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You are here: Home / Delivery / Free PowerPoint alternatives–Microsoft Office Web Apps

Free PowerPoint alternatives–Microsoft Office Web Apps

March 15, 2011 by Ellen Finkelstein 5 Comments

READ LATER - DOWNLOAD THIS POST AS PDF >> CLICK HERE <<

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 1: Go to Office Web Apps

Go to Windows Live  Office Web Apps. Sign in using the link shown by the arrow below if you have a Live ID or a Hotmail account, or just register.

Office Web Apps

Step 2: Open PowerPoint

After you sign into your account,you have two ways to start a new PowerPoint presentation. Either choose Office>New PowerPoint presentation from the top menu, or click the New drop-down list and choose PowerPoint presentation.

Creat A New PowerPoint

Step 3:  Create a New Presentation

Name your new PowerPoint and choose whom you want to share it with, if anyone. Then Click Save and you can start creating your new PowerPoint presentation.

Name and share

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.

Edit and Display

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?

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READ LATER - DOWNLOAD THIS POST AS PDF >> CLICK HERE <<

Related posts:

  1. Free PowerPoint tutorials
  2. Top takeaways from the PowerPoint Live conference
  3. Microsoft releases public beta of Office 2010
  4. Post your PowerPoint presentation as a video to YouTube

Filed Under: Delivery, Design, Misc. PowerPoint Tips, Resources Tagged With: free PowerPoint alternative, Office Web apps, online

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Free PowerPoint alternatives–Microsoft Office Web Apps … | Super Online Tips

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Amazing Powerpoint Alternatives – Free Microsoft Office Web Apps « Presenter News

[…] There are many alternatives to choose from. Ellen Finkelstein explains all this in her post Free PowerPoint alternatives–Microsoft Office Web Apps. Now, you won’t have to worry about making a wonderful presentation for your audience of […]

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[…] Free PowerPoint alternatives–Microsoft Office Web Apps – You might not realize it, but there’s a free online PowerPoint app! Microsoft … 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 1: Go to Office Web … […]

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5 years ago
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Microsoft Office Web Apps Download Free | How to use Microsoft Office Free

[…] Free PowerPoint alternatives–Microsoft Office Web Apps – You might not realize it, but there’s a free online PowerPoint app! Microsoft … 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 1: Go to Office Web … […]

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