Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Microsoft Sway VS VoiceThread

Compare Microsoft Sway VS VoiceThread and see what are their differences

Microsoft Sway logo Microsoft Sway

Sway is an easy-to-use digital storytelling app for creating interactive reports, presentations, personal stories and more.

VoiceThread logo VoiceThread

Transforming media into collaborative spaces with video, voice, and text commenting.
Not present
  • VoiceThread Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-12

Microsoft Sway features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Sway has an intuitive interface that makes it simple to create and share presentations, even for users with minimal technical expertise.
  • Design Aesthetics
    It offers visually stunning design templates and a comprehensive set of formatting tools that help users create professional-looking presentations quickly.
  • Cloud Integration
    Sway is cloud-based, making it easy to access and edit presentations from any device with an internet connection.
  • Collaboration
    Multiple users can collaborate on a Sway presentation in real-time, providing flexibility for team projects and group work.
  • Multimedia Support
    It allows for the easy integration of multimedia elements like images, videos, and audio clips to create more engaging content.

Possible disadvantages of Microsoft Sway

  • Limited Customization
    Compared to traditional presentation tools, Sway offers fewer customization options, which can be a limitation for advanced users.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users have reported lag and performance issues, particularly when working with large or media-rich presentations.
  • Internet Dependency
    Being a cloud-based application, it requires a stable internet connection to function, making it problematic in areas with limited connectivity.
  • Learning Curve
    While generally user-friendly, the unconventional interface can initially be confusing for users who are more accustomed to traditional presentation software.
  • Privacy Concerns
    As with any cloud-based service, there are potential privacy and data security concerns associated with storing and sharing presentations online.

VoiceThread features and specs

  • Interactive Learning
    VoiceThread enables interactive learning by allowing users to create multimedia presentations that include audio, video, and text comments, facilitating diverse learning experiences.
  • Collaborative Engagement
    Students and educators can engage collaboratively, offering comments and feedback directly on the media, promoting a deeper understanding of the material.
  • Accessibility
    VoiceThread offers multiple forms of accessibility, including closed captioning and screen reader compatibility, allowing it to be more inclusive for users with disabilities.
  • Versatile Use Cases
    The platform can be used for various educational purposes, including presentations, discussions, peer reviews, and projects, which makes it versatile for different learning environments.
  • Cloud-based Storage
    Being web-based, VoiceThread saves work in the cloud, allowing easy access from anywhere without the need for specific devices or installations.

Possible disadvantages of VoiceThread

  • Learning Curve
    Some users might experience a learning curve when first getting accustomed to the interface and functionalities of VoiceThread, which may hinder initial engagement.
  • Subscription Costs
    VoiceThread operates on a subscription model, which can be costly for individual users or institutions with limited budgets.
  • Internet Dependency
    As a cloud-based service, VoiceThread requires a stable internet connection, which can be a limitation in areas with poor connectivity.
  • Limited Offline Functionality
    VoiceThread's functionality is limited when offline, meaning users need to be online to create or interact with content, reducing its accessibility in non-connected environments.
  • Feature Complexity
    Some users might find the myriad of features to be overwhelming, especially if they only need basic presentation tools, making simpler alternatives more appealing.

Microsoft Sway videos

What is Sway - Microsoft Sway Tutorials

More videos:

  • Review - Microsoft Sway Hands On Review!

VoiceThread videos

VoiceThread Review

More videos:

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Microsoft Sway and VoiceThread)
Presentations
60 60%
40% 40
Slideshow
100 100%
0% 0
Office & Productivity
46 46%
54% 54
Tool
49 49%
51% 51

User comments

Share your experience with using Microsoft Sway and VoiceThread. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Microsoft Sway and VoiceThread

Microsoft Sway Reviews

The 13 Best Presentation Apps in 2018
We're device-agnostic here, but if you prefer a presentation app for focusing on your content over design, Microsoft Sway is a good choice. The only reason it didn't make our list is that it won't play animated GIFs. But we get it—some folks have a severe allergy to anything made by Apple. Sway is free with an Office 365 account.
Source: zapier.com

VoiceThread Reviews

We have no reviews of VoiceThread yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

VoiceThread might be a bit more popular than Microsoft Sway. We know about 3 links to it since March 2021 and only 3 links to Microsoft Sway. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Microsoft Sway mentions (3)

  • Fedora 37 + sway 1.8
    Lol, I see Sway is also a newsletter maker by Microsoft Https://sway.office.com/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • What program allows me to create a vertical PDF-like document with the ability to make “jump-to” (in page) links, but ALSO (this is key) allows the file to be shared and the user to right click and save photos from it?
    Https://sway.office.com/ This has a lot of option for layouts. You share a link and it scales to the device that's being used. I just did a little test and you can save images just like any other image in browser. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Picture orientation help
    Or make it a Sway (https://sway.office.com) - https://www.thetraininglady.com/convert-powerpoint-to-sway/. Source: over 3 years ago

VoiceThread mentions (3)

  • How can I narrate over video with audio playing?
    Check out https://voicethread.com/. Source: about 2 years ago
  • An experiment, or further reasons I hate discussion boards in online classes.
    Well, I teach primarily first-year-writing courses and discussion is a significant component of the course. But, rather than thinking generically about discussion, I prep assignments based on goals and outcomes. I choose tools and formats based on what I’m trying to accomplish and rarely does a traditional discussion board assignment work. Essentially, different tech tools allow me to create specific learning... Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Advanced Canvas help
    Do you want Canvas-specific features, or would you be okay with tools you could provide a link to in Canvas? For example, I have had success with PearDeck (read the privacy agreement carefully so that you understand how Google will/may use user data) and a colleague of mine has created really cool assignments with VoiceThread. Source: about 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Microsoft Sway and VoiceThread, you can also consider the following products

Prezi - Welcome to Prezi, the presentation software that uses motion, zoom, and spatial relationships to bring your ideas to life and make you a great presenter.

Vizetto Reactiv SUITE - Create engaging interactive presentations for laptops with Reactiv SUITE s best virtual meeting platforms

Microsoft PowerPoint - Microsoft PowerPoint empowers you to create clean slideshow presentations and intricate pitch decks and gives you a powerful presentation maker to tell your story.

Showcase Workshop - Showcase Workshop turns your iOS, Android, or Windows device into a powerful sales, presentation, and training toolkit.

Google Slides - Create a new presentation and edit it with others at the same time — from your computer, phone or tablet. Free with a Google account.

ClickShare - Share ideas and content securely from any device on the meeting room screen