Top 10 PowerPoint addins to boost your Productivity

What is a PowerPoint addin?

PowerPoint add-ins, or Plug ins, are small applications that you can install and use within PowerPoint to enhance its functionality and features.

PPT Productivity is a PowerPoint addin that adds more than 180 features and tools to PowerPoint. However, there are other PowerPoint add-in's out there that can also help you create great slides. In this post we will highlight 10 we think will help you be even more productive in PowerPoint

Why use PowerPoint add-ins?

With PowerPoint add-ins you can access various tools and templates that can help you create powerful slides in minutes. You don't have to waste time searching for images, icons, charts or animations online. You can simply use the add-in to insert them into your slides with a few clicks.

Some addins help you display your data in with dynamic charts that are easily inserted and updated on your slides. Others are designed to enhance your presentations with videos or to help make your live presentations more engaging.

How do PowerPoint addins work?

To use a PowerPoint add-in you need to install it on your computer and enable it in PowerPoint. You can then access the add-in's features from the Add-ins tab or the ribbon.

Are PowerPoint addins allowed by Microsoft?

Yes, using PowerPoint addins is permitted under Microsoft's licensing arrangements. The team at Microsoft encourage an ecosystem where other vendors can help augment the Office suite with additional features.

Are PowerPoint addins safe?

Generally speaking PowerPoint addins are safe to install. However, you should exercise caution on only downloading add-ins from reputable vendors and take a high degree of caution with any VBA addins that have a .ppam installer. PPAM files are a more rudimentary type of add-in for PowerPoint which is vulnerable to being used for vector attacks. Many organizations have blocked .ppam files due to this security risk. Note PPT Productivity is a COM addin, not a PPAM > you can learn more about PPT Productivity security in our FAQs.

10 PowerPoint addins to help you create more engaging presentations

1. PPT Productivity: Yes we're biased, but we think PPT Productivity add-in for PowerPoint is the best! Created by a group of ex Management Consultants, there's 180+ features to save time creating, refining and reusing slides
2. Think-cell: Thinkcell is an add-in that lets you create dynamic charts and automate reports in PowerPoint.
3. Office Timeline: The Office Timeline add-in for PowerPoint helps you create timelines and Gantt charts that you can insert in your slides. You can choose from various styles and themes, and easily update your data with a simple drag-and-drop interface.
4. Camtasia: Camtasia add-in for PowerPoint allows you to record and edit videos that you can add to your slides. You can capture your screen, webcam, or audio, and edit them with effects, transitions, annotations, and captions. You can also export your videos to various formats and share them online.
5. LiveWeb: The LiveWeb add-in for PowerPoint enables you to insert live web pages into your slides. You can browse the web from within PowerPoint and display any website on your slides. You can also interact with the web pages as you would normally do in a browser.
6. Pexels: The Pexels addin for PowerPoint gives you access to thousands of free stock photos and videos that you can use in your PowerPoint presentations. You can search for any topic and find images and clips that you can insert in your slides with one click.
7. Icons by Noun Project: The Icons by Noun Project addin gives you access to a collection of high quality symbols, characters and icons to add to your presentations.
8. Prezi: The Prezi addin has a "zooming" capability that allows you to import your PowerPoint slides into Prezi and record a presentation. You can use Prezi's zooming and panning features to create a non-linear narrative. Particularly useful if you want to step through a rehearsed and timed presentation with an in person audience.
9. Lucidchart: The Lucid chart addin for allows you to add dynamic diagrams, flowcharts, and wireframes to your PowerPoint presentations.
10. PowerPoint Mock up: This addin is a prototyping toolkit for PowerPoint. It helps to create wireframes and mockups for websites as well as mobile and desktop applications to add to your PowerPoint slides

This list is in no specific order of preference. Each of the addins has been created with a slightly different goal in mind.