Spectacle review (2026): is it any good?
React library for building presentations in JSX or MDX
Spectacle report card
Good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for decks written in React
Spectacle is an MIT-licensed React library for writing presentations in JSX or MDX. It is free, and you need to know JavaScript and React because there is no visual editor.
Who Spectacle is for
- Fits if you already write React
- Works for developers who want decks kept in code
Who Spectacle is not for
- Not for you if you do not write React, as there is no visual editor
- Skip it if you need ready-made themes, since the site does not list them
- Watch out: exports are not described in detail on its pages
Why Spectacle gets a 2.6
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyFree under an open licence that anyone can download and run, with no server to host.
- AFree plan and trialThe whole thing is free, with no plan to outgrow.
- CFeaturesIt builds decks in code and does that job fully. The documentation does not list themes or exports in detail, so gaps are likely.
- DEase of useYou write the deck in code or markup and run it yourself, with no visual editor.
- CPlatforms and integrationsRuns in the browser and installs through npm. Works with React and MDX, but there is no desktop or phone app.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from NearForm's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/spectacle#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/spectacle.svg" alt="Spectacle: 2.6 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where Spectacle stands among presentation tools
Spectacle'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).
Spectacle 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. Spectacle’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 75 of 89, level with 14
- AFree plan and trialAbove 77 of 89, level with 12
- CFeaturesAbove 8 of 89, level with 67
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 89, level with 5
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 3 of 89, level with 42
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 72 presentation tools. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Keep Spectacle, or make your own?
Keep it
Spectacle is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
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.
What this rests on. Spectacle’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.
What is Spectacle?
Spectacle is an open-source React library for writing slide decks as code, using JSX or MDX. Decks can include clickable elements and a live preview of the code being demonstrated, with theming built in. It is installed through npm and maintained by Nearform, formerly Formidable.
Worth knowing
- Requires JavaScript and React knowledge; there is no visual editor.
- Decks run in the browser; the pages describe no desktop or mobile app.
- The documentation site does not list ready-made themes or exports in detail.
Key features
- JSX and MDX decks
- Write slides as React components or as MDX.
- Live code preview
- Show the running result of code inside the deck.
- Interactivity
- Add clickable elements to slides.
- Theming
- Includes auto-formatting, theming and image dimming out of the box.
Spectacle pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, Spectacle is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- Free under the MIT license.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Open source | $0 | Installed with npm install spectacle; MIT-licensed code on GitHub. |
Read from nearform.com on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Spectacle before you buy.
Works with
- React
- MDX
- npm
Spectacle alternatives
Common questions
Does Spectacle have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Spectacle is listed for Web.
Does Spectacle have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Spectacle is listed for Web.
Is Spectacle open source?
Yes. Spectacle is open source, according to its own site.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.