Need to create a digital presentation? There are many options to choose from.
Google Slides, Apple Keynote, Canva, and Prezi are all worth considering, but there’s probably one app that probably comes to mind first.
Microsoft PowerPoint remains the go-to for many people, combining ease of use and an excellent range of features.
But there’s one big problem: you usually have to pay to access the app. It starts at $149.99/£119.99 for a standalone version alongside other Office apps, or £79.99/$99.99 per year as part of a Microsoft 365 subscription.
However, the good news is that there are three completely free (and legal) ways to use PowerPoint completely free. Here’s what you need to know.
Option 1 – Web version
Access to Microsoft PowerPoint and other core Office programs is free via the web and all you need is a Microsoft account.
Go to office.com and click “Sign in” to enter your details. If you don’t already have an account, choose “Sign up for free Office” and follow the instructions.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Once this is complete, you will be redirected to your main desktop home page. In the left pane, choose “Create” then “Presentation” to open a new PowerPoint document.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
As you can see, there’s also the ability to create documents in Word and PowerPoint here, alongside Outlook and a free version of Microsoft Teams. These are all “web apps”, meaning you can only use them through your browser and not through a desktop app. When you work on a file here, it will be saved to OneDrive, Microsoft’s cloud storage service.
In fact, you probably have Google to thank for making this software available as a web app. Its free Docs, Sheets and Slides software and their integration with Google Drive have made it difficult for Microsoft to continue asking users to pay.
Consult our guide to best cloud storage services to see how the two compare to the rest of the competition.
The web version of PowerPoint is a cleaner version of the software, so the comparison to Google Slides is more reasonable than the full desktop program. Still, both services should provide everything a casual user is looking for.
Option 2 – Use on mobile
Perhaps once again in response to Google, Microsoft’s Office mobile apps are completely free and available on modern mobile devices.
You can download the Microsoft PowerPoint application to Android And iOS. Although Microsoft naturally reserves some premium features for its Office 365 subscription, the mobile apps are still very capable and offer integration with OneDrive.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Option 3 – Check if your school or workplace gets it for free
Many employers offer Microsoft 365 apps to their employees for free. Even if your work email address ends with the name of the company you work for, it can still be used to sign in to a Microsoft account. Of course, you may work in an office where Excel and the like are already the default.
If your school is enrolled in Microsoft 365 Education, all staff and students should be able to access Office apps for free. To verify, enter your educational email address on the Microsoft website.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
But if your school is not yet registered and you are able to change that, compare plans and start the registration process here.
Learn more in our separate article: Do students get Office 365 for free?
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