For several years, we have watched Microsoft PowerPoint dominate the presentation world until Google Slides happens. The two rivals present the same services in slightly dynamic ways which makes them preferable in different conditions.
In this article, we are helping you choose between Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides.
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Contents
1. Offline Usability
PowerPoint: The software perfectly works with or without the internet which is why it is commonly used in hard-to-reach areas during seminars. PowerPoint comes inbuilt into the Microsoft Office Suite, so it synchronizes with most computers.
Google Slides: Even though it was not initially intended to be used off the internet, Google Slides also has an offline mode. However, the option to work offline needs to be activated beforehand – while you are still online.
2. Pricing
PowerPoint: Since it is a part of the Microsoft Office Suite, it is not free and Office Suite plans vary according to your desired package.
Google Slides: It is absolutely free to use as long as you create a Google account. Limitation could only happen if you use up your free 15GB storage which you can solve by purchasing a Google One subscription.
3. Accessibility
PowerPoint: To easily access your presentations, you will need to install the software on your computer. Additionally, the free version is extremely limited and therefore you need to make a purchase to enjoy it.
Google Slides: The presentations are available online, but can also be saved to your device. From wherever you are, you can access your presentation for free and easily get your work done.
4. Storage
PowerPoint: Microsoft provides automatic saving only for only Office 365 subscribers from PowerPoint 2016. In this case, you get to enjoy this feature until you deplete the available storage on your OneDrive account. If you’re using it for free, PowerPoint can auto-recover your work in case of sudden shutdown or crash.
Google Slides: Here, you get to enjoy auto-saving and 15GB storage as long as you create your documents within the G-Suite. Interestingly, you can even collaborate by adding emails.
5. Embedding
PowerPoint: This software allows the embedding of audio and video files that can be stored on your computer. However, they can also come from the web; for instance, you can embed a YouTube video or insert animations and graphics.
Google Slides: Similarly, here, they accept video embedding from Google Drive or YouTube, graphics from Drive, your PC, or the web. Unfortunately, Slides does not support audio embedding specifically.
6. Fonts
PowerPoint: It relies on already installed fonts on a device. While this is a good feature, it’s advisable to stick to common fonts as rare fonts may fail to show up if shared with another device.
Google Slides: On this software, the Google fonts are already available in the Google server so they will appear correctly. You need not worry about that!
7. Export and Conversion
PowerPoint: Microsoft’s files can easily be converted to Google Slides format and vice versa. When it comes to exporting, PowerPoint supports a wide array of export formats such as .pdf, .jpg, .gif, .mp4 among others.
Google Slides: On the downside, this software supports fewer formats for export. The following options are available: .potx, .pptx, .txt, .jpg, .png, .svg. It should be noted however that the supported formats in Google Slides are the most commonly used.
Conclusion
So, as you have seen, Google Slides offers a more intuitive simple style that is easy to adapt to. Meanwhile, PowerPoint is a lot more advanced, thanks to the decades spent developing it. We believe that you have now seen your preferable presentation software. Kindly share your comments in the comments section.