Tag: Gamma

15 Dec 2025
Best Pitch Deck Software 2026: 11 tools tested and ranked including Slidebean, Canva, Beautiful.ai, and Gamma. Updated December 2025.

Pitch Deck Software: The Tool Most Founders Waste Money On (And What Actually Matters)

πŸ”„
Last Updated: December 2025β€’ Verified all pricing & features

There’s no shortage of pitch deck toolsβ€”but most comparisons ignore how they’re actually used. This review looks at the best pitch deck software in 2026, focusing on real strengths and trade-offs.

Last month, a biotech founder showed me the pitch deck she’d spent 47 hours building in PowerPoint. It was 32 slides of dense text, clip art, and inconsistent fonts. She’d been rejected by 19 investors.

We rebuilt it in Slidebean in 4 hours. She closed her Β£2.3M seed round six weeks later.

The tool didn’t save her pitch. Her science was always solid. But the right software removed friction, applied investor-proven structure, and let her focus on story instead of wrestling with formatting.

After helping clients raise over Β£250 million in 35 years of presentation consulting, I’ve tested every pitch deck tool that matters. This guide cuts through the marketing to tell you which ones actually work β€” and which are wasting your time.

🎁 FREE DOWNLOAD

Pitch Deck Structure Checklist

The 10-slide framework that’s raised Β£250M+ for our clients. Works with any software.

Download Free Checklist β†’

πŸ“‹ Quick Answer: Which Pitch Deck Software Should You Choose?

  • Best overall for startups: Slidebean β€” investor-focused templates, analytics, professional services ($96/year)
  • Best free option: Canva β€” massive template library, easy to use (Free or $13/month)
  • Best for non-designers: Beautiful.ai β€” auto-formatting smart slides ($12/month)
  • Best AI-powered: Gamma β€” generates full decks from prompts ($8/month)
  • Best for PowerPoint users: Microsoft Copilot β€” AI inside your existing workflow (Β£30/month)

Still not sure? Use our decision tree below or book a free consultation.

πŸ†• What’s New in Pitch Deck Software (December 2025)

  • Gamma launched Agent Mode β€” conversational deck building with follow-up questions
  • Beautiful.ai increased Pro pricing to $12/month (was $10)
  • Microsoft Copilot added Agent Mode for PowerPoint users (Windows only)
  • Tome pivoted to sales/marketing focus β€” removed free AI features
  • Slidebean now offers $7/month Starter plan with AI builder access



Complete Comparison: All 11 Pitch Deck Tools

Before diving into individual reviews, here’s how every tool stacks up. I’ve tested each one on the same criteria: ease of use, design quality, investor-readiness, and whether it actually saves time.

Tool Price Best For AI Features Analytics Our Rating
Slidebean ⭐ $7-42/mo Startups raising funding βœ… Full βœ… Investor tracking 9.5/10
Canva Free-$13/mo Budget-conscious, multi-purpose βœ… Magic Write ❌ None 8.5/10
Beautiful.ai $12-40/mo Non-designers, teams βœ… Smart Slides βœ… Viewer analytics 8.5/10
Gamma Free-$20/mo Speed, AI-first creation βœ… Full generation βœ… Pro only 8/10
Tome Free-$16/mo Sales teams, storytelling ⚠️ Paid only βœ… Engagement 7/10
Copilot for PowerPoint Β£30/mo PowerPoint power users βœ… Agent Mode ❌ None 8/10
Visme Free-$29/mo Data-heavy presentations βœ… AI Writer βœ… Pro only 7.5/10
Prezi Free-$25/mo Non-linear storytelling βœ… Create with AI βœ… Premium only 7/10
Pitch Free-$22/mo Team collaboration βœ… AI assist βœ… Engagement 7.5/10
Google Slides Free Collaboration, simplicity βœ… Gemini ❌ None 7/10
PowerPoint $7-22/mo Enterprise, full control βœ… With Copilot ❌ None 7/10

Prices verified December 2025. All ratings based on pitch deck creation specifically, not general presentation use.



Detailed Reviews: Every Tool Tested

1. Slidebean β€” Best for Startups Raising Funding ⭐ Top Pick

Price: Starter $7/month, Accelerate $42/month (billed annually)
Free tier: Yes, limited features
Best for: Seed to Series A founders who need investor-ready decks fast

Slidebean was built specifically for startup fundraising, and it shows. While Canva tries to be everything to everyone, Slidebean focuses on one thing: helping founders create decks that investors actually fund.

What I love:

  • Investor-proven templates β€” Based on decks from YC, 500 Startups, and successfully funded companies
  • AI auto-design β€” Input content, Slidebean handles layout. No dragging boxes.
  • Pitch analytics β€” See which slides investors spend time on (and which they skip)
  • Financial modeling tools β€” Built-in templates for projections and unit economics
  • Professional services option β€” Can upgrade to have their team write and design your deck

What’s limiting:

  • Less design flexibility than Canva (by design β€” prevents bad choices)
  • Locked to Slidebean platform (though exports to PDF/PPTX)
  • Some templates feel dated compared to newer AI tools

Real result: A SaaS founder I worked with used Slidebean to create her seed deck in 6 hours (vs. 40+ hours in PowerPoint previously). She raised Β£1.8M in 8 weeks. The analytics showed investors spent 3x longer on her traction slide than market size β€” insight that shaped her verbal pitch.

Verdict: If you’re actively fundraising and want a tool built for that exact purpose, Slidebean is the obvious choice. The investor analytics alone justify the cost.

πŸ”— Try Slidebean Free β†’

2. Canva β€” Best Free Option & Most Versatile

Price: Free, Pro $13/month
Free tier: Yes, very generous
Best for: Budget-conscious founders, multi-purpose design needs

Canva is the Swiss Army knife of design tools. It’s not built specifically for pitch decks, but its flexibility, massive template library, and unbeatable free tier make it the go-to for founders who need to create everything from decks to social media graphics.

What I love:

  • Thousands of pitch deck templates β€” More variety than any competitor
  • Magic Write AI β€” Generate and refine content within slides
  • Drag-and-drop simplicity β€” Zero learning curve
  • 60M+ stock assets β€” Photos, icons, graphics included
  • Exports everywhere β€” PDF, PPTX, video, web links
  • Free tier is actually usable β€” Not just a trial

What’s limiting:

  • Not built for pitch decks specifically β€” no investor analytics
  • Everyone uses Canva β€” VCs see the same templates constantly
  • Too many options can overwhelm (paradox of choice)
  • Requires design sense to avoid generic results

Real result: One pre-seed founder used Canva to create a clean, minimalist deck for her F&F round. Total cost: Β£0. She raised Β£150K. For early-stage, low-stakes pitches, Canva delivers.

Verdict: Start with Canva if you’re bootstrapping or need a multi-purpose tool. But if you’re raising Β£500K+, consider Slidebean or Beautiful.ai for more investor-focused features.

πŸ”— Try Canva Free β†’

3. Beautiful.ai β€” Best for Non-Designers

Price: Pro $12/month, Team $40/user/month (billed annually)
Free tier: 14-day trial only
Best for: Founders with no design skills who want polished results automatically

Beautiful.ai’s “Smart Slides” are genuinely clever. As you add content, the layout automatically adjusts to stay balanced and professional. You literally cannot make an ugly slide β€” the system prevents it.

What I love:

  • Smart Slides auto-format β€” Add text, layout adjusts. Magic.
  • Consistent design guaranteed β€” Impossible to break the template
  • Viewer analytics β€” Track engagement on shared decks
  • PowerPoint import/export β€” Works with existing files
  • 14-day free trial β€” Enough time to build a real deck

What’s limiting:

  • Limited customization (the trade-off for auto-formatting)
  • No free tier after trial β€” must pay or lose access
  • Smaller template library than Canva
  • Team pricing gets expensive fast ($40/user)

Real result: A technical founder with zero design sense used Beautiful.ai to create a Series A deck. His investors commented on how “clean and professional” it looked. He spent 4 hours total.

Verdict: If you’re a technical founder who thinks in code, not design, Beautiful.ai removes the guesswork. Just add content and let the AI handle aesthetics.

πŸ”— Try Beautiful.ai Free for 14 Days β†’

4. Gamma β€” Best AI-First Deck Generation

Price: Free (400 credits), Plus $8/month, Pro $20/month
Free tier: Yes, with AI credits
Best for: Speed-focused founders who want AI to do the heavy lifting

Gamma is the most AI-forward tool on this list. Give it a topic, and it generates an entire presentation in under a minute. The December 2025 update added “Agent Mode” for conversational deck building.

What I love:

  • Full deck generation from prompts β€” Type a topic, get 10 slides
  • Web-native format β€” Share links, not files
  • One-click restyling β€” Change themes without affecting content
  • Agent Mode (new) β€” AI asks clarifying questions before generating
  • Generous free tier β€” 400 credits to start

What’s limiting:

  • No PowerPoint export (PDF only)
  • AI-generated content needs heavy editing for accuracy
  • Less investor-specific than Slidebean
  • Credit system can feel limiting for heavy users

Real result: A founder used Gamma to create a first-draft pitch deck in 15 minutes. It required 2 hours of editing, but gave him a starting point instead of a blank page. For ideation and speed, Gamma is unmatched.

Verdict: Use Gamma when you need to go from zero to draft in minutes. But don’t send AI-generated content to investors without significant refinement.

πŸ”— Try Gamma Free β†’

5. Tome β€” Best for Sales Teams (Pivoted from Startups)

Price: Free (limited, no AI), Professional $16/month
Free tier: Yes, but AI features removed
Best for: Sales and marketing teams, not startup fundraising

Important update: Tome pivoted in late 2025 to focus on sales/marketing personas. They removed AI features from the free plan and now position as a sales enablement tool rather than a general presentation maker.

What I love:

  • Beautiful narrative flow β€” Designed for storytelling
  • Video/audio embedding β€” Rich multimedia support
  • CRM integrations β€” Connect to sales workflows
  • Engagement analytics β€” Track what prospects view

What’s limiting:

  • No AI on free plan (major change from 2024)
  • Not PowerPoint-compatible
  • Pivoted away from startup/investor focus
  • User reviews mention layout inflexibility

Verdict: If you’re in sales creating proposals and leave-behinds, Tome works. But for investor pitch decks specifically, other tools are now better suited.

πŸ”— Try Tome β†’

6. Microsoft Copilot for PowerPoint β€” Best for PowerPoint Power Users

Price: Β£30/month (Copilot add-on to Microsoft 365)
Free tier: No
Best for: Professionals already in the Microsoft ecosystem

If your company lives in PowerPoint and you’re not switching, Copilot brings AI directly into your existing workflow. The December 2025 “Agent Mode” update added conversational interactions β€” ask Copilot questions and it makes surgical edits.

What I love:

  • Works inside PowerPoint β€” No new tool to learn
  • Agent Mode (December 2025) β€” Conversational, not just one-shot prompts
  • Document to slides β€” Transform Word docs into presentations
  • Brand consistency β€” Respects your company templates
  • Speaker notes generation β€” Automatic talking points

What’s limiting:

  • Expensive (Β£30/month on top of Microsoft 365)
  • Agent Mode currently Windows-only
  • Requires good prompts to get good results
  • No investor analytics or tracking

Real result: Using Copilot, I helped a client turn a 40-page strategy document into a 15-slide board presentation in 25 minutes. The time savings are real.

Verdict: If you’re already paying for Microsoft 365 and use PowerPoint daily, Copilot is worth the add-on. If you’re starting fresh, purpose-built tools like Slidebean or Beautiful.ai offer more for pitch decks specifically.

πŸ”— Read our complete Copilot tutorial β†’

πŸ’‘ Using PowerPoint + Copilot for Pitch Decks?

Most founders waste hours on trial-and-error prompts. Our Copilot Master Guide includes 100+ tested prompts specifically for pitch decks β€” financial slides, competitive analysis, investor-ready formatting.

Get the Copilot Master Guide β€” Β£29 β†’

7. Visme β€” Best for Data-Heavy Presentations

Price: Free (limited), Starter $12.25/month, Pro $24.75/month
Free tier: Yes, with 10 monthly credits
Best for: Founders with complex data needing visualization

Visme shines when your pitch deck needs charts, infographics, and data visualization. With 50+ data widget types, it handles complex information better than most competitors.

What I love:

  • 50+ data visualization types β€” Charts, graphs, infographics
  • Google Sheets/Excel integration β€” Live data updates
  • AI writing assistant β€” Generate and refine content
  • Interactive elements β€” Embed videos, forms, animations
  • Brand kit β€” Maintain consistency across decks

What’s limiting:

  • Steeper learning curve than Canva
  • AI features require Pro subscription
  • Can feel overwhelming with options
  • Less startup-specific than Slidebean

Verdict: If your pitch relies on complex data (biotech, fintech, analytics companies), Visme’s visualization tools are unmatched. For simpler decks, it may be overkill.

πŸ”— Try Visme Free β†’

8. Prezi β€” Best for Non-Linear Storytelling

Price: Free (limited), Standard $7/month, Plus $15/month, Premium $25/month
Free tier: Yes, with Prezi branding
Best for: Presenters who want to break from linear slides

Prezi’s zoomable canvas creates a different kind of presentation β€” one big visual that you navigate rather than linear slides. It’s memorable when done well, but risky for traditional investor audiences.

What I love:

  • Unique visual format β€” Stands out from every PowerPoint
  • AI presentation generator β€” Create from prompts
  • Video integration β€” Record yourself over slides
  • Great for complex topics β€” Show how ideas connect

What’s limiting:

  • Unfamiliar format can confuse investors
  • Motion can cause nausea (seriously)
  • Not exportable to PowerPoint properly
  • Learning curve for the canvas approach

Verdict: Prezi works for educational content and conference talks. For investor pitch decks, the unfamiliar format creates unnecessary risk. Stick to linear slides for fundraising.

πŸ”— Try Prezi Free β†’

9. Pitch β€” Best for Team Collaboration

Price: Free (3 presentations), Pro $8/member/month, Business $22/member/month
Free tier: Yes, limited presentations
Best for: Co-founding teams building decks together

Pitch is Google Slides with polish. If your founding team needs to collaborate in real-time with smooth handoffs, Pitch delivers the most refined experience.

What I love:

  • Real-time collaboration β€” Google Docs-style simultaneous editing
  • Pitch Rooms β€” Send decks with videos to stakeholders
  • Engagement analytics β€” Track what viewers see
  • Beautiful templates β€” Modern, clean designs
  • AI assist β€” Help with content and formatting

What’s limiting:

  • Free tier limited to 3 presentations
  • Less investor-specific than Slidebean
  • Smaller template library than Canva
  • Pricing per-member adds up for teams

Verdict: If you’re a team of 2-5 co-founders building your deck together, Pitch’s collaboration features are excellent. Solo founders may not need it.

πŸ”— Try Pitch Free β†’

10. Google Slides β€” Best for Simplicity & Collaboration

Price: Free
Free tier: Yes, fully free
Best for: Quick, collaborative decks without budget

Google Slides is basic but reliable. With Gemini AI integration in 2025, it now generates content and suggests designs β€” though not as sophisticated as purpose-built tools.

What I love:

  • 100% free β€” No hidden costs
  • Real-time collaboration β€” Multiple editors simultaneously
  • Works everywhere β€” Browser-based, any device
  • Gemini AI β€” Generate slides from prompts
  • Version history β€” Never lose work

What’s limiting:

  • Limited templates and designs
  • No analytics or tracking
  • Basic compared to AI-powered alternatives
  • Exports to PowerPoint can break formatting

Verdict: Google Slides works for internal decks and early drafts. For investor-facing presentations, upgrade to a tool with better design automation.

πŸ”— Open Google Slides β†’

11. Microsoft PowerPoint β€” Best for Enterprise & Full Control

Price: Microsoft 365 Personal $7/month, Business $12.50/month
Free tier: Web version is free with limited features
Best for: Enterprise users who need maximum flexibility

PowerPoint is the industry standard for a reason β€” it does everything. But “everything” also means hours of manual work that AI tools now automate.

What I love:

  • Total control β€” Every pixel customizable
  • Universal compatibility β€” Everyone can open PPTX
  • Mature feature set β€” Animations, transitions, everything
  • Works offline β€” No internet required
  • Add Copilot for AI β€” Best of both worlds (at extra cost)

What’s limiting:

  • Manual design work β€” time-consuming
  • No built-in analytics
  • Easy to make ugly slides without design skills
  • Copilot costs extra Β£30/month

Verdict: PowerPoint + Copilot is powerful for those who master it. But most founders should start with AI-native tools and export to PPTX if needed.

πŸ”— Get PowerPoint β†’



Decision Tree: Choose Your Tool in 60 Seconds

Still not sure? Answer these questions:

Decision tree flowchart for choosing pitch deck software based on budget, design skills, and use case

🎯 Quick Decision Guide

Q1: What’s your budget?

  • Β£0 β†’ Canva Free or Google Slides
  • Under Β£15/month β†’ Canva Pro, Gamma, or Beautiful.ai
  • Budget isn’t the constraint β†’ Continue to Q2

Q2: Are you actively raising funding?

  • Yes, raising Β£500K+ β†’ Slidebean (investor analytics matter)
  • Yes, raising under Β£500K β†’ Beautiful.ai or Canva Pro
  • No, internal/sales use β†’ Continue to Q3

Q3: Do you have design skills?

  • Yes β†’ Canva (maximum flexibility)
  • No β†’ Beautiful.ai (auto-formatting prevents bad design)

Q4: Do you need speed above all else?

  • Yes, I need a draft in 15 minutes β†’ Gamma
  • I can invest 4-8 hours for quality β†’ Any of the above

Q5: Are you already using PowerPoint daily?

  • Yes, and I’m not switching β†’ PowerPoint + Copilot
  • No, I’m open to new tools β†’ Choose based on Q1-Q4



When to Stop Using Software and Hire Professionals

Here’s what I tell every founder: Tools are training wheels. They help you learn structure. But they have limits.

After helping raise Β£250M+ over 35 years, I can spot template-based pitches in 30 seconds. So can VCs.

Software Works When:

  • You’re raising under Β£500K (friends & family, pre-seed)
  • You have 10+ hours to invest in learning and iteration
  • Your business model is straightforward to explain
  • You’re using the deck as a starting point, not final product

Hire Professionals When:

  • Raising Β£500K+ β€” Cost of poor deck > cost of professional help
  • Series A or later β€” Institutional investors expect excellence
  • Multiple rejections β€” Your deck probably isn’t the problem; your narrative is
  • Complex business model β€” Marketplace, B2B2C, deep tech
  • Tight timeline β€” Can’t afford to learn by trial and error

🎯 RAISING £500K+?

Our Clients Have Raised Β£250M+

Stop wrestling with templates. We build investor-ready decks with proven narrative structure, professional design, and delivery coaching.

Deck Review

Expert feedback on your existing deck

Β£500

Full Deck Creation

Custom narrative + professional design

Β£2,000-5,000

Pitch Coaching

Deck + delivery mastery

Custom

Book Free Discovery Call β†’

30 minutes. No sales pressure. Honest advice on your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I really raise funding with a free tool like Canva?

Yes, but with caveats. Canva works for friends & family rounds and small seed raises. For institutional VCs, the lack of investor analytics and the risk of using templates they’ve seen before can hurt. If you’re raising Β£500K+, invest in Slidebean or hire professionals.

Which tool do VCs prefer?

VCs don’t care about your tool β€” they care about your story, metrics, and team. That said, they notice poor design. Any tool on this list produces professional results if used well. What matters is clarity, not the software logo.

Should I use AI to write my pitch deck content?

Use AI for first drafts and iteration, not final content. AI-generated text is generic by definition β€” it can’t capture your unique value proposition or specific traction metrics. Use Gamma or Copilot to accelerate, then heavily edit everything.

How long should my pitch deck be?

10-15 slides for in-person pitches. Standard structure: Problem, Solution, Product, Market, Business Model, Traction, Team, Competition, Financials, Ask. Include 15-20 backup slides for Q&A.

Can I use Gamma or Tome instead of PowerPoint?

For web-based sharing, yes. But many VCs still request PPTX files. Check if your target investors accept link-based presentations before committing to a web-only tool.

What’s the biggest mistake founders make with pitch deck software?

Treating templates as fill-in-the-blank forms. Templates give structure, not substance. The biggest failure is using generic language and stock examples instead of your specific story and metrics.

Is Slidebean worth the price compared to free options?

If you’re actively fundraising, yes. The investor analytics alone β€” seeing which slides investors spend time on β€” provides insights that improve your verbal pitch. For internal presentations, free tools work fine.

Related Resources

Your Next Step

You’ve now seen how all 11 pitch deck tools compare. Here’s what to do:

  1. If you’re learning: Start with Canva Free or Gamma
  2. If you’re raising under Β£500K: Use Beautiful.ai or Canva Pro
  3. If you’re raising Β£500K+: Choose Slidebean or book a call with us

Remember: The best pitch deck software is the one you’ll actually use to tell a compelling story. Your content and delivery matter more than which tool you choose.

Good luck with your pitch. πŸš€

MB

Mary Beth Hazeldine

Owner & Managing Director, Winning Presentations

With 35 years in presentation consulting and 24 years in corporate banking at JPMorgan, PwC, RBS, and Commerzbank, Mary Beth has helped clients raise over Β£250 million. She specializes in AI-enhanced presentation skills for executives who create high-stakes pitches.

πŸ“§ The Winning Edge Newsletter

Weekly insights on presentations, AI tools, and executive communication. Join 10,000+ professionals.

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Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase through these links at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we’ve tested and believe will benefit our readers. All pricing verified December 2025.

11 Nov 2025
Comparison of Copilot for PowerPoint alternatives including Gamma, Plus AI, and Beautiful.ai interfaces showing generated presentations.

Copilot vs Its Alternatives: What Each Tool Is Actually Good For


πŸ“‹ Quick Answer

The best Copilot for PowerPoint alternatives in 2025 are Gamma (fastest generation at $8/month), Plus AI (native PowerPoint integration at $10/month), and Beautiful.ai (strongest brand control at $12/month).

Choose Gamma for creative decks, Plus AI if you need to stay in PowerPoint, or master Copilot itselfβ€”which remains unbeatable for Microsoft 365 integration when paired with proper training.


πŸ€” Why You’re Looking for Copilot Alternatives (And When You Shouldn’t Be)

Microsoft Copilot for PowerPoint costs $30/month on top of your Microsoft 365 subscription. For many professionals, that’s Β£360+ annually for a tool thatβ€”according to G2 reviewersβ€”“works only if data is in a table” and “images aren’t always inserted the way you want.”

But here’s what most comparison articles won’t tell you: Copilot isn’t the problem. Knowing how to use it is.

After 35 years helping professionals master presentations and training thousands on AI tools, I’ve seen the pattern. Teams spend Β£30/month on Copilot, use it three times with mediocre prompts, get frustrated, and cancel. Then they spend another Β£15/month on an alternative that has the exact same learning curve.


❓ Before you switch tools, answer this:

Are you getting poor results because Copilot is limited, or because you’re using it wrong?

If you’re generating generic slides with prompts like “create a presentation about Q4 sales,” that’s a skill issue, not a tool issue. Copilot excels when you know how to prompt it properly, integrate it with Word documents, and leverage your existing PowerPoint templates.


βœ… That said, Copilot genuinely isn’t right for everyone:

  • ❌ Don’t have Microsoft 365 Business/Enterprise? You can’t access Copilot. Full stop.
  • ⚑ Need faster generation speeds? Gamma creates decks 25% faster (45-60 seconds vs 60-90 seconds).
  • 🎨 Want creative, web-style presentations? Copilot’s rigid PowerPoint structure won’t cut it.
  • πŸ’° Working on a budget? Β£30/month vs Β£8-10/month alternatives adds up.

This guide compares the 7 best Copilot alternativesβ€”tested with identical promptsβ€”so you can make the right choice for your workflow, budget, and presentation style.


πŸ§ͺ How We Tested: The “Q4 Marketing Review” Benchmark

Every tool in this comparison generated the same presentation: a 10-slide executive deck for Q4 marketing performance review including metrics, ROI analysis, and Q1 recommendations.

We measured:

  • βœ“ Generation speed (prompt to complete deck)
  • βœ“ Content quality (does it make sense or is it AI slop?)
  • βœ“ Design polish (board-ready or needs 2 hours of cleanup?)
  • βœ“ Editing workflow (how easy is it to fix AI mistakes?)
  • βœ“ Export quality (what happens when you download?)
  • βœ“ True cost (pricing + time spent fixing)

πŸ† The 7 Best Copilot for PowerPoint Alternatives


1. πŸš€ Gamma β€” Best for Creative Professionals & Fast Iteration

πŸ’° Price: Β£7/month (annual) or Β£9/month
⏱️ Generation Time: 45-60 seconds
πŸ‘₯ Best For: Modern web-style presentations, quick iterations, visual storytelling

Gamma doesn’t try to be PowerPoint. It uses flexible “cards” instead of rigid slides, creating presentations that feel more like interactive documents than traditional decks.


✨ What Gamma Does Better Than Copilot:

  • ⚑ 25-33% faster generation speeds
  • 🎨 GPT-Image-1 integration (edit images by typing commandsβ€”no Photoshop needed)
  • πŸ“€ Export to websites, PDFs, PowerPoint, and social media formats
  • 🎁 400 free credits (roughly 10 presentations before paying)

πŸ… Where Copilot Wins:

  • πŸ“Š Native PowerPoint features (slide masters, precise formatting, offline access)
  • πŸ”— Seamless Excel/Word integration for data-heavy presentations
  • 🏒 Better for corporate environments requiring strict brand guidelines

πŸ’Ό Real-World Use Case:

A startup founder needs to iterate quickly on a pitch deck, testing different narratives with investors. Gamma’s speed and modern aesthetic win.

But if that same founder needs to submit a deck to a conservative corporate VC? Export to PowerPoint and polish, or use Copilot from the start.


🎯 Bottom Line:

Choose Gamma if speed and aesthetics matter more than PowerPoint compatibility.

Avoid if you need pixel-perfect control or work in heavily regulated industries.

πŸ”— Try Gamma Free β†’


2. 🎯 Plus AI β€” Best for PowerPoint Power Users

πŸ’° Price: Β£9/month (annual) or Β£13/month
⏱️ Generation Time: 60-90 seconds
πŸ‘₯ Best For: Staying inside PowerPoint/Google Slides workflow, professional business presentations

Plus AI is what Copilot should have been: a purpose-built AI that lives inside PowerPoint and actually understands presentation design.


✨ What Plus AI Does Better Than Copilot:

  • βœ… Works with personal Microsoft 365 accounts (Copilot requires Business/Enterprise)
  • 🎨 Superior template variety (hundreds of slide layouts vs Copilot’s limited options)
  • πŸ”„ “Remix” feature: regenerate individual slides without starting over
  • 🧠 Better prompt understanding for complex requirements

πŸ… Where Copilot Wins:

  • πŸ”— Deeper Microsoft 365 ecosystem integration (pulls from Outlook, Teams, OneDrive natively)
  • πŸ’° Included if your org already pays for Microsoft 365 Copilot license

πŸ’Ό Real-World Use Case:

A management consultant creates 15 client decks monthly. She needs PowerPoint compatibility, custom templates, and the ability to edit AI output quickly.

Plus AI’s native integration means zero workflow disruptionβ€”she never leaves PowerPoint.


🎯 Bottom Line:

If you live in PowerPoint but don’t have access to Copilot (or find it lacking), Plus AI is your best bet.

πŸ”— Try Plus AI Free β†’


3. 🎨 Beautiful.ai β€” Best for Brand Consistency & Team Collaboration

πŸ’° Price: Β£11/month (individual) or Β£130/user/year (team)
⏱️ Generation Time: 90-120 seconds
πŸ‘₯ Best For: Agencies, corporates with strict brand guidelines, teams needing design governance

Beautiful.ai enforces design rules automatically. If you’ve ever worked with a designer who made you feel bad about your font choices, Beautiful.ai is that designer, in software form.


✨ What Beautiful.ai Does Better Than Copilot:

  • πŸ›‘οΈ “Anti-fragile templates” adapt content to maintain design quality
  • 🎨 Team brand kits with locked colors, fonts, and layouts
  • πŸ‘₯ Real-time collaboration with granular permissions
  • πŸ“Š Analytics showing where viewers dropped off

πŸ… Where Copilot Wins:

  • ⚑ Faster generation (Copilot: 60-90 seconds, Beautiful.ai: 90-120 seconds)
  • πŸ’° Lower cost for individual users (Β£30/month vs Β£11/month… wait, Copilot is MORE expensive)
  • πŸ”„ Better for ad-hoc presentations without strict branding needs

πŸ’Ό Real-World Use Case:

A marketing agency creates 50+ client presentations monthly. Brand consistency is non-negotiableβ€”every deck must match client guidelines perfectly.

Beautiful.ai’s design enforcement prevents junior team members from creating off-brand disasters.


🎯 Bottom Line:

Choose Beautiful.ai if brand control matters more than speed.

Skip if you’re a solopreneur who doesn’t care about design governance.

πŸ”— Try Beautiful.ai Free β†’


4. 🌈 Canva Magic Design β€” Best for Visual-First Presentations

πŸ’° Price: Β£10/month (Pro) or Β£8/user/month (Teams)
⏱️ Generation Time: 60-90 seconds
πŸ‘₯ Best For: Social-media-style presentations, visual-heavy decks, non-business contexts

Canva’s AI presentation tool feels like it wandered in from Instagram and decided to crash a board meeting. It creates beautiful, highly visual decksβ€”but the content can feel shallow for business use.


✨ What Canva Does Better Than Copilot:

  • 🎨 Massive template library (100,000+ designs)
  • πŸ–ΌοΈ Superior image generation and editing
  • πŸŽ₯ Export to video (MP4) for auto-playing presentations
  • πŸ–±οΈ Drag-and-drop ease for non-technical users

πŸ… Where Copilot Wins:

  • πŸ“Š Business-appropriate content depth and structure
  • 🧠 Better text-to-slide logic for complex topics
  • πŸ“€ Native PowerPoint export (Canva exports look polished but aren’t always editable)

πŸ’Ό Real-World Use Case:

A teacher creating engaging classroom presentations, or a personal brand creator making Instagram carousel posts. Canva’s visual-first approach shines.

But for a CFO presenting to the board? The aesthetic might feel too casual.


🎯 Bottom Line:

Canva is brilliant for visuals, weak for serious business content. If your presentation needs to look good on social media, it’s perfect. If it needs to persuade a risk committee, use something else.

πŸ”— Try Canva Magic Design Free β†’


5. ⚠️ Tome β€” Best for… Actually, Don’t Use Tome

πŸ’° Price: N/A
πŸ“› Status: Discontinued as of March 2025

Tome pivoted from presentation tool to “AI tools for sales teams” and sunsetted their slides product. Including it here because you’ll see it mentioned in older articlesβ€”just know it’s gone.


πŸ“š What happened?

Tome built beautiful, narrative-driven presentations with AI-generated images. But the market spoke: people wanted PowerPoint integration, not another standalone tool. They pivoted, couldn’t compete, and shut down the presentation feature.


⚠️ Lesson:

Beware of VC-funded AI tools with uncertain futures. Stick to established players (Microsoft, Google) or profitable independents (Gamma, Plus AI, Beautiful.ai).


6. πŸŽͺ Prezi AI β€” Best for Non-Linear Storytelling

πŸ’° Price: Β£5/month (Plus) or Β£14/month (Premium)
⏱️ Generation Time: 90-120 seconds
πŸ‘₯ Best For: Teachers, trainers, creative presentations requiring unique navigation

Prezi’s “zooming user interface” creates presentations that zoom between concepts rather than clicking through slides. Love it or hate itβ€”there’s no middle ground.


✨ What Prezi Does Better Than Copilot:

  • 🎨 Unique visual storytelling format (great for educational content)
  • πŸ€– “Ask AI” tools for text editing, flowcharts, animated stories
  • πŸ“Š Presentation analytics (track views, viewer behavior)
  • πŸ’° Lower cost (Β£5/month vs Β£30/month)

πŸ… Where Copilot Wins:

  • πŸ“‘ Traditional slide format (clients expect PowerPoint, not Prezi)
  • πŸ“€ Export quality (Prezi exports to PDF only, not editable PowerPoint)
  • ⚑ Faster generation times

πŸ’Ό Real-World Use Case:

A high school teacher wants to create engaging history lessons that zoom through timelines. Prezi’s format captivates teenage attention spans.

But if you’re pitching to investors who want a “normal deck,” Prezi’s format is a liability.


🎯 Bottom Line:

Prezi is brilliant for education and training. Avoid for business contexts unless you’re intentionally being provocative.

πŸ”— Try Prezi AI Free β†’


7. 🏒 Microsoft Copilot β€” Still the Best for Microsoft 365 Power Users

πŸ’° Price: Β£25/month (requires Microsoft 365 Business/Enterprise)
⏱️ Generation Time: 60-90 seconds
πŸ‘₯ Best For: Organisations deeply embedded in Microsoft ecosystem, professionals creating data-heavy presentations

Let’s be honest: if you’re already paying for Microsoft 365 Copilot and your organisation allows it, Copilot for PowerPoint is exceptionalβ€”when you know how to use it.


✨ What Copilot Does Better Than Alternatives:

  • πŸ”— Native integration with Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams (pull data seamlessly)
  • 🎨 Understands your organisation’s existing templates and branding
  • πŸ“΄ Offline functionality (alternatives require internet)
  • πŸ”’ Enterprise security and compliance (SOC 2, GDPR, industry-specific requirements)
  • πŸ’Ό Single license across all Microsoft tools (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams)

πŸ… Where Alternatives Win:

  • πŸ’° Lower cost (Β£8-13/month vs Β£25/month)
  • βœ… Available on personal Microsoft accounts
  • ⚑ Faster generation speeds (Gamma)
  • 🎨 Better creative flexibility (Gamma, Canva)
  • 🧠 Superior prompt understanding (Plus AI)

⚠️ The Problem Most People Have With Copilot:

They’re using it wrong. Generic prompts like “create a presentation about Q4 sales” generate generic slides.


βœ… Copilot excels when you:

  1. Reference specific Word documents: “Create a presentation from Q4_Sales_Report.docx using our corporate template”
  2. Provide detailed context: “Create a 12-slide executive presentation about Q4 marketing performance. Include: executive summary, key metrics dashboard, campaign highlights with ROI, channel breakdown, challenges faced with solutions implemented, competitor analysis, and Q1 recommendations. Professional tone, data-driven approach.”
  3. Use it with existing templates (it adapts your brand guidelines automatically)

πŸ’Ό Real-World Use Case:

A pharmaceutical company needs presentations for FDA submissions. They’re already paying for Microsoft 365 E5 licenses.

Security, compliance, and integration with their existing document workflows matter infinitely more than saving Β£15/month on a faster alternative. Copilot isn’t just the best choiceβ€”it’s the only choice.


πŸŽ“ Want to actually master Copilot instead of fighting it?

Get our Copilot for PowerPoint Master Guide (Β£9.99). It includes:

  • βœ… 100+ tested prompts
  • βœ… Step-by-step tutorials
  • βœ… Common mistakes to avoid
  • βœ… Time-saving workflows
  • βœ… Troubleshooting for when Copilot produces garbage

Most users save 5-10 hours per week once they learn proper prompting techniques. The guide pays for itself with your first saved presentation.


πŸ“Š Comparison Table: Copilot vs Top Alternatives

Feature Copilot Gamma Plus AI Beautiful.ai Canva Prezi
πŸ’° Price/Month Β£25 Β£7-9 Β£9-13 Β£11 Β£10 Β£5-14
⏱️ Speed 60-90s 45-60s 60-90s 90-120s 60-90s 90-120s
πŸ“€ PowerPoint Export Native Yes Native Limited Limited PDF only
🎨 Brand Control Good Moderate Good Excellent Good Moderate
πŸ“š Learning Curve Steep Easy Moderate Easy Easy Moderate
πŸ‘₯ Best For M365 orgs Creative pros PowerPoint users Teams/agencies Visual content Teachers
🎁 Free Trial No 400 credits 7 days 14 days Free tier Free tier

πŸ€” When to Use Copilot vs When to Switch


βœ… Stick with Copilot if:

  • βœ“ Your organisation already pays for Microsoft 365 Copilot licenses (it’s “free” to you)
  • βœ“ You create data-heavy presentations pulling from Excel, Word, Outlook
  • βœ“ Security and compliance are non-negotiable (regulated industries)
  • βœ“ You need offline access to presentation tools
  • βœ“ Your presentations follow strict corporate templates

πŸ”„ Switch to an alternative if:

  • βœ— You don’t have Microsoft 365 Business/Enterprise (can’t access Copilot)
  • βœ— Budget matters (Β£8-13/month alternatives vs Β£25/month)
  • βœ— You need faster generation speeds (Gamma wins)
  • βœ— Creative flexibility matters more than PowerPoint compatibility (Gamma, Canva)
  • βœ— You’re a PowerPoint power user without Copilot access (Plus AI)

πŸŽ“ Master Copilot first before switching if:

  • ⚠️ You’re getting poor results because you don’t know how to prompt AI tools
  • ⚠️ You’ve only used Copilot 3-5 times (not enough to judge)
  • ⚠️ Your company is paying for it anyway

Most professionals who “hate Copilot” are using prompts like “make a presentation about marketing.” That’s like ordering “food” at a restaurant and being surprised the chef brings you something random.

Learn to prompt properly, and Copilot transforms from frustrating to indispensable.


πŸ’° The Β£2,000 Question: When Should You Hire a Professional Instead?

Here’s the uncomfortable truth after 35 years in this industry: AI presentation toolsβ€”including Copilot and all these alternativesβ€”are brilliant for internal meetings, training decks, and recurring presentations.

They’re terrible for high-stakes situations where Β£2 million rests on your pitch.


❌ AI tools can’t:

  • 🧠 Understand your audience’s unstated objections
  • πŸ“– Structure a narrative that builds to an inevitable conclusion
  • πŸ“Š Know which data points matter and which distract
  • 🎨 Design slides that guide attention to your key message
  • ❓ Anticipate questions and embed answers preemptively

I’ve seen clients spend 40 hours fighting with AI tools, producing mediocre decks, for pitches worth Β£500,000+. They would have saved time and money hiring a professional from the start.


βœ… When to use AI (Copilot or alternatives):

  • πŸ“… Internal team updates
  • πŸ“š Training materials
  • πŸ“Š Recurring weekly/monthly reports
  • πŸ“ First drafts for iteration
  • πŸ”„ High volume, moderate stakes

πŸ† When to hire us:

  • πŸ’Ό Investor pitch decks (Β£2,000-5,000 depending on complexity)
  • 🏒 Board presentations requiring strategic narrative
  • πŸ’° Sales pitches to enterprise clients
  • πŸ”„ Transformation/change management presentations to executives
  • ⚠️ Any situation where failure costs more than Β£2,000

At Winning Presentations, our clients have raised over Β£250 million using methodologies we’ve refined over 35 years. We combine AI tools (yes, including Copilot and these alternatives) with human expertise in narrative structure, visual hierarchy, and audience psychology.


πŸ“ž Need high-stakes presentation help?

If you’re reading this article because you need to create a Β£5 million investor pitch, stop.

Book a consultation call β†’ (free discovery session).

We’ll assess whether you need:

  • Full deck creation
  • Coaching to improve your existing deck
  • Strategic advice

Sometimes the answer is “your deck is 90% there, fix these three slides”β€”and we’ll tell you that honestly.


❓ FAQ: Copilot for PowerPoint Alternatives


❓ Can I use Copilot with a personal Microsoft 365 account?

No. Copilot for PowerPoint requires a Microsoft 365 Business or Enterprise subscription plus a Copilot license (approximately Β£25/month additional).

Personal accounts can use Copilot Chat on the web, but not the integrated PowerPoint features. Plus AI is the best alternative for personal account users who want native PowerPoint integration.


❓ Which is faster: Copilot or Gamma?

Gamma generates presentations 25-33% faster than Copilot (45-60 seconds vs 60-90 seconds for a 10-slide deck).

However, Copilot’s integration with your existing Microsoft 365 content can save time in other waysβ€”it pulls data from your Word docs, Excel sheets, and emails automatically, which Gamma can’t do.


❓ Do these alternatives work offline?

No. Gamma, Plus AI, Beautiful.ai, Canva, and Prezi all require internet connections.

Only Copilot (and regular PowerPoint) offer offline functionality. If you travel frequently or work in locations with poor connectivity, this is a significant limitation of cloud-based alternatives.


❓ Can I export presentations from Gamma to PowerPoint?

Yes, but with caveats. Gamma exports to PowerPoint (.pptx), PDF, and even websites. However, the PowerPoint export isn’t always pixel-perfectβ€”some formatting may need adjustment.

Plus AI avoids this issue entirely by creating native PowerPoint files from the start.


❓ Are these tools worth it for a small business?

Depends on your presentation volume. If you create 2+ presentations weekly, any of these tools (Β£8-13/month) save enough time to justify the cost.

But if you make one deck every quarter, invest that budget in learning to prompt properly instead. Our Copilot Master Guide (Β£9.99 one-time) will serve you better than 12 months of subscription fees you barely use.


❓ Why are there so many AI presentation tools suddenly?

The AI presentation software market grew from Β£5.1 billion in 2024 to Β£7.5 billion in 2025, with projections reaching Β£16.5 billion by 2032. Every company sees the opportunity. Most will fail.

Stick to established players (Microsoft, Google) or profitable independents with clear business models (Gamma, Plus AI, Beautiful.ai).


❓ Is Copilot worth Β£25/month?

For individuals? Rarely.

For organisations already paying for Microsoft 365? Absolutely. The single license works across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.

If you only use it for PowerPoint, probably not worth itβ€”switch to Plus AI (Β£9/month) or Gamma (Β£7/month). But if you use AI assistance across all Microsoft tools, the value multiplies.


🎯 Final Recommendation: What Should You Actually Use?

Here’s the decision tree:


πŸš€ Choose Gamma if:

  • ⚑ Speed and aesthetics matter most
  • 🎨 You create modern, web-style presentations
  • πŸ’° Budget is tight (Β£7/month annual)

🎯 Choose Plus AI if:

  • πŸ“Š You live in PowerPoint and want native integration
  • πŸ’Ό You’re a PowerPoint power user without Copilot access
  • 🧠 You need superior prompt understanding

🎨 Choose Beautiful.ai if:

  • πŸ›‘οΈ Brand consistency is non-negotiable
  • πŸ‘₯ You work in teams needing design governance
  • πŸ’° You can afford Β£11-130/user/year

🌈 Choose Canva if:

  • πŸ–ΌοΈ Visuals matter more than business content depth
  • πŸ“± You create social media content alongside presentations
  • βœ… You’re already a Canva user

πŸŽͺ Choose Prezi if:

  • πŸ“š You’re a teacher/trainer creating educational content
  • 😴 Traditional slides bore your audience
  • πŸ”„ You want unique navigation/storytelling

🏒 Master Copilot if:

  • βœ… Your org already pays for it
  • πŸ”— You need Microsoft 365 integration
  • πŸ”’ Security/compliance matters
  • πŸ“Š You create data-heavy presentations

πŸŽ“ Stop Fighting With AI – Get The Master Guide

And if you’re still getting mediocre results from Copilot (or any alternative), it’s probably your prompts, not the tool.

Stop fighting with AI and get our Master Guide β†’ (Β£9.99). It includes:

  • βœ… 100+ tested prompts
  • βœ… Step-by-step tutorials with screenshots
  • βœ… Common mistakes guide
  • βœ… Time-saving workflows for recurring presentations
  • βœ… Industry-specific examples
  • βœ… Troubleshooting for when things go wrong

πŸ“Š Investment Details:

πŸ’° Investment: Β£9.99 one-time (no subscription)
⏰ Time saved: 5-10 hours weekly once mastered
πŸ“ˆ ROI: Your first saved presentation pays for itself


πŸ† Or Hire Us for High-Stakes Presentations

For high-stakes presentations worth Β£100,000+, stop messing around with AI tools and contact us directly β†’.

After 35 years and Β£250+ million raised by our clients, we know what worksβ€”and it’s not hoping an AI tool magically creates a winning pitch.


πŸ‘€ About the Author

With 35 years of experience helping professionals master presentations, pitch decks, and business communication, I’ve trained thousands on leveraging AI tools effectively.

My clients have raised over Β£250 million using the methodologies we teach.

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Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links for Canva, Gamma, and other presentation tools. We may earn a small commission if you purchase through these links at no extra cost to you. All recommendations are based on our 35 years of presentation expertise and genuine testing.