Free tools
Free presentation tools
Free tools for the questions every presenter faces: how many slides, how long, how big the text, how readable the colors, and what the storyline is. They run in your browser, need no account and end in a brief you can open in the editor.
- Free
- No account needed
- Runs in your browser
Calculators and checkers
8- Builder
Outline builder
Free presentation outline builder: pick occasion, audience, goal and length, then edit a slide-by-slide storyline of action titles and open it as your brief.
- Checker
Action title checker
Paste your slide titles and get a score for each: verb, number, so-what and length, with a rewrite hint. Free, runs in your browser, English and German rules.
- Calculator
Slide count calculator
Enter your time slot, the minutes for questions and the format. This free calculator returns the number of slides, a range and a minute plan per slide.
- Checklist
Pitch deck checklist
Free pitch deck checklist for pre-seed, seed and Series A: tick off what each slide must answer, see your progress and turn the gaps into a brief for your deck.
- Calculator
Speaking time calculator
Free speaking time calculator: paste your script or enter a word count, see how long it takes at a slow, normal and fast pace and how many words fit your slot.
- Builder
Elevator pitch builder
Free elevator pitch generator: fill in six parts and get a 30, 60 and 90 second version with word count, speaking time and a copy button. Runs in your browser.
- Checker
Slide contrast checker
Check the WCAG 2.2 contrast ratio of two slide colors. See AA and AAA results for text and charts, a live slide preview and the nearest colors that pass.
- Calculator
Font size calculator
Free font size calculator for presentations: enter the screen size and the farthest viewer's distance, get the smallest title, body and footnote size in points.
Which tool answers your question?
Start from the question you have. Each answer gives the rule of thumb and the tool that applies it to your talk.
How many slides does my talk need?
About one slide for every 1.5 minutes you actually speak. A 20-minute slot with 5 minutes for questions holds about 10 slides. The slide count calculator adapts the number to your slot and format.
How long will my script take?
Plan with about 130 words a minute in English and 120 in German, plus roughly 10 percent for pauses and slide changes. The speaking time calculator compares your own text with your slot.
How big should the text on a slide be?
At least 18 pt, and larger the farther the last viewer sits: about 24 pt body text on a 75 inch screen seen from 6 meters. The font size calculator gives titles, body and footnotes for your room.
Does every slide title make a point?
An action title is a full sentence that states the conclusion. The action title checker scores each title out of 100, counts it as an action title from 80 points and adds a rewrite hint.
Is my text readable on its background?
WCAG 2.2 level AA asks for a contrast ratio of 4.5 to 1 for text and 3 to 1 for large text and charts. The slide contrast checker measures any two colors and offers the nearest color that passes.
What do investors expect in a pitch deck?
About a dozen topics, from the problem to the ask, weighted differently at pre-seed, seed and Series A. The pitch deck checklist shows your gaps and turns them into a brief.
What should my storyline be?
The answer first, then the reasons, then the ask. The outline builder proposes a storyline of action titles from occasion, audience, goal and length, and opens it as your brief.
How do I write an elevator pitch?
Cover six things: who you are, who it is for, the problem, your solution, one proof point and a specific ask. At 130 words a minute, 30 seconds hold about 65 words and 60 seconds about 130. The elevator pitch builder cuts your lines into a 30, 60 and 90 second version and times each.
From idea to rehearsed talk
Use the tools in the order a talk takes shape. Each one is also useful on its own.
Shape the storyline
Pick occasion, audience, goal and length in the outline builder and edit the proposed action titles.
Outline builderSize the deck
The slide count calculator turns your slot and your question time into a number of slides and a minute plan per slide.
Slide count calculatorBuild the slides
Open the outline as a brief in the editor. The AI shows a plan with one card per slide before it builds.
Sharpen the titles
Paste the titles into the action title checker and start with the lowest scores.
Action title checkerMake it readable
Set the text sizes with the font size calculator and test your colors with the slide contrast checker.
Font size calculatorRehearse against the clock
Paste your script into the speaking time calculator and see the time at a slow, normal and fast pace.
Speaking time calculator
How these tools work
They run on this page
Every calculation happens in your browser, and you need no account to use them.
The method is shown
Each tool has a method section that names its sources.
From the result to a deck
Each result ends with a button that opens it as a brief in the editor, with your numbers filled in.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Are the tools free, and do I need an account?
Yes, they are free and need no account. Every calculation runs in your browser, so you can use the tools without signing up.
How many slides should a 20-minute presentation have?
About 10 slides: take 5 minutes off for questions, then plan one slide for every 1.5 minutes you speak. The range is 8 to 12 slides, and appendix slides do not count.
How long does it take to present 1,000 words?
About 8 minutes at 130 words a minute in English, and about 8.5 minutes with 10 percent added for pauses and slide changes. In German, at 120 words a minute, plan about 9 minutes with the same addition.
What is the minimum font size on slides?
At least 18 pt. The farther the last viewer sits, the larger it must be: on a 75 inch screen seen from 6 meters (20 feet), body text needs about 24 pt, titles 36 pt and footnotes 16 pt.
What contrast ratio do slide colors need?
WCAG 2.2 level AA asks for 4.5 to 1 for text and 3 to 1 for large text, which means 18 pt and up, or 14 pt and up in bold. Charts and icons need 3 to 1, and level AAA asks for 7 to 1.
What is an action title?
A full sentence that states the slide's conclusion, usually with a number and a reason, instead of only naming the topic. The action title checker scores each title out of 100 on six rules: verb, number, so-what, length, filler words and vague wording.
Done calculating? Build the deck.
Describe your talk in a sentence. The AI proposes the structure before it builds a single slide.
Build your first deck freeFree plan, no card needed