Mentimeter In PowerPoint vs. AhaSlides: The Ultimate Guide

Alternatives

Jane Ng 19 September, 2024 7 min read

Say goodbye to boring PowerPoint presentations! It's time to level up your slides and make them truly interactive.

If you've tried 'Mentimeter in PowerPoint' and want even more ways to wow your audience, there's another awesome tool waiting for you – AhaSlides! This add-in transforms your presentations into dynamic conversations filled with quizzes, games, and surprises.

After all, keeping everyone engaged in this fast-paced world means saying goodbye to boring lectures and hello to exciting experiences!

Mentimeter In PowerPoint vs. AhaSlides Add-in

FeatureMentimeterAhaSlides
Overall FocusReliable core interactionsDiverse slides for maximum engagement
Slide Types⭐⭐ (Multiple Choice, Word Cloud, Open-Ended, Scales, Ranking, Basic Quizzes)⭐⭐⭐⭐  (Polls, Word Clouds, Q&A, Quizzes, Spinner Wheels, Brainstorming, Pick Image, and more for a surprise factor!)
Ease of Use⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Customization⭐⭐ (Limited design flexibility)⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Flexible themes, layouts, and control over appearance to make your presentations pop)
Gamification⭐⭐⭐ (Leaderboards in Quizzes)⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Leaderboards and competitive elements across various slide types)
Best ForQuick engagement, Q&A in the momentElaborate activities, team building, and high-energy events that leave a lasting impression
Free Plan✅ Yes✅ Yes
Paid Plan Value⭐⭐⭐ Best if you mainly need core interactions⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Offers significantly more slide variety, customization, and excitement for a similar price point
Overall Rating⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
Mentimeter In PowerPoint vs. AhaSlides

Table Of Contents

Why Interactive Presentations Matter

The Power of Participation

Forget passive listening! Active participation in learning, like quizzes or interactive content, fundamentally changes how our brains process and remember information. This concept, rooted in active learning theory, means that when we actively engage through quizzes or similar tools, the experience becomes more relevant and impactful. This leads to better knowledge retention.

Business Benefits: Beyond Engagement

Interactive presentations translate into tangible results for businesses:

  • Workshops: Facilitate collaborative decision-making by getting real-time input from all participants, ensuring everyone's voice is heard.
  • Training: Boost knowledge retention with embedded quizzes or quick polls. These check-ins reveal gaps in understanding immediately, allowing you to adjust on the fly.
  • All-Hands Meetings: Revitalize company-wide updates with Q&A sessions or surveys to gather feedback.

Social Proof: The New Norm

Interactive presentations are no longer a novelty; they're rapidly becoming the expectation. From classrooms to corporate boardrooms, audiences crave engagement. While specific figures may vary, the overwhelming trend is clear – interaction drives event satisfaction.

Mentimeter In PowerPoint – The Reliable Workhorse

We understand why interactive presentations are powerful, but how do they translate into real-world results? Let's look at Mentimeter, a popular tool, to see these benefits in action.

🚀 Best For: Simplicity and core interactive question types for direct feedback and polling.

Free Plan 

Mentimeter In PowerPoint. Image: Mentimeter

The Mentimeter Advantage: It doesn't get much easier than this! Design interactive slides right inside PowerPoint with its super-intuitive interface. Mentimeter shines with core question types like multiple-choice, word clouds, open-ended prompts, scales, rankings, and even quizzes. Plus, you can count on it to work smoothly when you need it most.

But Wait, There's More… Mentimeter keeps things simple, which also means a few limitations. 

  • Limited Slide Variety: Compared to some competitors, Mentimeter offers a smaller range of slide types (no dedicated quizzes, brainstorming tools, etc.).
  • Fewer Customization Options: The design of your slides has less flexibility than some other add-ins.
  • Best for Direct Interaction: Mentimeter is less suited for pre-developed, multi-step activities than some other add-ins can handle.
Mentimeter In PowerPoint | When editing from the Mentimeter PowerPoint add-in, you'll have only two theme options with a small range of slide types.

Pricing: 

For individuals and teams:

  • Basic: $11.99/month (billed yearly)
  • Pro: $24.99/month (billed yearly)
  • Enterprise: Custom 

For teachers and students

  • Basic: $8.99/month (billed yearly)
  • Pro: $19.99/month (billed yearly)
  • Campus: Custom 

The Takeaway: Mentimeter is like your dependable sidekick for basic audience participation. If you want to go beyond the basics and really dazzle your audience, there might be even a better tool for the job.

More tips for better engagement:

AhaSlides – The Engagement Powerhouse

We've seen what Mentimeter offers. Now, let's see how AhaSlides takes audience interaction to the next level.

🚀 Best For: Presenters who want to go beyond basic polls. With its wider range of interactive slide types, it's your tool for injecting fun, energy, and deeper audience connection.

✅ Free Plan 

Strengths:

  • Slide Variety: Go beyond simple to bring a sense of playfulness and excitement.
  • Customization: Craft interactive slides that perfectly reflect your style with customizable themes, fonts, backgrounds, and even fine-tuned visibility settings.
  • Gamification: Tap into competitive spirit with leaderboards and challenges, turning passive participants into active players.
As you can see, with AhaSlides, your quizzes won't look like everyone else's! You can easily change up question types, add visuals to make them pop, and customize the overall style. It gives you way more freedom than those super-basic tools

Example Use Cases:

  • Full-Fledged Traning: Embed quizzes to check to understand and create "a-ha!" moments of knowledge connection.
  • Team Building That Pops: Energize the room with icebreakers, brainstorming sessions, or lighthearted competitions.
  • Product Launches with Buzz: Generate excitement and capture feedback in a way that stands out from the standard presentation.
AhaSlides' diverse slide options keep audiences engaged because they're always a little surprised by what's next.

More tips with AhaSlides

Pricing Plan: 

AhaSlides' paid plans deliver the features you need to create truly engaging presentations, all at a price point comparable to Mentimeter's Basic.

  • Free - Audience size: 50
  • Essential: $7.95/mo - Audience size: 100
  • Pro: $15.95/mo - Audience size: Unlimited
  • Enterprise: Custom - Audience size: Unlimited

Educator Plans:

  • $2.95/ month - Audience size: 50 
  • $5.45/ month - Audience size: 100
  • $7.65/month - Audience size: 200

The Takeaway: Like Mentimeter, AhaSlides is reliable and user-friendly. But when you want to go beyond the basics and create truly memorable presentations, AhaSlides is your secret weapon.

Transform Your Slides with AhaSlides

Are you ready to create interactive experiences that truly engage your audience? The AhaSlides PowerPoint add-in is your secret weapon!

How to Set Up AhaSlides in PowerPoint - Getting Started

Step 1 - Install the Add-in

  • Go to the "Insert" tab from your PowerPoint presentation.
  • Click "Get Add-ins" or "Store."
  • Search for "AhaSlides" and install the add-in.

Step 2 - Connect Your AhaSlides Account

  • Once installed, an AhaSlides tab appears on your PowerPoint ribbon. 
  • Click "Sign In" and log in using your AhaSlides account credentials. 
  • or Sign up for free!

Step 3 - Get Your Interactive Slide

  • New Slide: In the AhaSlides tab, click "New Slide" and choose your desired slide type from the extensive options (quiz, poll, word cloud, Q&A, etc.).
  • Design Your Slide: Add your question, customize choices (if applicable), and adjust the slide's appearance using themes and other design options.
  • Insert into PowerPoint: Click "Copy Link" in the pop-up.

Step 4 - Add It to PowerPoint

  • Back in PowerPoint, paste the copied link into the AhaSlides window.
  • Click "Add Slide," and your interactive slide is ready to go!

The Choice is Yours: Upgrade Your Presentations

You've seen the evidence: interactive presentations are the future. Mentimeter in PowerPoint is a solid starting point, but if you're ready to take your audience engagement to the next level, AhaSlides is the clear winner. With its diverse slide types, customization options, and gamification elements, you have the power to turn any presentation into an unforgettable experience.