The reveal.js Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about reveal.js in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
reveal.js
The Insider’s Guide
Open source HTML framework for building slide decks
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among presentation tools, read from reveal.js’s own pages.
Made by Hakim El Hattab and contributors · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from reveal.js’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on reveal.js’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 65 of the 89 other presentation tools we grade
reveal.js is a framework for making interactive slide decks in HTML, created by Hakim El Hattab and contributors. It supports nested slides, Markdown content, code highlighting, auto-animation, a speaker view and PDF export. It is MIT-licensed and can run from a downloaded folder with just a browser.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about reveal.js, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It is code, not an app, and the vendor points non-coders to Slides.com, a separate product.
- 1
Best for HTML slide decks written as code
reveal.js is an open-source framework for building slide decks as web pages, with nested slides, Markdown, speaker view and PDF export.
- 2
It is free
reveal.js has no paid plan at all. Free and open source under the MIT license. The hosted visual editor is a separate product, Slides.com.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Vertical and nested slides
Slides can be nested inside one another, so a high-level slide can have detail beneath it.
- 5
Auto-Animate
Matching elements are animated automatically between consecutive slides.
- 6
Markdown and code
Slide content can be written in Markdown, and code is highlighted with highlight.js.
- 7
A 2.6 GPA, above 65 of 89
That is against the other presentation tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
reveal.js is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
reveal.js at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Hakim El Hattab and contributors
- Category
- Presentations
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for HTML slide decks written as code
reveal.js is an open-source framework for building slide decks as web pages, with nested slides, Markdown, speaker view and PDF export. It is free and MIT licensed. It is code, not an app, and the vendor points non-coders to Slides.com, a separate product.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free under the MIT licence. You download it, clone it or install it from npm, and there is no paid tier. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright with no account. The hosted visual editor is a separate product, Slides.com. |
| Features | C | Nested slides, Auto-Animate, Markdown and code, speaker view and PDF export. It covers the job, but it is a framework you code, not a visual editor. |
| Ease of use | D | No store rating on record. You write HTML and need a local web server for external Markdown files. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Runs in any browser, with touch support. That is one family of device, and PDF export is only confirmed in Chrome and Chromium. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who reveal.js is for
- Fits if you write HTML and want full control over how slides look and move
- Works for developers who keep decks in Git and show code on screen
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you do not write code, as the vendor sends non-coders to a different product
- Skip it if you want a drag-and-drop editor, as there is none
- Watch out: PDF export is only confirmed to work in Google Chrome and Chromium
- Watch out: loading external Markdown files needs a local web server
Good to know
Good for
- Developers who want full control of a deck in HTML and CSS
- Presenters who need a deck that runs from a folder in any browser
- People who prefer a visual editor and can use the separate Slides.com
Worth knowing
- It is a code framework, not a visual app. The vendor points non-coders to Slides.com, which is a separate product.
- PDF export is confirmed to work only in Google Chrome and Chromium.
- Loading external Markdown files requires running the deck from a local web server, which the full setup includes.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
reveal.js is free to use.
You download it, clone it or install it from npm, and there is no paid tier.
Open source
$0
The framework itself, released under the MIT license. Download it, clone the repository or install it from npm.
The free plan
Free and open source under the MIT license. The hosted visual editor is a separate product, Slides.com.
Read from revealjs.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Open source HTML framework for building slide decks. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, Markdown, presentations.
Nested slides, Auto-Animate, Markdown and code, speaker view and PDF export.
- Vertical and nested slides
- Slides can be nested inside one another, so a high-level slide can have detail beneath it.
- Auto-Animate
- Matching elements are animated automatically between consecutive slides.
- Markdown and code
- Slide content can be written in Markdown, and code is highlighted with highlight.js.
- Speaker view
- A separate notes window shows speaker notes, elapsed time, the clock and an optional pacing timer.
- PDF export
- A print stylesheet exports a deck to PDF through the browser's print dialog.
- Touch support
- Decks work on phones and tablets, where you swipe between slides.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- highlight.js
- Slides.com
- npm
- zoom.js
- Markdown
reveal.js is made by Hakim El Hattab and contributors.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
65/89
Other presentation tools it is graded above
reveal.js's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 65 of the 89 other presentation tools we grade, and level with 12.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 77 of 89) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
reveal.js has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 90 presentation tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. reveal.js’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 75 of 89
- AFree plan and trialAbove 77 of 89
- CFeaturesAbove 8 of 89
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 89
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 3 of 89
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 72 presentation tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. reveal.js is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
reveal.js is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.6 is higher than 65 of the 89 other presentation tools we grade.
What you could make
- Markdown: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A slide editor.
- It plugs into other products, highlight.js, Slides.com and npm among them.
What this rests on. reveal.js’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Slidev, Marp, Slides, Deckset and iA Presenter
The 5 tools reveal.js is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Slidev
Free
- 2.6GPA
Marp
Free
- 2.4GPA
Slides
Free plan · from $5/mo
Browser-based presentation editor with HTML, CSS and code support.
- reveal.js is open source, according to its own site.
- reveal.js also covers Markdown.
- Slides also covers templates.
- 2.4GPA
Deckset
Free trial · from $35 one-time
Turns Markdown notes into themed slides on Mac, iPhone and iPad.
- reveal.js has a free plan. Deckset does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only reveal.js lists a web app.
- Only Deckset lists macOS and iOS apps.
- 2.4GPA
iA Presenter
Free trial · from $39.99/yr
Markdown presentation app that builds slides from your script.
- reveal.js has a free plan. iA Presenter does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only reveal.js lists a web app.
- Only iA Presenter lists macOS and iOS apps.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is reveal.js free?
Yes. reveal.js is free to use. Free and open source under the MIT license.
How much does reveal.js cost?
reveal.js lists one plan. Open source: $0.
What platforms does reveal.js work on?
reveal.js is available on Web.
Does reveal.js have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. reveal.js is listed for Web.
Does reveal.js have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. reveal.js is listed for Web.
Is reveal.js open source?
Yes. reveal.js is open source, according to its own site.
What does reveal.js integrate with?
reveal.js's listing names highlight.js, Slides.com, npm, zoom.js and Markdown.
Who makes reveal.js?
reveal.js is made by Hakim El Hattab and contributors.
What are the alternatives to reveal.js?
The closest alternatives to reveal.js in our directory are Slidev, Marp, Slides, Deckset and iA Presenter.
How does reveal.js compare with other presentation tools?
reveal.js's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 65 of the 89 other presentation tools we grade, and level with 12.
Is reveal.js good value for money?
ToolGPA grades reveal.js A for value for money. reveal.js has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of reveal.js?
reveal.js is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from reveal.js’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from reveal.js's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Hakim El Hattab and contributors. Prices change, so check revealjs.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- reveal.js, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/revealjs
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "reveal.js: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/revealjs
Know someone choosing between presentation tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/revealjs/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded presentation tools after reveal.js, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Presentations Insider's GuideEvery one of the 90 presentation tools we grade, compared
- Microsoft PowerPoint Insider's GuideSlide presentation app sold with Microsoft 365, free in the browser3.4 GPA
- Zoho Show Insider's GuideOnline presentation software, free for individuals3.4 GPA
- Canva Insider's GuideTemplate-based design platform for slides, graphics and video3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what reveal.js’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. reveal.js is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Hakim El Hattab and contributors. Prices and plans change: check revealjs.com before you buy.