Which one is the best presentation tool?

Choosing the right presentation tool can be critical to how effectively you deliver your message. With so many opinions on Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides, it’s easy to get torn between the two. However, once you consider the strengths and weaknesses of each, you’ll have a clearer idea of ​​which one fits your needs.

1 Availability

Both PowerPoint and Google Slides offer flexible options when it comes to cross-device accessibility. You can access Google Slides through a web browser on any computer, regardless of its operating system. Plus, with dedicated mobile apps for iOS and Android, you can edit and view presentations on the go.

PowerPoint matches this level of accessibility, but relies more heavily on its desktop application, which is available for both Windows and macOS. Although you can also use PowerPoint in a browser, most users prefer the desktop application for its full feature set. There are also mobile apps, but PowerPoint doesn’t work natively on Linux, except in the browser, or if you install Microsoft Office on Linux via PlayOnLinux or an alternative.

While Google Slides may seem more versatile with its purely browser-based features, its lack of desktop apps is a significant drawback. So PowerPoint gets first place here.

Winner: PowerPoint

2 Customization

The best way to deliver a great presentation is to customize it exactly the way you want it. This is where PowerPoint shines. With a large selection of templates, it accommodates almost any type of presentation, from business updates to academic papers.

PowerPoint has a comprehensive selection of templates, and you can find one for almost every type of presentation. When you go to the home page in the app, you can search for templates related to all kinds of topics.

You can also use different styles – go full minimalism or use loud and bold colors. In addition to templates, PowerPoint’s range of infographics help you communicate complex ideas more effectively visually. However, if infographics are your priority, you should try special tools for creating infographics online.

Google Slides offers a modest collection of 26 templates, and while they’re customizable, the options seem limited compared to PowerPoint’s extensive library. However, Google Slides includes a theme builder that makes it easy to manage multiple elements at once. You can also import your own themes, but the overall experience still leaves PowerPoint ahead in terms of variety and depth.

Winner: PowerPoint

3 Special effects

When it comes to adding flair and creating a visually captivating presentation, PowerPoint is the clear winner. PowerPoint has hundreds of fonts, including those you have installed locally. You’ll also find many of them in Microsoft Word, meaning you can keep your branding consistent across all your documents.

While you can choose from 26 fonts to start with in Google Slides, it’s also possible to add more if you choose More fonts and browse the catalog.

In addition to fonts, PowerPoint also provides an arsenal of special effects for your slides. You can customize your slides with a wide range of transitions, animations and sounds. I used some of these when presenting my work at university and I think it helped keep my lecturers engaged (and helped me get a good grade!).

In contrast, Google Slides is more limited in this area. It offers basic transitions and a few animations like fade and zoom, but doesn’t provide the same range of effects as PowerPoint. For anyone who needs advanced visual effects, PowerPoint is a better choice.

Winner: PowerPoint

4 AI features

Both Google Slides and PowerPoint have embraced AI integration, but in different ways. Microsoft’s Copilot, available to users with a Microsoft 365 premium subscription, can help create presentations through text prompts and can even suggest edits and insert slides into existing presentations. However, this is a premium feature and you will have to decide whether Microsoft 365 is worth the extra cost.

Google Slides uses Gemini and in my opinion is much better than Copilot for presentations. You can use Gemini to create images and insert AI-generated images into your images. This tool can also help you brainstorm ideas and celebrate with your team; just some of the many things you can do with Google Slides.

Winner: Google Slides

5 Cooperation

Collaborating with others in Google Slides is very easy; you can invite users by email or grant them access. Integration with other Google Workspace tools makes it easy to collaborate, comment, and assign tasks within the presentation itself.

PowerPoint also lets you collaborate in real time—you can chat, comment, assign tasks, and resolve conflicts right in the app. While PowerPoint offers more comprehensive features than Google Slides, it’s less intuitive—you’ll need a quick search to discover its collaboration features. If the file is on your device, you have to wait for it to upload first, which can slow things down – especially for image-heavy presentations.

Google Slides is better if you want to collaborate faster; it’s my preferred option if I’m going to share a presentation on any computer that isn’t mine.

Winner: Google presentation

6 Presentation performance

PowerPoint really comes into its own during live presentations. The ability to test timing, control presentation settings, and hide or reveal slides makes it the ideal tool for delivering professional presentations. PowerPoint also provides options for kiosk-style presentations and allows you to add spontaneous notes or edit content on the fly.

Google Slides gives you basic presentation tools—you can use speaker notes and track your presentation—but it lacks the depth of customization and control that PowerPoint offers.

Winner: PowerPoint

7 Offline accessibility

Google Slides may seem like an online-only tool, but you can actually make files available for offline use—just like any file on Google Drive. To do this, you need to enable offline access while still connected to the Internet. It’s a great option if you’re planning ahead and know you’ll be without a connection. But if you forget to set it up beforehand, you’re out of luck – you won’t be able to access or edit your images.

This is where PowerPoint has a clear advantage. With the files stored locally on your device, PowerPoint is ready to use even if your internet goes down unexpectedly. So while Google Slides offers offline capabilities with a little preparation, the always-on nature of PowerPoint makes it easy to get 24/7 access.

Winner: PowerPoint

8 Prices

Google Slides is completely free. Pricing PowerPoint is more complicated. While you can use the web version of PowerPoint for free, the desktop app requires a Microsoft 365 subscription, which ranges from $6.99 per month for personal use to $9.99 per month for family plans.

Although PowerPoint offers more advanced features, Google Slides is a more affordable option if you don’t need the full Microsoft 365 suite.

Winner: Google presentation

While PowerPoint wins in most categories, Google Slides is the best for versatility and collaboration with seamless real-time editing and Google Workspace integration. However, PowerPoint excels in professional presentations, offering advanced customization and reliable offline access.