If you’re shopping for a slideshow maker, you’re usually optimizing for one of three outcomes: (1) a clean deck you can present live, (2) a self‑playing/video slideshow you can publish, or (3) a collaborative workspace where teams can stay on‑brand and iterate fast.
In this roundup, I ranked tools based on how quickly you can go from “blank page” to a polished slideshow, the quality of templates and media libraries, collaboration controls, export options, and how practical their AI features are for real work—not just demos.
The Top Slideshow Maker: Gamma
If you want the fastest path from an idea to a presentable slideshow, Gamma is the easiest “prompt-to-slides” workflow right now—especially if you like modern, scrollable deck formats that also work as shareable web pages. It combines structured AI generation (so your outline becomes a clean narrative) with practical import/export options (PDF/PPTX in; PDF/PPTX/PNG and Google Slides out).
Gamma’s pricing is straightforward and credit‑based: the free tier is usable for light projects, while paid plans increase how many “cards” you can generate per prompt and how many monthly AI credits you get. For most solo creators, Plus is enough to remove branding and unlock more AI volume; for heavier weekly output (client work, internal comms), Pro gives you a more comfortable credit cushion.
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- Gamma – AI-first slideshow + doc builder with PDF/PPTX import and PPTX/PDF exports
- Canva – huge template + asset ecosystem for slides, social, and video-style presentations
- Pitch – collaborative decks with AI credits, roles, and sharing rooms
- Beautiful.ai – smart auto-layout “Smart Slides” for consistent, on-brand decks
- Prezi – dynamic, non-linear presentations with Prezi AI options
- Visme – interactive presentations with PPTX/HTML5/video/GIF export options
- Decktopus – AI presentation generator with built-in analytics and custom domain options
- SlidesAI – text-to-slides workflow with plan limits based on presentations/credits
- Plus AI – AI slide generation directly inside Google Slides and PowerPoint
- Google Slides – widely used collaborative slideshow tool (Google Workspace plans)
- Microsoft PowerPoint – classic slide software bundled with Microsoft 365 + Copilot
- Apple Keynote – polished animations and exports on Mac (and iOS/iPadOS)
- Zoho Show – free individual plan + team plan pricing with strong collaboration controls
#1: Gamma
Solo creators and small teams who want the fastest AI-assisted path from prompt → polished slideshow (with practical PPTX/PDF workflows).
Gamma is an AI-native presentation builder that treats slides more like “cards” in a story—great for web-first sharing and quick iterations. It supports importing existing decks/documents and exporting into formats teams already use. The main differentiator is how much structure the AI can generate per prompt (card limits) and how credits scale by plan.
- Free plan includes create up to 10 cards per prompt and 400 credits at signup
- Free plan supports import from PDF & PPTX
- Free plan exports to PDF, PPTX, PNG & Google Slides
- Plus plan pricing shown as $8 / seat / month (and $96 per seat, billed annually)
- Plus plan increases generation to up to 20 cards per prompt
- Plus plan includes 1,000 monthly credits
- Pro plan increases generation to up to 60 cards per prompt
- Pro plan includes 4,000 monthly credits
- Higher tier shows up to 75 cards per prompt and 20,000 monthly credits
Prompt-to-deck generation with plan-based limits on cards per prompt and monthly credits; the free tier includes a one-time credit grant at signup (400 credits).
Free ($0). Plus: $8/seat/month ($96/seat billed annually). Pro: $18/seat/month ($216/seat billed annually). Higher tier shown at $90/seat/month ($1,080/seat billed annually).
Imports from PDF and PPTX. Exports to PDF, PPTX, PNG, and Google Slides.
- Strong prompt-to-slideshow workflow with clear per-plan generation limits
- Useful import/export options for PPTX-centric teams
- Works well for share-link “web deck” presentations
- Credit and “cards per prompt” limits can require plan upgrades for heavy weekly use
- Some teams may prefer traditional slide-by-slide editing over card-based layouts
- Export fidelity can vary when moving between different slide ecosystems
- Review portal coverage varies by category; check major software review sites (e.g., G2) for the latest availability
- If mobile app listings exist for your platform, app store reviews can be a useful sanity check for reliability and updates
#2: Canva
People who want a slideshow maker that doubles as an all-in-one design suite (slides + video + social + marketing assets) with a massive template library.
Canva is less “presentation software” and more a broad creative platform that happens to include excellent slideshow creation. It shines when you want to remix the same content into multiple formats (presentations, social posts, posters, short videos) using consistent brand styles and a large built-in asset library. Plans mainly differ by premium content access, brand kit scale, AI access levels, and storage.
- Free plan highlights 1,000+ design types (drag-and-drop editor)
- Free plan includes 1.6M+ templates
- Free plan includes 4.7M+ photos, videos, graphics, and audio
- Free plan includes 1 Brand Kit and 5GB cloud storage
- Pro shows US$15/month for one person (page may display promotions)
- Pro includes “premium tools” like resize, translate, remove background
- Pro includes 141M+ premium photos, videos, graphics, and audio
- Business includes 100 Brand Kits, team admin tools (reports/approvals/AI controls), and 500GB storage
- Enterprise mentions enterprise-level security and controls and 1TB storage
AI features vary by plan (“limited/high/higher” AI access is referenced on the pricing page). Pro/Business/Enterprise plans emphasize higher AI access; specific usage limits are plan-dependent.
Free ($0). Pro shows US$15/month (per person). Business shows US$20/month (per person). Enterprise pricing varies by contract.
Designed for web-based editing with broad sharing options; export formats vary by content type and plan (commonly used outputs include share links plus downloadable formats for slides and media).
- Huge template ecosystem and very large built-in media library
- Brand Kit scaling from solo to enterprise (1 → 1000 Brand Kits)
- Strong for multi-format campaigns (slides + social + video-style content)
- Pricing pages may show promos; confirm standard pricing at checkout
- Presentation-specific controls can feel “design-suite first” vs presenter-first
- Export and formatting expectations depend heavily on workflow and templates
- Apple App Store: 4.9 stars with 3.1M Ratings (iOS app listing)
- App stores are often the best “at scale” signal for stability and update cadence for Canva’s mobile experience
#3: Pitch
Teams that need collaborative deck creation with roles, link-based sharing, and structured AI credits for on-brand drafting.
Pitch is built around collaborative workspaces (not just files), so it’s a strong choice for teams that ship decks every week. Pricing is seat-based and clearly defines workspace limits: free workspaces allow up to 5 members, while paid plans add advanced links, pitch rooms, roles, version history, and larger AI credit quotas per seat. It also includes governance features for scaling, like SAML SSO on higher tiers.
- Free workspaces include up to 5 members
- Free plan includes a one-time 100 AI credits
- Pro includes 6,000 AI credits per seat (and credits are used for AI actions)
- Pro includes 25 advanced links and 2 shared pitch rooms
- Pro includes custom fonts and workspace roles
- Pro includes unbranded sharing links plus unbranded PDF/PPTX exports
- Business plan includes unlimited collaboration + analytics positioning and unlimited version history
- Business includes asset library collections and priority support
- Larger plans list SAML-based SSO and invoiced billing options (30+ seats)
AI actions consume credits. The free plan includes a one-time allocation; paid plans provide a per-seat credit quota (e.g., 6,000 credits/seat on Pro and 9,000 credits/seat on Business) with optional overage at a per-credit cost (as described in plan FAQs).
Free ($0, up to 5 members). Pro shows $30/month or $25/month billed yearly (includes 2 seats). Business shows $120/month or $100/month billed yearly (includes 5 seats). Enterprise pricing is custom.
Share links for live versions of decks; PDF exports included on free (branded) and PDF/PPTX exports on paid (unbranded). Supports embeds and interactive link-style sharing.
- Purpose-built collaboration model (workspaces, roles, guests, version history)
- Clear AI credit quotas per seat and explicit overage pricing guidance
- Strong sharing workflow (advanced links, pitch rooms, guests)
- Paid plans can scale quickly in cost as seats increase
- Credit-based AI actions require monitoring for frequent usage
- Teams on strict PowerPoint-only workflows may still need export QA
- Apple App Store: 4.8 stars with 45 Ratings (Pitch iOS app listing)
- Review counts for mobile apps can be smaller than desktop/web adoption; treat as directional
#4: Beautiful.ai
People who want consistently designed slides with minimal manual layout work (auto-formatting “Smart Slides”).
Beautiful.ai focuses on structure and alignment: you pick a Smart Slide type and the layout adapts as you add content. The pricing page emphasizes AI-generated presentations (unlimited AI content generation on tiers shown), brand styling, and integrations, with plan options for individuals, teams, and enterprise. If your biggest time sink is getting slides to “look right,” this is one of the most design-opinionated tools in the category.
- 14-day free trial highlighted on the pricing page
- Pro plan shows $12/mo billed annually
- Pro includes unlimited AI content generation
- Pro includes AI image generation, AI writing assistant, and AI language translation
- Mentions Smart Slide auto-design features and 300+ Smart Slide layouts
- Team pricing is shown at $40/mo/user billed annually
- One-off option: single presentation for $45 (as described in FAQs)
- Team plan references workspace presentation templates and brand guardrails
- Mentions PowerPoint import and editable PowerPoint export
AI-assisted presentation creation with “unlimited AI content generation” referenced on the pricing page, plus AI image generation and writing/translation helpers.
Pro: $12/month (billed annually) with a 14-day trial. Team: $40/user/month (billed annually). Enterprise: custom. One-off single presentation: $45.
PowerPoint import and editable PowerPoint export are explicitly referenced. Other export formats depend on the workflow and plan.
- Strong auto-layout system that reduces “slide fiddling”
- Clear positioning for brand styling and guardrails on team plans
- Explicit PowerPoint import/export focus for slide ecosystem compatibility
- Best results depend on working within Smart Slide constraints
- Advanced collaboration and governance features move you into higher-priced plans
- Web-first workflow may not match teams that expect full desktop app parity
- Public third-party review availability varies by region and category; confirm on major review sites (e.g., G2/Capterra) for current ratings
- When evaluating, prioritize reviews that mention export fidelity and collaboration workflows
#5: Prezi
Presenters who want a more dynamic, non-linear presentation style and AI assistance for rapid drafting.
Prezi is known for motion and spatial storytelling—great when a traditional linear deck feels too static. Its pricing highlights a 14-day free trial and “Prezi AI” positioning, with multiple tiers that scale from basic public projects to more powerful creation features and integrations. If you present often (especially in video-call contexts), Prezi’s approach can help your content feel more “alive” without building custom animations in a traditional slide editor.
- Promotes a 14-day FREE trial on the pricing page
- Basic plan is Free with no credit card required
- Basic includes AI presentation generation (500 credits)
- Basic includes generate up to 10 talking points
- Standard shows $7 per month billed annually
- Standard includes privacy control and watermark-free presentations
- Standard includes 1M+ premium images and visuals
- Plus shows $19 per month billed annually
- Plus includes unlimited AI presentation generation and unlimited AI image generation
- A higher tier shows $29 per month billed annually (as shown in plan summary)
AI presentation generation with a credit-based starter allocation on the free plan (500 credits) and “unlimited” AI generation features referenced on higher tiers.
Basic: Free. Standard: $7/month billed annually (with free trial). Plus: $19/month billed annually (with free trial). Higher tier: $29/month billed annually (as shown on the pricing page).
Designed for presenting and sharing across common meeting and media contexts; plan details reference integrations (e.g., Slack integration is listed in the feature comparison).
- Strong for dynamic storytelling vs rigid slide-by-slide decks
- Includes AI features with clear “free vs unlimited” positioning by tier
- Offers a free trial window to test real presentation workflows
- The Prezi “style” isn’t ideal for every audience or corporate template
- Teams may still need a traditional deck tool for strict PPTX requirements
- Advanced features and integrations are tier-dependent
- Review availability depends on the product category you compare (presentation tools vs video tools)
- When reading reviews, look specifically for feedback on presenter experience and export/share workflows
#6: Visme
Teams that want interactive, multi-format presentations and exports beyond PPTX (HTML5, video, GIF).
Visme is positioned as an “all-in-one visual communication tool,” and its pricing page makes the multi-format angle explicit—presentations are only one output among many. Plans scale from a free basic tier to Pro (best value) and Enterprise. If you need to publish slides as interactive web experiences (or deliver as video/GIF), Visme’s export options are a major differentiator.
- Basic plan is US$0/month per person with unlimited projects
- Starter plan is US$12.25/month per person (listed as $147/year)
- Starter includes downloads as JPG, PNG, PDF
- Pro plan is US$24.75/month per person (listed as $297/year)
- Pro adds downloads as PPTX, HTML5, Video, & GIF
- Pro includes Brand Kit, Analytics, Most Integrations
- Enterprise is custom price from 10 users
- Enterprise lists Single Sign-on (SSO) & 2FA and a Dedicated Customer Success Manager
The pricing page references “AI features” as part of the product’s broader feature set; availability can vary by plan and the specific tool within Visme.
Basic: $0. Starter: $12.25/user/month (annual). Pro: $24.75/user/month (annual). Enterprise: custom (from 10 users).
Starter: JPG/PNG/PDF. Pro: PPTX, HTML5, Video, and GIF exports are explicitly listed.
- Excellent export breadth for teams publishing beyond slide decks
- Clear progression of pricing with concrete export unlocks at Pro
- Strong for brand-managed teams (Brand Kit + analytics)
- Best value features (PPTX/HTML5/video/GIF) require Pro or higher
- “All-in-one” platforms can feel heavier than focused deck tools
- Enterprise governance requires sales-led pricing
- Review sources vary (presentation vs marketing content creation categories)
- If you publish interactive exports, prioritize reviews that discuss HTML5 delivery and playback performance
#7: Decktopus
Users who want AI-generated decks plus built-in sharing analytics and business-ready controls (custom domain, webhooks).
Decktopus positions itself as an “on-demand presentation generator” with AI at the center of the workflow. Pricing is easy to understand: Pro for individuals, Business for teams, and Enterprise for custom deployments. The pricing page includes unusually concrete operational details (credit quantities, analytics, custom domain connection) and even security notes about infrastructure partners.
- Pro shows $14.99/month (and $179.99 billed annually)
- Pro includes 9,000 AI credits / year
- Pro includes AI assistance, presentation generation, and AI image generation
- Pro includes PDF export
- Business shows $34.99 / user / per month (and $419.99 billed annually)
- Business includes 12,000 AI credits / year, slide analytics, and custom domain connection
- Business includes webhook support plus “Team & Organization”
- Security FAQ references DigitalOcean (hosting) and Auth0 (authentication) plus encrypted databases and Let’s Encrypt SSL
AI-driven presentation generation and AI image generation, with annual AI credit limits called out per plan (9,000/year on Pro; 12,000/year on Business).
Pro: $14.99/month ($179.99 billed annually). Business: $34.99/user/month ($419.99 billed annually). Enterprise: custom.
PDF export is explicitly listed for Pro; other export formats are not clearly enumerated on the pricing page and may vary by workflow.
- Straightforward plan tiers with concrete AI credit quantities
- Built-in analytics and custom domain options for business use
- Clear security posture notes on the pricing FAQ (infrastructure/auth providers)
- Refund policy notes “no refunds” for monthly and annual subscriptions (per pricing FAQ)
- Export options beyond PDF are not clearly stated on the pricing page
- Advanced features (analytics, webhooks, org controls) require Business
- Review availability varies by niche; verify current ratings on major review portals if this is a procurement decision
- For teams, prioritize reviews that mention analytics accuracy and domain/sharing reliability
#8: SlidesAI
Lightweight text-to-slides generation with explicit annual limits on presentations, input size, and AI credits.
SlidesAI is designed to turn text into slide decks quickly, with pricing that makes its constraints very explicit. Instead of vague “AI access” messaging, the plan cards list annual caps on presentations, character input per presentation, and AI credits. This makes it a good fit when you need predictable usage limits (education, student work, occasional business decks) without committing to an expensive creative suite.
- Basic plan is $0/month
- Basic includes 12 presentations / year
- Basic includes 2500 character input / presentation
- Basic includes 120 AI credits / year
- Pro shows $8.33/month billed at $100/year
- Pro includes 120 presentations / year
- Pro includes 6000 character input / presentation
- Pro includes 600 AI credits / year
- Pro includes document upload
Text-to-presentation generation using AI credits, with clear annual credit limits per plan (120/year on Basic; 600/year on Pro).
Basic: $0. Pro: $8.33/month (billed $100/year). Additional Team/Institution options are available from the pricing page tabs.
Designed around a workflow that produces presentation outputs from text; exact export formats depend on the ecosystem you connect it to (e.g., slide platforms and add-on installs).
- Very clear usage caps (presentations/year, chars/presentation, credits/year)
- Affordable annual pricing for students and occasional users
- Document upload on Pro for faster content ingestion
- Annual caps can be restrictive for frequent weekly deck creation
- Export formats and workflow depend on your target slide platform
- Team and institution needs may require higher tiers not shown in the default tab
- Look for user feedback that specifically mentions output quality and time-to-first-draft
- If you deploy it as an add-on, extension store reviews can help validate install friction and reliability
#9: Plus AI
Teams that want AI slide generation inside Google Slides and PowerPoint (instead of switching to a separate editor).
Plus AI is positioned as an “in-your-editor” AI workflow: generate, rewrite, and remix slides directly where you already work. Pricing is per user with a short trial, and tiers primarily differ by advanced AI features (uploads, longer prompts), and team-wide branding controls. If your organization is standardized on Google Slides or PowerPoint, this approach can reduce tool sprawl while still adding AI drafting speed.
- 7-day free trial is explicitly called out (includes both Google Slides and PowerPoint)
- Basic: $10 per user/month billed annually (or $15 per user billed monthly)
- Basic includes unlimited AI generation in Google Slides and PowerPoint
- Basic includes create single slides and rewrite/remix slides with AI
- Pro: $20 per user/month billed annually (or $25 billed monthly)
- Pro includes document uploads (PDF, docx, txt) and 100K+ character prompts
- Pro includes generate AI images
- Team: $30 per user/month billed annually (or $40 billed monthly) with branding controls (logo/colors/fonts)
Prompt-to-slides plus rewrite/remix workflows inside Google Slides and PowerPoint. Higher tiers add long prompts (100K+ characters) and document ingestion (PDF/DOCX/TXT) for grounded slide creation.
7-day trial. Basic: $10/user/month (annual) or $15/user/month (monthly). Pro: $20/user/month (annual) or $25/user/month (monthly). Team: $30/user/month (annual) or $40/user/month (monthly). Enterprise: custom.
Runs inside Google Slides and PowerPoint, so compatibility follows those ecosystems (including native sharing/collab, and export options available in Slides/PowerPoint).
- Reduces context switching by working inside Slides/PowerPoint
- Document upload + very large prompt size on Pro is useful for content-heavy decks
- Team tier adds practical brand controls (logo/colors/fonts, templates)
- Per-user pricing can add up for large teams compared to a single-suite license
- Output quality depends on your source material and prompt discipline
- Advanced branding features are gated to higher tiers
- For add-ins, prioritize feedback that mentions installation reliability and editor performance (Google/Microsoft marketplaces)
- Look for reviews that discuss brand consistency and slide formatting consistency over time
#10: Google Slides
Teams that want fast, reliable real-time collaboration with familiar sharing controls and a huge ecosystem (Workspace + Drive).
Google Slides is the “default” for many organizations because it’s simple to share, easy to collaborate in real time, and tightly integrated with Drive and Gmail. On Google Workspace plans, Slides can also benefit from AI features referenced as “Gemini in Slides” (for example, AI images) depending on SKU and region. If you’re already on Workspace, it’s often the most frictionless slideshow maker to standardize on.
- Workspace pricing highlights a 14-day trial
- Starter list shows $7/user/month as the original price (discounts may apply)
- Starter includes 30 GB pooled storage per person
- Standard shows $14/user/month original price and includes 2 TB pooled storage per user
- Plus shows $22/user/month original price and includes 5 TB pooled storage per user
- Pricing page references Docs, Sheets, Slides as collaborative content creation
- References Gemini in Slides (AI images) as an available feature for certain SKUs
- Standard includes meeting recording and other Meet features (useful for presenting workflows)
Workspace pricing references Gemini capabilities across Workspace apps, including “Gemini in Slides” (make presentations shine with AI images). Availability can vary by SKU and plan.
Google Slides is available with Google accounts; Workspace business pricing shown (original prices) as Starter $7/user/month, Standard $14/user/month, Plus $22/user/month (discounts/promos may apply). Enterprise: custom.
Slides is part of the Workspace ecosystem (Drive sharing and collaboration). Export and compatibility depend on Slides’ built-in options and your organization’s policies.
- Best-in-class real-time collaboration and sharing workflows
- Strong ecosystem integrations (Drive, Docs, Meet, Gmail)
- Predictable storage scaling by plan tier (30GB → 2TB → 5TB pooled)
- Advanced controls and AI features can be SKU- and region-dependent
- Offline and advanced formatting workflows may be less flexible than desktop apps
- Enterprise governance features require higher tiers
- Workspace is widely reviewed as a suite; look for reviews that specifically mention Slides formatting and collaboration
- For org rollouts, prioritize IT/admin feedback on access controls and file governance
#11: Microsoft PowerPoint
Organizations standardized on Microsoft 365 that need the most compatibility with the PPTX ecosystem (and AI features via Copilot).
PowerPoint remains the format most likely to “just work” when sharing decks across enterprises, agencies, and conference AV teams. The Microsoft 365 pricing page highlights that desktop versions of apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are included in consumer plans, with Copilot messaging featured on higher tiers. If you need perfect PPTX fidelity, advanced slide master workflows, or deep enterprise compatibility, PowerPoint is still the safest bet.
- Microsoft 365 Personal shows $99.99/year (or $9.99/month) pricing
- Microsoft 365 Family shows $129.99/year (or $12.99/month) pricing
- Microsoft 365 Premium shows $199.99/year (with a promo shown as $99.99/first year)
- Includes desktop apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote (referenced on pricing page)
- Pricing page references Microsoft Teams (useful for presenting + sharing workflows)
- Mentions OneDrive for saving/sharing files
- Mentions “Productivity apps with Microsoft Copilot” for eligible plans
- Mentions media tools like Clipchamp and Designer in the bundle
Copilot is referenced as part of Microsoft 365 plan benefits (“Productivity apps with Microsoft Copilot”) with plan-based usage limits and availability notes.
Microsoft 365 Personal: $99.99/year or $9.99/month. Microsoft 365 Family: $129.99/year or $12.99/month. Microsoft 365 Premium: $199.99/year (promos may apply).
PowerPoint is the native home of PPTX; compatibility and export options are strongest in the Microsoft ecosystem (and widely supported by third-party presentation tools).
- Highest compatibility with “corporate PPTX” expectations
- Mature feature set (templates, masters, animations, charts) and wide file support
- Strong ecosystem bundle value if you also use Word/Excel/Outlook/Teams
- AI/Copilot value depends on plan eligibility and usage limits
- Collaboration is best when teams are fully in Microsoft 365 (permissions, storage, sharing)
- Complex decks can become hard to maintain without governance and template discipline
- Consumer plans are heavily reviewed as a suite (Microsoft 365), not just PowerPoint
- When evaluating reviews, focus on PPTX interoperability, collaboration, and cross-device editing
#12: Apple Keynote
Mac users who want beautiful animations and reliable exports (PowerPoint, PDF, movie, images, and HTML).
Keynote is the most “design-polished” of the traditional slide apps and is especially strong for animations, transitions, and presenter workflows. Apple’s Keynote User Guide includes a detailed export workflow that explicitly calls out multiple target formats, including PowerPoint (.pptx) and PDF with options for presenter notes and build stages. If you’re on Mac (or working across Apple devices) and want a crisp visual result without subscription pricing, Keynote is a strong pick.
- User guide explicitly supports export to PowerPoint (.pptx) (open/edit in Microsoft PowerPoint)
- Export to PDF with options like presenter notes, skipped slides, and printing builds
- Export to Movie, including Slideshow Recording narration and self-playing timing controls
- Export to Animated GIF (selected slides)
- Export slides as Images (choose an image format; quality impacts file size)
- Export to HTML (open
index.html; animations and builds exported) - Password handling for exported copies (PDF/PowerPoint/Keynote ’09) is described in export workflow
- User guide highlights real-time collaboration with edit/view permissions
No explicit AI generation features are described in the export documentation; Keynote is primarily a traditional slide editor.
Free (Keynote is part of Apple’s productivity apps ecosystem on supported devices).
Exports to PowerPoint (.pptx), PDF, Movie, Animated GIF, Images, and HTML (per Apple Keynote User Guide).
- Excellent motion design and presentation polish
- Broad export options with clear controls (PDF notes/builds; self-playing movie timing)
- Strong collaboration workflow on Apple platforms
- Best experience is on Apple hardware and software ecosystems
- Some advanced enterprise PPTX workflows may still require PowerPoint QA
- AI features are not a core part of Keynote’s workflow compared to newer tools
- Apple ecosystem apps are widely reviewed; prioritize feedback on export fidelity and cross-platform collaboration
- For teams, validate your PPTX handoff expectations early (especially animations/fonts)
#13: Zoho Show
Budget-conscious teams that want a surprisingly full-featured slideshow maker with robust collaboration controls and a free individual plan.
Zoho Show is positioned as a scalable slideshow tool with a generous free plan for individuals and a low starting price for teams. The pricing page lists unusually detailed feature coverage (templates, offline mode, large file uploads, versioning, roles/permissions, real-time collaboration) and even security claims (2FA, encryption, HIPAA compliance). If you want a “Google Slides-style” collaboration model without paying premium suite pricing, Zoho Show is worth a look.
- Free plan is US$0 (for individuals)
- Free plan includes 100+ templates and slides
- Free plan claims unlimited cloud storage
- Free plan allows upload files up to 500 MB
- Free plan includes offline mode, mobile apps, and syncing across devices
- Collaboration features include roles and permissions, real-time collaboration, and contextual commenting
- Control features include lock slides, check in/check out, and password-protected exports
- Delivery features include broadcast and embed code, plus mobile/TV apps
- Security claims include two-factor authentication, HIPAA compliant, and encryption
- Professional plan starts at US$2.50 and notes a 15-day trial (via WorkDrive/Workplace)
No AI generation features are explicitly called out on the pricing page; the product is positioned around collaboration and delivery controls.
Free Plan: $0. Professional Plan: starts at $2.50 (plan details indicate a 15-day trial via related subscriptions).
Pricing page references imports for PPT/PPS/ODP/SXI/PPTX/PPSX/POTX formats (and password-protected exports). Export formats vary by workflow and plan.
- Very feature-dense free plan (templates, offline mode, versioning, large uploads)
- Strong collaboration controls for the price (roles, comments, check-in/out)
- Practical delivery options (broadcast, embed, mobile/TV apps)
- AI features aren’t a central selling point compared to newer AI-first tools
- Advanced team workflows may depend on how you bundle with Zoho Workplace/WorkDrive
- Export options aren’t as clearly enumerated as some presentation-focused products
- Apple App Store: 4.1 stars with 80 Ratings (Zoho Show iOS app listing)
- Check platform-specific store reviews to validate mobile editing/presenting workflows for your device mix
| Tool | Starting price | Free tier/trial | Best for | Slideshow type | AI assist | Collaboration | Export highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gamma | $8/seat/mo | Free tier | Fast prompt-to-slides + exports | Deck | Yes | Yes | PDF, PPTX, PNG, Google Slides |
| Canva | $15/mo | Free tier | Templates + assets + multi-format content | Deck + video | Yes | Yes | Share links + downloadable formats (varies by content) |
| Pitch | $30/mo (includes 2 seats) | Free tier | Team collaboration, roles, sharing rooms | Deck | Yes | Yes | PDF/PPTX exports on paid (unbranded) |
| Beautiful.ai | $12/mo (annual) | 14-day trial | Smart auto-layout decks | Deck | Yes | Yes | PowerPoint import + editable PPT export |
| Prezi | $7/mo (annual) | 14-day trial | Dynamic non-linear presentations | Deck | Yes | Yes | Sharing + integrations (varies by plan) |
| Visme | $12.25/user/mo (annual) | Free tier | Interactive + multi-export presentations | Deck + video | Yes | Yes | PPTX, HTML5, Video, GIF (Pro) |
| Decktopus | $14.99/mo | Not listed on page | AI decks + analytics + domain controls | Deck | Yes | Yes | PDF export (listed) |
| SlidesAI | $8.33/mo (billed $100/yr) | Free tier | Predictable AI caps for quick drafts | Deck | Yes | Varies | Depends on target slide ecosystem |
| Plus AI | $10/user/mo (annual) | 7-day trial | AI inside Slides and PowerPoint | Deck | Yes | Yes | Uses native Slides/PowerPoint exports |
| Google Slides | $7/user/mo (Workspace) | 14-day trial | Real-time collaboration + sharing | Deck | Yes | Yes | Native Slides exports (varies by policy) |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | $9.99/mo (M365 Personal) | Promos vary | PPTX compatibility + desktop power | Deck | Yes | Yes | PPTX native; broad compatibility |
| Apple Keynote | Free | N/A | Polished motion design on Mac | Deck + video | No | Yes | PPTX, PDF, movie, GIF, images, HTML |
| Zoho Show | $2.50+ | Free tier | Low-cost collaboration with controls | Deck | No | Yes | Imports: PPT/PPS/ODP/PPTX; exports vary |
If you present live (meetings, sales calls), a deck-first tool is usually best. If you’re publishing content (YouTube, onboarding, kiosks), prioritize tools with explicit video/GIF/movie export options and playback controls.
If your org already lives in Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, add-ons like Plus AI can be more efficient than migrating to a new slideshow editor. If you’re on Mac and regularly export to PPTX/PDF, Keynote is a strong free baseline.
AI “yes/no” isn’t enough—what matters is whether the tool tells you limits up front (credits, cards per prompt, presentations/year). Tools like Gamma, Pitch, SlidesAI, and Decktopus make these constraints explicit.
If you must deliver PPTX to clients, prioritize tools that explicitly support PowerPoint export (and test for font/layout fidelity). If you publish interactive web versions, look for HTML5/web export options.
For team use, verify whether the tool supports role-based access, guest collaboration, and version history. Pitch is especially clear about these features; suite tools (Google/Microsoft) rely on their broader permissions model.
If you want speed and modern AI generation, Gamma is the top pick. If you need broad templates and marketing assets, Canva is often the most versatile.
For collaborative deck creation with roles, guests, and sharing rooms, Pitch is a strong team-first option. If your company is standardized on Google or Microsoft, using Google Slides or PowerPoint with an AI add-on can reduce friction.
Microsoft PowerPoint is still the safest for compatibility. Keynote explicitly exports to PPTX, and tools like Gamma and Beautiful.ai also emphasize PowerPoint export workflows—still, always QA a sample deck before client delivery.
Google Slides and Apple Keynote are strong free baselines in their ecosystems. Among web tools, Gamma, Canva, and Zoho Show all offer usable free tiers for basic needs.
Not always. AI is most valuable for (1) generating a first draft outline and slide structure, (2) rewriting content for clarity, and (3) generating or suggesting visuals. If you already have content and you’re focused on precise layout control, traditional editors can be faster.