Google Slides vs. PowerPoint

Google Slides or PowerPoint? That is the question on everyone's lips.

Maybe not everyone is talking about this, but it is an important question to address!

This article compares the two popular presentation tools to help you pick the best one for your needs.

What is Google Slides?

Google Slides automatically saves your work as you go within an entirely free presentation software. Google Slides originated as just a desktop version, but you can now download a presentation app for your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.

Several features make Google Slides a unique and intriguing desktop software.

Unlike other software programs, Google Slides works directly within your browser. You can access a Google slide through the desktop software without pesky downloads.

The Google Drive service is based on the cloud, which makes connecting and sharing your presentation incredibly easy.

Google Slides changes are also automatically saved as you go. You can create presentations with ease, not worrying about losing your work at any point.

What is Microsoft PowerPoint?

On the other hand, Microsoft PowerPoint is a robust tool for building professional presentations. Microsoft PowerPoint has been available since 1990.

PowerPoint software is also available offline if you do not have an internet connection or can use it via the downloadable app.

Features

Now that we understand the basics of PowerPoint and slides, let's compare specific features.

First, let's consider what each piece of software allows us to achieve. Slides and PowerPoint both allow you to:

• Inset text, images, links, and videos to any slide

• Select a custom font

• Use a premade theme *Check out the Simple Slides library for an incredibly designed theme)

• Insert charts and or graphs

• Print to PDF

  

Slides Feature: Automatic Saving

Slides offer users a fantastic automatic saving feature, which occurs after every single change you make. So you don't need to panic about losing your work due to an issue or a miss click.

Slides Feature: Version History

Another excellent feature on offer is the extensive version history on offer. You have the power to easily and quickly restore your slides to a previous version if needs to be.

Slides Feature: PowerPoint Compatibility

Slides' third and final excellent feature is its easy use with PowerPoint. You can export your Slides doc as a PowerPoint file or import a PowerPoint file to use in Slides.

PowerPoint Feature: PowerPoint Designer

PowerPoint designer offers users suggested designs for their slides, if only available on PowerPoint.

When you paste an image onto your slide, the software will offer you a range of pre-designed slides.

PowerPoint Feature: Broadcast Live

Another unique feature of PowerPoint is sharing your slideshow with anyone online in real-time.

You can create a browser link that allows anyone to see your presentation as you are presenting.

PowerPoint Feature: Presenter View

The final PowerPoint feature of note is Presenter View. This tool allows you to project your slides onto a second screen, which lets you present to an audience while also having eyes on your speaker notes.

Cost

Now let's focus on the cost of each software and see who wins the Google Slides vs. PowerPoint battle here.

Google Slides Cost

For starters, Google Slides and Google Drive are free services. There is no requirement to pay for these tools. You only require an account with Google to access Google Slides and Google Drive.

PowerPoint Cost

PowerPoint is bought as part of Microsoft 365m, and the fee starts from $6.99 per month, depending on your chosen features.

Not to mention that this purchase comes with no additional storage. It is worth remembering some of the excellent features PowerPoint offers its users, but there is a significant difference in cost between slides and PowerPoint.

Online vs. Offline Performance

Another aspect to consider in the Google Slides vs. PowerPoint debate is how they stack up with offline and online performance.

There are differences between presenting online and offline regarding Microsoft Office and Slides.

Google Slides Performance

The main focus of Google Slides' performance is online. The cloud-based app was created for excellent online performance and did not disappoint.

Initially, Google Slides was available online as an online version, but it has invested in the Google Slides Offline service over time.

It can be accessed from the Chrome browser extension and is also available for Android, iPhone, or iPad.

PowerPoint Performance

Microsoft Office programs have a range of online accessibility choices, including Office 365. You can also access PowerPoint via the online web app without software installation.

Moving away from PowerPoint online and focusing on offline performance, Microsoft PowerPoint offers a strong offline offering as part of its desktop version.

Teamwork & Collaboration

When choosing the proper presentation software for your needs, collaboration is essential. The option of working on projects as a team is a necessity for businesses.

This section looks at Google Slides vs. PowerPoint from a teamwork and collaboration perspective.

Google Slides

Teamwork and collaboration are one of the best aspects of Google Slides. The tool is created in a way that allows for seamless collaboration.

Multiple users can edit or add comments within the presentation software, and the changes will appear instantly.

Each member will need a Google Account for team members who work alongside each other on a Google Slides presentation.

PowerPoint

Collaboration is possible on Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, but it needs to be set up in advance.

To make sure a PowerPoint presentation is editable, it must be uploaded to SharePoint Online or OneDrive.

Someone is then required to add collaborators by sending them an email. If any changes are made by a user who is not logged in, a notification will send highlighting that changes have been made.

Storage & Backup

Crafting the perfect presentation is hard work. So when you see that horrible error message pop up, it can be incredibly disheartening.

To prevent heartache, Slides, and PowerPoint implement backup features that allow you to restore a recently saved version of your slides and save you hours.

Slides

Each Google Drive account comes with 15 GB of storage at no extra cost.

Regarding backup options, Slides stores all your data on the cloud, so you don't have to keep hitting the save button.

Slides also offer a helpful version history to explore and restore if needed.

PowerPoint

PowerPoint was primarily built to work on desktops, so each presentation is stored straight onto your PC.

However, you can also store them on Microsoft Office OneDrive, a cloud storage solution built to rival Google Drive.

However, you will need a Microsoft 365 account, which only offers 5GB of storage per account.

Embedding

Embedding audio and visual segments are essential for any highly skilled presenter. Therefore, let's see how Slides and PowerPoint match this criterion.

Google Slides

You can embed videos on Google Slides from a Google Drive or YouTube account. Unfortunately, you cannot store standalone audio in your presentation.

One of the signing bonuses of working on Slides is how simple it is to embed videos. It is also straightforward to upload photos from various places.

PowerPoint

Within the PowerPoint presentation program, media content is simple to embed within your slides. You can easily embed video and audio files.

Adding audio or video content to your One Drive account makes it easier to embed content on PowerPoint.

For more advanced users, you even have the option to draw your animations!

Should You Use Google Slides or PowerPoint?

As you can see, both PowerPoint and Google Slides have strengths and weaknesses. Whether you choose Google Workspace or Microsoft Office, the software will depend on your specific needs.

For example, Google tools such as Google Sheets, Google Docs, or Google Slides allow for real-time collaboration, perfect for any team working on a project together.

Similarly, working on PowerPoint files could be a better option for anyone who prefers to work offline or doesn't always have access to an internet connection.

As far as choosing between PowerPoint and Google Slides, it ultimately depends on how you want to design your presentation.

Luckily, Simple Slides offers a range of templates on both software programs, so you don't have to pick your favorite just yet!