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With the upgrades that we are having in information and technology, data presentation has been an increasing need now more than ever. This has become clearer with the increase in demand for valuable data and information.
These data are used for coming up with sound, logical, and statistical conclusions. With so much to consider, presenting them can be quite a task.
You may have done any form of speaking in public, hosting a webinar, or leading a meeting discussion. And surely, you have brought a slideshow presentation with you. The slideshow presentation must have helped you in delivering your speech or your message effectively and efficiently.
But sometimes, the bulk of the preparation goes to creating a great slideshow rather than preparing for your actual presentation. Here’s the good news – nowadays, tools for creating presentations are available. These tools are also improving along with the upgrades in information and technology.
There are tools where you can create slideshows from scratch and there are also tools that can provide you with a number of slide templates. Using the available templates will greatly minimize the time that you allot in creating your visuals. This will give you more opportunities to improve your actual presentation.
What is a Presentation Tool?
A presentation tool is an application that is used to visualize information. This allows the user to interact with the target audience using a series of different formats of multimedia. This includes text, image, audio, and video in the form of a slide show.
The presentation created using these tools can be used alongside a speech, a talk, or can be used to present information on its own.
With the use of these tools, data presentation has been easier than before. You can now focus more on the actual speeches or talks rather than spending a great deal of time creating a visual presentation.
What Makes a Great Presentation Tool?
There are a lot of presentation tools available in the market whether free or paid. Moreover, the functions and features of each tool have evolved significantly over the past few years. At this point, choosing the best presentation tool can be quite a challenge. Certain features have to be considered in choosing the best ones.
- Ease of Use
A great presentation tool is easy and simple to use and usually gives you a comfortable working platform. These tools are clear when it comes to the users that they are geared to.
Whether you’re a businessman, an educator, a blogger, a social media manager, or even a student, there is a tool for you. Some of them also have team accounts or business accounts for easy collaboration if you’re working inside a company.
- Customizability
The ability to customize and support additional media will be of great help in creating your slideshow presentations. Another mark of a great presentation tool is having a range of features and functionality such as the following:
- embedding content
- adding audio and video
- including other animated elements
These tools can also have lots of templates to choose from that are of good quality.
- Final Output
A great presentation tool can provide you with a great output in consideration that you have basic design skills and are knowledgeable in using the tool itself. These tools can also create presentations on any of your devices and the finished output can be viewed regardless if you are online or offline.
- Affordability
The best presentation tool doesn’t have to be the most expensive one. In choosing the best presentation tool, you will also have to consider your budget.
What are the Best Presentation Tools in 2021?
- Google Slides
Image is from Google Slides
Google Slides is a part of the Google Workspace group of applications and it works the same way as Microsoft PowerPoint or any presentation tools that you have used in the past.
When it comes to customizability, you will be presented with standard slide layouts. Here, you can place different multimedia formats such as text, image, audio, and video. It’s perfect for businesses and individuals who are looking for easy features to work on.
Google Slides focuses more on collaboration – just send a link to your co-workers and they can easily make edits to your documents. The good thing about this collaboration feature is that you can track changes made in the document. With this, you don’t have to worry about your co-workers messing with the output.
Speaking of Google Slides’ output, as long as you have basic design skills, working around this tool is quite easy. You also have a presenter view where you can access your notes that accompany your presentation.
And the best thing about Google Slides is that it’s free and you can easily access it online. If you wish to access more of its features and unlimited storage capabilities, their plans range from $10 to $18 per user per month.
- Canva
Image is from Canva.com
Canva is more than just a presentation tool, it is a full editing program used for any visual needs. Among all the presentation tools available here, Canva presents a huge number and a variety of beautiful templates which can be easily used and customized.
This tool is perfect for bloggers, home-based business owners, as well as for those who are just starting up.
Canva as a presentation tool allows you to interact directly with your audience using Canva Live. Once they join your presentation through a link, they can ask you questions. These questions will pop up in your presenter view allowing you to provide answers in real-time.
With the vast amount of resources and features that you can find in Canva, you would be surprised that you can use it for free. If you plan to access its premium features, the plans start at $9.99 per month.
- Prezi
Image is from Prezi.com
Unlike your usual tool that presents ideas or information in a linear, straightforward manner, Prezi works like a mind map. This gives you a more concrete representation of the connections between the ideas that you are presenting.
This unique feature of Prezi allows for a more conversational approach to presentations. Prezi is great for those who are looking for new ways on how to present their data.
Prezi has its zoom in and zoom out feature which shifts the focus between topics and subtopics, allowing you to arrange them in any way you want. This feature creates more diversity when it comes to your presentation. But this tool has a bit of a learning curve. You have to work your way when it comes to its features so you can maximize the things that Prezi can offer.
With the availability of the unique zoom styling and a huge number of templates, Prezi offers a 14-day trial and a free plan that covers up to 5 completed projects. If you wish to access more of its features, Prezi has three types of plans which start at $3 per month for the most basic plan.
- Microsoft Powerpoint
Among all presentation tools, Microsoft Powerpoint is undoubtedly the most familiar to everyone. Other tools can boast of new features and a wide array of templates.
For Microsoft Powerpoint, its edge comes with familiarity, ease of use, and availability. Microsoft Powerpoint is a good fit for anyone who is looking for simple and conventional presentations.
Started as a component of Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Powerpoint has since improved when it comes to its accessibility and shareability. Not only is it present on Microsoft devices, but it’s also available on mobile devices.
And with the advent of Microsoft 365, it has joined the cloud-based applications arena. As a presentation tool, it boasts of features that everyone is most familiar with – simple and classic; familiar and conventional.
Microsoft Powerpoint can easily be downloaded for free on any device including mobile ones. But the desktop-based ones offer premium plans which start at $5 per user per month.
- Keynote
Keynote is your native Apple presentation tool available in devices where you access your Apple ID. It functions the same way as Microsoft Powerpoint or Google Slides. Keynote is good for users who are looking for a practical presentation tool.
Keynote can be accessed by using Apple ID. As long as you have an Apple device and a working internet connection, you can access your presentations anytime and anywhere. As a presentation tool, it offers simple yet nice and clean templates and a simple interface.
For those who are looking to use Apple Keynote, as long as you can use Microsoft Powerpoint or Google Slides, using Keynote will be smooth and easy.
Keynote can easily be downloaded for free and available for those who have their Apple ID.
Looking for a Great Presentation Tool?
The list of presentation tools can go on and on, with features that set each of them apart from one another. Looking for the “best” tool can be quite a tedious task. That’s why considerations must be taken into account as you choose the presentation tool that you will eventually use.
You may want to ponder on these questions before you decide which tool to use:
- What are the features that you are looking for in a presentation tool?
- How much are you willing to spend on a specific presentation tool?
- Who will be operating the presentation tool?
Because ultimately, the best presentation tool will depend on your needs, your budget, and the users of the tool.