Fillable Printable Presentation Software Comparison Chart

Presentation Software Comparison Chart

Software

Using desktop/laptop software is the usually the best option for creating a presentation, especially for longer

deadlines where you have the time for learning the software and creating the presentation. They offer features such

as more templates, fonts, animation, transitions, and video. These make longer presentations far more interesting.

You usually do not have as many cool options with apps and web-based services.

Software / Service

Name

Cost OS Features Comments

Apple Keynote

apple.com/iwork/key

note

$20 Mac • Create slides

• Insert pictures, shapes, audio, video,

charts,

• Has templates you can choose from

• Can create transitions between slides

• Can easily animate objects and text

• Can convert slides to PDF, PPT, and

MOV

• Record narration

• Export to Garageband and iTunes

• Use iPhone and iPod as a remote

control

• Easy to use via drag &

drop

• Smaller learning curve

• Good for presentations of

any length

• Good for shorter

deadlines

• Archive via Flash drive,

cloud, external drive, &

CD/DVD

• Files are small

• Easy to share via email,

cloud

Deck.js

imakewebthings.com

/deck.js

Free PC,

Mac,

Linux

• Create slides

• Themes and templates

• Slide transitions

• Use arrow keys for navigating through

slides

• Embedding video into slides

• Add images and block quotes.

• It is hard to use unless

you are proficient in HTML

• Steep learning curve

• Good for presentation of

any length

• Needs longer deadline

• Archive via Flash drive,

cloud, external drive, &

CD/DVD

• Files are small

• harder to share due to

multiple files

Kingsoft

Presentations

Must download the

Kingsoft Office Suite

to get Presentations:

kingsoftstore.com

Free PC,

Linux

• Create slides

• Insert pictures, clipart, shapes, audio,

video, charts…

• Has templates you can choose from

• Can create transitions between slides

• Can animate objects

• Can create 3D images from text

• Can convert slides to PDF and Flash

(.swf)

• Basic features easy to

use

• Steeper learning curve

• Good for longer

presentations

• Takes more time

• Archive via Flash drive,

cloud, external drive, &

CD/DVD

• Files are small

• Easy to share via email,

cloud

LibreOffice Impress

Must download

LibreOffice to get

Impress:

libreoffice.org

Free PC,

Mac,

Linux

• Create slides

• Insert pictures, clipart, shapes, audio,

video, charts…

• Has templates you can choose from

• Can create transitions between slides

• Can animate objects

• Can create 3D images from text

• Can convert slides to PDF and Flash

(.swf)

• Basic features easy to

use

• Steeper learning curve

• Good for longer

presentations

• Takes more time

• Archive via Flash drive,

cloud, external drive, &

CD/DVD

• Files are small

• Easy to share via email,

cloud

Microsoft

PowerPoint

office.microsoft.com/

en-us/powerpoint

$12 –

$80

PC,

Mac

• Create slides

• Insert pictures, clipart, shapes, audio,

video, charts…

• Has templates you can choose from

• Can create transitions between slides

• Can animate objects

• Can convert slides to PDF

• Basic features easy to

use

• Steeper learning curve

• Good for longer

presentations

• Takes more time

• Archiving best done via

Cloud, external drive, &

CD/DVD

• Files are large

• Harder to share. Use

cloud for sharing.

OpenOffice

Impress

Must download

OpenOffice to get

Impress:

openoffice.org

Free PC,

Mac,

Linux

• Create slides

• Insert pictures, clipart, shapes, audio,

video, charts, & more

• Has templates you can choose from

• Can create transitions between slides

• Can animate objects

• Can create 3D images from text

• Can convert slides to PDF and Flash

(.swf)

• Basic features easy to

use

• Steeper learning curve

• Good for longer

presentations

• Takes more time

• Archive via Flash drive,

cloud, external drive, &

CD/DVD

• Files are small

Easy to share via email,

cloud

Apps

Apps are great for creating short presentations on the fly or simple viewing. If you do not have much time to create

a shorter presentation, apps can be extremely useful for cranking out some slides and emailing them. Many tablets

have exceptional picture quality, so sharing a presentation online or via email for viewing on a tablet are great.

NOTE: If you plan on attaching your tablet to a projector, the best viewing is through an HD (High definition) cable

(sold separately). You will need to also purchase an adapter for connecting the HD cable to your device. The other

important factor to keep in mind is older projectors do not have an HD port, so you would have to get an RCA

cable & adapter, which means the presentation will not look as good.

If you will be using your handheld device for your presentation you must absolutely know if the projector being

used support HD or RCA!

App / Service Name Cost Platform

/ OS

Features Comments

Documents to Go

$10 -

$17

Android,

iPad,

iPhone,

Kindle

Fire,

Nook

• Create, edits, & views slides

• Handles formats: PPT, PPTX, PDF

• Syncs with Google Docs, iCloud

• Basic features are free

• Must pay for advanced

features

• Steeper learning curve

• Good for editing on the go

• Takes more time to create

• Archive via cloud

• Files are larger

• Share via cloud

Haiku Deck

Free

iPad

• Create, edits, & views slides

• Has templates & themes

• Imports images and videos from iPad

• Can animate objects

• Easy to use

• Minimal learning curve

• Great for short deadlines

• Good for shorter

presentations

• Archived via

HaikuDeck.com

• Files are shared via

HaikuDeck, Facebook,

Twitter, bogs, email.

KeyNote

$10 iPad,

iPhone,

iPod

Touch

• Create, edits, & views slides

• Has templates & themes

• Create 3d charts, graphs, &

transitions

• Handles formats: PPT, PPTX, PDF

• Imports images from iPad

• Syncs with iCloud

• Easy to use

• Minimal learning curve

• Great for short deadlines

• Good for shorter

presentations

• Archived via iCloud

• Files shared via email

Kingsoft Office

Free Android -

edit &

View

iPad -

View

• Create, edits, & views slides

• Can display SmartArt

• Has Numbered & Bulleted lists

• Handles formats: PPT, PPTX, PDF

• Inserts shapes, images, text boxes,

notes

• Syncs with Google Drive, Dropbox,

Box.net

• Basic features are easy

• Steeper learning curve

• Good for editing on the go

• Takes more time to create

• Archive via cloud

• Files are larger

• Share via Google

Office Mobile

*Free to load but

you need Office 365

subscription

Free*

Android,

iPhone,

Windows

Phone

• Edit & view slides

• Handles formats: PPT, PPTX, PDF

• Supports animation, smartart,

graphics & shapes.

• Slides look like the originals created

in PowerPoint

• Basic features are easy

• Steeper learning curve

• Good for editing on the go

• Archive via Skydrive

• Files are larger

• Share via email or

SharePoint

Pixxa Perspective

Free -

$100

iPad,

iPhone

• Create, edits, & views slides

• Can add images, graphs, & charts

• Animated chart affects

• Additional features cost more

• Can stream presentation to 10 iPads

• Has storyboard / presentation

management

• Basic features are easy

• Steeper learning curve

• Good for creating a quick

presentation

• Archive via Pixxa.com

• Share via Pixxa.com &

AirShow

PowerPoint

OpenOffice Remote

Free Android • Turn Android phone into a

presentation remote control

• Supports notes, animations &

audio/video

• Supports PPT & PPTX files

• For use with PC, MAC, Linux

• This is only a tool for

turning your android phone

into a remote control

Prezi

Free iPad -

create &

edit

iPhone -

viewer

• Create, & views slides

• Can import images by taking photo

or loading from device

• Can use images off the web

• Has templates

• Can switch between layouts

• Syncs with Prezi.com

• Easy to use

• Minimal learning curve

• Great for short deadlines

• Good for shorter

presentations

• Archived via Prezi.com

• Files are shared via

Prezi.com

QuickOffice

Free Android,

iPad,

iPhone

• Create, edits, & views slides

• Has templates & themes

• Create charts, graphs, & transitions

• Handles formats: PPT, PPTX, PDF

• Imports images from device

• Can add shapes, flowcharts, &

callouts

• Can add presentation notes.

• Syncs with GoogleDrive

• Basic features are easy

• Minimal learning curve

• Good for basic editing &

proof-reading presentations

• Takes little time to create

• Archive via GoogleDrive

• Files are larger

• Share via email, Google,

Airplay

SlideShark

(Viewer)

Free-

$95.00

Viewer

for iPad,

iPhone, &

iPod

Touch

• View or show slides

• Supports video play

• Can annotate presentations

• Handles formats: PPT, PPTX, PDF

• Hides or reorders slides (iPad)

• Has laser pointer

• Supports hyperlinks

• Syncs with SlideShark.com,

DropBox, Syncplicity, ShareFile,

SkyDrive, Google Drive

• This is a presentation

viewer

• Medium learning curve

• Free 100mb storage on

SlideShark

• Archive & Share via

SlidShark

• Premium account has:

• Additional 1GB of storage

• Presentation live-

streaming for up to 25

attendees

• Unique URL for individual

viewing

• Statistics

Softmaker

Presentations

*Free 30 day trial

Free* -

Android • Edit & View Presentations

• Supports object animations,

animation schemes, and slide

transitions

• Insert, delete, duplicate, rename, and

hide slides

• Handles formats: PPT, PPTX, PDF

• Insert tables and images into

placeholders

• Access files in Dropbox, Google

Drive, Evernote, and SkyDrive

• Basic features are easy

• Minimal learning curve

• Good for basic editing &

proofreading presentations

• Archive via Dropbox,

Google Drive, Evernote, and

SkyDrive

• Files are larger

• Share via email, Google

Drive, DropBox

Web / Cloud based services

Using web-based services (the “cloud”), is the most convenient way to access software and share presentations. It

allows an individual or group of collaborators to use the same software without having to worry about saving the

presentation in a specific format: i.e. PPT vs. PPTX. Basic software is free to use, so you don’t have to spend any

money on expensive software you might only use once. Emailing presentations to one another can make it difficult

to track which version is the latest. Most cloud services provide free storage, so everyone has access to the same

presentation when they save the document to the shared folder. Not only is the cloud an inexpensive and easy way

to create and share presentations amongst collaborators, it is a great way for your audience to access and view your

show. Hosting your via web-based services means you don’t have to worry about bandwidth, buffering, or any of

the technical issues associated with streaming video.

Some cloud services work best when you download their app to all the different devices you use. This allows you to

sync your presentations to all your devices without having to login to a website. You still would require internet

access, however.

Apple iCloud /

iWork / Keynote

apple.com/iwork-

for-icloud/

(in Beta)

Free

(5 GB

storage)

PC, Mac:

Safari,

Firefox,

Chrome, IE

iPad,

iPhone,

iPod

Touch,

Kindle: via

app

• Create slides

• Insert pictures, shapes, & more

• Has templates you can choose

from

• Can create transitions between

slides

• Can animate objects

• Can convert slides to PPT & PDF

• Features are easy

• Minimal learning curve

• Good for basic editing

• Good for tight deadlines

• Archive in iCloud

• Files are larger

• Share via Email

Empressr.com *

*This service

seems to be in

transition. You

may want to wait

until it stabilizes

before relying on it

for storing an

important

presentation

Free

(for now)

• Create slides

• Insert pictures from device or

Flickr

• Add audio & video

• Can create charts & tables

• Can animate objects

• Can convert slides to PPT & PDF

• Basic features are easy

• Medium learning curve

• Good for longer deadlines

• Archive in Empressr

• Share via link in social

media or blog

• Share via Empressr

Google Drive

Free

(15 GB

storage)

Mac, PC:

Chrome,

Firefox,

Safari, IE

iPad,

iPhone,

Android :

via app

• Create slides

• Insert pictures, video, wordart,

shapes, & more

• Has templates you can choose

from

• Can create transitions between

slides

• Can save slides as PPTX, SVG,

PNG, JPG,TXT, & PDF

• Features are easy

• Minimal learning curve

• Good for presentations of

any length

• Good for tight deadlines

• Great for Collaboration

• Archive in Google Drive

• Files are small

• Share via Email, Social

Media, Google Drive

Haiku Deck

(Beta)

For invitation to

participate in the

beta:

haikudeck.com

Haiku deck’s web app is in private

beta right now. I am still waiting to

be added to their beta list.

Microsoft Office

Mobile 365

$100 / YR

(Family

package –

5 users /

20GB

storage /

60 Skype

minutes)

PC, Mac:

Chrome,

Firefox,

Safari, IE

Windows

Phone,

Android,

iPhone: via

Microsoft

Office app

• Create slides

• Insert pictures, video, wordart,

shapes, & more

• Has templates you can choose

from

• Can create transitions between

slides

• Can save slides as PPTX & PDF

• Features are easy

• Minimal learning curve

• Good for presentations of

any length

• Good for tight deadlines

• Archive in SkyDrive

• Files are larger

• Share via Email, Text

message link, Social Media,

blog, SkyDrive

Microsoft

SkyDrive

Free

(7 GB

storage)

PC, Mac:

Chrome,

IE, Firefox,

Safari

Windows

Phone,

Android,

iPad,

iPhone: via

SkyDrive

app

• Storage for Presentations & other

files

• Works with Easybib and

OneNote.

• Archive in SkyDrive

• Share archived

presentations via Email,

Text message link, Social

Media, blog, SkyDrive

Prezi.com

For information on

what the different

Prezi services are,

please go to:

prezi.com/pricing/

Free (100

MB basic

service)

$59-$159

/YR for

Premium

)

Free

student/

teacher

account

PC, Mac, :

Chrome,

Safari,

Firefox, IE

• Create a canvas with 5 pre-placed

informational “pockets”

• Insert pictures, video, audio,

shapes, & diagrams

• Has templates you can choose

from

• Built-in transitions within your

slide

• Can save slides as PDF

• You can borrow content from