Adobe InDesign vs Keynote: Which Speeds Up My Work?

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Whenever I need to make layouts for my clients, I use Adobe InDesign. Most of all I like that it is very easy to build decks here. However, many of my colleagues choose Keynote for this task, so I decided to compare Adobe InDesign vs Keynote.

Adobe InDesign is a great option for making professional layouts for print and digital media. Besides, it has many advanced features, e.g., multi-page layouts, typography controls, and smooth integration of text and images.

As for Keynote, it is a wonderful option for beginner users, who want to make beautiful presentations with animations and slide transitions without dealing with complicated features. However, Keynote is compatible only with Apple devices. This is a real issue when some people in a team use Windows devices, while others have Macs.

Final Verdict:

If you are just starting out, Keynote is probably easier to master. However, it lacks some advanced features, so experts will feel limited in what they can do. Adobe InDesign is more feature-rich. Once you buy Adobe InDesign, you can create lots of interesting designs. For instance, I made a brochure to advertise my client’s services just in 15 min.

Head-to-Head Comparison

adobe indesign logo

Adobe InDesign

keynote logo

Keynote

Rating

★★★★☆ 4.5/5

★★★★☆ 4/5

Best For
Professionals who need advanced layout design features
Users looking for a simple and intuitive presentation tool
Free Version
Free Trial

✔️

Price
$22.99/mo
Free
Platforms
Windows, Mac
Mac

Value for Money

★★★★☆ 4.5/5

★★★★☆ 4/5

Features

★★★★☆ 4.5/5

★★★★☆ 4/5

Ease of Use

★★★★☆ 4/5

★★★★☆ 4/5

Customer Support

★★★★☆ 4.5/5

★★★★☆ 4.5/5

What Is InDesign

adobe indesign interface

Whether I'm making eye-catching posters, informative brochures, engaging magazines, or dynamic interactive PDFs, Adobe InDesign is my go-to tool. I like that this desktop publishing software is very versatile. It has many features and customization options, and allows making absolutely unique designs. Keynote, in turn, primarily offers pre-designed themes.

I was also impressed by its AI capabilities. With Content-Aware Fit, I was able to automatically scale and position my images in frames. Besides, the embedded AI tools can detect when you change page dimensions or layouts.

Next, they automatically adjust content so that it fits new designs. Therefore, you may not worry about screwed-up alignment or aesthetic integrity, as the program takes care of it automatically.

What Is Keynote

keynote interface

Keynote attracts users with its templates, themes, and customization features. So, creating presentations is easy thanks to pre-designed elements. Besides, you can take advantage of typography control and smooth integration of text and images.

Another interesting function is the multi-page layout. It is particularly useful for making complex presentations with several sections.

Though the program doesn’t have the latest AI capabilities, it has some tools that mimic such technologies. For instance, there is Magic Move, which automatically adjusts the position, size, and opacity of objects when you add transitions to your slides.

Besides, this free presentation software leverages simple AI to analyze content on your slides and suggest suitable layouts. Such functionality is perfect for novices, who lack the experience to choose suitable designs themselves.

Features

adobe indesign logo

Adobe InDesign

keynote logo

Keynote

AI Features

Developing in this direction

Content-Aware Fit

Layout Adjustment

Adobe Sensei

Limited

Smart Layout Suggestions

Magic Move

Design Flexibility
Customizable

Limited

Typography
Extensive
Basic

Animation

✔️

✔️

Real-time collaboration

✔️

✔️

Integration

Photoshop

Illustrator

Adobe Fonts

Apple ecosystem

Price

adobe indesign logo

Adobe InDesign

keynote logo

Keynote

Free Version
Free Trial

✔️

Premium

$22.99/mo
Free

Best Offer

Creative Cloud All Apps

$59.99/mo

Free

Platforms

adobe indesign logo

Adobe InDesign

keynote logo

Keynote

Windows

✔️

Mac

✔️

✔️

Linux

Web

My Final Verdict

Adobe InDesign vs Keynote – I prefer the Adobe software, especially when it comes to professional tasks. Keynote is still a good program for making visually captivating presentations. However, whenever you need to make complex and detailed design projects, you’d better opt for Adobe InDesign.
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