5 Microsoft Powerpoint alternatives for Linux users
Microsoft PowerPoint is essential in an office or school setting if you’re required to make presentations. But what if you use Linux and don’t have access to PowerPoint? What do you use? Well, let’s find out with the 5 best Microsoft PowerPoint alternatives for Linux users!
1. Libre Office Impress
Libre Office Impress is a complete MS Powerpoint replacement that makes it easy to create presentations and slideshows on Linux, thanks to its similar user interface, and support for various file formats, including Microsoft’s own Ppt format.
With Impress, you’ll get access to lots of useful features that many come to expect in a presentation tool, such as clip art (both 2D and 3D,) special effect tools and slide transitions.
Notable Features
- Impress gives users access to a wide variety of 2D and 3D clipart for use in presentations.
- Impress has a similar user interface to PowerPoint, so it’s not too hard to learn.
- Impress supports importing and saving in the PowerPoint file format, which is handy.
Download – Libre Office Impress
Libre Office Impress comes as a default program on a majority of Linux operating systems. That said if your Linux PC doesn’t have a copy of Libre Office Impress already set up, head over to libreoffice.org.
On the Libre Office official website, find the “Download” button and click it to reveal the many download options available for Libre Office, including Flatpak, Snap, AppImage, and others.
2. SoftMaker Presentations
SoftMaker Presentations is a freemium cross-platform PowerPoint alternative that comes as part of the SoftMaker FreeOffice office suite. With the app, users can easily make PowerPoint-like slideshows quickly, thanks to the wide variety of default design templates.
Software Presentations isn’t open source, so the software’s free version comes with limited features. Despite this, it manages to offer up some seriously useful things, such as being able to create PDFs from slides, support for PowerPoint file formats, and much more!
Notable Features
- Users can create PDF files from individual presentation slides.
- Various pre-made presentation templates available.
- “Master-page” feature lets users change all slides at once, rather than one at a time.
Download – SoftMaker Presentations
To use Presentations, you’ll need to install the entire SoftMaker office suite, by heading over to softmaker.com. When you’ve made it to the website, click the menu at the top left and choose the “Download” button to move to the downloads page.
On the downloads page, scroll down, look for “Linux” and select it to start the download process. Or, if you need help learning how to get the app downloaded and working, check out our guide on the subject.
3. Calligra Stage
Calligra Stage is the presentation component to the Calligra Office suite. It’s an open source Linux presentation application and comes packed with dozens of plugins and features that are sure to make creating slideshows for projects or the workplace a simple process.
Stage supports a straightforward user interface that allows the creation of slideshows on Linux to be easy, and not tedious. Additionally, it has some great features such as an overview mode for presenters during presentations, support for PowerPoint presentation files, neat transition effects, and a “notes” mode which make it one of the best alternatives to PowerPoint out there for Linux users.
Notable Features
- Works with the OpenDocument file format, and can even work with other open source office applications such as Open Office, Libre Office, and others.
- “Overview” feature lets presenter get an overview of the entire slideshow.
- “Notes” feature allows the presenter to take notes on individual slides.
Download – Calligra Stage
Calligra Stage comes with the Calligra Office suite. If you’re interested in downloading the app on Linux, head over to calligra.org and select the “Get Calligra” button to learn how to get a copy of the app.
Need help getting the Calligra application working on Linux? Check out our guide on how to install Calligra. In the guide, we go over the many different ways to install the Calligra Office suite, which includes Stage.
4. Google Slides
Google Slides is the presentation component for their online office suite available with Google Drive. With Sides, users can create slideshows, use effects, and import existing Microsoft PowerPoint slideshows, as well as the ability to export slideshows in various file formats.
Slides aren’t a Linux application like the other programs on the list. Still, it’s a great option, especially if you don’t plan to make presentations often on Linux. So, if you need a good MS PowerPoint alternative but don’t feel like installing anything on your Linux PC, Google Slides is an option to consider for sure.
Notable Features
- Instant cloud saving and backups via Google Drive.
- Companion Android/iOS app means users can modify and perform slideshows made on PC on the go as well.
- Slides can be downloaded/uploaded in PowerPoint format.
Download – Google Slides
Google Slides isn’t a downloadable app (unless you’re on mobile or Chrome OS). The primary way of using the app on the PC is on the web. So, if you want to access it to create slideshows, head over to Google Drive, or by navigating to slides.google.com.
5. Marp
Marp is an interesting presentation application for the web that lets users create slideshows with the Markdown markup language, rather than a traditional UI like in MS PowerPoint, as well as others on this list.
It’s clear that most users looking for an alternative to Microsoft PowerPoint probably aren’t looking for a text-based slideshow tool. Still, despite being text-based, it manages to offer up some useful slideshow tools, such as exporting presentations, a live preview mode you can check as you go, and more.
Notable Features
- Supports exporting slides as a PDF.
- Live preview lets users check work as they go.
- Also has a Linux app under development that users can use.
Download – Marp
The Marp application isn’t available on Linux per se. Instead, it’s possible to instantly gain access to the tool to create slideshows by heading over to web.marp.app.
Aside from the Marp web app, the developers are working on a desktop version for Linux and other platforms. To get early access to the program (via the source code) click here.
Conclusion
In this list, we went over some of the best Microsoft PowerPoint alternatives for Linux users. What is your favorite MS PowerPoint alternative to use on your Linux PC? Let us know in the comment section below!
