Free PowerPoint alternatives–Microsoft Office Web Apps

PowerPoint is the standard for slide show software, but what if you can’t afford it?

There are many free PowerPoint alternatives available either as a download or as a web-based service. This will be a multi-part blog post covering the following products (or more):

• PowerPoint Online (Microsoft Office Web Apps)
• ZohoShow
• Google Docs
• OpenOffice.org
• Prezi
• Sliderocket
• 280Slides

PowerPoint Online (part of Microsoft Office Web Apps)

You might not realize it, but there’s a free online PowerPoint app! Microsoft Office Web Apps are free online companions to Microsoft PowerPoint and other Office programs and you can use them to view, edit, and share Office files. The features are much more limited than the regular software you use on your computer, but if your needs are simple, there are numerous advantages:

1. You can store presentations online
2. You can share them with others
3. You can create and edit them online
4. You can upload PowerPoint files that you create on your computer.
5. You can download presentations that you create online and open them in PowerPoint

And it’s all free! Here are the steps to get started:

Step 4: Work on your slides

Work with your PowerPoint online or you can also click Open in PowerPoint to edit it on your local computer. (When I did this, I had to sign in again.) You’ll quickly see by the limited ribbon options that PowerPoint Online has limited features. You can choose from themes and layouts. Of course, you can insert text, pictures, clipart, and SmartArt if your layout includes a placeholder for them. The layouts are not flexible, unfortunately.

You can also upload a PowerPoint presentation from your computer. From the main window, choose Add Files. Choose one of the existing folders and then browse to upload the file. You can then choose the file and choose Edit in Browser.

From the View tab, you can switch to Slide Show view, which is a new browser window. You could use this in a webinar by sharing your desktop or in a live presentation by displaying the browser window. It’s a great way to have an online back-up copy of your presentation.

Have you used PowerPoint online? What do you think?