Need to create a digital presentation? There are loads of options to choose from.
Google Slides, Apple Keynote, Canva and Prezi are all worth considering, but there’s one app that probably comes to mind first.
Microsoft’s PowerPoint remains the go-to for many people, combining ease of use with an excellent range of features.
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But there’s one big problem: you usually need to pay to access the app. This starts £119.99/$149.99 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 totally free (and legal) ways to use PowerPoint totally free of charge. Here’s what you need to know.
Option 1 – Use the web version
Accessing Microsoft PowerPoint and other core Office programs is free via the web, and all you’ll need is a Microsoft account.
Head over to office.com and click ‘Sign in’ to enter your details. If you don’t yet have an account, choose ‘Sign up for the free version of Office’ and follow the instructions.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Once that’s complete, you’ll be taken to your main office homepage. From the left pane, choose ‘Create’, then ‘Presentation’ to open a new PowerPoint document.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
As you can see, there’s also the option to create documents in Word and Excel here, alongside Outlook and a free version of Microsoft Teams. These are all ‘Web Apps’, meaning you can only use them via your browser and not a desktop app. When you work on a file here, it will be saved to OneDrive, Microsoft’s cloud storage service – everyone gets 5GB for free.
In fact, you probably have Google to thank for this software being available in web app form. Its free Docs, Sheets and Slides software and their integration with Google Drive made it difficult for Microsoft to keep asking users to pay.
Check out our guide to the best cloud storage services to see how both compare to the rest of the competition.
The web version of PowerPoint is a more stripped-back version of the software, so the comparison to Google Slides is more reasonable than the full desktop program. Nonetheless, both services should provide everything a casual user is looking for.
Option 2 – Use on mobile
Perhaps again in response to Google, Microsoft’s Office mobile applications are completely free and available acrossmodern mobile devices.
You can download the Microsoft PowerPoint app for AndroidandiOS. While Microsoft understandably reserves some premium features for its Office 365 subscription, the mobile apps are still very capable and offer integration with OneDrive.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Option 3 – Check if your school or workplace gets it free
Many employers offer Microsoft 365 apps to their employees free of charge. Even if your work email address ends with the name of the company you work for, it may still be used to sign into a Microsoft account. Of course, you may be working in an office job where Excel and the like are already the defaults.
If your school has signed up to Microsoft 365 Education, all staff and students should be able access Office apps for free. To check, enter your education email address on the Microsoft website.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
But if your school isn’t yet signed up and you’re in a position to change that, compare plans and begin the sign-up process here.
Learn more in our separate article: Do students get Office 365 for free?
