reveal.js is a free, MIT-licensed, open-source HTML presentation framework by Hakim El Hattab. See features, plugins, and how it compares to slide software.
Category
Productivity
Pricing
Free and open source (MIT license), from Free
Verified
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Last updated
July 19, 2026
Founded
2011
Web AppAPIOpen SourceTemplatesSelf-Hosted
Overview
reveal.js is an open-source HTML presentation framework created by developer Hakim El Hattab, who released the first version in 2011 and still actively maintains the project. It is distributed under the MIT license and lets anyone build interactive, code-based slide presentations that run in any web browser.
Because a reveal.js presentation is fundamentally an HTML page, presenters have full access to web technologies like CSS, JavaScript, and iframes to customize and extend their slides in ways not possible in traditional slide software.
Key Features
reveal.js supports nested vertical and horizontal slides, Markdown-based slide authoring, an Auto-Animate feature for smooth element transitions, PDF export, LaTeX typesetting, and syntax-highlighted code blocks.
It also includes a dedicated speaker view with a timer and next-slide preview, custom themes and transitions, parallax backgrounds, configurable keyboard bindings, and an extensive JavaScript API and plugin system for further customization.
Pricing
reveal.js is completely free and open source under the MIT license, with no paid tiers, subscriptions, or licensing fees of any kind.
Because it is distributed as a code library rather than a hosted product, the only potential costs come from optional hosting for published presentations, which developers can handle through any static web host of their choice.
Key Features
Markdown slide authoring — Write slide content in plain Markdown instead of manually authoring HTML for every slide.
Nested slide navigation — Organize content into vertical and horizontal slide stacks for structured, deep-diving presentations.
Auto-Animate transitions — Automatically animates matching elements between consecutive slides for smooth, professional-looking transitions.
Speaker view with notes and timer — A dedicated presenter view shows speaker notes, a countdown timer, and a preview of the next slide.
PDF export — Export any presentation to PDF for offline sharing, printing, or archiving.
LaTeX and code syntax highlighting — Built-in support for LaTeX typesetting and syntax-highlighted code blocks makes it popular for technical talks.
Extensive JavaScript API — A rich API and plugin ecosystem let developers customize behavior, add interactivity, or embed live content.
Responsive, web-native slides — Presentations scale to fit any screen and can include anything a normal web page can, including embedded iframes and custom CSS.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Completely free and open source with no licensing costs
Highly customizable since presentations are built from standard HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
Popular among developers and technical speakers for code-based, version-controllable slide decks
Strong built-in support for code syntax highlighting and LaTeX, ideal for technical content
Large, long-running open-source community with tens of thousands of GitHub stars
Cons
Requires comfort with HTML, CSS, and optionally JavaScript, unlike drag-and-drop slide tools
No built-in cloud collaboration features found in commercial presentation software
Design polish depends on the author's own CSS and theme choices rather than a built-in design assistant
No official commercial support; help comes from community docs and the open-source repository
Steeper learning curve for non-technical presenters compared to tools like PowerPoint or Google Slides
Pricing
Open Source Free N/A
Frequently Asked Questions
Is reveal.js free?
Yes, reveal.js is completely free and open source under the MIT license, with no paid tiers or subscriptions.
Who created reveal.js?
reveal.js was created by developer Hakim El Hattab, who first released it in 2011 and continues to maintain it.
Do I need to know how to code to use reveal.js?
Basic slide decks can be written in Markdown with minimal coding, but customizing behavior or advanced layouts benefits from knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Is reveal.js the same as Reveal/RevealData?
No. reveal.js is an unrelated, unaffiliated open-source HTML presentation framework; Reveal/RevealData is a separate commercial legal eDiscovery and AI document review company.
Can reveal.js presentations be exported to PDF?
Yes, reveal.js includes built-in PDF export for offline sharing or printing.
Does reveal.js support speaker notes?
Yes, it includes a dedicated speaker view with notes, a timer, and a preview of the upcoming slide.
Where is reveal.js hosted?
The reveal.js source code is hosted on GitHub under hakimel/reveal.js and distributed via npm.