Top 6 Free and Open Source Software to Create Professional Presentations

You don't have to spend money on high-end software to create professional presentations. From web apps to desktop software, there are plenty of free options to help you design slideshows for any occasion. Here are six standout tools, including some open-source software that are worth checking out.

OpenOffice

OpenOffice is an office suite similar to Microsoft Office, but completely free. It includes a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation maker, and more. The interface may not be exactly modern, but it is easy to get used to, especially if you have used Microsoft Office before.

With this software, you can create professional presentations with effects and elements that are not inferior to paid software. In addition, the large community has contributed a variety of ready-made slide templates, helping you get started quickly. OpenOffice also supports opening PowerPoint files (PPT and PPTX) with very few formatting errors.

The notable thing is that OpenOffice is open source software, which means you can download, edit the source code on the official GitHub, even report bugs or suggest new features to the community.

Reveal.js

Reveal.js offers a different approach: create presentations right in the browser using web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It may sound 'coder-y', but in reality, all you need is some basic HTML knowledge to use it.

If you don't want to waste time installing, just download the basic package, edit the index.html file with a text editor, then open it with a browser to view it right away. Everything can be done offline, compact and flexible.

Canva

Canva is famous for being a free graphic design platform, but it also supports creating presentations very conveniently. You can drag and drop to add images, videos, icons, sounds and a series of eye-catching effects. Canva's template library is extremely rich, from study, work to personal.

In addition, Canva also has an AI Magic Write tool that helps edit text in many different styles. Although it is free, the number of times you can use Magic Write is limited, suitable if you only use it for a few projects.

Keynote

If you have a Mac, iPhone, or iPad, Keynote is the default tool for creating presentations. Keynote's strength is its clean, minimalist design, but it still has the power to create incredibly sophisticated slides. You can add effects, animations, dynamic backgrounds, and even present live via FaceTime.

Don't have an Apple device? No problem, you can still use Keynote for free via iCloud.com, just create an Apple account and sign in.

PowerPoint Online

PowerPoint is very familiar, but if you don't have a Microsoft 365 package, you can still use the free web version: PowerPoint Online. Although it doesn't have the full features of the desktop version, it still supports basic effects, text formatting, and a rich template library.

The plus point is that the Designer tool suggests professional slide layouts and the practice mode (Rehearse) helps you improve your presentation skills. The only requirement is that you need a Microsoft account and an internet connection.

Google Slides

Google Slides is the ideal choice if you need simplicity, free and easy to share. The intuitive interface, built-in utilities such as slide templates, images, lists, charts. help save a lot of time.

Slides supports real-time online collaboration, allowing multiple people to edit and comment. Because it is tied to the Google ecosystem, you can combine Slides with Google Docs, Sheets, Drive for seamless work management.

If you're familiar with Gmail and other Google services, Slides is definitely the ultimate solution without spending a dime.

Marvin Fry

Update 21 August 2025