When it comes to choosing a presentation software, there are many options – but which is best for you? Here's our overview of four types: PowerPoint, Keynote, Prezi, and designed PDFs.

1. Presentation
software
ShouldYouUsePowerPoint,Keynote,
Prezi–oranartworkedPDF?

2. THE GOOD NEWS
IT’S VISUALLY ENGAGING
Built-in zooming options make Prezis look
much more interactive and appealing than
static presentations.
IT DOESN’T RESTRICT YOU TO A LINEAR FORMAT
You can zoom in and out in different directions
during your presentation.
IT’S EASY TO INTEGRATE OTHER MEDIA
Including videos.
IT’S WEB-BASED
You can play a Prezi on any device as long as you
have an internet connection (a desktop option is
also available).
Prezi has a clear wow factor. Prezis will stand out if everyone
else is using PowerPoint, and you can grab the audience’s
attention in ways only few other presentations could.
Ensure the medium of using Prezi
doesn’t take away from the message
of your presentation – think carefully
about your structure and keep it simple.
THE PITFALLS
IT CAN BE TIME-CONSUMING TO DEVELOP
Structuring a strong presentation requires planning.
IT HAS LIMITED CUSTOMISATION OPTIONS
No built-in image-editing facilities.
Not many font options.
IT’S HARD TO TRANSFER
When you export a Prezi into PDF,
the non-linear appeal is lost.
IT TAKES GETTING USED TO
All the zooming in, out, and around can make
you feel a bit seasick!
THE
BOTTOM
LINE
Prezi has a clear wow factor. Prezis will stand out if everyone
else is using PowerPoint and you can grab your audience’s
attention in ways few other presentations could.
THE
BOTTOM
LINE
PREZI
Ensure the medium of using Prezi
doesn’t take away from the message
of your presentation – think carefully
about your structure and keep it simple.

3. THE GOOD NEWS
IT’S UNIVERSAL
Pretty much everyone in the business world knows
PowerPoint and will have the software to open
your presentations.
IT’S USER FRIENDLY
Even non-designers can make a PowerPoint
presentation look at least passable.
Images and visuals can easily be edited
to fit the format.
There’s a wide range of font options.
IT CAN BE SURPRISINGLY ADVANCED!
Did you know you can include animations and
links within PowerPoint presentations? Check out
all its functionalities!
THE PITFALLS
IT CAN LOOK UNSOPHISTICATED
Even in the creative industry, we struggle to make
PowerPoint presentations look as slick as the
ones we create using tools such as InDesign.
IT CAN BE PREDICTABLE
Many people use the same basic templates,
so PowerPoint presentations can be boring.
IT’S LIMITING
Unless you spend a lot of time developing the ‘back
end’ of your PowerPoint presentation and building
links, the format will be linear.
Integrating other media can be tricky.
PowerPoint is the safe option. If the content of your
presentation matters more than the design, and you need
to develop a straightforward no-frills presentation quickly,
this is the tool for you.
Make your PowerPoint presentations
stand out with customised templates!
THE
BOTTOM
LINE
POWERPOINT

4. THE GOOD NEWS
IT’S INTUITIVE
Even non-designers can quickly get the
hang of it!
IT’S A GOOD MIDDLE GROUND
You can create presentations that are more
attractive than PowerPoint without being as
radically different as Prezi.
IT’S EASY TO INTEGRATE OTHER MEDIA
Including videos.
Prezi has a clear wow factor. Prezis will stand out if everyone
else is using PowerPoint, and you can grab the audience’s
attention in ways only few other presentations could.
THE PITFALLS
IT ONLY WORKS ON APPLE DEVICES
Though you can export presentations as PDFs
and PowerPoints.
THE
BOTTOM
LINE
Keynote is in many ways a more sophisticated version of
PowerPoint that displays well on Apple devices.
THE
BOTTOM
LINE
KEYNOTE
Think about why you’re using Keynote
and not PowerPoint – explore the
software’s unique functionalities.

5. THE GOOD NEWS
IT’S SLICK
From a design perspective, nothing beats the
appeal of a well-designed PDF.
IT’S PORTABLE
Pretty much everyone has Adobe Acrobat
Reader – and the file size will generally be
smaller than a PowerPoint, Keynote, or Prezi,
which makes it great for sharing.
IT’S INTERACTIVE
You can include everything from
click-throughs right down to images
and even videos!
THE PITFALLS
IT REQUIRES SPECIAL DESIGN SOFTWARE
InDesign is probably the best way to create
artworked PDFs – but usually only designers
have the right tools.
IT NEEDS EXPERTISE
To create an impactful presentation,
you’ll want an artworker or designer.
IT’S HARD TO EDIT
If you want to make last-minute changes
before giving a presentation, you’ll need the
design software!
If you want a visually appealing presentation
and you’re 100% sure you’re not going to
change anything last-minute, an artworked
PDF will be the best option.
Get the best of both worlds by using artworked slides
in a PowerPoint, Prezi, or Keynote presentation. This is
especially great if you want to combine Prezi’s unique
zooming functionality with well-crafted design.
THE
BOTTOM
LINE
ARTWORKED PDF