Figma Slides: A new presentation tool taking on PowerPoint and co

In the world of presentation design, the arrival of Figma Slides is causing quite a stir. This new tool, released by Figma yesterday, promises to revolutionize how we approach our presentation slides. Whether you’re a presentation design agency or a company looking to elevate your slides, Figma Slides offers an array of features that could change the game. Let’s dive into what makes this tool so exciting and how it can benefit you.

What is Figma Slides?

Figma Slides is an extension of Figma's already robust design platform, now tailored specifically for creating presentations. Known for its collaborative features and intuitive interface, Figma has brought these strengths to presentation design, aiming to simplify and enhance the process for everyone involved.

Comparing Figma Slides to other presentation tools

With so many presentation tools out there (PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Slides, Canva Presentations, Pitch, to name a few), it can be quite overwhelming to find the one that fits you best. Good news is that the more tools out there, the more competition, and the more innovation. Which is exactly what we are seeing with the launch of Figma Slides. Although people tend to have their presentation tools of choice, we should always celebrate solutions that helps us move away from bad slides.

Choosing the right presentation tool can be a game-changer in how your slides will look, but also in your productivity when it comes to creating presentations. With multiple options available, it's crucial to understand the unique features, strengths, and weaknesses of each tool. In this article, we'll take an in-depth look at Figma Slides, PowerPoint, and Google Slides (the most used presentation tools), comparing them head-to-head to help you determine the best fit for your needs. Whether you're a part of a presentation design agency, a startup, or a large enterprise, this guide will provide valuable insights to enhance the way you create presentations.

Figma Slides: The Innovator

Figma Slides is a new entrant in the presentation design space, leveraging the robust features of the Figma platform to offer a modern, collaborative approach to creating presentations.

Pros

• Collaborative Editing: Multiple users can work on a single presentation simultaneously, making real-time updates and feedback possible.

• Design Consistency: Leverage Figma’s powerful design tools to ensure your slides are visually consistent and on-brand.

• Interactive Components: Add interactive elements to your slides, such as buttons and transitions, to create a more engaging experience for your audience. You can also add playable prototypes and engage with them directly during a presentation.

• Easy Integration: Seamlessly integrates with other Figma projects, making it easy to incorporate your existing designs into your presentations.

• Live Polls: You can make it even more engaging with live polls and voting

• AI-powered Writing: Use their AI to make your writing better. It can automagically make your text more concise, or more technical, or more casual. You just use their simple dial function and play with it until you get your tone right.

Cons

• Learning Curve: Figma is a design software with some learning curve. This may be challenging for those who are not familiar with this tool. It has more advanced features than PowerPoint and co, and is primarily targeting designers.

• Limited Templates: Has fewer pre-made templates compared to PowerPoint and Google Slides

• Subscription Cost: Some advanced features require a paid subscription, which can quickly become costly if you have a big team (as you pay per seat).

• Compatibility: As of today it is not compatible with PowerPoint, so you can't export your slides and use them offline in PPT or similar.

  
  

PowerPoint: The Veteran

PowerPoint has long been the standard in presentation software, known for its comprehensive feature set and familiarity across various industries. This will probably never change. PowerPoint is and will always be the presentation software of choice for most big companies.

Pros

• Wide Range of Features: Offers extensive tools and options for creating detailed and polished presentations.

• Rich Media Support: Includes features for embedding videos, audio, and animations.

• Offline Capability: Usable without an internet connection, providing flexibility in various settings.

• Familiar Interface: Well-known and widely used, making it easier for users to find resources and support.

• Mature Ecosystem: Supported by a wide range of plugins and third-party integrations.

• Copilot: Their AI copilot is getting updates every week it seems, and it is becoming better for each day.

Cons

• Collaboration Limitations: Real-time collaboration is possible but less seamless compared to web-based tools.

• Outdated Interface: PowerPoint can't do big changes to its Office Suite user interface, and some would argue that it is outdated and not very user-friendly compared to more modern tools.

• Complexity: The sheer number of features can be overwhelming for new users.

  
  

Google Slides: The Web-Based Solution

Google Slides provides a simple, web-based approach to creating presentations, integrating smoothly with other Google services.

Pros

• Collaboration: Excellent real-time collaboration features, similar to Figma Slides.

• Free to Use: Available at no cost with a Google account.

• Simple Interface: Easy to use, suitable for users of all skill levels.

• Integration: Integrates seamlessly with other Google services.

• Compatibility: Works very well with PowerPoint, giving you flexibility to get the most out of both softwares.

• Accessibility: Fully web-based, accessible from any device with internet access.

Cons

• Limited Advanced Features: Lacks the advanced design and animation tools found in PowerPoint and Figma Slides.

• Design Flexibility: Less flexibility in creating custom designs.

• Offline Functionality: Requires setup for offline use, and functionality is limited.

• Buggy: The interface is quite buggy and hard to work in compared to PowerPoint and co.

Detailed Comparison between Figma Slides, PowerPoint and Google Slides

1. Collaboration

Figma Slides: Excels in real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to work on a presentation simultaneously with instant updates and feedback. This feature is invaluable for presentation design agencies and teams that need to collaborate closely.

PowerPoint: While it supports collaboration, the experience can be less seamless compared to web-based tools. It offers co-authoring features but requires users to be on the same network or share files through cloud services like OneDrive.

Google Slides: Similar to Figma Slides, Google Slides offers robust real-time collaboration features. Users can easily share presentations, leave comments, and see changes in real-time, making it ideal for collaborative projects.

2. Design Flexibility

Figma Slides: Provides advanced design tools and capabilities, allowing users to create highly customized and interactive presentations. It integrates with Figma’s design systems, ensuring design consistency across projects.

PowerPoint: Known for its extensive design options, PowerPoint offers a wide range of templates, animations, and media embedding features. While powerful, their user interface is very outdated and not fun to work in for designers.

Google Slides: Offers basic design tools suitable for straightforward presentations. While it supports themes and basic customization, it lacks the advanced design capabilities of Figma Slides and PowerPoint.

3. Ease of Use

Figma Slides: Has a learning curve, especially for those unfamiliar with Figma. However, its intuitive interface can be mastered with practice, making it accessible to both beginners and advanced users.

PowerPoint: Familiar to many users due to its long-standing presence in the market. Its interface is straightforward, but the extensive feature set can be complex for beginners.

Google Slides: Simple and easy to use, with a clean interface that’s ideal for users of all skill levels. Its basic feature set makes it quick to learn, though it lacks advanced options.

4. Accessibility

Figma Slides: Fully web-based, accessible from any device with an internet connection. This makes it versatile and easy to use in various environments.

PowerPoint: Offers both online and offline access. The desktop application can be used without an internet connection, providing flexibility for different scenarios.

Google Slides: Completely web-based, accessible from any device with internet access. Offline functionality is available but requires setup, and is more limited compared to PowerPoint.

5. Cost

Figma Slides: Offers a free tier with basic features, with advanced options requiring a subscription. This makes it a flexible option for different budgets. With this said, it can get quite costly for bigger teams as you pay per seat.

PowerPoint: Requires a Microsoft Office subscription, which can be costly for individuals and small teams but is often a worthwhile investment for enterprises due to its extensive feature set.

Google Slides: Free to use with a Google account, making it the most cost-effective option. This is particularly beneficial for individuals and small teams with limited budgets.

Figma Slides vs. PowerPoint vs. Google Slides: Which one is right for you?

For Startups and Small Teams

Figma Slides is an excellent choice for startups and smaller teams looking to innovate and streamline their presentation design process. Its real-time collaboration features, combined with advanced design tools, make it ideal for dynamic, creative environments. The ability to integrate with existing Figma projects ensures consistency and efficiency, allowing teams to quickly develop and iterate on their presentations.

For Large Enterprises

PowerPoint remains the gold standard for large enterprises. Its extensive feature set, professional templates, and offline access make it a robust tool for creating detailed and polished presentations. The familiarity and widespread use of PowerPoint mean that finding resources, support, and skilled users is relatively easy. While its collaboration features are less seamless compared to web-based tools, PowerPoint’s reliability and depth of features make it indispensable for many organizations.

For Budget-Conscious Users

Google Slides is the go-to option for those looking for a cost-effective solution. Its real-time collaboration features and integration with Google services make it suitable for straightforward presentation needs. While it lacks the advanced design capabilities of Figma Slides and PowerPoint, its simplicity and ease of use make it accessible to users of all skill levels. This makes it a practical choice for educational institutions, small businesses, and individuals who need basic presentation tools without the associated costs.

Conclusion

In the ever-evolving landscape of presentation design, choosing the right tool depends on your specific needs and context. Ultimately, the best presentation tool for you will depend on your specific requirements, whether you prioritize advanced design features, real-time collaboration, cost, or familiarity. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each tool, you can make an informed decision that enhances your presentation storytelling and meets your unique needs.

At Slides Agency® we will continue to play with all the tools, and adapt to our clients' needs. We are very excited to jump into Figma Slides, and welcome this new addition to the world of presentations. Who knows, maybe in a near future we will stop calling ourselves a PowerPoint design agency and start calling us a Figma Slides agency? Let's see.