Ever since Microsoft released PowerPoint businesses have used PowerPoint for sales presentations, idea pitches and even for webinars. Until recently there have been no programs better than PowerPoint.

Prezi : Nonlinear presentations can be easily tackled using Prezi, which is an excellent web app. In addition to its simplicity when using, it also has an interface similar to the traditional slide layout that which most users are used to. The simple tools needed for formatting text and other forms of editing are also part of the package. Prezi allows a user to access presentations from any computer since it is a web app. Collaborating on the same presentation with others is also made possible as a result.

GoAnimate: Just like it is with any filming, hand-animated videos are time-demanding and hard to make. Let alone the expensive equipment required for the task. That is where animation apps come in to the rescue. With GoAnimate, users do not just get similar animation effects, but also realize its a far cheaper and time saving option. This makes GoAnimate perfect for presenting information one would have struggled to explain with a PowerPoint slide deck.

With the much needed audio support, GoAnimate can also produce characters which are given dialog using voice recordings of the user, or commercially available recordings through professionals offering similar services. Built-in lip sync gives characters more life. Music and sound effects offer more creative ways of getting presentations to be more interesting and interactive.

VideoScribe: VideoScribe is behind the Whiteboard animations which have become quite popular across the Web. The original idea behind these animations was to satisfy a small niche. On the contrary, VideoScribe which is behind this style of presentations has earned a huge following which is clearly testifies about the effectiveness whiteboard animations.

VideoScribe allows users to make use of pre-drawn and pre-animated images which are put together in a way that best suits ones presentation and then turns the whole thing into a slick little animation. So where GoAnimate creates a cartoon-style video, VideoScribe uses similar graphics that which will be drawn on-screen during the presentation with a real hand. Hence giving the feeling of someone sketch noting a presentation.

It is amazingly simple to put together a VideoScribe . A user drags and drops pre-made graphics into the storyboard, and then let the app do its own magic. The impact this kind of presentations have upon an audience is great especially if PowerPoint presentation was their expectation.

Powtoon: Think of stimulating ones audience with great pitch, emotional hooks and a story and think of Powtoon as the way to go. Animated characters are used to create a story to tell instead of facts to present as it is in the case of PowerPoint presentations. Easy modifications to Powtoon will get one creating a short animated video for presenting.

Google Docs: One of the most obvious advantage is that almost everyone has a Google account these days, hence access to Google Docs! Even though it may not be overwhelmingly far better than PowerPoint, it is has many advantages over it. Let alone being absolutely free, presentations are easily customized with text, images, imported slides and videos. Running on the cloud is also a plus since collaboration is easy on shared documents with other people. Ones presentation can also be downloaded as a PowerPoint file or shared through a link.