Google Slides vs Microsoft PowerPoint: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Google Slides
Create, edit, and collaborate on presentations online, for free.
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Microsoft PowerPoint requires payment)
Microsoft PowerPoint
Industry-standard presentation software
Best for you if:
- • You want industry standard presentations
| At a Glance | Google Slides | Microsoft PowerPoint |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $7/user/mo, billed yearly Business Starter plan | Free plan, paid from $6/user/mo, billed monthly Business Basic plan |
Category | Presentation Design Productivity | Presentation Design AI Assistants |
Rating | 4.4/5 Capterra 4.6 · G2 4.4 · Trustpilot 3.4 6,529 reviews | 4.6/5 G2 4.6 4,398 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | Storage overage fees (beyond tier limits) | n/a |
Choose Google Slides or Microsoft PowerPoint?
Choose Google Slides if
- You want a fully free tool (Microsoft PowerPoint requires payment)
- You want free and collaborative
- You want easy to use
Choose Microsoft PowerPoint if
- You want industry standard presentations
- You want powerful features
In-Depth Analysis
Google Slides
Create, edit, and collaborate on presentations online, for free.
Google Slides offers a very generous free tier, making it accessible to everyone.
Watch out
Storage overage fees (beyond tier limits)
Strengths
- Pro: Free and collaborative
- Pro: Easy to use
- Pro: Good templates
- Pro: Real-time editing
- Pro: Web-based
Weaknesses
- Con: Less powerful than PowerPoint
- Con: Animation limited
- Con: Export quality varies
- Con: Design options limited
- Con: Offline iffy
Key features
Microsoft PowerPoint
Industry-standard presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint's pricing is generally fair, offering a generous free web version and competitive paid tiers.
Strengths
- Pro: Industry standard presentations
- Pro: Powerful features
- Pro: Designer AI assistance
- Pro: Good templates
- Pro: Animation options
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires Microsoft 365
- Con: Large file sizes
- Con: Collaboration less smooth
- Con: Can encourage bad design
- Con: Mobile apps limited
Key features
Plans and prices: Google Slides vs Microsoft PowerPoint
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Google Slides |
| workspace.google.com/pricing read Oct 30, 2026 |
| Microsoft PowerPoint |
| microsoft.com/powerpoint/pricing read Oct 1, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Google Slides pricing and Microsoft PowerPoint pricing.
Key Takeaways
Google Slides
- Choose if you want create, edit, and collaborate on presentations online, for free
Microsoft PowerPoint
- Choose if you want industry-standard presentation software
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.4/5 from 6,529 reviews for Google Slides, 4.6/5 from 4,398 reviews for Microsoft PowerPoint).
- Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Google Slides $7/user/mo, billed yearly; Microsoft PowerPoint $6/user/mo, billed monthly.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.4/5 from 6,529 reviews for Google Slides, 4.6/5 from 4,398 reviews for Microsoft PowerPoint). Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Google Slides $7/user/mo, billed yearly; Microsoft PowerPoint $6/user/mo, billed monthly. Both have a free plan.
What are Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint used for?
Google Slides: Create, edit, and collaborate on presentations online, for free. Microsoft PowerPoint: Industry-standard presentation software.
What does Google Slides cost vs Microsoft PowerPoint?
Google Slides's cheapest paid plan is Business Starter at $7/user/mo, billed yearly. Microsoft PowerPoint's cheapest paid plan is Business Basic at $6/user/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 30, 2026.
What's the main difference between Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint?
Google Slides's main strength: free and collaborative. Microsoft PowerPoint's main strength: industry standard presentations.