Microsoft Powerpoint vs. Microsoft Visio

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Microsoft Powerpoint
Score 8.0 out of 10
N/A
Microsoft PowerPoint is a presentation software designed to allow users to create slide-based presentations including video and images, as well as slide transitions and animations.
$139.99
Microsoft Visio
Score 7.6 out of 10
N/A
Microsoft offers Visio, a diagramming tool for building flowcharts, diagrams (e.g. network diagrams), org charts and floor plans, available online as a subscription and also in enterprise level packages (e.g. Visio Professional).
$5
per month per user
Pricing
Microsoft PowerpointMicrosoft Visio
Editions & Modules
One Time Purchase
$139.99
Visio Plan 1
$5.00
per month per user
Visio Plan 2
$15.00
per month per user
Visio Standard 2024
$309.99
one-time fee On-premises diagramming solution, licensed for one PC
Visio Professional 2024
$579.99
one-time fee On-premises diagramming solution, licensed for one PC
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Microsoft PowerpointMicrosoft Visio
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Microsoft PowerpointMicrosoft Visio
Considered Both Products
Microsoft Powerpoint
Chose Microsoft Powerpoint
Did not evaluate other presentation tools besides Microsoft Powerpoint, mostly because Powerpoint is so entrenched in company tools and processes.
Microsoft Visio
Chose Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Visio is very user-friendly and has many options for the created to use in order to get to their final product. The tool helps to get complex ideas into a visual design, therefore making it easier for other team members to understand the message you are trying to …
Chose Microsoft Visio
We were previously using PowerPoint to create our org charts. Visio is much smoother for this and allows us to save time in creating/updating charts.
Top Pros
Top Cons
Best Alternatives
Microsoft PowerpointMicrosoft Visio
Small Businesses
Canva
Canva
Score 9.1 out of 10
OmniGraffle
OmniGraffle
Score 9.4 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Mentimeter
Mentimeter
Score 8.1 out of 10
Cvent Event Diagramming
Cvent Event Diagramming
Score 9.4 out of 10
Enterprises
Mentimeter
Mentimeter
Score 8.1 out of 10
Cvent Event Diagramming
Cvent Event Diagramming
Score 9.4 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Microsoft PowerpointMicrosoft Visio
Likelihood to Recommend
9.0
(58 ratings)
8.1
(70 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(2 ratings)
Usability
8.5
(5 ratings)
8.0
(5 ratings)
Availability
10.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Performance
8.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
8.5
(4 ratings)
7.3
(14 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Product Scalability
7.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Microsoft PowerpointMicrosoft Visio
Likelihood to Recommend
Microsoft
[Microsoft Powerpoint] is very well suited for preaching and teaching. I find it easier to describe what I am trying to get across with a graphic. [Microsoft Powerpoint] is the most effective way to present material. I have also used it do graduation videos for our preschool. The integration of music with the graphics provides a first rate presentation.
Read full review
Microsoft
Given the versatility and diversity of the diagrams that can be created with Microsoft Visio, we use this tool for the most diverse activities. With our students, we use it to organize group activities and manage the tasks that everyone has to complete. In research groups, we use it to divide tasks and create organization charts. For research activities, especially the more complex ones carried out, for example, in PhD programmes, the diagrams allow us to display all the work phases graphically.
Read full review
Pros
Microsoft
  • Powerpoint is excellent for structuring your ideas as you before you present them
  • Powerpoint should be used as s skeleton for your presentation for maximum effectiveness, rather than just "reading off the slides"
  • Powerpoint on a high DPI system with screencasting software and microphone allows you to record a high resolution product demonstration video quickly.
Read full review
Microsoft
  • Visio comes with icons that can help differentiate processes within a map. These can be used to be a legend and helps create a visually appealing flow.
  • Visio is user-friendly and allows the user to easily navigate through the different creative options that can be used.
  • Because this is a Microsoft product, Visio works well with other Microsoft products for easy translation.
Read full review
Cons
Microsoft
  • The automatically generated designs are hit and miss. Sometimes they work, but often they don't. Better automation would be helpful
  • Easy integration of live social media feeds would be an interesting addition.
  • Connection to stock music library options would be useful.
Read full review
Microsoft
  • For me personally I cannot highlight anything specific that has any bearing on how I use the product. Everything is very straightforward and clearly signposted including template desgins and categories. The layout is easy to navigate and as it's part of the MS Office ecosystem means there is less to learn as I'm used to a lot of the cross product functionality.
Read full review
Likelihood to Renew
Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Microsoft
We use Microsoft Visio to keep our diagrams updated and to that end we will need the subscription to keep using the software. Otherwise we will be left with PDF versions of the diagrams.
Read full review
Usability
Microsoft
Microsoft Powerpoint is a strong tool specially when it comes to giving presentations and visually presenting ideas. It is a great tool to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical management and staff members, helping to present ideas in a clear and concise way. But when it comes to internal usage, Microsoft Powerpoint needs to be used along with a host of other tools to present details and adding diagrams
Read full review
Microsoft
I think Microsoft Visio is pretty easy to initially pick up and understand the user interface to dive into make basic models. It would be nice if there were some fit for purpose templates so that not as much time needs to be spent on some types of engineering diagram structure. Trying to work on a single Visio file with multiple team members is also a sticking point.
Read full review
Reliability and Availability
Microsoft
I've never had any issues with its availability. As it is installed on my machine, it's ready when I need it, online or offline. Creating large slide decks with complex elements like video and audio doesn't affect its stability. The only limitation would be the capability of your own computer, as far as I can tell.
Read full review
Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Performance
Microsoft
The performance is very strong. It loads reasonably quickly. Large presentations load relatively quickly too, given their complexity, and once loaded each slide is readily available. It's easy to scroll up and down through your slide deck and go to the slide you want. Videos, pictures and music all load on demand, controllable by clicks.
Read full review
Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Support Rating
Microsoft
I have never had to use the actual support. Most of my questions are "how to" questions and there is a rich internet full of users sharing their tips and tricks with this application. Sometimes I find the answers on Microsoft support site but often I don't
Read full review
Microsoft
Overall, I feel that Microsoft's support is weak. They are now such a behemoth that their model of putting documentation online for their users to sift through is totally outgrown. Given the amount of money you pay for these licenses, Microsoft should provide easy one-on-one support for their products via email or chat. The idea of paying their rates for support incidents is ridiculous. If you have an enormous amount of time on your hands, use their support websites and you will eventually find a solution most of the time.
Read full review
Alternatives Considered
Microsoft
Adobe Illustrator is an excellent software but it's not easy to use for [everyone without] having any training or previous experience in working with illustrator. Microsoft Powerpoint is very easy to use and it's fantastic as it saves time more than illustrator. Another thing is it takes small space while illustrator takes a significant amount of space in the business machine
Read full review
Microsoft
Even though it’s a more expensive solution, Vizio is built for the enterprise. Therefore, it integrates perfectly with our existing Microsoft stack, and quite frankly, because it’s such a more mature product, it provides exactly the functionality we need and expect.
Read full review
Scalability
Microsoft
Scaling up use of Microsoft Powerpoint would be a simple case of buying further licences. The software is intuitive and therefore training demands from scaling it to more departments or more individuals would be relatively straightforward. Google Slides may be easier to share among those organisations that use Google's suite of apps, however.
Read full review
Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Return on Investment
Microsoft
  • Helped reduce time we spend modifying and sharing back and forth different versions.
  • Saved us the frustration of having to work with an online program with limited functionalities.
  • Macros make it easy to share data in one excel file and automatically update presentation.
Read full review
Microsoft
  • Visio diagrams have help us streamline processes that reduce costs and improve efficiencies.
  • It is a very complete program, it allows you to make industrial and civil works diagrams. It also allows you to design 3D graphics. It is a very reliable program.
  • Its ability to work with vectors is a big plus. It can easily import SVG graphics, edit their individual lines and then being able to export the edited SVG again.
Read full review
ScreenShots