Giving a great presentation is all about engaging your audience. You need visuals that capture attention, smooth transitions to keep the flow, and enough pizzazz to leave a lasting impression.

For years, PowerPoint was the go-to presentation software. But let’s be honest: most PowerPoint templates are boring and generic.

Luckily, there are plenty of free PowerPoint alternatives out there—many with cooler features than PowerPoint itself!

In this article, we’ll compare the top 8 free alternatives to PowerPoint in 2023:

1. Google Slides

Google Slides is the obvious first choice for a free alternative. Since it’s part of Google Workspace, it’s free for anyone with a Google account ([1], [2], [4], [5], [8], ).

The major perks of Google Slides:

• Easy to use interface that will feel familiar ([2], [8], )
• Real-time collaboration features let you work on presentations together ([2], [8], )
• Share presentations easily and let others comment or edit ([8], )
• Decent selection of themes and layouts ([8], )

The biggest downside is that Google Slides has limited design capabilities compared to PowerPoint ([8], ). The animations and transitions are also pretty basic.

But if you need to throw together a simple presentation—especially for collaboration—Google Slides gets the job done for free.

2. Canva

Canva has become hugely popular as a graphic design tool. But it’s also a fantastic PowerPoint alternative for building visual presentations.

The key advantages of Canva:

• 100% free basic version with paid upgrades for more features ([1], [4], [5], , )
• Massive library of templates and graphics to elevate your visuals ([1], [4], )
• Intuitive drag and drop editor that’s easy to use ([1], )
• Photo editor and illustrations integrated (, )

For presentations specifically, Canva offers professionally designed templates for slides and pitch decks ([1], [4], ). But it does lack some key presentation features like slide transitions and presenter tools ([4], ).

If beautiful visuals are your top priority though, Canva can’t be beat.

3. Prezi

Prezi has established itself as the best tool for creating non-linear presentations ([1], [4], [8], ). Instead of a simple slideshow, Prezi lets you map out ideas on a virtual canvas.

Reasons to choose Prezi:

• Free basic version with 100MB storage ([1], [4], [8], )
• Zoomable canvas format stands out from standard slides ([8], )
• Easier to make presentations interactive and engaging ([8], )

The learning curve is higher with Prezi though. It may take some practice before you can utilize its full capabilities. Animations and dynamic visuals are also better suited for Prezi ([8], ).

4. Beautiful.ai

Beautiful.ai is a newer entry that leverages artificial intelligence for presentations. The key features that set it apart:

• AI generates design suggestions and ideas as you build slides ([3], [5], )
• Drag and drop content blocks make it easy to arrange content
• Tons of templates and illustrations ([3], [5])
• Animated slides and transitions ([3], [5], )

There is a free version but it only allows basic access ([5]). To unlock the full AI capabilities, pricing starts at $10 per month. But for awesome automated presentations, Beautiful.ai is a great modern choice.

5. Keynote (Mac only)

Keynote is Apple’s alternative to PowerPoint. As you’d expect, it offers seamless integration for Mac, iPhone, and iPad users ([1], [2], [5]).

The standout features of Keynote:

• Comes free on Apple devices ([1], [2])
• Beautiful modern templates that fit the Apple aesthetic ([1], [5])
• Animations and transitions on par with PowerPoint ([1], [2])
• Real-time collaboration via iCloud ([1], [2])

Since it’s exclusive to Apple ecosystem, Keynote isn’t an option for Windows or Android users. But for Mac loyalists, it’s a no-brainer free alternative.

6. Apache OpenOffice Impress

Apache OpenOffice is a free and open source office suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and more.

It may not be the flashiest tool, but Impress provides a capable free PowerPoint alternative with key features like:

• Slide transitions, graphics, and animations ([6], )
• Support for Microsoft file formats (.ppt, .pptx) ([6], )
• Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux ([6])
• Entirely open source software ([6], )

Given the free price, OpenOffice Impress gives you a lot of bang for your buck. It gets the presentation job done with basic effects and compatibility.

7. Visme

Visme focuses specifically on creating visual presentations and infographics. The main perks:

• Drag and drop visual content like charts, maps, and illustrations ([7])
• Animated slides, graphics, and transitions ([5], [7], )
• 100+ templates for presentations, infographics, reports, and more ([5], [7], )
• Share and collaborate on presentations ([7], )

It offers a free starter plan but advanced features require paid subscriptions starting at $10 per month ([5], [7]). For business visuals though, Visme is more affordable than most competitors.

8. LibreOffice Impress

LibreOffice is another free and open source office suite. Its presentation tool Impress provides a nearly identical experience as OpenOffice Impress.

The key Impress features:

• Compatible with PowerPoint files and templates ([3], [4])
• Decent selection of slide transitions and animations ([3], [4])
• Completely free and open source software ([3], [4])
• Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux ([3])

As open source software, LibreOffice Impress is free both in cost and flexibility. It makes a great PowerPoint replacement if you want basic features without spending a dime.

Choose the Best Free PowerPoint Alternative for You

When choosing a PowerPoint alternative, start by considering your key needs:

• Are you collaborating with a team? Choose Google Slides or Keynote.
• Is visual design most important? Go with Canva or Beautiful.ai.
• Do you want interactive presentations? Prezi is best.
• Need free business graphics? Try Visme.

Take advantage of free trials to test out a few options firsthand. But any of these eight alternatives will step up your presentation game beyond boring old PowerPoint.

The world of virtual presentations is only getting more visual, dynamic, and competitive. So why not grab some free tools and show the world what you’ve really got? Ditch the dated PowerPoint templates and unleash presentation greatness!