IMovie is a very popular video editing program which comes along with all Mac computers. It also offers you the chance to create a polished slideshow in minutes. The simple tutorial to make a slideshow with iMovie is the one you find below: Open iMovie and select to create a new movie by clicking “File” “New Movie”. Another best wedding slideshow software on our list is Proshow. Currently available on Windows, Mac, and mobile phones, this program is known for making professional looking videos that can be done with lesser complexity. Its interface is similar with the typical video editor that is divided with the preview box, media pane, and the timeline.
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Slideshows are an important tool for many people, whether you’re putting together a business presentation, a photo collection for family, a simple slideshow with music or something else. Whatever your need, a slideshow software that delivers professional and high-quality results will be something you will want to use.
In 2020 we rechecked our older version of the slideshow software list and added one more new cool online service. Thanks to the versatility of the apps we offer below you can easily create slideshows on any PC – be that Windows, or Mac – or your favorite smartphone. From completely free slideshow makers to premium programs and everything in between, we have you covered.
Free slideshow software for PC
1. Icecream Slideshow Maker – best free slideshow maker
When creating a slideshow, the most important thing is strong features to make your final presentation more dynamic. However, other factors are also important, such as ease of use, design, and accessibility. In terms of those criteria, Icecream Slideshow Maker is an absolute winner.
This slideshow software is completely beautiful and so easy-to-use; a modern experience that makes building a slideshow an interesting thing to do. Users can add images one by one or by while folders from PC and get user-friendly tools for customizing the slideshow. Such parameters as slide and transition duration along with the transition effects can be customized in this free slideshow maker.
Icecream Slideshow Maker is free to use, with an optional premium version that gives more pro features. The program supports the addition of multiple audio files per slideshow; uploading of the created videos to Google Drive, Dropbox, and YouTube directly from the program; and offers the feature to burn DVDs with the slideshows, and even more.
One of the best slideshow maker software is the easy-to-use ability for previewing photo slideshows before saving, while time and transition effects are also welcome additions.
OS: Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10
Licensing: Freemium, PRO version $19.95
File Size: 20 MB
Our Rating:10 / 10
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2. PhotoStage Slideshow Software – slideshow maker with a photo editor
Of all the slideshow editing and creation apps we tried, Photostage Slideshow Software was the easiest to use with the simplest tools and instructions. This slideshow maker can deliver professional-level slideshows that are fully customizable to personal demands. Core features are on board, such as transitions, images, videos, music, and other media integrations.
We also like the in-built photo editor of this slideshow maker, which is powerful enough to be a worthy dedicated editor for your images. Photostage Slideshow Software also stands out from the competition because its output options are more diverse than many rival apps. The only thing that hampers the overall experience is the slightly archaic and dated design and the fact the free version is time-capped to one month.
OS: Windows 7, 8, 10
Licensing: Free One-Month Trial, PRO version $24.99+
File Size: 5 MB
Our Rating:9 / 10
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3. Proshow Gold – slideshow maker with in-built themes and music
Like Photostage, Proshow Gold is a limited-trial free slideshow software that you will need to pay for to use the features in the long term. Still, it does everything you want a consistent slideshow maker to do, including efficient use of media. Including movies, images, and audio is easy, while importing from social media like Facebook and Instagram is efficient.
The app features very good integrated themes that you can choose to lead the design of your presentation. Additionally, Proshow Gold features a long list of royalty-free music that can accompany a slideshow. There are plenty of automated features that will appeal to beginners and pro-users alike; although you will only get these features for free for a limited time.
OS: Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10
Licensing: Free One-Month Trial, PRO version $69.95+
File Size: 45 MB
Our Rating:8 / 10
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Best online slideshow maker tools
1. Slidely – an advanced online slideshow maker
Slidely is entirely web based and is completely free to use. The former of those has good and bad implications which we will discuss, but at its core Slidely is an excellent slideshow maker that anyone can use.
Being a modern web app, the slideshow maker is slick and contemporary, offering a stylish UI to carry out presentations with slick tools and a strong feature set. Connections to social media are at the heart of the experience, allowing easy integration of slideshows on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and others.
The one clear limitation is that this is a web experience only. In other words, you must be connected to the internet to even use Slidely as there is no offline functionality or dedicated download.
OS: Web
Licensing: Free
Our Rating:8 / 10
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2. Kizoa – easy-to-use online slideshow maker
Kizoa is a free slideshow maker that is extremely easy to use thanks to its large amount of pop-ups with tips and information on how exactly to use this slideshow software. Kizoa supports using preset templates (grouped by categories) for the slideshows or creating them manually from scratch.
Best Slideshow Maker Apps For Macbook
The images can be uploaded to the slideshow software from your computer or from Facebook. There are 48 various transition effects and 58 effects that you can add to the pictures themselves. Text can be added to each slide, and there is a selection of various text styles that can be applied to the text with this free slideshow maker. GIFs and music (both preset) are also offered to add to the slideshows. The added images can be used as is and can be automatically centered and fitted to avoid blank sides in the videos.
All in all it’s a great free slideshow maker to use. The only downside comes once you actually create a slideshow, preview it, and then opt to share the videos online, by email, save it as a file, upload it to YouTube or Facebook, or burn it to a DVD, as you will be asked to create an account for that.
OS: Web
Licensing: Free
Our Rating:8 / 10
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3. Kapwing – online slideshow maker with impressive number of tools
Kapwing is an online slideshow software that not only supports images, but also video files of MP4, WebM and 3GPP formats. Uploading of YouTube videos is available in this free slideshow maker. This is definitely a great feature however since this service is a web based one it might be time consuming to upload and process large files and long videos. You can add blank scenes and select a custom color for it and select the aspect ratio of your slideshow: 1:1, 9:16, 16:9, 4:5, 5:4 and Custom Size. For each scene you can edit duration. The scenes can be duplicated and deleted.
If you open the “Studio” view of Kapwing you can find advanced editing options such as addition of text, images (the collection is offered by the service), shapes, audio and subtitles. You can save the draft throughout the process whenever required in this free slideshow maker. The created slideshow is available online by URL and you can save it in MP4 format. Moreover you can resume working on your slideshow after it is published.
OS: Web
Licensing: Free, PRO 20 USD per month
Our Rating:9 / 10
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4. Google Slides – free slideshow maker by Google
Google Slides is another great online, free slideshow maker with a highly intuitive interface and a selection of 26 templates. If you don’t select any preset template, you will have a selection of blank slides to which you can not only add text and images, but videos, shapes, tables, charts, diagrams, lines, special characters, and animations too.
The text added to slides of this free slideshow maker can be fully formatted (spacing, font size and type, alignment, etc.). New slides can be added with a single mouse click. The images can be uploaded from your computer, from Google Drive, or uploaded by URL. Another great feature of the slideshow software is the auto-save feature. All the changes made are automatically saved in your Google Drive account. Transitions between the slides can also be customized. The created slideshow can be shared by a direct link or you can invite people to view the slideshow by email. As for downloading it, Google Slides supports the following output formats: PPTX, ODP, PDF, and TXT.
OS: Web
Licensing: Free
Our Rating:8 / 10
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We think that any decent slideshow maker should come with some core features. The ability to integrate media like images, video, and audio are necessary to putting professional touches to your work. All the services on our list have this ability and a range of other features, such as social media integration, templates, and photo editing tools. Turn to a free video editor in case you need to work on your slideshow video further.
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Contents
- Desktop Presentation Apps For Macs
- Web-based Presentation Apps
Hey there, Mac user! If you’re new to the Apple ecosystem and you find yourself missing your favorite Windows presentation software, don’t worry. In this article, I’m going to share with you 16 of the best presentation software for Mac computers. In the first section, I’ve listed 8 desktop presentation apps. And in the second section, I’ve compiled a list of 8 browser-based apps that’s going to run perfectly on any Apple device. Let’s begin!
Desktop Presentation Apps For Macs
1. Apple Keynote
Keynote comes pre-installed on Mac computers and is basically Apple’s answer to the ever popular Microsoft PowerPoint. If you’re used to using PowerPoint, then you’d need to get yourself acquainted on how to use Keynote.
As with most things Apple, Keynote is a thing of beauty. Sure, there’s a bit of a learning curve involved, but once you start playing with it, you’ll quickly get up to speed. There are tutorials on YouTube, but most of the videos I came across are for older versions of Keynote (the current version as of writing is version 8.3). So, I think the quickest way to get help is to read the tutorials on the Keynote Help menu which you can access on the toolbar.
If you’re heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem, then Keynote is definitely the best presentation software to use. You can start creating your presentation on your Mac and then edit it on your iPad. With Apple Pencil, you can make your presentation come alive with illustrations and handwritten notes.
Now, one of the most frequently asked questions about Keynote is its compatibility with PowerPoint. The good news is that Keynote is now finally PowerPoint-friendly. You can now save/export your Keynote presentation to PowerPoint format. You can even switch between Keynote and PowerPoint and make changes to the file on both apps. Unfortunately, not all PowerPoint features are supported (yet), so keep this in mind as you work on your slides.
2. FlowVella Presentation App
You’ll find FlowVella on the Apple App Store (yes, it’s optimized for Mojave), so you know this app is going to look great on your screen. It’s fairly easy to use – you can insert text, images, galleries, video (including YouTube), audio, PDF and shapes. It’s nowhere near as robust as PowerPoint or even Keynote, but if you’re not much of a designer and you just want to get your presentation out quickly, then this might be the right app for you.
Flowvella is the perfect app for busy presenters. Just download the app on your Mac, iPad or iPhone and you’ll have a nice-looking presentation in minutes! It’s even got analytics and tracking built-in, so you know who’s watching and what they’ve watched.
You can start from a blank template or choose from over 70 free templates. A free account allows you to publish up to 4 presentations, but these can only have up to 10 slides each. With drag and drop support and interactive features, it’s great for making your presentation come alive. Similar to the new zoom feature in PowerPoint, you can add a navigation menu in FlowVella in just a few clicks. It’s intuitive enough for most users and their premium price isn’t too bad at $10 a month!
3. PowerPoint for Mac
Yes, PowerPoint for Mac does exist. So, if for any reason, you’re hesitant to switch to Keynote or Flowvella or any other Mac alternative presentation software, then I bet you’re going to love this version of PowerPoint.
Just take note, however, that while a lot of Windows features have been carried over to the Mac, there are still a number of features missing (especially the most recent updates). Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do at this point but wait for Microsoft to do their part.
To install PowerPoint on Mac, you’d need to either purchase Office 2019 (one-time purchase) or buy an Office 365 subscription (pay monthly or yearly). Note that if you want to have the latest updates to your Office apps, I highly recommend purchasing an Office 365 subscription. You get more value for your money in the long run.
I wrote an in-depth article on all the new Office 2019 features. I wrote about the updates to PowerPoint 2019 and what you can expect if you’re a Windows or Mac user. Give it a read if you want to know how to make the most of PowerPoint for Mac.
4. Prezi for Mac
With over 100 million customers, Prezi is a popular presentation software that’s giving PowerPoint a run for its money. What made the software so well-loved among its users is that it’s fairly easy to use once you get over the learning curve.
When done right, Prezis can look so much cooler than PowerPoints with their non-linear (free movement) presentation style. However, too much of a good thing can end up negative. Minimize the panning and zooming effects on your Prezis so your audience doesn’t get motion sickness!
Another feature that users love is the fact that they can work offline thanks to the desktop app (it’s available for Mac and Windows). When you finally get Internet access, you can save your presentation to the cloud and collaborate with your teammates.
5. Deckset
If you’re a fan of using Markdown language, then you should definitely check out Deckset. Creating presentation slides now just got a whole lot easier. You no longer need to worry about how your slides are going to look.
With Deckset, you can truly focus on your ideas first. How? Well, you simply need to type out your presentation’s main points in your favorite text editor and Deckset will do the rest! It will automatically layout your slide and if you want to add images or video, you can do this too in just a few seconds!
Want to try out the software but don’t know how Markdown works? Head on over to this tutorial site. Then you can start making the most of this time-saving presentation software for Mac!
6. LibreOffice’s Impress for Mac
If you don’t want to buy PowerPoint (or Microsoft Office for that matter), then you should check out LibreOffice. It’s an open source and full-featured office suite that will set you back by zero dollars (yes, it’s 100% free). In addition to their presentation software (Impress), you also get a word processor app (Writer), a spreadsheet app (Calc), and more, so you’re really getting a good deal here.
The good news is Impress is compatible with PowerPoint. So, if you do end up presenting on a computer with PowerPoint installed in it, then you can safely open up your Impress slideshow there. Just make sure you save it in the correct Microsoft PowerPoint format. Oh, and don’t forget to embed your fonts too, so that your Impress fonts will appear on PowerPoint.
Lastly, another benefit to using LibreOffice is it has a global community of talented developers behind it. The software is updated frequently which is really great for its price tag!
7. iSkySoft Slideshow Maker for Mac
If you’ve got a bunch of photos and video clips you want to present in your slideshow, then you should check out iSkySoft Slideshow Maker for Mac. This presentation software isn’t slide-based like PowerPoint or Keynote.
Basically, what you do with this app is you upload your media files to it and then rearrange it accordingly, sort of like making a mini-movie. You can then add some text and subtitles to your slideshow, add a voiceover, or just have your favorite tune play in the background while your slideshow is playing.
You can spice up your slideshow by using various themes, filters and effects. Saving your slideshow is a breeze and you can save it into a number of different video formats. Unfortunately, 4K resolution is not yet supported so you’re going to have to settle for HD or 1080p resolution.
8. Focusky for Mac
If you’re not too particular with the amount of control you can have over your presentation, then a free presentation software like Focusky for Mac might be right for you. While it’s not as robust as some of the other desktop-based apps I’ve featured in this list, it’s good enough if you don’t want to spend hours obsessing over every single detail of your slideshow.
One really cool feature of Focusky is the ability to zoom and pan from one part of your presentation to another. You can navigate your presentation in a flexible manner, meaning you’re not limited to going from slide to slide.
Focusky is actually a bit similar to how Prezi works, so again, if you do decide to use this software, I urge you not to get trigger-happy with using all the animations available at your fingertips. Otherwise, you may induce motion sickness on your audience! This is obviously not an ideal scenario if you’re trying to convey something important to your audience.
Web-based Presentation Apps
1. Slidebean
If you’re not averse to paying for premium quality software, then you should know right now that Slidebean is going to be worth every single dollar you spend on it. The basic plan starts at $96/year or $8/month – it’s not too bad considering the amount of time you get to save designing presentation slides! Think about it – do you truly value your time? If you say yes, then Slidebean just might be the answer to your presentation woes.
The software was designed to make the creation process as simple as possible. The interface is intuitive and if you’re coming from another software, then prepare to be amazed. You can finally focus on getting your message out into the world and let Slidebean automatically handle the design for you!
With just a few clicks you can change the appearance of your slides. You can insert a variety of elements to spice up your presentation – images, videos, icons, and even charts and graphs.
If you’re working with a team, then getting Slidebean is a no-brainer simply because its collaboration features are second to none. Plus, its built-in analytics will help you tweak and optimize your slides to ensure you’re getting the best engagement and results!
2. Haiku Deck
Haiku Deck has been reaping tons of good reviews on the web. And it’s for good reason! Imagine not having to worry about images you can use on your slides – that’s Haiku Deck for you.
With Haiku Deck, all you have to do is type in a few key points on your slide and it will automatically search millions of royalty-free images that match the keywords on your slide. If you don’t think that’s intuitive, then you really need to take this software out for a spin.
Give it a try – you can create a free account which gives you the ability to create one presentation. That might not sound like a lot but trust me, it’s more than enough for you to see just how quick and easy using this software is. It’s really no surprise why presenters from different backgrounds and industries (from academics to large corporations and everything in between) are raving about Haiku Deck!
3. Google Slides
Google Slides is one of the more commonly known PowerPoint alternatives. If you have a Google account, you automatically get access to Google Slides. As with any software, there are pros and cons to using Slides. However, for the most part, the pros seriously outweigh the cons, so if you’re still on the fence about what the best presentation software for Mac is, then do try out Slides!
There’s a lot to like about Google Slides. For one, it’s free. Second, it’s cloud-based so you never have to worry about losing any of your work. Third, collaborating with someone on your team is simple. You just need to share the file, assign their roles, and watch them edit your document in real time! Fourth, it’s compatible with PowerPoint.
Google has an excellent track record when it comes to their products. And with a super attractive price tag of $0, Google Slides should be at the top of your list if you’re looking for a good web-based presentation software for Mac (or any other operating system for that matter).
4. Custom Show
For sales teams, hitting sales targets is a must. Spending hours creating presentation slides takes you away from what you really ought to be doing – making sure those sales targets are met! Unlike the other native and web apps on this list, Custom Show is primarily geared towards sales and marketing presentations.
For on the go presentations, you never want to worry about losing your Internet connection, or worse, your presentation file. With Custom Show, you can present online or offline, on a laptop or even your iPad.
You can even access your presentation’s analytics and viewing metrics. Knowing these numbers can make a lot of difference to help you improve your presentations and close big business deals!
5. Swipe
Swipe is the second app on this list that supports the use of Markdown language (the other one is #5 – Deckset). But the similarities end there. Swipe doesn’t just help you create good looking slides in a few minutes, it also helps you share your file with anyone just by sending them a link!
Everything happens in real time. Whatever you have on your screen is what your link recipient sees as well. This app is great for class lectures, seminars, meetings, and more. You don’t even need to be in the same room, half your team members can be halfway around the world, but they will all see the same thing you do.
Photo Slideshow Maker For Mac
Add interactive polls to your presentation and get results in real time. You can use the usual media too – images, videos, PDFs, and more. Whatever you upload will look great on any screen!
6. Vyond (formerly GoAnimate)
Formerly called GoAnimate, Vyond will help you tell compelling stories via explainer video. This app will help you go beyond the standard (a.k.a. boring) slide-based presentations and inspire you to unleash your creativity!
Explainer videos help you get your point across in just a few minutes. You don’t need to pause your video and explain what’s on the screen – everything should be clear in your video.
Sure, there’s a learning curve involved, but it shouldn’t take you too long to get up to speed. Plus, Vyond is priced reasonably – personal plans start at just $49/month. This already includes unlimited videos and unlimited downloads or exports.
If you’re not sure whether you want to commit to paying this price, then you’d be pleased to know that you can try out the software for 14 days. Go ahead, sign up for a trial account and experience all that Vyond explainer videos have to offer!
7. Zoho Show
Zoho Show has the familiar layout that you’ll recognize from both Google Slides and PowerPoint. So, if you’ve used either software in the past, you’ll feel right at home with Zoho Show. This software was designed to be a straightforward and uncluttered presentation app.
When you start using it, you’ll feel right at home like you’re using PowerPoint or Slides, but without all the menus and toolbar items! This is great for those who just want to have good-looking slides without going through a ton of options.
Since your Zoho Show presentation is saved in the “cloud,” you can quickly share and broadcast your presentation with your audience. Since it’s PowerPoint compatible, you can also import your PPT files over to Zoho Show without worrying about losing any of your work!
8. Powtoon
There’s a reason why Powtoon made it to this list – it’s even more affordable than Vyond and it’s very popular. Proof is over 62 million Powtoons have been created over the years!
Powtoons are basically explainer videos. You can create one from scratch or you can import an existing PowerPoint presentation and add Powtoon elements to it to turn it into an exciting Powtoon video!
Easy Slideshow App For Mac
If you’re not sure if Powtoon (or even explainer videos) is the right format for your presentations, then I highly suggest signing up for a free account. Just play around with the app and see if it will help you make your job easier.
Conclusion
Best Slideshow Maker Apps For Android
Whichever presentation software you end up using, know that these apps are just tools to help you get your message across. Don’t overthink the selection process. Instead, focus on creating a presentation that’s bound to be memorable to your audience!