice is open-source presentation software that does everything PowerPoint can do. Although it lacks functionality such as OneDrive Integration, its PowerPoint-like functionality more than makes up for it.

LibreOffice has its share of useful features, such as the ability to import Keynote files. In addition, LibreOffice has a vast collection of free templates that users can use to create their presentations.

If that's not enough, you can download additional templates from LibreOffice's online repository. LibreOffice is available across Windows, macOS, and Linux.

7. Zoho Show

There are several reasons to use Zoho Show for your next presentation. It's a great presentation tool that's similar to Google Slides, but even better. Users can also import and edit all their PowerPoint files in the online tool.

Users can create tables, infographics, and data charts within Zoho Show itself. In addition to this, the service also has in-built Google Image Search functionality that lets you search and insert images quickly.

Related: Tools to Give an Online Presentation From Anywhere

Additionally, Zoho Show supports collaboration in real-time and multiple users can edit presentations. Although there's not much to complain about in Zoho Show, many users would like to have more options when it comes to templates and animations.

Worthy PowerPoint Alternatives

Essentially, all these tools and services function the same way as PowerPoint without the cost. Furthermore, the web-based alternatives are more advanced such as automatic saving and cloud storage.

Despite this, PowerPoint remains the front-runner when it comes to presentation software. As such, it is important for users to know how to make the best out of its features.

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The 8 Best Free PowerPoint Alternatives

Professional results for tight budgets

Swansea University, Staffordshire University

Microsoft PowerPoint is a great tool for creating professional-looking slideshows and presentations. However, the home version requires a Microsoft 365 subscription, and the free mobile app locks some features behind the sub as well. Fortunately, there are plenty of free PowerPoint software alternatives out there. Here's a look at some of the best options and how they compare to PowerPoint.

Best Direct PowerPoint Replacement: Google Slides

Very similar to PowerPoint.

Free to use.

Compatible with PowerPoint.

An internet connection is strongly recommended.

Where there's a need for an app, Google seems to have it covered. Google Slides is its PowerPoint equivalent and it's a lot like Microsoft's app. Very simple to use and offering full compatible with the alternative, you can access Google Slides via your browser and easily create custom presentations with audio and your own images, all entirely for free. It also offers great live collaboration features for teamwork purposes.

The only minor downside is you need an internet connection to at least get started but the service does also work offline with presentations syncing once you're back online.

Best for Designers: Prezi

Video editing included.

Can easily make data visualizations.

Stylish user interface.

Free option is pretty basic.

No support.

Presentations viewable by all.

Prezi is a great option for designers who have a vision but aren't technically proficient at achieving it. Its simple drag and drop interface makes it a breeze to organize your presentation just how you want it. Backed up with other Prezi apps that mean you can create videos or more stylish data visualizations than simple graphs, it's ideal for industries that are more visual than others. A series of pre-made templates makes it all the more attractive.

Prezi isn't as free as it seems though. To get the full wealth of features like advanced image editing, offline access, and narration, you'll need to pay a subscription fee.

Best for Quick Results: Zoho Show

A theme for every occasion.

Quick to create something.

Intuitive interface.

Need to be online to use it.

Simple to use yet highly effective is the sweet spot for quick results, and that's certainly the case with Zoho Show. You might need to be online to use it, but it's worth the connection with an intuitive user interface that adapts to what you need to do. You can easily embed videos, tweets, and images into your presentations with some neat transition effects making things more interesting.

Collaboration tools further sweeten the deal with annotation features meaning you can work together well as a team and fast.

Best for Animations: Powtoon

Great animation tools.

Easy to use.

Can export to social media platforms.

Branding applied on free presentations.

Best for Mass Branding: Renderforest

Plenty of options for expanding branding.

300MB cloud storage for free.

Unlimited exports.

Exports can be low in quality.

Content is watermarked.

RenderForest thinks of itself as more than just a PowerPoint alternative. It tackles everything you might need from creating logos to designing promo videos, music visualizations, landing pages, and websites. That's on top of its extensive animations and intro creation. That might sound intimidating but the service keeps things simple, so it won't take you long to mock something up and develop it.

Stick to the free version and there are some restrictions such as branding on your videos, lower quality logos, and so forth, but it's a solid start for an otherwise entirely free service. In particular, if you just need to concoct a quick 3-minute video for a presentation, RenderForest has you covered.

Best for Non-Designers: Visme

Plenty of templates to choose from.

Can set up five projects at once.

Charts and widgets support.

Limited cloud storage.

Visme branding on free plan.

Been asked to make a presentation and you don't know where to start? Visme is perfect for those that aren't well versed with graphics as it offers an extensive template library. The free plan limits your options a little but there are still some decent choices here. In addition, the service provides cool ways to make stats and data look exciting thanks to chart and widget support. It's all done through a simple drag and drop interface too that makes it super simple to add video and embed other content.

Just bear in mind that storage options are a little limited and everything on the free plan will contain Visme branding.

Best for Office Replacement: LibreOffice Impress

Full program rather than browser-based.

Extensive support.

Similar experience to Microsoft Office.

Requires installation.

Not quite as intuitive as alternatives.

LibreOffice is a popular free alternative to Microsoft Office, so it makes sense to use LibreOffice Impress if you want the closest experience to Microsoft's package. Unlike most of the others here, you need to install LibreOffice on your PC or Mac which means it's no good for Chromebooks or moving between different systems. However, in exchange, you get an intuitive experience that makes it simple to create slideshows, whether you're handing them out to a class or conference afterwards, or simply projecting them on screen.

Bear in mind you have to seek out templates yourself though which may be off-putting for the least technically minded user out there.

Download for:

Best for Apple Users: Keynote

Simple to use.

Apple Pencil support.

Cloud based as well as app based.

App is only on Apple devices.

Keynote is Apple's direct competitor to Microsoft PowerPoint and it's a great alternative, especially if you're a Mac user. With app support for iOS and Mac, it takes seconds to get started. Alternatively, PC users can use Keynote via the iCloud website and easily work across multiple devices.

One of the best features is the ability to use the Apple Pencil on an iPad to create diagrams or illustrations making it great for skilled artists. As well as that, Apple provides plenty of convenient templates for personal and professional projects.

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How to Deliver a Memorable Presentation without Powerpoint

Yes, you CAN deliver a memorable presentation without PowerPoint!

But will you be memorable?

ABSOLUTELY.

People spend far too much time preparing PowerPoint or Prezi slides for a presentation and not enough time thinking about how to influence audiences, so today we want to give you some tips on how you can deliver a memorable presentation without PowerPoint.

Your slides are an aid to your presentation, but they’re not the presentation itself. The more you stand side-on to an audience reading from them, the more likely you are to have zero impact.

Yes, you’ll survive. And yes, everyone will tell you were great! (No-one will want to hurt your feelings). But no-one will remember a thing you said.

Here’s another way.

Ask yourself what you want your audience to think, feel, do or believe? Are you there to educate? To motivate? To entertain? Your presentation needs a purpose. And the answer to this question gives your presentation its shape.

Once you’ve answered that question, the opening line of your presentation becomes obvious. For example:

“Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. My aim today is to inspire you to quit your very safe day job and pursue your dream of owning your own business.”

You’ve told them exactly why you are there and what you plan to achieve. This gives them a clear direction, and something to look forward to!

Now you’ve got their attention, take them on a journey.

Think of one, two or three reasons – no more – why people should do just that: quit their day job and start a business. These reasons will become the key messages you want the audience to remember.

My own three reasons for owning a PR consultancy are these – autonomy, job satisfaction and financial freedom.

So here’s your presentation so far.

“Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, my aim today is to inspire you to quit your very safe day job and pursue your dream of owning your own business. I know you’ve got a dream like this. Now there are three reasons why everyone should live life without a safety net and pursue this dream. The first is autonomy – having complete control over your own life. Imagine that. The second is job satisfaction. Having your clients hug you, when they adapt your ideas and it changes their lives. I can tell you, that’s a great feeling. And the third is financial freedom. No longer just working for wages, but tasting some profit as well.”

That’s the introduction to your presentation. You’re sixty seconds in, no Power Point in sight. And you have the attention of the entire room. They’re open to the proposition you’re making, and ready to go on a journey.

Your introduction gives you the structure for your presentation. Stay with what you’ve promised and don’t introduce any other themes. You stated your purpose and key messages in the introduction. Now repeat those messages and elaborate on them. Use the same order as in the introduction.

Illustrate your key messages with personal stories or real industry case studies. The more personal and emotional the better. You won’t need Power Point, you won’t need notes and what you say will be unforgettable.

Here’s how you might unpack the first key message in your presentation.

“The first reason you should quit your very safe day job and pursue your dream of owning your own business is autonomy. If you’re a natural boss, who has been masquerading as an employee for twenty years, business ownership is for you. If you’re a parent who regrets missing out on limitless precious moments with your children, the autonomy of business ownership is for you. My drive to starting my own PR firm was a combination of these. I’ve always been the dad who purposely worked 5.00am starts in the newsroom so I could be there when my kids got home. I’ve never been able to understand the kind of reasoning that puts children as top priority in theory, but not in practice. I came from a small business family, and I’ve watched them make a success of things while I’ve been toiling away at the ABC. Not long ago, I decided it was time for a change.”

My presentations continue with the rest of my story. I highlight the autonomy I’ve enjoyed since leaving news reporting. How I’ve lost weight and felt better. The better work/life balance I’ve had, and quality time with my children.

Then I stay with the structure, deliver my second key message and illustrate that with a personal story. Likewise for the third key message.

Finally, I summarise and round things off. A good conclusion is simply the introduction restated. Don’t be afraid to use the same phrasing. It reaffirms your message.

“ So in conclusion my aim here today was to inspire you to quit your very safe day job and pursue your dream of owning your own business. How did I go? Hands up If I’ve got you thinking. Now there’s three reasons why everyone should live life without a safety net and pursue this dream. The first is autonomy. Having complete control over your own life – imagine that. The second is job satisfaction. Having your clients hug you, when they adapt your ideas and it changes their lives. And the third is financial freedom. No longer just working for wages, but tasting some profit as well. Thanks for having me.”

Stand back and enjoy the applause.

No power point, no notes, just a purpose and three key messages illustrated with personal examples.

You’ll notice that there is a lot of repetition. This is what helps your audience to remember what you say. Reaffirming things helps them resonate. Give them the same messages at the start, in the middle and at the end.

Make it emotional, tell stories and you will never be forgotten.

At Good Talent Media, we want you to be memorable in the boardroom for all of the RIGHT reasons. You can find out more about our presentation training services here .

If you’ve got some presentation stories to share, leave us a comment. Maybe it was a memorable presentation for all the wrong reasons.

Tony Nicholls

Founder and Director of Good Talent Media

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7 Tips for presentation with and without PowerPoint slides

Planning Tools
plavis GmbH
last updated: 18. January 2023

We show you how to present correctly

successful presentation of a project in factory planning with planning software

Stuffed PowerPoint, Prezi or Google slides, overwhelmed listeners and presentations where hardly anyone can tell what it was all about afterwards. Unfortunately, this is the daily routine in many meeting rooms. We provide you with presentation techniques that will help you present your work properly and inspire your audience. The seventh tip at the end of this article, may even be the alternative to slides in your presentation for you.

Bad presentations are not the exception, but the rule
If the audience is overwhelmed, the information falls by the wayside
Through targeted reduction you make it easy for your listeners

Again and again, we have to present interim results of our work, ideas or new knowledge. That’s reason enough to get to grips with modern presentation techniques. We will therefore show you tips for your presentation that will not only help you give better talks, but also inspire your listeners! The principle is very simple: make it as easy as possible for your audience. Because at its core, it’s always about not overwhelming your audience.

1. One statement per slide

A common mistake is overloaded PowerPoint slides. The result is too much text across too many topics. Yet the opposite is better. This is because your audience is only capable of dealing with one statement at a time. Focus on one keyword or question and your audience will focus on your slide. After all, a PowerPoint presentation is not a handout, even you can create one with it.

2. Do not overload the head

Every member of the audience must be able to absorb the information on your slides. He does that in his working memory. This is something like short-term memory, except that the content can also be processed at the same time. However, there is one limitation: you can either listen or read. So if there are whole paragraphs on your slide and you are narrating in the meantime, your listeners have to decide between listening and reading. You can’t do both at the same time. So limit your PowerPoint content to a little text, preferably only keywords, and create a good, understandable image. If you use a self-explanatory video, just keep quiet until the video stops. Tell your audience the rest but never both at the same time.

3. The more important, the bigger

Most PowerPoint slides have one thing in common: big headline, small text. However, since our attention is focused on the largest object first, everyone focuses on the headline first. But that doesn’t contain the message of the slide. Therefore, it makes sense to make important elements larger than the less important ones. Create consciously focus points with bigger text.

4. Contrast draws the focus

In addition to size, contrast also determines what the audience focuses on. Conversely, this also means that if the elements do not stand out from each other, the viewer’s eye will wander aimlessly across the slide. Therefore, provide the element you are talking about with the strongest contrast. For example, change the font color of the words in a bulleted list of your PowerPoint. The keyword you are talking about is clearly visible, all others are grayed out. Or create highlights for individual parts of a PowerPoint graphic one at a time. This way your audience can follow you step by step.

5. Black background for relaxed eyes

We are used to slides always having a bright white background, but this is not a law of nature. A black basic layout for slides is much more relaxing for the eyes. Plus, you don’t have to fight your presentation for the audience’s attention. After all, the slides are only a tool of your presentation and you as the presenter are the focus of attention.

6. Use objects sparingly

It’s not the number of slides that is one of the big problems with bad presentations, but the number of objects on each slide. From the headline to the page number, everything gradually grabs the attention of the audience. The more different objects a brain has to grasp, the busier it gets and the more it can’t listen to you. Therefore, limit yourself to a maximum of 6 objects and only fade in those elements that are important for the context of your presentation. Avoid cluttered slides and create a clean and professional-looking presentation. Be sure to avoid animations or videos that are constantly repeating in a loop, such as spinning logos. This equals a hypnotic distraction for your audience. 🙂

7. Can you do without PowerPoint slides?

Creating an interactive presentation is especially for factory planning a possibility to turn the audience into participants and to raise the common understanding of your work to a new level. Question yourself, does your next meeting even need PowerPoint slides? Or does your planning software already offer great ways to directly visualize metrics and the 3D layout of the factory similar to an easy-to-grasp video? There are always PowerPoint alternatives that might be a better fit for your content to be presented. If this topic interests you, take a look at the following blog articles:

5 ideas to make your project presentation more successful

3 ideas on how to convince with your planning concept!

What does an easy-to-use VR app for factory planning look like?

Your audience will thank you

Presenting properly is not a matter of impressive animations or stunning graphics. It’s about your audience being able to follow you as easily as possible. With our presentation techniques, you can make your message resonate with your audience and, most importantly, stick. This way you communicate better what you do and what you can do. Try it out right away.

And if you don’t want to miss any more articles from us, sign up for our blog news here!

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Scott Berkun

How to present well without slides.

If you were having an important conversation with a friend at a restaurant, would you pull out a projector and put your slides on the wall? They’d think you were crazy as would the people at other tables. Rather that look into your eyes or give full attention to your words, your friend would have their minds divided between you and the images you were showing simultaneously.

Which raises the question: why use presentation slides at all? Most important conversations you will have in your lifetime happen without slides. And ask anyone who works in media: if the power went out and they could only show your slides or broadcast your voice, they’d go with your voice. Your voice, what you say and how you say it, is the most important thing. If you listen to This American Life or The Moth , it’s clear how powerful a speaker can be with their voice alone.

Look at any list of the best speeches of all time and you won’t find a single use of slides or other props. Of course slides and presentation software hadn’t been invented then so it’s unfair to make a direct comparison (For fun see The Gettysburg Address as a bad Powerpoint deck ). Yet the question is easy to ask: would these speeches have been better if they were narrated over slides?

In many cases, no. You’d have to listen carefully to figure out when ideas would be better presented visually rather than with words alone, which is the secret for thinking about your own presentations: when do you truly need a visual image to express an idea? And when would it be better simply letting your voices tell the story?

Speaking without slides seems more challenging because:

You feel naked without the familiar crutch of slides behind you
It may require a different way to prepare
It demands more thinking and refinement of your ideas

Speaking without slides is often better because:

Audiences grant you more attention and authority over the room
You have no fear of slide or A/V malfunctions
You can never become a slave to your slides
It forces you to clarify and improve your ideas, making you a better speaker

But slides do have some advantages, including:

Some concepts are best expressed visually
They can serve as a handout (but true handouts work better than slideuments )

When is it best to speak without slides?

If I’m asked to speak for 20 minutes or less I often go without slides. More than 20 minutes and the dynamics of attention are more complex and I typically use slides, though less than many speakers do. I give the same advice to others: the shorter the talk, the simpler your presentation should be.

How to prepare a slide-free presentation

In Chapter 5 of Confessions of a Public Speaker (“Do Not Eat The Microphone”) I provide a simple, well-tested method for preparing talks of any kind. In short it looks like this:

Take a strong position in the title
Think carefully about your specific audience (why are they here? what do they already know?)
Make your 4 or 5 major points concisely (from a draft outline of 10 or 12 points)
Practice making your points without a single slide.
Revise #3 and repeat #4 until done.

This approach works with or without slides, but in all cases it forces you to develop your ideas into a solid outline and practice delivering it before you’d even consider making a slide . If you want to go entirely without slides, you’re already prepared for that. And if you decide as you revise that you need slides to best make your points, then add them, but only after you’ve proven their necessity by trying to present without them.

If you want your ideas to take center stage, the slides should come late in the process so that they are used only to support what you’re saying, rather than the other way around. Even if you are a visual thinker and need something to look at to develop your ideas, develop your ideas and rehearse assuming the slide deck is scaffolding you will remove . Don’t fall into the trap of polishing your slides and tweaking fonts when you should be revising your thoughts and practicing how you’re going to express them.

Given a choice between a great talk with lousy slides, and a lousy talk with great slides, what do you think most audiences would choose? Prepare accordingly.

What do you put on the screen if presenting at a slide-dominant event?

I simply put together a slide with my name, the title of the talk and the basic contact information I want to provide. There’s an argument that only having a single slide does far more to make you accessible to an audience interested in your work as the way to contact you is visible the entire time you’re speaking, instead of just at the end. Here are two examples from two different events:

How do you get over the fear of forgetting something?

Many speakers use slides to mitigate fear. Slides used for this reason often come at the audience’s expense. It’s common to see speakers reading their own slides, or facing their slides as they present, clear signs they made their slides first, rather than constructing the presentation first and using slides to support their thoughts. Slides should be for the audience, not for you.

If you work hard to have clear points, and you practice it’s unlikely you’ll forget anything important. Even if you did forget something, only you will know. Since there are no slides, as the speaker only you know what you planned to say. You could skip an entire point or express it in a completely different way than you intended and no one will know but you. Slides can lock you in and if you are a true expert on the subject you’re speaking about you may find advantages in flexibility.

The notecard

When I speak without slides I usually have one small piece of paper listing my 5 main points. For my recent keynote at Warm Gun 2013 on The Dangers of Faith in Data , here’s what I brought with me on stage:

This notecard is short and simple. Since I’ve thought hard about this topic and have practiced the talk, all that I need the notecard to do is remind me of the next point, and the overall structure. I cheated on #5 as it has sub-bullets, but I simply found while practicing I couldn’t recall all three, so I wrote them down. Churchill and some other famous speakers used similar lightweight systems for their speeches.

You can see the notecard on the conveniently transparent lectern:

What about the handout problem?

If I prepare my talk as described above, it’s easy to write up a blog post with the same structure.

Here’s the blog post, titled The Dangers of Faith In Data , which I wrote in less than an hour while the ideas were still fresh in my mind.

Watch the actual talk based on the above

Now that you know how I prepared and practiced, you can watch the actual talk and judge for yourself. You’ll see me look down at the notecard, but it’s typically while I’m silent and trying to let the audience digest what I just said, while I collect myself to lead into the next thought.

Free Checklist For Great Talks (with or without slides)

You can download a handy, comprehensive, printable checklist for giving great presentations here (PDF) based on the bestseller Confessions of a Public Speaker .

13 Responses to “How to present well without slides”

In the case of scientific seminar talks given to expert audiences, the slides are used to show actual data. So we have no choice but to use slides and make them the focus of the presentation. Although there is a special form of slideless presentation called a “chalk talk”, which entails explaining scientific shit using only a chalkboard, and usually with intensive audience participation: ongoing chiming in with questions, comments, and criticisms. The idea is that a chalk talk reveals whether someone can think on their feet without the crutch of slides, and they are used as an interviewing tool.

I love this! I’ve been doing this for years successfully. Even won an award. I’m glad I’m not alone!

For longer talks (more than 15 minutes) I like to have LOTS of notes when I speak, mostly to keep from getting ahead of myself; I also like to have those notes large enough to read from 10 feet away, so I can move around. “Presenter mode” with the notes section just doesn’t cut it, so I carry two laptops and write two sets of slides. One set is my speaking notes: very dense, lots of words, 100% inappropriate for showing to anyone but myself. The other set is what I show the audience: pictures, graphs, or just a few words to reinforce my point; often these slides will be repeated multiple times in a row so even though I’m clicking through them at a pretty fast clip, the audience sees a new slide only every 1-3 minutes.

The “secret” is to have exactly the same number of slides in each deck, and to have two receivers listening to a single “clicker.” I get as many notes as I want, in nice big fonts with plenty of color; the audience gets a very different “show”; everyone is happy.

Thanks for sharing your method – I hadn’t heard of anyone who makes two sets of slides before.

I’ve found that from speaking so often and experimenting that the less materials I depend on while I’m speaking, the more comfortable I am, not less. But everyone is different of course.

Yes, absolutely. Back when I was doing full-time technical training I practically knew the material by heart. These days, however, I give maybe five presentations a year, only two of which are usually the same talk. Some I’ve done before but often as long as a year ago (and by then I’ve usually updated the material), but the rest are new “this time” and will likely never be given again. Also, most of my “presentations” are actually half-day tutorials, which means about three hours worth of material; I simply can’t remember that much unless I’m teaching it several times per month.

My formal presentations always include slides because I’m talking about a visual subject, but it is ALL visual: no text, and certainly no bullet points (my personal pet peeve). It’s nice to know that I can give a presentation without them too, because any day I can literally be stopped in the hallway and told that there’s a tour group coming through and I need to give a talk *now*. It took me a while to get to that place, but knowing your subject inside and out and having a crazy passion about it helps.

I have to give props to Toastmasters too. I used to have a deathly fear of public speaking, but that environment really helped. Plus, it was all talk, no slides!

Makes sense to me. There are certainly plenty of situations where slides are essential. An artist talking about their work is one of many.

[…] E început de an, deci probabil toți discutăm o strategie, un buget sau planuri pentru 2014. Ce facem când trebuie să prezentăm ceva fără ajutorul unui suport grafic? Scott Berkun, autorul Confesiunile unui vorbitor public ne oferă câteva sfaturi pentru prezentări memorabile. […]

[…] How To Present Well Without Slides […]

[…] Interesting post by Scott Berkun on not using a presentation tool. […]

[…] Secret: Presentation expert Scott Berkun writes out his 3-5 main points on an index card and keeps it in his back pocket when he speaks. […]

[…] How to present well without slides (by Scott Berkun) […]

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How do I do a PowerPoint presentation without PowerPoint available?

I often use PowerPoint for presentations. Confronted with such disadvantage: PowerPoint is not installed on each computer. Advise me an alternative solution, as you can get without having to install PowerPoint, and is it possible?

microsoft-powerpoint
presentations

Do you send the presentation on CD or other media and need for it to be self running, or will you be there to set things up and run the presentation? What version of PowerPoint do you need to support, and what features do you use (for example, links to external files, links to the net, movies, sounds, etc)? – Steve Rindsberg Nov 15, 2011 at 15:45

8 Answers 8

export the presentation from PowerPoint to a self contained presentation
use Google docs
use a tool like Prezi ( my recommendation, never looked back to PowerPoint)

Microsoft provides PowerPoint Viewer free of charge. It won't allow you to modify PowerPoint presentations, but it will allow you to play them. I don't think there's a portable version that can be run from a thumb drive, but it's a small install for computers that don't have the full Office treatment.

1 Unfortunately, PowerPoint Viewer has been retired. – Adam J Limbert Oct 8, 2018 at 8:57
I wrote a website with a script catching pressed key. (Browser in fullscreen mode)
I often simply use PDF files
You can take a PPT viewer with you (portable version, no installation required)

You can use Windows Live Webapps.

You can also use the Broadcast feature which allows all your users to watch the same slideshow.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/web-apps-help/about-the-broadcast-slide-show-feature-HA010383019.aspx?CTT=5&origin=HA010378340

You send a link to your users and they can all watch your slideshow. You can control which slide they see from inside Powerpoint.

As far as I know, PowerPoint is able to produce a standalone .exe file that plays your slideshow. I guess that would be a suitable solution for almost any computer, because you do not need to install anything and you do not need any user privileges at all. Unfortunately I do not have MS Office on my own, but I guess you should find the option to do that on "export" or "save as". I also heard the it is possible to export the slideshow as flash (.swf) file (I know for sure in LibreOffice) which would be a possibility, too because most systems nowadays have an internet browser with installed flash player.

PowerPoint isn't able to produce a standalone EXE. While it can't export Flash on its own, there are add-ins that will convert PPT to Flash. – Steve Rindsberg Nov 15, 2011 at 15:43
I am pretty sure that I used that feature a few years ago, it may be that it was only in a very old office version. Exporting as flash, like I said can be done in LibreOffice. It is one additional tool, but using a tool or using a plugin is mostly not a very big difference. – Michael K Nov 15, 2011 at 15:45
I'm guessing you may've used something like this: indezine.com/products/powerpoint/pp2003/ppt2exe.html (not exactly built into PPT but semi-close). Subject to the limitations of the viewer, it'd work nicely for many uses, but wouldn't work with the 2010 viewer, in case that's a necessity. – Steve Rindsberg Nov 15, 2011 at 15:57

Here are your options:

If you need the exact fidelity (animations & graphics) of your PPT but without the ability for the recipient to edit it, go for File > Export > Video (4k)
If you don't need animations to be preserved but everything else should be as is and the recipient shouldn't be able to edit, go for File > Export > PDF
If you need the recipient to edit / control the presentation with their device try the PowerPoint Web App which is free.
If the recipient isn't well versed with Powerpoint but they'd still like to edit the file, convert it to Google slides .

GoogleDocs has a presentation tool.

You can view a presentation without PowerPoint using PowerPoint Online or Office mobile apps . PowerPoint Viewer has been retired. For more information, see View a presentation without PowerPoint .

You must log in to answer this question.

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View a presentation without PowerPoint

If you don't have PowerPoint installed on your computer, you can still open and view presentations by using PowerPoint for the web or PowerPoint on your mobile device.

Use PowerPoint in a web browser

If you have a Microsoft account (hotmail.com, outlook.com, live.com, msn.com) or a Microsoft 365 work or school account, you can view and edit a presentation for free in a web browser. Save the file to OneDrive or Dropbox and use PowerPoint for the web to open it.

If you don't already have a Microsoft account, you can create one for free .

Get PowerPoint for a smartphone or tablet

The free mobile versions of PowerPoint let you open presentations on your smartphone or tablet:

Get PowerPoint from Google Play

Get PowerPoint from iTunes

PowerPoint Viewer has been retired

PowerPoint Viewer was retired on April 30, 2018. It's no longer available for download.

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Creative presentation (without PowerPoint!)

Hi! I’m from Spain, and i ‘ve to make a presentation in the university (about an advertising agency) and i need some ideas for help me to do a creative presentation without PowerPoint. I know: it’s very useful sometimes, but aaaall guys are gonna use it and i want to be different and more “creactives”. I’ll really appreciate all your ideas, ’cause i don’t know very well how to do an exposition of 20minutes without make my teacher bored to stiff.

Lot of thanks!

Powerpoint is boring

There are many ways to make an exciting presentation without the use of powerpoint. People use powerpoint because it suggests the speaker is prepared. First you want to make an outline of your speech or presentation. Then divide the time in minutes to each line or category of content. I might recommend 3 main points and use a visual prop for each. You shouldn’t have any problem finding props for marketing agencies. It all depends on how detailed your topic may be. All marketing agencies market or advertise because that is what they do. You might want to use a newspaper ad, flyer, peice of mail, or even a telephone for a prop. These are avenues of marketing. If you are speaking on types of agencies then you can use visual aids like a barbie doll if it is a modeling agency, or a soda beverage container to distinguish the difference in looks and designs from their competitors. You really have to think outside the box here but the ideas are unlimited.

More to life than powerpoint

Powerpoint is a professional tool used in many presentations across the world. Have you ever heard the term peradigm? Paradigm is what we believe about something. Since the inception of Microsoft and the Microsoft Office package, we have been lead to believe that Powerpoint is the ONLY way to make an effective presentation. Guess what? There is more to life in the classroom besides boring powerpoint presentations. Bill Gates has done an outstanding job getting us to believe his product is the only option when it comes to making a presentation. Thinking outside the box is the only way to break away from this thinking. There are many tools that make an effective presentation. Most of these can be found on the internet just like this site. I suggest visual aides and props. Visual aides and props get the audience involved in the presentation. Ask questions to get them involved. Use illustrations that apply directly to the topic. The best example I can give would be the comedian called Carrot Top. He uses only visual props to entertain his audience. Just remember to map your outline and only use what is necessary to make your points. I never use powerpoint!

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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.

How to Add a Watermark in PowerPoint

If you are wondering whether you should add a watermark to a PowerPoint presentation, the answer is yes. Naturally, the main purpose of a watermark is to protect your digital property and prevent unauthorized use. Afterall, it is possible for someone to steal your presentation – the presentation you’ve been working so hard on! – and pass it as their own. If you don’t want this to happen, you should watermark your PowerPoint presentation. It’s a great and effective way to safeguard your digital property.

A brand logo in the background of your slides can add a touch of professionalism to your presentation and make it look neat. In addition to this, if you are a freelancer or an owner of a small brand and you need to pitch something to a bigger company, by adding a watermark to your presentation, you will make people at this company remember your brand better. After all, if you want to make your brand name and logo stick in people’s minds, show it to them repeatedly and as often as you can.

With the help of a watermark you can inform people that your presentation is merely a draft or a final version. A textual watermark that says “Confidential” is usually used to show that a presentation contains sensitive information that shouldn’t be shared with anyone else.

What’s great about watermarks is that adding a watermark to a PowerPoint presentation is a simple task that isn’t laborious or time-consuming. You’ll be able to do this even if you’re a complete beginner when it comes to watermarking your content. Yet, a watermark on a PowerPoint presentation will bring you a lot of benefits.

What is a Watermark in PowerPoint?

A watermark is some text or an image that is shown on the slides of your presentation. Commonly, a watermark is placed somewhere in the background, behind the content of your slide. It can appear on every slide of your PowerPoint presentation or just on selected ones. It also tends to be quite transparent because your watermark should be visible, yet it shouldn’t distract or interfere in any way with the content of your presentation. Only then it will be able to do its main job.

Generally, there are two types of watermarks: a textual watermark and a logo watermark . The latter is pretty self-explanatory – you use your brand logo as a watermark. Naturally, for this, you actually need to have a brand logo. You need to either create it yourself or hire a designer who can create it for you. In other words, there’s some preparation involved before you get to watermarking.

A textual watermark is basically some text. Sometimes, textual watermarks are paired with icons. But in the majority of cases, people just tend to use their brand name as a watermark. This is an easy and quick way to protect your content because you won’t have to do anything prior to watermarking. Plus, it’s possible to use any text you want. You can write “Confidential” or “Draft”, etc. In a way, with a textual watermark, you will have a bit more freedom.

Of course, you can mix and match your watermarks in PowerPoint. You can watermark one presentation with your logo, then the other one with your brand name. It’s even possible to watermark some slides with a logo and other slides with a textual watermark. It all depends on your needs and preferences.

Without further ado, let’s see how you can insert watermarks in a PowerPoint presentation.

Let’s start with adding a textual watermark in PowerPoint. Here are the simple steps that you need to follow:

This wasn’t very complicated, was it?

How to Add a Logo Watermark in PowerPoint

What if you have a brand logo and you want it to be in the background of your presentation? It’s not that complicated to do this, either. In fact, if you follow these steps, you’ll be able to insert any picture as a watermark in a PowerPoint presentation.

Once you’re done with editing your logo, go to Slide Master > Close Master View. Now, every slide has your logo in the background!

Here’s a tip!

It’s possible to add a watermark only to certain types of slides. In other words, you can watermark only selected slides in PowerPoint. You can do this in the Slide Master, as well. Here’s how you can watermark selected slides in PowerPoint:

Watermark Photos in PowerPoint

So far we’ve talked about watermarking the slides themselves. But what if there are images in your presentation and you want to protect them with a watermark, too? Let’s see how you can do this:

Export your watermarked photo to your device. Voila, now you know how to watermark a photo in PowerPoint.

If you realized that you want to make adjustments to your watermark in PowerPoint or if there’s another image that you want to watermark, here’s what you need to do:

Once you are done, press CTRL + A to select both items. Go to Shape Format > Group > Group. Now you watermarked another image! If necessary, save it to your device in the same way as you saved the first watermarked image.

How to Improve the Protection of your PowerPoint Presentation

As you can see, adding a watermark to a PowerPoint presentation isn’t extremely difficult or complicated. You can add some text or a logo to every slide within a couple of minutes. On top of this, PowerPoint isn’t an advanced software. It’s quite easy to master. If all you require is to insert watermarks in PowerPoint presentations, it’s easy to do this in the program itself; there’s no need to look for any third-party apps.

There’s a downside, though.

Even though the main purpose of a watermark is to protect your content and prevent unauthorized use, PowerPoint watermarks don’t provide as much protection as you might want.

Surely, it’s possible to restrict editing in PowerPoint. There’s a read-only mode, for instance. However, this mode doesn’t offer any encryption and as a result, it won’t take long to disable it. And, obviously, once this mode is disabled, anyone will be able to edit your PowerPoint file. It means that they can easily go to the Slide Master and remove all of your watermarks.

If you want to avoid this, you can save your PPT presentation as a PDF file.

As you may know, contents of a PDF file tend to be challenging to edit, including watermarks . Naturally, it’s impossible to show a PDF file as a presentation. But if you need to share the actual file that contains your presentation with others, it might be a good idea to save a copy of your PowerPoint presentation as a PDF file and share this very file with others, while keeping the editable PPT file only to yourself. This way, no one will be able to remove your watermark.

What’s more, Watermarkly has two browser-based apps for watermarking – one for watermarking photos and the other one for watermarking PDFs . Thus, you won’t have to deal with watermarking your PPT presentation. You can simply convert your presentation to a PDF file, then upload your PDF into our watermarking app and watermark it there. Watermarkly allows you to add both some text and a logo. You’ll be able to upload your own logo file or pick an icon from the Logo Gallery. However, please note that Watermarkly doesn’t support any of the PowerPoint formats. So, you can only watermark your PPT presentation if you save it as a PDF file.

PowerPoint gives you some basic tools for designing a watermark. However, you will have much more room for experimentation with Watermarkly. You will have access to a broader toolkit for editing your watermarks. There’s a tile option that allows you to fill your image or PDF pages with repeated watermarks. This will provide you with maximum protection. Not to mention that it can be quite tedious to create repeated watermarks in PowerPoint because you will need to do it manually. You can also add one of several effects to your watermark. For instance, it can look like a 3D watermark. This cannot be done in PowerPoint.

As another layer of protection, you can actually add a watermark not only to your slides, but to images in your presentation, as well. Removing watermarks from photos is extremely challenging; especially if you follow some tips that will help you improve your watermark protection . If you poured a lot of work into your presentation and want to protect it as much as possible, you should watermark photos before inserting them into your presentation.

Watermarkly’s main advantage is that it has batch-processing. Surely, in PowerPoint, you can add a watermark to every single slide in a matter of a few clicks. But you can watermark only one image at a time. Not to mention that you’ll have to create a separate blank slide for this. If you have a lot of images in your PowerPoint presentation and want to watermark all of them, this will be incredibly time-consuming. On the other hand, in Watermarkly, watermarking a batch of images requires neither much time nor effort.

How to add a Draft watermark to your PowerPoint slide?

This is much easier than it seems. First, you need to open your presentation or create a new one, then open the Slide Master by going to View > Slide Master. Make sure that you are on the very first slide at the top. Next, go to “Insert” and pick the “Word Art”, then select the font style. A text box will now appear on your slide. Type in the word “DRAFT” into the text box. Edit your text – make it bigger or smaller, adjust its angle, reposition it. You can make your text semi-transparent in the Text Options in the Format Shape section. Plus, you can right-click on the text and there will be some editing options in the menu. Finally, exit the Slide Master.

How to create a transparent watermark in PowerPoint?

If you want to make a semi-transparent or almost completely transparent watermark, here’s how you can do it:

Go to View > Slide Master, then pick the first slide in the thumbnail pane on the left.
Go to the Insert section and pick the “Word Art”, then choose the font style that you like.
Enter your text and edit it, if necessary.
Right-click on the text and select Format Shape.
In the “Format Shape” section pick the “Text Options” tab, then set the transparency to 80-90% in the “Text Fill”. It’s also a good idea to experiment with the level of transparency here.
When your watermark looks the way you want it to, close the Format Shape section and exit the Slide master by going to Slide Master > Close Master View.

Now you have a transparent textual watermark in PowerPoint!

How do I insert a logo in a PowerPoint without the background?

It’s perfectly possible to remove the background from your logo in PowerPoint. It can be a white background or a background of any other solid color. Follow these steps:

Once your logo is imported, click on it to select it.
Open the Picture Format section in the ribbon.
Then go to the Color and select the Set Transparent Color in the drop-down menu. This will turn your cursor into an eyedropper.
Using the eye-dropper, click on the white background that you want to remove. Now, the white color will be set as transparent. And just like that your white background is removed!

However, the downside of this is that all the white areas in your image will become transparent. So, it won’t work if there’s quite a lot of white in your logo, too.

How do I add a background image to a PPT slide?

You’ll be surprised how easy it is. Let’s see how this can be done:

First, open your presentation or create a new one.
At the top, select View > Slide Master.
Select the very first slide in the pane on the left, if you need an image to be on every slide.
In the ribbon, select the Insert section and click on the “Pictures”. You can import your image from your device as well as use Stock or Online images.
Import your image, then resize and reposition it. Make any other necessary adjustments to the image.
Go to Picture Format > Transparency and choose the necessary level of transparency.
Right-click on the image and pick the “Send to Back” option in the menu.
Finally, close the Slide Master.

All done! Now, there’s a background image on your PPT slide.

Watermarking your PowerPoint presentation might seem like a complicated and intimidating task. But it’s really not. In fact, it’s not laborious, tedious or time-consuming. It can take you just a couple of minutes to add a watermark to every slide in your PowerPoint presentation. Moreover, if you add a new slide, your watermark will appear on it automatically. You can write any text in your watermark. You can watermark your presentation with a logo, which will make you look like a true professional. It’s a great idea to watermark photos in your PowerPoint presentation, too. This way, you won’t have to worry about anyone stealing your presentation or the visual content in it. Watermarking is an important skill to master as it will benefit you and your work greatly.

How To Get Free Access To Microsoft PowerPoint

E very time you need to present an overview of a plan or a report to a whole room of people, chances are you turn to Microsoft PowerPoint. And who doesn't? It's popular for its wide array of features that make creating effective presentations a walk in the park. PowerPoint comes with a host of keyboard shortcuts for easy navigation, subtitles and video recordings for your audience's benefit, and a variety of transitions, animations, and designs for better engagement.

But with these nifty features comes a hefty price tag. At the moment, the personal plan — which includes other Office apps — is at $69.99 a year. This might be the most budget-friendly option, especially if you plan to use the other Microsoft Office apps, too. Unfortunately, you can't buy PowerPoint alone, but there are a few workarounds you can use to get access to PowerPoint at no cost to you at all.

Read more: The 20 Best Mac Apps That Will Improve Your Apple Experience

Method #1: Sign Up For A Free Microsoft Account On The Office Website

Microsoft offers a web-based version of PowerPoint completely free of charge to all users. Here's how you can access it:

Visit the Microsoft 365 page .
If you already have a free account with Microsoft, click Sign in. Otherwise, press "Sign up for the free version of Microsoft 365" to create a new account at no cost.
On the Office home page, select PowerPoint from the side panel on the left.
Click on "Blank presentation" to create your presentation from scratch, or pick your preferred free PowerPoint template from the options at the top (there's also a host of editable templates you can find on the Microsoft 365 Create site ).
Create your presentation as normal. Your edits will be saved automatically to your Microsoft OneDrive as long as you're connected to the internet.

It's important to keep in mind, though, that while you're free to use this web version of PowerPoint to create your slides and edit templates, there are certain features it doesn't have that you can find on the paid version. For instance, you can access only a handful of font styles and stock elements like images, videos, icons, and stickers. Designer is also available for use on up to three presentations per month only (it's unlimited for premium subscribers). When presenting, you won't find the Present Live and Always Use Subtitles options present in the paid plans. The biggest caveat of the free version is that it won't get any newly released features, unlike its premium counterparts.

Method #2: Install Microsoft 365 (Office) To Your Windows

Don't fancy working on your presentation in a browser? If you have a Windows computer with the Office 365 apps pre-installed or downloaded from a previous Office 365 trial, you can use the Microsoft 365 (Office) app instead. Unlike the individual Microsoft apps that you need to buy from the Microsoft Store, this one is free to download and use. Here's how to get free PowerPoint on the Microsoft 365 (Office) app:

Search for Microsoft 365 (Office) on the Microsoft Store app.
Install and open it.
Sign in with your Microsoft account. Alternatively, press "Create free account" if you don't have one yet.
Click on Create on the left side panel.
Select Presentation.
In the PowerPoint window that opens, log in using your account.
Press Accept on the "Free 5-day pass" section. This lets you use PowerPoint (and Word and Excel) for five days — free of charge and without having to input any payment information.
Create your presentation as usual. As you're using the desktop version, you can access the full features of PowerPoint, including the ability to present in Teams, export the presentation as a video file, translate the slides' content to a different language, and even work offline.

The only downside of this method is the time limit. Once the five days are up, you can no longer open the PowerPoint desktop app. However, all your files will still be accessible to you. If you saved them to OneDrive, you can continue editing them on the web app. If you saved them to your computer, you can upload them to OneDrive and edit them from there.

Method #3: Download The Microsoft PowerPoint App On Your Android Or iOS Device

If you're always on the move and need the flexibility of creating and editing presentations on your Android or iOS device, you'll be glad to know that PowerPoint is free and available for offline use on your mobile phones. But — of course, there's a but — you can only access the free version if your device is under 10.1 inches. Anything bigger than that requires a premium subscription. If your phone fits the bill, then follow these steps to get free PowerPoint on your device:

Install Microsoft PowerPoint from the App Store or Google Play Store .
Log in using your existing Microsoft email or enter a new email address to create one if you don't already have an account.
On the "Get Microsoft 365 Personal Plan" screen, press Skip For Now.
If you're offered a free trial, select Try later (or enjoy the free 30-day trial if you're interested).
To make a new presentation, tap the plus sign in the upper right corner.
Change the "Create in" option from OneDrive - Personal to a folder on your device. This allows you to save the presentation to your local storage and make offline edits.
Press "Set as default" to set your local folder as the default file storage location.
Choose your template from the selection or use a blank presentation.
Edit your presentation as needed.

Do note that PowerPoint mobile comes with some restrictions. There's no option to insert stock elements, change the slide size to a custom size, use the Designer feature, or display the presentation in Immersive Reader mode. However, you can use font styles considered premium on the web app.

Method #4: Use Your School Email Address

Office 365 Education is free for students and teachers, provided they have an email address from an eligible school. To check for your eligibility, here's what you need to do:

Go to the Office 365 Education page .
Type in your school email address in the empty text field.
Press "Get Started."
On the next screen, verify your eligibility. If you're eligible, you'll be asked to select whether you're a student or a teacher. If your school isn't recognized, however, you'll get a message telling you so.
For those who are eligible, proceed with creating your Office 365 Education account. Make sure your school email can receive external mail, as Microsoft will send you a verification code for your account.
Once you're done filling out the form, press "Start." This will open your Office 365 account page.

You can then start making your PowerPoint presentation using the web app. If your school's plan supports it, you can also install the Office 365 apps to your computer by clicking the "Install Office" button on your Office 365 account page and running the downloaded installation file. What sets the Office 365 Education account apart from the regular free account is that you have unlimited personal cloud storage and access to other Office apps like Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Read the original article on SlashGear .

IMAGES

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One example could be a presentation covering "The Best Free Alternatives to Microsoft Office.". Memoir: Tell the stories of influential people or your own in a value-packed presentation. Video Games: You can reveal the pros and cons of a game or just talk about the trendiest games as of now.
How to present well without slides
Speaking without slides is often better because: Audiences grant you more attention and authority over the room. You have no fear of slide or A/V malfunctions. You can never become a slave to your slides. It forces you to clarify and improve your ideas, making you a better speaker. But slides do have some advantages, including:
How do I do a PowerPoint presentation without PowerPoint available
1. Here are your options: If you need the exact fidelity (animations & graphics) of your PPT but without the ability for the recipient to edit it, go for File > Export > Video (4k) If you don't need animations to be preserved but everything else should be as is and the recipient shouldn't be able to edit, go for File > Export > PDF. If you need ...
View a presentation without PowerPoint
Use PowerPoint in a web browser. If you have a Microsoft account (hotmail.com, outlook.com, live.com, msn.com) or a Microsoft 365 work or school account, you can view and edit a presentation for free in a web browser. Save the file to OneDrive or Dropbox and use PowerPoint for the web to open it. If you don't already have a Microsoft account ...
Creative presentation (without PowerPoint!)
There are many ways to make an exciting presentation without the use of powerpoint. People use powerpoint because it suggests the speaker is prepared. First you want to make an outline of your speech or presentation. Then divide the time in minutes to each line or category of content. I might recommend 3 main points and use a visual prop for ...
5 Ways to Give a Presentation That No One Will Ever Forget
1. Use Your Audience. There's no better way to wake up your audience and keep them engaged than to literally use them in your presentation. Don't ask rhetorical questions; ask actual questions, and wait for people to really answer you. If they don't, ask again.
6 Ways to Create More Interactive PowerPoint Presentations
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 ...
How to Add a Watermark in PowerPoint
Open your presentation and go to View > Slide Master. When you are in the Slide Master, make sure that you scroll to the very top and open the very first slide. This is crucial if you want your watermark to appear on every slide of your PowerPoint presentation including any new slides that you create. Next, go to Insert > Text Box.
How To Get Free Access To Microsoft PowerPoint
Click on "Blank presentation" to create your presentation from scratch, or pick your preferred free PowerPoint template from the options at the top (there's also a host of editable templates you ...

Creative Presentation Ideas Without PowerPoint: 7 Unique Ways to Engage Your Audience

Quick Breakdown

Explaining Concepts with Storytelling

Engaging Audiences with Interactivity

Interactive Whiteboard

Hands-On Activities

Illustrating Ideas with Multimedia

Performance Demonstrations

Present Ideas Using Physical Objects

Visual Props

Reaching the Audience with Flashcards

A Few Final Tips on Creative Presentations

Responses to Frequently Asked Questions

How can I make an effective presentation without Powerpoint?

What are some creative presentation formats that do not require Powerpoint?

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4. Google Slides

5. Haiku Deck

7. Kineticast

10. SlideCamp

11. Slidebean

12. SlideDog

13. Slidely

17. Zoho Show

Slideshows CAN Be Fun

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5 Creative Presentation Ideas That Can Be Done Without PowerPoint

Creative presentation ideas that will take your design to the next level

Video bubbles

Infographics & charts

Engaging visual assets

Custom fonts & colors

Jordan Turner

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