The Spectacle Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Spectacle 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.
Spectacle
The Insider’s Guide
React library for building presentations in JSX or MDX
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among presentation tools, read from Spectacle’s own pages.
Made by Nearform · checked Nov 13, 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 Spectacle’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Spectacle’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 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
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Spectacle, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It is free, and you need to know JavaScript and React because there is no visual editor.
- 1
Best for decks written in React
Spectacle is an MIT-licensed React library for writing presentations in JSX or MDX.
- 2
It is free
Spectacle has no paid plan at all. Free under the MIT license.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
JSX and MDX decks
Write slides as React components or as MDX.
- 5
Live code preview
Show the running result of code inside the deck.
- 6
Interactivity
Add clickable elements to slides.
- 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
Spectacle is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Spectacle at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Nearform
- Category
- Presentations
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free under an open licence that anyone can download and run, with no server to host. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The whole thing is free, with no plan to outgrow. |
| Features | C | It builds decks in code and does that job fully. The documentation does not list themes or exports in detail, so gaps are likely. |
| Ease of use | D | You write the deck in code or markup and run it yourself, with no visual editor. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Runs in the browser and installs through npm. Works with React and MDX, but there is no desktop or phone app. |
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 Spectacle is for
- Fits if you already write React
- Works for developers who want decks kept in code
Who it 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
Good to know
Good for
- Developers who give technical talks
- Teams that keep slides in a Git repository
- React users who want live demos inside slides
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.
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
Spectacle is free to use.
Free under an open licence that anyone can download and run, with no server to host.
Open source
$0
Installed with npm install spectacle; MIT-licensed code on GitHub.
The free plan
Free under the MIT license.
Read from nearform.com on Nov 13, 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
React library for building presentations in JSX or MDX. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, Markdown, presentations.
It builds decks in code and does that job fully.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- React
- MDX
- npm
Spectacle is made by Nearform.
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
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
- 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. Spectacle 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
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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Slidev, reveal.js, Marp, remark and impress.js
The 5 tools Spectacle is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Slidev
Free
- 2.6GPA
reveal.js
Free
- 2.6GPA
Marp
Free
- 2.6GPA
remark
Free
- 2.6GPA
impress.js
Free
Open-source presentation framework using CSS3 transforms.
- Spectacle also covers Markdown.
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 Spectacle free?
Yes. Spectacle is free to use.
How much does Spectacle cost?
Spectacle lists one plan. Open source: $0.
What platforms does Spectacle work on?
Spectacle is available on Web.
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.
What does Spectacle integrate with?
Spectacle's listing names React, MDX and npm. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Spectacle?
Spectacle is made by Nearform.
What are the alternatives to Spectacle?
The closest alternatives to Spectacle in our directory are Slidev, reveal.js, Marp, remark and impress.js.
How does Spectacle compare with other presentation tools?
Spectacle's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 65 of the 89 other presentation tools we grade, and level with 12.
Is Spectacle good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Spectacle A for value for money. Spectacle has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Spectacle?
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.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Spectacle’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. 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.
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 Nearform. Prices change, so check nearform.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
- Spectacle, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/spectacle
- 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, "Spectacle: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/spectacle
Know someone choosing between presentation tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/spectacle/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded presentation tools after Spectacle, 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 Spectacle’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. Spectacle is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Nearform. Prices and plans change: check nearform.com before you buy.