Google Slides vs Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation – Review

Google Slides vs Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation – Exploring Features

It is worthwhile to compare Google Slides vs Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation, exploring the features and benefits. Comparing Google Slides vs Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation, it can be said with certainty that each has its own plus and minus.

When it comes to creating presentations, there are two popular tools to choose from:

1. Google Slides
2. Microsoft PowerPoint

While both tools allow you to create visually appealing slides, there are some key differences to consider. One major difference is that PowerPoint is a downloadable software that you can use offline, while Google Slides is an online-only tool that is part of the Google Workspace. Depending on your needs and preferences, one of these tools may be a better fit for you.

PowerPoint Presentations, Google Slides, Keynote, Prezi and other presentation design software are gaining popularity in recent times. Choosing the best always depends on your requirements for each of the design projects.

What is the difference between Google Slides and PowerPoint?

The main difference between Google Slides and PowerPoint is that Google Slides is a cloud-based software, meaning that it can be accessed from any device with an internet connection and changes are automatically saved. PowerPoint, on the other hand, is a desktop-based software that requires a Microsoft Office subscription and changes must be manually saved. Additionally, Google Slides has more limited features compared to PowerPoint, but it is free to use.

PowerPoint presentations have been widely used all over the world, having a global acceptance, reach and penetration across the masses, giving an edge over all other applications. It strives to rank top among other applications.

The term “Presentation” itself means “Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation only – so much is the reach and acceptability of this application. Microsoft PowerPoint ceaselessly improvises its features to keep it abreast of dynamic changes happening at a global level in the business world.

Google Slide gains popularity among presentation designers in line with Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation, in terms of features and adaptability. With the entry of “Google Slides”, gaining wider popularity across the globe, the competition is evident.

The Keynote presentation works well for Apple devices, gaining access and popularity among the Apple iPhone users (e.g. 41.3 million iPhones were sold worldwide, the third quarter of 2018). The Prezi, another presentation app supports over 85 million users; creating over 325 million Prezis – and counting.

We try to figure out to some extent on exploring the features of Google Slides vs Microsoft PowerPoint.

1. The cost factor

The pricing determines the affordability and plays a crucial role in creating a niche market in attracting more targeted customers into the business portfolio. By and large, consumers try to choose an application that fits the budget; good value for money.

The highly priced apps also penetrate the market and get recognized by a certain segment of customers, who eye on the multitude of value-additions.

Google Slides is available free with ease of accessing using a Google account, even as a collaborative working accessible across computer/mobile with an internet connection. No need for additional installations or apps etc. when used on a computer.

Microsoft PowerPoint Office package is subscription based. To buy it at once, it comes nearly to $200. The free online version PowerPoint Online has limited features in comparison to Office package.

For people, who are on the lookout for a presentation app, accessible with just a Google account, Google Slides edges over other applications in many ways and means.

2. The ease of access

When comparing Google Slides vs Microsoft PowerPoint, both are available online and offline. Microsoft PowerPoint comes with the Office package and needs installation on the computer. Once installed, allows complete access to all features for the design of presentations.

After installation, doesn’t require an internet connection except for saving the files on the drive, to access the files across other devices. PowerPoint Online has many features clipped to it.

Google Slides is completely cloud-based, you can access in many ways from a variety of devices simultaneously, making it easy to collaborate. As integrated with Google Drive, where changes are automatically saved, it is easy to update and edit.

Google slides offline services are being revamped to offer equally resilient offline access as that of PowerPoint. On the grounds of comparing Google Slides vs Microsoft PowerPoint, both the apps provide ease of access to end users and stand on the same footing.

3. Conversion / Export

With Google Slides, you can seamlessly convert your presentation to a PowerPoint file or vice versa. The export options include .pptx, .odp, .pdf, .txt, .jpg, png, and .svg (vector), giving you the flexibility to share your presentation in the format that works best for you and your audience.

PowerPoint allows users to export their presentations in a variety of formats. These formats include .pptx, .ppt, .odp, .potx, .pot, .pdf, .ppsx, .pps, .potm, .pptm, and .ppsm for PowerPoint presentations. Additionally, users can export their PowerPoint themes in the .thmx format, and images can be exported in .jpeg, .tiff, .png, .gif, or .bmp formats. With these options, users can easily share their presentations in the format that best suits their needs.

4. Fonts

With Google Slides, you don’t have to worry about installing fonts because it supports all Google Fonts. This means you have access to a wide variety of fonts that will display properly every time you present. Say goodbye to font compatibility issues!

When creating a PowerPoint presentation, it’s important to keep in mind that the fonts you use may not display properly on a different computer. This is because PowerPoint uses locally installed fonts, so if you have any fancy fonts that are not already installed on the computer you plan to present on, they may not show up correctly. To avoid this issue, stick to using standard fonts that are likely to be installed on most computers.

5. Availability of Storage and embedding options

On comparing Google Slides vs Microsoft PowerPoint, both the apps provide cloud storage.

Slides are linked to Google Drive, where the free storage space is limited. Slides can be accessed easily from anywhere and by any device, as changes to the drive, accessed files are saved immediately.

PowerPoint could be integrated into the Microsoft’s cloud storage – One Drive. Changes to the drive, accessed files are saved in One Drive by enabling the auto sync.

For the embedding options, comparing Google Slides vs Microsoft PowerPoint, both the apps provide embedding options, including video and other links.

6. Browsing

With Google Slides, you can easily add images to your presentation without interrupting your flow. The platform features a convenient block on the right-hand side that allows you to browse through images without having to leave your presentation or switch tabs. To access this feature, simply click on the “Explore” option and start browsing!

In PowerPoint, finding the perfect image for your presentation is made easy with the “Online Pictures” option. Simply click on it and a Bing popup window will appear, allowing you to browse through a variety of images. It’s important to note that by default, Bing will only display images that have a license for public use, ensuring that you can use them without any legal issues.

7. Availability of ready to use templates

When we compare Google Slides vs Microsoft PowerPoint, both provide ready to use editable templates.

Google Slides vs Microsoft PowerPoint – Editable Templates

PowerPoint Themes

The availability of Microsoft PowerPoint Templates, easily editable and customizable, the variety of design elements to choose upon, makes it handy while incorporating design changes in Microsoft PowerPoint that speak for you and your brand.

It also has a design board enabled with which we can choose to apply a specific design/layout for certainly defined slides like cover page etc. Further, the diversity of available PowerPoint chart types also makes it as a highly preferred one. On this count, Microsoft PowerPoint presentation has an edge over the Google Slides.

Google Slides Themes

In Google’s platform, many templates available over the internet can be used as well, while using Google Slide. Google Slides Themes are pre-designed templates that can be used to create presentations in Google Slides. These themes include various layouts, color schemes, and fonts that can be customized to fit the user’s needs. They can save time and effort in creating a visually appealing presentation.

8. Special Effects

Compared to its competitor PowerPoint, Google Slides has a more limited selection of basic animations and transitions. This may feel restrictive for those who consider themselves to be more creatively inclined and want to fully unleash their potential.

PowerPoint is a powerful software that offers a wide range of features and special effects, such as reflections, 3D graphics, and fancy transitions. However, these advanced features are only available in the desktop version of the software. PowerPoint Online, on the other hand, is a more basic product compared to its desktop counterpart.

9. Linking

Google Slides is a versatile presentation tool that allows users to link images and text to URLs or other slides within the presentation. Additionally, when inserting other Google files, such as Google Docs or Sheets, users can link them to the source file. This ensures that any updates made to the source file will automatically be synced with the inserted file in the presentation.

PowerPoint is a versatile tool that allows you to link different parts of your presentation for various purposes. With linking, you can easily jump to another presentation, navigate to a specific section within your presentation, or even access external websites. This feature provides a seamless and interactive experience for both the presenter and the audience.

10. Collaborations and Conversion options

For the ease of collaboration, comparing Google Slides vs Microsoft PowerPoint, both are providing better options to collaborate with others.

PowerPoint is integrated into the Microsoft’s cloud storage – One Drive. Changes to the drive, accessed files are saved in One Drive by enabling the auto sync. It can be shared by a variety of means, including mail and social media. Offline direct collaboration is not possible but with the online version, it can be done.

As Google Slide is integrated into Google Drive and Google account, it is much easier to collaborate. The changes made get saved immediately is perfect for collaborations.

Both the apps allow conversion.

You can convert your PowerPoint or Google Slides into Adobe PDFs.

PowerPoint allows conversion into other formats including image, video and HTML files.

Slides can’t be converted directly but by using various online tools you can convert the Slides to the format of your choice.

11. Offline performance

Google Slides offers the convenience of an offline mode, allowing users to work on their presentations even without an internet connection. Simply enable this feature while online and you can continue creating and editing your slides even when offline.

PowerPoint is a desktop software that was originally designed to work on PCs. Unlike web-based applications, it doesn’t require an internet connection to function properly. With a wide range of features, animations, and effects, PowerPoint allows for the creation of advanced presentations that run smoothly and impressively.

12. Online performance

Google Slides is a cloud-based software designed for seamless online presentations. However, its performance is heavily reliant on a strong internet connection. As it operates within your browser, occasional glitches or slow loading may occur.

Compared to Google Slides and the advanced desktop version, PowerPoint Online has fewer features available. However, it still provides a convenient and accessible way to create and share presentations online.

13. Tables

When it comes to creating tables on slides, Google Slides offers complete freedom with individually formatted separator lines, providing a lot of flexibility. However, this design flexibility can also require a lot of work.

On the other hand, PowerPoint offers many templates and allows for quick switching between different formats. While individual designs may be more complicated in PowerPoint, changes are easy to make.

Ultimately, the best choice between the two depends on one’s specific requirements. For most users, PowerPoint is more time-efficient, while Google Slides offers greater design freedom.

14. Smart Art and diagrams

When it comes to design, Google Slides offers a lot of creative options such as color selection and formatting.

On the other hand, PowerPoint excels in its ability to easily switch between different display formats and make flexible changes afterwards. Additionally, PowerPoint offers ready-made selections that can save time and effort.

Ultimately, the choice between the two depends on personal preference and the specific needs of the presentation.

15. Add-ins

Google Slides is a popular presentation application that offers a variety of functions. However, sometimes these functions may not be enough to achieve the desired result. That’s where add-ons, add-ins, and plug-ins come in. With Google Slides, users can easily connect a range of extensions to the application, such as Slide Randomizer, Bitmoji, to enhance their presentations and make them more engaging.

Compared to Google Slides, PowerPoint offers a wider range of extension options that are both versatile and purposeful. By incorporating the right add-ins, businesses can increase productivity and maintain brand consistency, ultimately contributing to their overall success.

Think-Cell is a PowerPoint add-in that helps you create professional-looking charts, graphs, and other visual aids quickly and easily. It streamlines the process of creating complex visuals, saving you time and effort while ensuring that your presentations look polished and impressive.

Some of the most popular PowerPoint add-ins include:

1. Poll Everywhere – Real-time audience polling and feedback.
2. Pro Word Cloud – Creates dynamic word clouds from text.
3. Office Timeline – Simplifies the process of creating timelines and Gantt charts.

Google Slides Features

Google Slides offers a user-friendly interface that is comparable to Microsoft PowerPoint and Apple Keynote. One of its standout features is the ability to collaborate with team members from anywhere in the world. Additionally, Google Slides offers 26 themes to choose from, the ability to embed videos and use animations, and an automatic save feature that records every change without the need for manual saving. The revision history feature allows you to see when changes were made and restore to older versions if needed. Google Slides is also compatible with PowerPoint presentations and can convert between the two formats. Similar to Apple Keynote, Google Slides allows for wireless presenting through Chromecast, Airplay.

Microsoft PowerPoint features

Microsoft PowerPoint is a powerful presentation tool that offers a wide range of features to help you create engaging and professional presentations. With PowerPoint, you can easily add text, images, videos, and hyperlinks to your slides, choose from hundreds of font options, and use basic transitions and animations to make your presentation more dynamic. You can also start with or customize one of their pre-built themes, include Excel charts, and automatically proofread your content. Additionally, PowerPoint allows you to make changes in real-time and share those updates with team members from anywhere in the world, just like Google Slides and Keynote.

Microsoft PowerPoint is a powerful tool for creating and delivering presentations. Some of its standout features include PowerPoint Designer, which allows you to create impressive cinematic transitions, and Broadcast Live, which enables you to share your presentation in real-time with a larger audience. Another helpful feature is Presenter View, which allows you to project your slideshow to a second screen and view your speaker notes, as well as the current and upcoming slides. These features make PowerPoint a versatile and effective tool for presenting your ideas and messages.

Two popular tools for Presentation – Google Slides vs PowerPoint

When it comes to creating presentations, there are two popular tools to choose from: PowerPoint and Google Slides. While both tools offer similar features, there is one key difference between them. PowerPoint is a downloadable software created by Microsoft Windows, while Google Slides is an online-only tool that is part of the Google Workspace. This means that with Google Slides, you can access and edit your presentations from anywhere with an internet connection, while PowerPoint requires you to have the software installed on your device.

Conclusion

On a concluding note, comparing Google Slides vs Microsoft PowerPoint, we can say both have their own advantages and set of disadvantages, yet offers a comprehensive solution for presentation making. Google Slides is a recent development compared to Microsoft PowerPoint.

Instead of concluding which one is best, we ask the enlightened users to explore both the apps and decide which suits the best for their needs and get going on.

FAQs

1. What are 3 benefits of using Google Slides rather than PowerPoint?

Three Reasons to Use Google Slides Instead of PowerPoint:

1. Collaboration – Google Slides allows for real-time collaboration with multiple users, making it easier to work on presentations with others.
2. Accessibility – Google Slides can be accessed from any device with internet access, while PowerPoint requires the software to be installed on a computer.
3. Cost – Google Slides is free to use, while PowerPoint requires a subscription to Microsoft Office.

2. How is Google Slides and MS PowerPoint similar?

Google Slides and MS PowerPoint are both presentation software that allow users to create and edit slides with text, images, and multimedia. They both offer a variety of templates and themes to choose from, as well as the ability to customize the design of each slide. Additionally, both programs allow for collaboration and sharing of presentations with others.

3. Which PowerPoint features are not compatible with Google Slides?

Some of the PowerPoint features that are not compatible with Google Slides include: 3D models, slide transitions, embedded audio or video files, advanced animations, and some fonts and effects.

One of the prominent concerns regarding the compatibility of PowerPoint and Google Slides pertains to the use of fonts. While both applications present a rich assortment of font choices, thereby enabling users to access diverse styles with ease, there exist certain discrepancies that can pose challenges in terms of seamless operability.

4. Is Google Slides like PowerPoint?

Google Slides and PowerPoint share many similarities in terms of functionality, but there are some key differences. While both programs allow users to create presentations with text, images, and multimedia, Google Slides offers fewer features than PowerPoint. Additionally, Google Slides requires an internet connection to use, while PowerPoint can be used offline.

5. How do I convert a PowerPoint to Google Slides without losing formatting?

In order to maintain the formatting of your PowerPoint presentation when converting it to Google Slides, there are a few options to consider. One approach is to import the PowerPoint directly into an empty Google Slides file and select the option to retain the original theme. Failure to do so may result in Google Slides automatically adapting the content to its own theme, potentially altering the appearance of your presentation. It is therefore recommended that you exercise caution when converting your presentation to ensure that the intended formatting is preserved.

6. How do you save Google Slides as PDF?

If you want to save your Google Slides presentation as a PDF, it’s a simple process. First, go to the menu where you would normally convert your presentation to PowerPoint. Instead of selecting that option, choose “Download” and then select “PDF Document (.pdf)”. Your presentation will then be saved as a PDF file that you can easily share or print.

7. Can you copy and paste formatting in Google Slides?

The paint format tool enables you to duplicate the format of text, cells, or an object. To initiate the process, open a Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides file on your system. Choose the text, range of cells, or object that requires the format to be duplicated.

Yes, you can copy and paste formatting in Google Slides. Simply select the text or object with the formatting you want to copy, right-click and select “Copy” or use the keyboard shortcut “Ctrl+C” (Windows) or “Command+C” (Mac). Then, select the text or object you want to apply the formatting to, right-click and select “Paste” or use the keyboard shortcut “Ctrl+V” (Windows) or “Command+V” (Mac). The formatting will be applied to the selected text or object.

8. Is Google Slides a PowerPoint?

While Google Slides and PowerPoint are both presentation software, they are not the same thing. Google Slides is a web-based application that allows users to create and share presentations online, while PowerPoint is a desktop application that is part of the Microsoft Office suite. However, the term “PowerPoint” is often used colloquially to refer to any type of presentation or slideshow, regardless of the software used to create it.