Keynote is Apple's presentation software — it makes slideshows on Mac, iPad, and iPhone

Keynote is a program that lets you build and show presentations with slides, text, images, and animations. It comes free with newer Mac computers and is available free on iPad and iPhone. If you use Windows, Keynote is not an option — you would use PowerPoint or Google Slides instead.

Keynote works similarly to PowerPoint and Google Slides: you create slides one at a time, add content to each one, and then play them back in full-screen mode. The main difference is that Keynote is made by Apple and only works on Apple devices, whereas PowerPoint works on both Mac and Windows, and Google Slides works in any web browser on any device.

Keynote stores your presentations in iCloud by default, which means they sync across your Mac, iPad, and iPhone automatically. You can also save them as PowerPoint files if you need to share with people who use Windows or other software.

Key Takeaways

  • Keynote is free on Mac, iPad, and iPhone, but does not work on Windows or Android devices.
  • It uses iCloud storage by default, so your presentations appear on all your Apple devices without you having to move files around.
  • You can export presentations as PowerPoint files to share with people who do not use Apple software.
  • Keynote uses more memory than Google Slides because it runs as a full program on your computer rather than in a web browser.
  • If you need to collaborate with people in real time or work on Windows, Google Slides or PowerPoint may be a better fit.

How Keynote compares to PowerPoint and Google Slides

Keynote, PowerPoint, and Google Slides all do the same basic job: they let you create and present slideshows. The differences matter depending on what devices you use and who you need to share with.

PowerPoint is made by Microsoft and works on both Mac and Windows. It costs money unless you have a Microsoft 365 subscription through work or school. PowerPoint files are the most widely used format, so if you share presentations with many different people, PowerPoint is often the safest choice because almost everyone can open it.

Google Slides runs in your web browser and works on any device — Mac, Windows, iPad, Android phone, or Chromebook. It is free and does not require you to read or install anything. Google Slides is the easiest option for real-time collaboration because multiple people can edit the same presentation at the same time and see each other's changes when ready.

Keynote is free on Apple devices but only works on Mac, iPad, and iPhone. It has more animation and design options than Google Slides, and it runs as a full program on your computer rather than in a browser, so it can handle larger files and more complex animations without slowing down as much. However, it uses more of your computer's memory than Google Slides does.

When Keynote makes sense for your setup

Keynote is the right choice if you own a Mac or iPad and do not need to share presentations with Windows users. Since it is free and comes built in, there is no cost or installation step. If you already use other Apple software like Pages or Numbers, Keynote fits naturally into that ecosystem.

Keynote is also a good choice if you want to create presentations with lots of animations and visual effects. It has more built-in animation options than Google Slides, and because it runs as a full program rather than in a browser, it handles complex animations more smoothly.

Keynote is not the right choice if you need to work on Windows, if you collaborate with people who use Windows, or if you need real-time collaboration with multiple people editing at once. In those cases, Google Slides or PowerPoint is better.

How much memory Keynote uses

Keynote uses more memory than Google Slides because it is a full program running on your computer rather than a web process. When you open Keynote, it takes up space in your computer's RAM when ready, even if you are not actively working on a presentation.

The exact amount depends on how large your presentation is and how many animations or images it contains. A straightforward presentation with text and a few images might use 200 to 400 megabytes of RAM. A presentation with many high-resolution images, videos, or complex animations can use 500 megabytes to over 1 gigabyte.

If your Mac has 8 gigabytes of RAM or more, Keynote will not noticeably slow down your other work. If you have 4 gigabytes or less, and you are also running other programs like web browsers or email, you may notice your computer becoming slower when Keynote is open. In that case, Google Slides is a better choice because it uses much less memory.

Getting started with Keynote

On a Mac, Keynote comes pre-installed in the Applications folder. On iPad or iPhone, you read it free from the App Store. When you open Keynote for the first time, it shows you a gallery of templates — pre-made slide designs you can start with instead of building from scratch.

You can choose a template or start with a blank presentation. Once you pick, you add slides one at a time, type text, insert images, and arrange them however you want. Keynote's interface is similar to PowerPoint, so if you have used PowerPoint before, you will recognize most of the buttons and menus.

Your presentations save to iCloud automatically, which means they appear on your Mac, iPad, and iPhone without you having to move files around. You can also share a presentation with other people by sending them a link, and they can view it in a web browser even if they do not have Keynote installed.

Exporting and sharing Keynote presentations

If you need to share a presentation with someone who uses Windows or does not have Keynote, you can export it as a PowerPoint file. Open the presentation, click File, then Export To, and choose PowerPoint. Keynote will save a .pptx file that you can email or upload to a shared drive.

Some animations and effects may not transfer perfectly to PowerPoint format, especially if you used advanced Keynote animations. Test the exported file on a Windows computer or in PowerPoint before you present to make sure everything looks the way you want.

You can also export as PDF if you just want to share a static version that people can view but not edit. This is useful if you want to send a presentation to many people and do not want them changing it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Keynote on Windows?

No. Keynote only works on Mac, iPad, and iPhone. If you use Windows, you can use PowerPoint or Google Slides instead. You can open a Keynote presentation on Windows if someone exports it as a PowerPoint file and sends it to you, but you cannot create or edit in Keynote itself.

Do I have to pay for Keynote?

No. Keynote is free on Mac, iPad, and iPhone if you own those devices. There are no hidden costs or subscriptions. You do need an Apple ID to read it on iPad or iPhone, but the app itself costs nothing.

Can multiple people edit a Keynote presentation at the same time?

Yes, but it is not as smooth as Google Slides. You can share a Keynote presentation through iCloud and multiple people can open it, but you cannot see each other's edits in real time the way you can in Google Slides. Google Slides is better if you need true real-time collaboration.

What happens to my Keynote presentations if I stop using iCloud?

Your presentations stay on your devices, but they will not sync across your Mac, iPad, and iPhone anymore. You can still access them individually on each device. If you want to move them to a different storage service, you can export them as PowerPoint files or PDFs.

Is Keynote faster than Google Slides?

Keynote is faster at handling complex animations and large files because it runs as a full program on your computer. Google Slides is faster to start using because you do not need to read anything, and it uses less memory. For straightforward presentations, the difference is not noticeable.