PowerPoint vs Keynote vs Google Slides: What is the Best Presentation Software? Part 2

www.office.com/setup Blogs:

2. Keynote

Keynote is part of Apple’s iWork productivity suite. It was designed for a Mac. It has a stylish interface that is easy to use. Keynote remote works on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod. While the support is not quite as extensive as what is available for PowerPoint, there are still a lot of resources available.

If you’re already a Mac user, Keynote just might be the best presentation software for your business needs. Here are some of the advantages of Keynote:

• Ease of Use. Like many Mac programs, Keynote features an intuitive, user-friendly interface. Most users with basic computer knowledge will be able to learn how to work with this package quickly.
• Multiple Devices. With iCloud you can use Keynote on multiple devices and synch your files through the cloud. This can be handy if you need to make a presentation using your iPad or iPhone.
• Customization Options. With many different themes, animation, and effects available it’s easy to get creative. There are also many themes available from third parties, like Envato Market.
• Export Feature. Keynote files can easily be exported to PowerPoint or even QuickTime. It also integrates well with other iWork software.

Disadvantages of Keynote include:

• Less Extensive Help Files. Many users report that the help files with Keynote are not as comprehensive as those available from Microsoft. However, there’s enough there that even beginning users should be able to learn and start using this software quickly.
• Mac Only. If you have a PC and want to create Keynote files from scratch, you’re out of luck. You can open a Keynote file with your PC, though. To open a Keynote file on a PC it must first be exported to a compatible format such as a .pdf or .ppt file.

To learn more about Keynote, you have many resources available. To start, take a look at our Tuts+ tutorial, 5 Tips for Better Keynote Presentations. The Apple Support Community for Keynote is also a good place to find answers to your Keynote questions. As with any presentation software, choosing a good template is important. You can find professional template that use Keynote’s unique features at Envato Market’s GraphicRiver. For more inspiration, we have a showcase of best Keynote presentation templates to browse:

• 
  PRESENTATIONS
  10 Best Keynote Presentation Templates
  Sean Hodge

Also, we have a complete walkthrough of how to customize a Keynote template design. Or get started with one of the best-selling Keynote templates on GraphicRiver, which is the Kaspian theme. Here’s a closer look at this stylish presentation design:

Kaspian - Creative Keynote Presentation Template

3. Google Slides

Google Slides is part of Google’s software office suite included within Google Drive. The software and your work reside completely on the web, making it an ideal choice for online sharing. Google Slides is relatively new. It offers a number of intuitive and innovative presentation features.

As long as you are connected, you can access Google Slides from any device. If you work with a team who all use different platforms, Google Slides may be the right choice for you. Here are some advantages of Google Slides:

• Ease of use. Google Slides is not difficult to learn. Help files are incorporated, although they don’t seem to be as extensive as in some of the other packages. There are quite a few third party resources to help you learn Google Slides.
• Web-based. The online files are always current and up-to-date. You can also easily link or embed your document into a web page.
• Collaboration. It’s easy for colleagues and team members to access and edit documents through the web no matter what device they are working on. Changes can be made simultaneously in different parts of the same presentation.
• Innovative. Google Slides has several innovative features. For example, the new Q & A feature that allows audiences to interact with a speaker through a link looks like a promising feature to hold audience engagement for those who make public presentation.

Disadvantages of Google Slides include:

• Fewer Choices. Google Slides has fewer choices for effects. There are also fewer themes, though Envato Market has a good selection of choices. Some users find the program features to be too basic.
• Gmail Account Required. If you don’t currently have a Google account, you will need one to use this package. However, you can sign up for an account free of charge.

Where can you go to learn more about Google Slides? You can start with our Tuts+ tutorial, Getting Started with Google Slides. You can also ask questions in the Google Product Forums. Envato Market’s GraphicRiver offers a number of professional templates for Google Slides. How good can a Google Slide presentation look? Check out this article featuring a collection of premium designs:

• 
  PRESENTATIONS
  15 Best Google Slides Presentation Themes (Premium Templates to Download)
  Sean Hodge

Or, take a look at our best-selling Google Slides template, the Fox Template. Here’s a closer look at a few of it's slide designs:

Fox - Ultimate Google Slides Template

What Is the Best Presentation Software for You?

Choosing the best presentation software package can be challenging. The package you choose depends largely on your needs and budget. PowerPoint vs. Keynote vs. Google Slides… Which should you choose? There’s no right or wrong presentation software solution. Each of the three presentation software packages has significant strengths to consider:

• PowerPoint - Is an established package with a large user base and lots of support. If you will be working for a business that prefers Microsoft Office products, this may be the right choice for you. There are thousands of PowerPoint templates to choose from.
• Keynote - Is designed for Macs and tends to have a more creative vibe according to some users. If you work mostly on Macs, this could be the best presentation software package for you, and there are plenty of creative Keynote templates to work with.
• Google Slides - This might be the right package for you if you work on a team that uses different operating systems and you need to collaborate. It’s also a great option for remote teams. There is a growing base of Google Slides presentation templates on Envato Market, with more being added on a regular basis.

This article lists some of the advantages and disadvantages to consider for each presentation software package. It also links to useful resources to help you learn more about each option. Choose the best presentation software that fits your needs, grab a quality presentation template, and get to work making your presentation today. Additionally, if you’d like to consider even more ways to create presentations, you’ll find a few more software options in our Tuts+ tutorial: How to Make a Better Presentation Without PowerPoint.