Even though taking photos with your smartphone is convenient and quick, showing them off is tedious and error-prone. And frankly, boring for the viewer. Liven up the process with a slideshow that includes music, transitions, and special effects.

Here are the best slideshow maker apps that work with both Android and iOS.

Best Fast and Easy Photo Slideshows: Google Photos

When you want to make a simple slideshow that showcases pictures stored on your Android or iOS device, use Google Photos. It creates simple movies that contain photos, videos, and music. There aren’t any extra bells and whistles, so you can’t add animations or other special effects.

  • Add photos and videos to a slideshow.

  • Add music to slideshows.

  • Add multiple instances of the same photo.

  • Automatically adds music to the entire slideshow.

  • Can’t add animations or special effects.

  • Can be challenging to find and select photos.

It’s easy to create a slideshow in Google Photos. All you do is organize the images into an album, then create an MP4 movie. Before you finalize the movie, you can change how long each image appears, move them around, and add additional pictures. You can also add music that plays during the entire length of the movie. Google Photos includes a long list of theme music to fit every mood.

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Best for Real-Time Collaboration: Microsoft PowerPoint

If you use PowerPoint on your desktop or laptop PC, you find the same familiar look and feel in the PowerPoint mobile apps. You also find a basic set of presentation tools, including slide layouts, themes, audio, slide transitions, and animations.

  • Add special effects and animations to slideshows.

  • Create a slideshow with your family and friends.

  • Basic features are available with a free Microsoft account.

  • Requires a Microsoft 365 subscription to access all features.

  • May not play voiceover or audio during a slideshow.

  • Save and share slideshows as PPTX files only.

When you save your slideshows to OneDrive, you can start one on your mobile device, then finish it on your desktop PC. Plus, when your files are stored in the cloud, you can collaborate online with family, friends, and co-workers via the PowerPoint co-authoring feature.

Best for Music Slideshows: Magisto Video Editor

Magisto is a music slideshow maker and a video editor. Choose your photos, select a theme, add music, and your slideshow is ready. The Magisto library contains a vast array of commercially licensed songs. Photos can be added from your gallery, Google Photos, or iStock.

  • Turn photos into music videos automatically.

  • Add text and stickers to slideshows.

  • Includes over 100 built-in templates.

  • Need a paid subscription for advanced features.

  • Many users don’t like the August 2020 update.

  • Videos are watermarked in the free version.

Along with music slideshows, you can create collages and short movies with ease. The Magisto video editor is powered by artificial intelligence that adds graphics, effects, and filters that fit the theme of your photos.

The Magisto Help & Learning Center has over 100 tutorials and articles that show how to create, edit, and manage your videos.

Best Built-In Themes: SlidePlus

SlidePlus is a video slideshow maker app that’s straightforward to use and doesn’t need video editing skills, so you spend less time creating a stunning slideshow and more time sharing it with your family and friends.

  • Includes over 100 themes for any occasion.

  • Add photos from Facebook and Instagram.

  • Automatically trims portrait photos to zoom in on faces.

  • Paid subscription after a 3-day free trial.

  • Video can be glitchy.

  • Slideshows are limited to 25 photos.

SlidePlus contains over 100 themes that cover a variety of occasions. They’re designed with pre-selected music, special effects, and built-in transitions. All you do is add the photos and text. If you want, you can change the music.

Best for Social Media Posts: MoShow

MoShow is a slideshow maker, photo editor, and video editor. It turns your photos into movies that can grab people’s attention on your social media channels. Easily share your slideshow video on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

  • Creates GIFs and looping videos.

  • Great selection of templates.

  • Good for beginners.

  • The free version limits video to 30 seconds.

  • Not many music options.

  • Paid add-ons can be expensive.

MoShow contains all the tools you need to create a slideshow with minimal effort. Choose your photos, select a style, and preview the results. It includes over 90 styles. It also has an extensive collection of effects, slide transitions, text overlays, and cinematic glitch effects. 

Best for Long Slideshows: PicPlayPost

PicPlayPost is a slideshow maker and video editor. After selecting your photos, add text and stickers, apply a slide transition, and choose background music. Then, use the video editing tools to trim the slideshow video and to change the layout aspect.

  • Create 30-minute slideshows.

  • Record in 1080P and 4K HD.

  • Build live video wallpapers.

  • It isn’t intuitive and may be difficult for novice users.

  • Only plays MP3 music files.

  • Ads may get in the way.

When your slideshow is complete, PicPlayPost includes options to share it to your phone gallery, Facebook, Gmail, YouTube, Messenger, Google Photos, and Twitter.

Best Photo Editor: Vimory

If you don’t have graphic design skills, Vimory includes an assortment of templates to give you a quick start on a stunning slideshow. If you want to create your own look, use it to enhance your photos with effects, frames, and music. Then, add slide transitions to give your project a few groovy moves. When you’re finished, Vimory turns your images into a looping video slideshow.

  • A large selection of templates and filters.

  • Tools to edit and enhance photos.

  • Built-in slide transitions, effects, and frames.

  • It’s easy to share slideshows on social media.

  • Slideshows are limited to 30 photos.

  • Photos sometimes pixelate on the video.

  • Many templates and effects are only available as premium content.

Vimory contains sharing tools, so posting your slideshows to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and other sites is straightforward. You can also use the app to send your slideshow through Messenger, Snapchat, Hangouts, and other chat apps.

Best for HD Video Recording: Vizmato

To make a slideshow in Vizmato, select the photos you want to display, add a theme and music, and your video slideshow is ready. The app includes a music library, video editor, audio effects that change your voice, and social sharing tools.

  • Convert photo slideshows into GIFs.

  • Includes cool visual video effects.

  • Exports 1080p video.

  • Requires in-app purchases for many features.

  • Slideshows are limited to 15 photos.

  • The editing process isn’t intuitive.

Vizmato also contains an HD video and GIF recorder. You can record videos on your mobile device and then use it to adjust the pace and add filters. Your video can be saved as a GIF or as a looped video.

Best Simple Video Editor: Videoshop

Videoshop is primarily a video editor, but you can also import photos and create slideshows and edit them in the app. It contains all the features expected in any video editor, including sound effects, text, filters, and transitions. It has controls that trim, adjust the color, stop the motion, rescale the size, and reverse the video.

  • A massive selection of sound effects.

  • A good introduction to professional video editing.

  • Easy to use and has basic layouts.

  • A limited number of transitions.

  • The preview tools are lacking in some effects.

  • The pro version can be expensive.

When you’re ready to share your slideshow, Videoshop makes it easy to share with a dozen popular social media sites, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Best Companion Mobile App: Movavi Clips

Movavi Clips is an advanced video editor that also makes eye-catching photo slideshows. It has all the tools you need, including cropping, filters, transitions, stickers, and royalty-free music and sounds. You can also trim your slideshows with the video timeline and merge multiple slideshows into one video.

  • Plays a short tutorial when you first open the app.

  • Royalty free music can be uploaded to Facebook and Instagram.

  • Exports HD quality video.

  • Must pay a separate fee, even if you own the PC or Mac version.

  • Can’t save a slideshow project as a draft and continue later.

  • Can’t apply filters to all clips at once.

Movavi Clips only works on smartphones, not on tablets.

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