Google Slides vs. Keynote vs. PowerPoint: What Is the Best Tool?

Preparing a presentation is a common task for most professionals including business owners who need to make a pitch. An engaging deck makes a difference in the way a presentation is received. Luckily, several tools and software are available nowadays for making good slides and presentations.

When it comings to creating pitch decks and education or work presentations, the top three major players are: PowerPoint, Keynote, and Google Slide. But is there a difference between these three programs, and which will suit your presentation needs? Find out from this post.

Most Popular Pith Deck: Based on Google Data and Popularity in America

Worldwide, PowerPoint is still very much King. For decades, it has maintained a high demand with over 100 million users and 30 million presentations a day. Professionals use PowerPoint slide design to develop interesting slides. However, over the years, Google Slide has quickly caught up and is popular amongst web users. Another alternative option is Keynote which has maintained a consistent number of active web users.

When it comes to creating a pitch deck, Google Slide is preferred by most Americans, followed by PowerPoint, then keynote. But when looking at Google slides vs Keynote or Microsoft PowerPoint, it is time-consuming to decipher the great features that each tool offers. Luckily, we have compiled this comprehensive and informative post that contains a full breakdown of each presentation software.

PowerPoint

It is a part of the Microsoft Office suite with numerous features and built-in tools that continue to set the standard for creating highly visual and powerful slides. Some of the qualities that can make your presentation pop include

• Live subtitles
• Custom visualization
• Photo editing

Sometimes people look for a difference between PowerPoint and Google Slides because they want to be sure that their presentation is professional. Most people are acquainted with PowerPoint since it has been around for a long time. Here are its benefits and weaknesses.

Benefits

It’s packed with a wide array of components that helps build a presentation with conviction. Some of the features accessible in this Microsoft Office tool include 3D objects, collaboration tools, customizable templates, offline editing, and the power to incorporate audio and video content smoothly. Other advantages are:

• It is user friendly-Both a novice and expert can use it with ease. Furthermore, the availability of the Microsoft community helps to access tutorials, follow a discussion or post a question and get quick answers on how to get started.
• Configuration flexibility slides can be customizable to fit a user’s needs. Plus, there are numerous templates to choose from. Users access numerous visual effects, which help to customize slides.
• Compatibility- PowerPoint is compatible with Android and iOS mobile devices.
• Collaboration and content sharing are easy- Multiple people can collaborate on a specific presentation. Users can upload their slides online or share them.
• Export in numerous formats- other than .pptx, content can be transferred in other formats, which comes in handy when you have to save your work in an alternative form.

Disadvantages

While PowerPoint boasts of numerous features, users can quickly get lost in all the available choices. Besides, by including several images, text, and other things, you might fail to create slides with information that impresses the audience. Other disadvantages worth considering are:

• Technical problems-Users have complained of technical and compatibility issues that can cause the slides to be lost, mainly if they haven’t been backed up.
• Potential cost-Although having a free basic version is a great option, to access all impressive features, users must pay an annual subscription.

Google Slides

Users prefer this Google product because of its simplicity and affordability. It is packed with numerous powerful components. Since it is web-based, it’s easier to access and navigate. What else sets it apart?

Benefits

• Offline access- It supports offline mode but works smoothly when the computer has an internet connection.
• Usability- Compatible with most devices where a user has signed in with a Google account. It also supports AirPlay, Chromecast, and Hangouts. Thus you can choose what works for you and show a presentation without dealing with numerous wire or cable connections.
• Accessibility- Doesn’t require any program installation to operate, and backups are available on Google Drive storage.
• Permits teamwork- Members can comment, and the changes will be seen by the rest of the team.
• Access to templates-There is premade templates that users can edit based on preference.

Disadvantages

Presenters looking at Google slides vs. Keynote dwell on the advantages/benefits that they forget the cons. Slides have several flaws, including:

• Limited themes- The few themes can make it hard to create impressive slides. However, users overcome this challenge by opting for third-party template providers.
• Formatting loss- When importing content made from other platforms, formatting is often lost.

Keynote

Which side of the debate of Keynote vs PowerPoint are you on? Keynote continues to be a popular option for Apple users thanks to its neat and user-friendly design. This Apple product has numerous cool components, including themes, animation, and transitions that help to create engaging presentations.

Benefits

Once a user acquires a Macbook, they get Keynote software for free. But users can purchase the software through the Apple store. Other advantages to expect are:

• User friendly-Anyone can create slides with this software without difficulty
• Integration capability-Keynote software integrates with several Apple products, including iPhones, and users can make and access their slides from numerous Apple devices. It’s also multimedia friendly. Furthermore, you can transfer the presentation to other tools/applications smoothly.

Disadvantages

Keynote, although great, has several limitations, including:

• Lacks flexibility- Keynote slides are rarely compatible with Microsoft. Thus any presentation transferred from another platform might not look the way you want.
• Time-consuming to learn- The learning process takes time, and there is a lack of extensive support.

Bottom Line

Are you having trouble picking between Keynote, PowerPoint, and Google Slides? Hopefully, this post has helped clarify what each application offers. In addition, it’s also a good idea to take up other online courses to improve your resume as well. A simple search for a term like “Power BI certification Microsoft” to get a list of courses that you can take. If you are still in a dilemma, try each presentation tool to get a first-hand feel of how each one works and whether it meets your needs. Remember, go for software that makes it easier and fun to design slides and create a pitch deck that will have a lasting first impression on the audience. Overall, the slides created should make the intended message clear.