The benefits of creating a slideshow are obvious. To name a few, getting more likes and followers for social media platforms, impressing beloved ones on special days. Then how to create a stunning photo slideshow?
Frankly, many professional slideshow makers can help you make photo slideshows in a few steps or even generate a slideshow from photos automatically. So in this blog, instead of talking about the detailed steps of creating slideshows, we will show you how to choose a great slideshow maker and introduce you the best free slideshow makers. They all provide beautiful music and effects to level up your slideshows. Let's dive in!
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How to Choose a Good Slideshow Maker
Great slideshow makers are alike, but there is no such a slideshow maker that fits all. Here are several things you must take into consideration while choosing a good slideshow maker.
Most slideshow makers are easy to operate. However, slideshow makers with advanced features like color grading, customized aminations are for the professionals. For most newbies, they might not be a good choice.
Most people will turn to slideshow makers for PC or Mac. Yet, we highly recommend people create slideshows for TikTok, Instagram use slideshow makers for Android or iOS. Though it is possible to upload slideshows to TikTok, Instagram videos from computer now, there are loads of restrictions and sometimes inevitable errors might occur.
Music and effects will light up your slideshow. Nearly all slideshow makers provide music and effects, however, some slideshow makers might have more music and effects for business, while other slideshow makers have more music and effects for personal use. By the way, all music must be royalty-free in case of copyright infringement.
Free of charge doesn't mean free from any restrictions like watermark, resolutions. It is necessary to know all the restrictions before trying any slideshow makers.
Part 1. Best Free Online Slideshow Maker
Best Recommendation: FlexClip
FlexClip, the top 1 free online slideshow maker with music and effects in our list, is a must-try. Literally everyone will love FlexClip's simple slideshow-making process. Pick a template, upload your videos or photos to replace, choose a background music that fits, then you get a satisfying slideshow in less than 3 minutes!
FlexClip also provides lots of advanced features like transitions, animations, filters, frames for professionals to personalize. Besides, all media resources are royalty-free. Use anything you like to create an amazing slideshow video!
Reasons for Recommendation
Best Free Online Slideshow Maker - FlexClip
Beginner-Friendly: 4.9/5
Best For: Business & Personal Use
Restrictions: Free for watermarked slideshows. Subscription starts from $5.99 per month.
Top 2. Renderforest
Renderforest, a professional slideshow software, also emphasizes simplicity. Choose one beautiful template, add photos and music, you are done with making a photo slideshow. It has numerous 3D effects, which might give your slideshow a sense of elite. As for music, the option can be limited.
Pros:
Cons:
Best Free Online Slideshow Maker - Renderforest
Beginner-Friendly: 4.8/5
Best For: Creating 3D Slideshows
Restrictions: Free to download watermarked 780P slideshow. The subscription plan starts from $9.99 per month.
Top 3. Smilebox
Smilebox slideshow maker has template designs for all personal occasions, like family gatherings, holidays, wedding, birthday. Yes, you can make a slideshow from those beautiful templates, but non-subscribers only have limited access to templates. Also, it can't help you generate a slideshow directly.
You might also notice that there are no advanced features in Smilebox. The edits you can make are changing text font and color, changing music, color scheme, and using filters.
Pros:
Cons:
Best Free Online Slideshow Maker - Smilebox
Beginner-Friendly: 4.7/5
Best For: Wedding, Birthday Slideshows
Restrictions: Limited access to templates. Unlimited creations but can't be downloaded. Subscription plan starts from $4.99.
Top 4. Clideo
Instead of calling Clideo a slideshow maker, we'd rather name it an online video maker. It doesn't provide you with any slideshow templates or resources that you can use to create a slideshow. However, it can be used to put photos and music together. Boom! A slideshow is done.
The reason we recommend Clideo is this software has a clear interface. All features are displayed on your right. Click to make all edits as you wish.
Pros:
Cons:
Best Free Online Slideshow Maker - Clideo
Beginner-Friendly: 4.5/5
Best For: People Creating Slideshows Completely On Their Own
Restrictions: Free for 480P watermarked videos. Limited Features. Subscription starts from $9 per month.
Top 5. Kizoa
Kizoa allows you to create slideshows with photos, videos and music and then share by email, blogs, Facebook, YouTube or even burn into DVD. Its main features include adding text, adding music, adding transitions and effects.
In 2022, Kizoa was bought by invideo.com. All Kizoa features were no longer available and Kizoa users have turned to Invideo. Now, all old Kizoa features are back and Invideo has added more effects to it. Enjoy!
Pros:
Cons:
Best Free Online Slideshow Maker - Kizoa
Beginner-Friendly: 4.8/5
Best For: Personal Use
Restrictions: 1 minute free watermarked video. Lifetime license starts from £29.9
Top 6. Canva
Canva is a renowned graphic design tool. Since 2021, it has been developed as an easy-to-use video editor.
As a slideshow maker, Clideo has substantial photos and graphics. You can find all photos and videos you need to create a beautiful slideshow. Different from all slideshow makers, Canva allows you to edit photos one by one, making everything perfect.
Pros:
Cons:
Best Free Online Slideshow Maker - Canva
Beginner-Friendly: 4.5/5
Best For: Personal & Business Use
Restrictions: Limited features, watermarked resources.
Part 2. Best Free Desktop-Based Slideshow Software
Top 1. Wondershare Filmora
Wondershare Filmora is a versatile video editor, so you can also use it to create a slideshow. It provides over 300+ effects and 20+ copyrighted music that can take your slideshow to the next level. What's better, the exported video can be shared directly to YouTube, Vimeo and more. It sounds too good to be true, but we recommend Filmora to the more experienced video editors.
Pros:
Cons:
Best Free Online Slideshow Maker Software - Wondershare Filmora
Beginner-Friendly: 4.1/5
Best For: Advanced Users
Restrictions: Free to create watermarked videos. Activate starts from $49.99 per year.
Top 2. Movavi Slideshow Maker
Movavi is an easy-to-use slideshow software which allows you to create amazing slideshows with the help of seamless transitions, animated texts, effects and pre-made slideshow video templates. Apart from this, you also have access to a library of free music, filters. Be free to use them! Movavi can even generate a slideshow automatically. Forget about the music and effects, try generating a slideshow with Movavi.
Pros:
Cons:
Best Free Online Slideshow Maker Software - Movavi
Beginner-Friendly: 4.6/5
Best For: People looking for ways to improve video editing skills.
Restrictions: 7-day free trial only allow you to create watermarked video. You can only convert half part of an audio or video file. The subscription plan starts at $54.95 per year.
Top 3. Focusky
Focusky is a professional tool for creating business slideshow presentations. Built-in word art, amazing transitions, dynamic characters, and music resources make your video grasp audiences' attention. The music and effect options are limited.
Pros:
Cons:
Best Free Online Slideshow Maker Software - Focusky
Beginner-Friendly: 4.6/5
Best For: Creating Presentations.
Restrictions: Free to create watermarked low-resolution video. The subscription plan starts from $9.9 per month.
Part 3. Best Free Slideshow Maker for Mobile Phones
Top 1. PicPlayPost Slideshow
PicPlayPost Slideshow, an application compatible with iOS and Android, has tons of features to help you create excellent slideshows. You can overlay artistic layouts on the photo, create a collage or do voice-over. You can also use this app's free music and interesting GIFs to level up your slideshow. It's not totally for free, but it does provide 14-day free trial.
Pros:
Cons:
Best Free Online Slideshow Maker App - PicPlayPost
Beginner-Friendly: 4.8/5
Best For: Creating Slideshows with Collage Designs.
Top 2. SlideLab
SlideLab is an iOS application made for dealing with square images, which makes it a great choice to create slideshows for Instagram. It has lots of advantages. There are lots of filters, transitions, preset music and more you can use. All of them are great, but majority of music, effects are on the paid version.
Pros:
Cons:
Best Free Online Slideshow Maker App - SlideLab
Beginner-Friendly: 4.5/5
Best For: Creating Slideshows for Business.
Top 3. Scoompa Video
Scoompa video makes it easy for you to use any photos to create slideshows. You can add photos, videos from your gallery, camera or from the web and then edit them with stickers, animated frames. There are default soundtracks you can use. It's free, but contains ads.
Pros:
Cons:
Best Free Online Slideshow Maker App - Scoompa
Beginner-Friendly: 4.8/5
Best For: People Looking for a Tool to Generate a Slideshow Directly.
The Bottom Line
That’s all for the top free online/offline slideshow makers with music & effects. What do you think of the slideshow makers mentioned above? Any recommendations? Contact us via Facebook. If you think this list is helpful, do share it with others.
