Does iSpring work on Mac?

Yes, if you mean a Mac computer. iSpring was designed to be a Windows application and doesn’t have an analog for Mac OS. However, it can work on your Mac, provided that you have a licensed copy of Microsoft Windows. Intel-based Mac computers allow you to install Windows as an additional boot option or as a virtual system nested within the Mac OS.

Why doesn’t it work natively on Mac OS?

PowerPoint to Flash/HTML5 conversion technology is at the core of iSpring authoring tools, and it works thanks to PowerPoint extensions called add-ins. Therefore, they can run in an environment that supports MS Office PowerPoint with full add-in technology support. This allows other applications to utilize PowerPoint’s facilities, e.g. retrieving information about the number of slides, positioning of objects on slides, etc.

Although Mac users can install a ported version of MS Office for Mac including PowerPoint, this toolkit doesn’t have full add-in technology support. It was most likely considered an unnecessary feature, and therefore wasn’t included in the Mac version of MS Office. Therefore, there is no other known PPT-to-Flash/HTML5 tool that perform conversion natively on Mac OS because this limitation applies to the technology in general.

Other solutions for Mac without Windows installation

If you have MS Office for Mac, you can use PowerPoint while in the authoring stage. It will create a .ppt file that can be copied to any Windows computer and opened directly without any additional steps. If you have access to a PC computer, you can install iSpring there and use it for conversion purposes while using your Mac to create presentations.

How to check if your Mac is Intel-based

Apple began assembling computers with Intel processors in early 2006, and adapted the first Intel unit to replace earlier PowerPC (IBM) processors. Since that time, Apple has been using Intel-based CPUs in all their computers: Mac mini, iMac, Mac Pro, MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. This approach has enabled Windows to be used on Mac computers.

Note: If your Mac was made after 2007, you can be sure that it is an Intel-based Mac

Almost a decade has passed since Mac started using Intel processors. If you purchased your Mac recently, you can be sure that it’s a new Intel Mac.

Note: If you are not sure when your Mac was made, check out the System Overview

To check it in System Settings, do the following:

1. Open Finder.
2. Click on the Apple menu and select About This Mac.
3. Check what processor your Mac has

Having an Intel-based Mac you can install Windows and use such programs as iSpring Suite for eLearning authoring. Read another article How to install Windows on your Mac.

An easier way to create eLearning courses on MAC OS

In June 2020, iSpring released a new authoring tool for building online courses - iSpring Page. Unlike iSpring Suite, it is a cloud-based software that allows you to create learning content online. You don’t need to download the tool and install it on your computer. The only things you need are an internet connection and the Safari browser. Simply open your browser and start authoring. iSpring Page is also a great solution for those who want to cowork on a course with an entire team.