Creating captivating photo slideshows has become increasingly popular, and Mac users are fortunate to have a wide array of software options to choose from. In this article, we will explore the 10 best slideshow software for Mac, enabling you to select the perfect tool to bring your photos to life. Whether you're a professional photographer or a casual user, these software options are sure to enhance your slideshow creation experience.
Best Slideshow Maker for Mac to Create Photo Slideshows with Music
Free download MacX Video Converter Pro, a 2-in-1 video converter and slideshow maker for Mac to create stunning photo slideshows on MacBook Pro/Air, iMac etc. It allows users to add background music for free and convert the slideshow to MOV, MP4 or any format for sharing on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and more.
Part 1. Top 10 Photo Slideshow Video Makers for macOS
1. iMovie
Best for: Users who want a user-friendly Mac slideshow maker with a range of themes, templates, and integration with other Apple products.
iMovie is a widely used software for video editing on Mac, but it also offers robust slideshow creation capabilities. With its user-friendly interface and a wide range of themes and templates, Mac users can create and edit your videos and images in iMovie, such as trim, crop, adjust colors, apply title templates, add music and sound effects and change speed and so on, so as to create captivating slideshows with ease.
Pros:
- User-friendly interface for easy navigation and slideshow creation.
- Provides a range of themes, templates, and customization options.
- Allows incorporation of multimedia elements, such as videos, images, and audio.
- Seamless integration with other Apple products and services.
Cons:
- Advanced features may be limited compared to dedicated slideshow software.
- May lack some advanced editing options for precise customization.
2. MacX Video Converter Pro
Best for: Users looking for a software that combines video conversion and slideshow creation.
Don't get confused by its name. It's not only a video converter program, but also work seamlessly as a solid photo slideshow maker software for macOS. It allows you to freely make slideshow from a library of photos on Mac, add music, add special effects, and further edit video with a full set of settings, and also convert photo story video to MP4 MOV AVI MKV FLV, etc. 180+ file formats and make photo slideshow video with music in MP3, AAC, AC3, etc. So you can free upload the photo video to YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Stumbleupon, etc. or transfer to iPhone iPad Android, hard drive for presentation.
Pros:
- Offers video conversion and slideshow creation in one software.
- Supports a wide range of image formats for creating slideshows.
- Provides customizable transitions, effects, and background music options.
- User-friendly interface for easy navigation and slideshow creation.
Cons:
- Limited advanced features compared to dedicated slideshow software.
- Lacks some advanced editing options for fine-tuning slideshows.
3. Keynote
Best for: Users who value seamless integration with other Apple products and want to create visually stunning slideshows effortlessly.
Keynote, a popular software developed by Apple, provides a comprehensive suite of presentation tools, including slideshow creation. It works with Adobe Photoshop and lets you make your own graphics. It also has a big collection of pre-made templates, so you don't have to go looking for images when you need them. This free presentation slideshow maker also allows you to create a variety of slides. One of these is a calendar, which lets you to display multiple photographs on the slide while still displaying the dates. Another very popular format that can be generated with the Keynote is video presentation in MP4, MOV and more.
Pros:
- Seamless integration with other Apple products and services.
- Intuitive interface for easy navigation and slideshow creation.
- Provides a wide range of pre-designed templates and themes.
- Allows collaboration and sharing across Apple devices.
Cons:
- Limited cross-platform compatibility (primarily designed for Mac and iOS).
- Lacks some advanced customization options found in dedicated slideshow software.
4. FotoMagico 5
FotoMagico 5 is a popular slideshow maker software for Mac that offers a comprehensive set of features. It provides a wide range of transitions, effects, and customization options, allowing users to create visually stunning school or work presentations, wedding memories, birthday parties or baby growth diaries. What's better, it impresses you a lot when you apply it to make photo slideshow video with 4K Ultra HD resolution and splitting fast speed (less than 15 mins). With its intuitive interface, FotoMagico 5 caters to both beginners and advanced users.
Pros:
- Extensive selection of transitions, effects, and customization options.
- Intuitive interface for easy navigation and slideshow creation.
- High-quality output with support for 4K resolution.
- Offers advanced features for precise control over slideshow elements.
Cons:
- Relatively higher price compared to other slideshow maker software.
- Steeper learning curve for beginners due to advanced features.
5. Camtasia
Best for: Users who require powerful editing tools and want to incorporate multimedia elements into their slideshows.
Camtasia is primarily known for its video editing capabilities, but surpriseingly, it also offers powerful slideshow creation features on Mac and Windows. Users can create professional-grade slideshows incorporating multimedia elements such as videos, images, and audio. The extensive range of editing tools also enable users to polish your slideshow through transitions, effects, captions, screen recordings and so on.
Pros:
- Offers comprehensive editing tools for both video and slideshow creation.
- Allows incorporation of multimedia elements for enhanced presentations.
- Provides advanced features for precise control over slideshow elements.
- Supports high-quality output with various export options.
Cons:
- Can be overwhelming for beginners due to its extensive feature set.
- Relatively higher price compared to dedicated slideshow software.
6. Muvee Reveal Express for Mac
Best for: Users seeking a quick and automated way to create professional-looking slideshows.
Muvee Reveal Express for Mac is another macOS based software with slideshow video creation in mind and it makes it an easy task to transfer photos into a slideshow video with up to 50 photos supported. It focuses on automated tools, making it a great choice for users who prefer a quick and efficient way to generate professional-looking slideshows. Only 3 simple mouse clicks, you can eventually create your own unique photo story video on Mac OS X 10.6 or later.
When infusing music into slideshow, you don't have to worry about the music and photo not match problem, for this thoughtful Mac slideshow maker can automatically match the photos to the music background. And its built-in website sharing ability is useful to super fast upload your photo video to social network websites like YouTube, Facebook, etc.
Pros:
- Streamlined interface for easy and quick slideshow creation.
- Automated tools for effortless and time-saving slideshow generation.
- Offers a range of built-in templates and styles for customization.
- Supports direct sharing to social media platforms.
Cons:
- Limited advanced customization options for experienced users.
- May lack some of the advanced features found in other software options.
7. Photostage Slideshow Maker Free for Mac
Best for: Casual users who want a cost-effective option with decent customization features.
Photostage Slideshow Maker Free for Mac is a cost-effective solution for creating engaging slideshows. No matter what skill level you are in, you can discern how it works without any tutorial or support. It uses Quick Create feature on a folder of images or drag & drop images into your slideshow to import photo collection. Followed by the special effects application, e.g., crop, fade, crossfade, zoom, add music and more. For advanced users, you are also able to choose burn photo video to DVD or transfer it to video for sharing on the web. The last step is just to call it begin and wait mins for the final slideshow video file.
Pros:
- Free to use with a decent range of features.
- User-friendly interface for easy slideshow creation.
- Offers a variety of transitions, effects, and audio customization options.
- Supports multiple output formats for easy sharing and distribution.
Cons:
- Limited advanced features compared to paid software options.
- Watermark may be added to the output in the free version.
8. Kizoa
Best for: Users who prefer a wide variety of templates, effects, and transitions for their slideshows.
Kizoa is a feature-rich online slideshow maker software for Mac that offers a vast library of templates, effects, and transitions. Its user-friendly interface and extensive editing tools make it suitable for both beginners and advanced users. It enables you to create a slideshow with photos, videos and music.
If you are not satisfies with one of the photos, you can pick them out and further edit your photo on Kizoa with hundreds of filters, effects, and frames. Rotate, straighten, and crop features. Beyond this, it also plays a good role in collage maker, movie maker and video editor.
Pros:
- Extensive library of templates, effects, and transitions.
- User-friendly interface for easy navigation and slideshow creation.
- Offers advanced editing tools for precise customization.
- Allows direct sharing to social media platforms.
Cons:
- Some advanced features may require a premium subscription.
- Export options may be limited in the free version.
9. LightMV
Best for: Users who want a quick and hassle-free online tool for creating polished slideshows.
LightMV is not specifically limited to macOS platform. Instead, it's a cloud-based slideshow maker, open to macOS, Windows, as well as iOS and Android. It requires you to log in using Google account, Facebook or twitter account. Then, you can choose your subscribe plan: Monthly ($29, free produce 5 videos), Quarterly ($39, free produce 30 videos) and Yearly ($299, free produce 300 videos). You might be puzzled about its subscribe fee: why so expensive?
It offers a range of templates, categorized as wedding, business, team building, education, intro & outro and family, and allows users to create polished slideshows quickly. Besides, your DIY vivid and awesome slideshow video can be customized with its wide selection of visual effects, including flash-moving, watercolor, 3D, live-shot, etc. Plus, change music and music settings at your willing!
Pros:
- Quick and hassle-free slideshow creation process.
- Provides a variety of templates for different themes and occasions.
- Supports easy sharing and exporting of slideshows in various formats.
- No software installation required, as it is an online tool.
Cons:
- Limited customization options compared to dedicated software.
- Requires an internet connection for slideshow creation.
10. 4K Slideshow Maker
Best for: Mac users who want to create high-resolution slideshows with ease.
4K Slideshow Maker is a software designed specifically for Mac users, offering a straightforward and user-friendly interface. It allows users to create high-resolution slideshows effortlessly and supports multiple formats and resolutions for enhanced flexibility. You're able to create slideshows up to 4K 2160p high resolution, with music, different effects, and presets in simple mouse clicks.
You can directly import your photo inputs from Instagram and output videos with preset profiles, including iPhone, iPad, YouTube/Facebook video, 4K Ultra HD, macOS standard video, Windows standard video. Certainly, the output formats are still in its infancy, Android, game consoles profiles excluded. And it lacks instant updates to the latest profiles for the latest iPhone and iPad. The output profile is just a minor con. All in all, it's a wonderful slideshow maker for 4K video!
Pros:
- User-friendly interface for easy and intuitive slideshow creation.
- Supports high-resolution output, including 4K resolution.
- Provides various customization options for transitions, effects, and timing.
- Supports multiple output formats and resolutions.
Cons:
- Limited advanced features compared to more comprehensive software.
- Lacks some advanced editing options for precise customization.
Part 2. How to Make Photo Slideshow with Background Music on macOS
To create captivating photo slideshow on macOS, a solid Mac slideshow maker is in high demand. Each of the top 10 slideshow maker software for Mac above can be the option. For simplicity, speed and efficiency, we chose MacX Video Conerter Pro as an example to show you how to make slideshow with music on macOS.
Step 1: Free download this Mac photo slideshow video maker (for PC users, get the Windows version) and then fire it up. Click "Picture" button to load the file folder of photos.
Step 2: Choose the output video format for your photo slideshow video from 180+ video formats or 420+ preset profiles (iOS iPhone iPad, iMovie, iTunes, Android Samsung, Sony, Microsoft, etc.).
Step 3: Hit the "Edit" button from the main interface with a scissor-shaped icon, from which you can decide the picture playback order according to Photo location; creation date or file name; ASC or DESC; picture playback interval (2.0-10.0 seconds); add or delete the picture from photo folder; add music or not, etc.
Step 4: Go to "Browse" button for output slideshow video storage and give the last hit to "RUN" button to call the photo to slideshow video conversion task begin.
Part 3. FAQs
Q1: What is the best slideshow software for Mac?
The best slideshow software for Mac can vary depending on your specific needs and preferences. However, some popular options include MacX Video Converter Pro, FotoMagico 5, Keynote, and iMovie.
Q2: Are there any Mac slideshow software options that support 4K resolution?
Yes, some Mac slideshow software options, such as MacX Video Converter Pro, FotoMagico 5 and 4K Slideshow Maker, support 4K resolution. These software programs enable you to create high-quality slideshows with sharp and detailed visuals.
Q3: Does Apple have a slideshow maker?
Apple's native Photos app works fine for creating a basic slideshow on your Mac or iOS device. However, if you’re looking to create a more dynamic slideshow, MacX Video Converter Pro can be your choice. It allows you to making stunning photo slideshow in MP4, MOV, WebM, etc. for uploading to YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and more.
Candice's particularly skilled in writing and sharing video-related contents. Her guides cover from deep-seated video/audio parameters, to media entertainment on different platforms. She also enjoys shooting and processing videos by herself for a more reliable basis of informative info with her articles, which are never at the expense of eliminating an entertaining read.
