Back in 2021, we discovered Microsoft Sway and were amazed by its ability to transform our presentations. Its dynamic design engine and narrative storytelling power were revolutionary, especially compared to our mediocre-at-best design skills in PowerPoint. But a lot has changed in the past four years. Namely, PowerPoint is now equipped with Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, bringing AI-powered design and content assistance into the mix. So, can Sway still amaze in the AI era?
Choose Sway If You Love…
- 📖 Narrative flow. If you're creating content that needs to live online as an interactive experience rather than a traditional presentation, Sway is hard to beat. It excels at image-heavy portfolios, web-based reports, newsletters, and any content that benefits from a continuous narrative flow rather than discrete slides.
- 🖼️ Image-heavy designs. Sway's automatic content suggestions and built-in search capabilities make it easy to pull in videos from YouTube or images from across the web without leaving the platform. Just review individual license terms before using any images you find. Plus, Sway automatically adjusts layouts based on content, which means less time fussing with alignment and more time focusing on your message.
- ♿ Front and center accessibility. The tool's accessibility features are robust, with built-in checkers that help ensure your content works for all audiences, including those using screen readers or readers with dyslexia. And because Sway presentations are web-based by default, sharing is as simple as sending a link — no file attachments or version control headaches.
- 🤝 Collaboration. For collaborative projects, Sway's "Invite People To" feature allows multiple users to work simultaneously on a presentation, which can be more intuitive than PowerPoint's co-authoring experience.
Choose PowerPoint If You Need…
- 🤖 AI assistance. PowerPoint with Copilot Chat transforms what used to be hours of work into minutes. You can describe your presentation topic, reference existing documents, and watch as Copilot generates a complete draft with structured slides, relevant layouts, and even suggested speaker notes.
- 🎨 Full creative control. The customization options in PowerPoint remain far more extensive than Sway. You have thousands of templates to choose from, precise control over every element's placement, and the ability to create complex animations and transitions that Sway's simpler interface can't replicate.
- 🎤 Advanced presentation functions. For presentations that involve presenting in person or via video call, PowerPoint's slideshow format and presenter view features are essential.
- 🔗 Integration with Microsoft 365. You can embed Excel charts that update automatically, import content from Word with preserved formatting, and save presentations to OneDrive for access across devices.
Ask Yourself: What Are You Creating?
If you're building a web-based story, creating a portfolio, or developing content that viewers will explore at their own pace without a presenter, Sway's narrative approach and automatic design capabilities are just what you need.
But if you're looking for a traditional presentation format with precise control over layout, extensive customization options, and the ability to quickly generate slides from existing documents using AI, PowerPoint with Copilot Chat takes home the gold. With the help of Copilot, PowerPoint is faster and more accessible than ever, especially for users who find starting from a blank slide intimidating.
You can even combine their strengths:
- Create a presentation in PowerPoint with Copilot's help, then export key content to Sway for a more engaging web experience.
- Start with Sway's automatic layout suggestions to visualize your story, then move to PowerPoint for more granular control over the final product.
It’s clear that Sway still amazes in the AI era. It's all about knowing which tools fit the job.
— Pitt Digital
