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10 Great Alternatives to PowerPoint for Making Presentations for Science

PowerPoint has long been the standard program for creating presentations in business and education. However, in recent years many new and innovative presentation tools have emerged as alternatives to the Microsoft staple. 


In this blog post, I'll highlight 10 solid PowerPoint alternatives worth checking out. Whether you're looking for new features, better design capabilities, more collaboration options or just a change of pace from PowerPoint, these presentation makers have got you covered.


1. Google Slides

As part of Google Workspace, Google Slides is a popular free option for basic presentation needs. It's easy to use, allows for real-time collaboration with others and integrates seamlessly with other Google services. The templates and design options are more limited compared to PowerPoint but it's a great simple alternative.


2. Canva

Canva offers an immense library of templates, photos, illustrations and design assets for creating sharp presentations quickly, even without prior design experience. It's also free to use with the option to upgrade for more functionality. The drag and drop editor couldn't be easier. 


3. Prezi

Prezi's zoomable canvas sets it apart from traditional slide-based tools. The nonlinear approach allows for more dynamic and interactive presentations. Though there's more of a learning curve and less structure than simple slides.


4. Keynote

Apple's sleek presentation software comes loaded on Macs and iOS devices. Built-in animations, themes and integration with other Apple apps make it an excellent alternative for Mac users. The learning curve is minimal for those with PowerPoint experience.


5. Zoho Show

For those seeking a free, web-based alternative, Zoho Show is a solid choice. With 200+ templates, collaboration capabilities, built-in image editor and ability to work offline, it offers an impressive free option.


6. Visme

Visme focuses more on creating infographics, diagrams, maps and other visual content to be used in presentations. It provides tons of data visualization options lacking in PowerPoint and is easy for anyone to create pro-level visuals.  


7. Slides

Slides from Google is a pared-down, web-based tool meant for quickly creating simple slide decks. The formats and options are limited but if you need to make a fast presentation without the bells and whistles, Slides is handy.


8. Sway

Microsoft's own PowerPoint alternative, Sway, is centered around storytelling and creating reports/newsletters more than standard presentations. The varied, customizable layouts and seamless integration with other Microsoft apps make it worth a look.


9. LibreOffice Impress 

Impress is a free, open source presentation tool with the basics covered for text documents, spreadsheets, presentations and more. It lacks some of the fancy features of paid options but gets the job done.


10. FlowVella

With its magazine-style format, FlowVella focuses on creating swipeable presentations for mobile devices. The conversational, storytelling format makes it easy to turn presentations into interactive experiences.


While PowerPoint still holds strong, these alternatives demonstrate the wide array of options now available for impactful and unique presentations. Taking the time to explore what each has to offer can open up new possibilities for how you present. So next time you need to make a presentation, don't default to PowerPoint without first considering if another tool may be a better fit.

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