Are you overwhelmed by choosing which presentation design software to use? I spent close to an hour picking out the perfect font for my wedding invitation, so no judgement here. I’m with you. When it comes to making decisions, I’m a maximizer. (Check out our blog on decision-making styles now if you don’t know yours.)
No matter what decision-making style you have, choosing presentation design software can be tough. It’s an investment not just in money, but in time. You have to research to make sure the program has all the features you need while also making sure it’s something you’ll be able to navigate easily.
We want to help make the process of choosing presentation design software easier. So, we are breaking down our top 5 choices. We’ve included the price comparisons for a single user for each program along with some reasons we love each one.
1. PowerPoint
Price: $69.99/year as part of a Microsoft 365 subscription or $159.99 as a one-time download
When it comes to presentation design software, PowerPoint reigns supreme. And with good reason. This Microsoft software has been around for 35 years, but its developers continue to adapt to modern trends and add exciting features. Two of those new features are Design Ideas (or Designer) and morphing animation. PowerPoint says, “Designer improves slides for Microsoft 365 subscribers by automatically generating design ideas to choose from. While you’re putting content on a slide, Designer works in the background to match that content to professionally designed layouts.” You can’t go wrong with this user-friendly, customizable presentation software staple. Check out our blog for more ways to create stunning design with PowerPoint.
2. Canva
Price: Free standard program or $119.99/year for a Canva Pro account
Canva is a popular design program not just for presentations, but for social media content, video creation, marketing materials, and more. It is incredibly easy to use. One of our favorite things about Canva is their Design School which offers tutorials for a wide range of needs (like understanding typography and font choice). Another thing that attracts many users to Canva is that the software is easy to use on both a laptop and phone. So you can work on your slides wherever you are. With the free standard program you have the ability to pull from a large bank of free templates and stock elements. But the one drawback is that you will have to wade through Pro account elements since there is no easy way to filter those out.
3. Keynote
Price: Free for Apple users
Keynote from Apple is another design software choice that we like for several reasons. Like Canva, it is easy to use across a variety of devices. One of the distinguishing features of Keynote is their dynamic backgrounds which they say will “keep viewers engaged with subtle movement throughout the presentation.” Another attractive feature of this program is the ability to use your iPhone or iPad to control your slideshow with Keynote Remote. One of the downsides of Keynote is they don’t offer the huge presentation template and stock element banks that other design software programs have.
4. Beautiful.ai
Price: $144/year
If you want a sleek, professional looking presentation without having to make lots of custom choices on your own, Beautiful.ai great option. I’m fairly new to using Beautiful.ai, but I am slowly falling in love with this program. Their website claims to “cut presentation design time by 75% compared with PowerPoint.” And after using it, I can see how it would. For example, if you decide to add an item to one of your slides, Beautiful.ai’s smart capacity automatically arranges the other elements on the slide. This keeps you from having to move lots of elements around like you would in another program.
5. Prezi
Price: Standard account for $60/year, Plus account for $180/year, or a Premium account for $708/year
Prezi is one of the pricier programs out there, but it does have some great features. It is a presentation design software program that prioritizes motion. With animated GIFS, video covers, and animated data visualizations, this program is good if you want to incorporate movement into your slide deck. Prezi developers have also picked up some tricks from photo editing and social media software by offering masks and filters right in Prezi. One downside to this program is that the standard subscription to Prezi does not let you export to PDF, a feature that many presenters like to have.
Software Designers Offer Free Trials
As you consider investing in one of the above software design programs, keep in mind that most companies offer free trials. I suggest taking a couple of programs for a “test drive,” so you can get a feel for their programs before signing up for a full subscription. And if you are a student or an educator, many of these programs offer free or reduced rates for you.
If the thought of designing your own presentation media still seems overwhelming, consider outsourcing your presentation design. We, for one, would love the chance to collaborate with you. One of the things that sets Ethos3 apart from other presentation design agencies is that our designers are comfortable using a wide range of presentation design software. That means we can create a stunning slide deck on the software you are most comfortable using for your presentation.
