SlidesAI Alternative: Better AI for PowerPoint Users

SlidesAI has built a following among Google Slides users—over 15 million downloads with a 4.3-star rating on the Google Workspace Marketplace. The tool converts text into slides quickly, making it popular for educators and content creators who need fast first drafts.

But if you work primarily in PowerPoint, SlidesAI presents a fundamental problem: it was built for Google Slides first. PowerPoint support remains limited, with full functionality only available for Google Slides. For consultants and business professionals who deliver editable .pptx files to clients, this matters.

After testing SlidesAI alongside four alternatives over a 60-day period—creating 40+ presentations across both platforms—we can offer an honest assessment of when SlidesAI works well and when alternatives deliver better results for PowerPoint-centric workflows.

What Is SlidesAI?#

SlidesAI is an AI-powered add-on that transforms text, notes, and topics into presentation slides. Originally built as a Google Slides extension, it now advertises PowerPoint support as well.

Core SlidesAI features include:

• Text-to-presentation generation: Paste your content, and SlidesAI creates structured slides
• Topic-based generation: Enter a topic, and AI builds an outline and slides around it
• 100+ language support: Generate presentations in multiple languages
• 1.5 million image library: Built-in image search without switching applications
• Magic Write: AI-powered text editing for rephrasing, shortening, or translating

Pricing:

SlidesAI works best for educators converting lecture notes into slides, content creators repurposing written material, and Google Workspace users who need quick first drafts.

Why People Look for SlidesAI Alternatives#

Based on user reviews and common complaints, here are the main reasons professionals explore alternatives:

1. Google Slides First, PowerPoint Second#

SlidesAI was built for Google Slides. While PowerPoint support is advertised, the integration remains under development. Multiple reviewers note that full functionality is only available in Google Slides.

For consultants and investment bankers who live in PowerPoint—where clients expect editable .pptx files—this is a dealbreaker. Working in a tool optimized for a different platform adds friction to daily workflows.

2. Many Features Still "Coming Soon"#

SlidesAI advertises five methods for generating slides, but according to independent testing, three are stuck on "Coming Soon"—document upload, webpage conversion, and YouTube link processing. Only pasted text and topic-based generation actually work.

The same pattern applies to themes and layouts. Multiple options are listed, but most remain unavailable.

3. Generic Output Requiring Heavy Editing#

Users consistently report that SlidesAI produces generic drafts that need substantial editing. The tool follows what reviewers call a "Four Bullets with Image" formula regardless of content type.

For specialized or technical presentations—common in consulting—this generic output falls short. The AI struggles with precise terminology, industry frameworks, and nuanced analysis.

4. No Consulting-Grade Charts#

SlidesAI generates text-based slides effectively but lacks specialized charting capabilities. It cannot create:

• Waterfall charts (the "McKinsey chart" for financial bridges)
• Mekko (Marimekko) charts for market sizing
• Gantt charts with dependencies
• Excel-linked charts that update automatically
• CAGR lines, delta indicators, or reference lines

For consultants building data-driven presentations, this is a significant gap.

5. Strict Input Limitations#

The free plan limits input to 2,500 characters—roughly 400-500 words. Even the Premium plan caps input at 12,000 characters. You cannot have an extended conversation with the AI to refine ideas or give detailed instructions; additional input is limited to 200 characters.

6. Billing and Support Concerns#

Multiple independent reviews mention questionable billing practices and difficult cancellations. SlidesAI has a 2.6 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot, with users reporting unresponsive support for billing inquiries.

How We Evaluated These Alternatives#

We tested each SlidesAI alternative over a 60-day period using real presentation workflows:

• Presentations created: 40+ complete decks across all tools
• Use cases: Client pitches, strategy decks, market analysis, board presentations
• Platforms tested: Windows 11, macOS, Google Workspace
• Data complexity: Simple text slides through Excel-linked visualizations

For each tool, we measured creation speed, output quality, chart capabilities, platform integration, and learning curve.

SlidesAI Alternatives Compared#

1. Deckary#

Best for: PowerPoint users who need AI slide generation plus consulting-grade charts

Website: deckary.com

Deckary is a PowerPoint add-in that combines AI slide generation with the charting capabilities consultants actually need. Unlike SlidesAI, everything happens natively in PowerPoint—no context switching, no export issues, no platform limitations.

AI Slide Builder:

The standout feature addresses SlidesAI's core limitation: describe your business problem, and AI generates complete slides directly inside PowerPoint:

• 2-column or 3-column layouts selected automatically based on content
• Professional headings and bullet points following consulting conventions
• Charts generated from your CSV data (bar, waterfall, Mekko, and more)
• Icons matched to each section from a 600+ icon library
• Your presentation's theme colors applied automatically

You get SlidesAI's "describe it, AI builds it" workflow—but inside the application where you actually work.

Charting capabilities SlidesAI lacks:

• Waterfall charts with automatic bridges and totals
• Mekko (Marimekko) charts for market sizing
• Gantt charts for project timelines
• 100% stacked bar charts for share analysis
• Excel linking that updates reliably
• CAGR lines, delta indicators, reference lines

Additional AI features:

• MBB Tone: Rewrite text in McKinsey/BCG/Bain consulting style
• Briefen: Cut verbose text into punchy, scannable content
• AI Image Generation: Describe an image and insert it directly

Pricing: $49/year (Starter), $119/year (Premium), $199 lifetime option

What it does well:

• AI generates complete slides from text prompts—like SlidesAI, but native to PowerPoint
• Creates waterfall and Mekko charts that SlidesAI cannot produce
• No platform switching—everything stays in PowerPoint
• Works offline since it's a local add-in
• Lower cost: $49-119/year vs SlidesAI's $100-200/year

What it does not do:

• Not a standalone platform—requires PowerPoint
• No Google Slides support (PowerPoint only)
• No document-to-presentation conversion

Our testing results:

• AI slide generation: 15-30 seconds for a complete slide
• Waterfall chart creation: 35-45 seconds average
• Excel link success rate: 100% across 80+ updates
• Mac/Windows parity: Identical experience on both platforms

Best for: Consultants, investment bankers, and corporate strategists who work in PowerPoint and need both AI slide generation and consulting-grade charts. If you build waterfall charts and data-driven presentations regularly, Deckary delivers SlidesAI's core value while adding capabilities SlidesAI doesn't offer.

2. Plus AI#

Best for: Google Workspace teams who want a more polished Google Slides experience than SlidesAI

Website: plusai.com

Plus AI is the closest direct competitor to SlidesAI—both are Google Slides add-ons that convert text to presentations. But Plus AI offers a more refined experience with better output quality and actual PowerPoint support.

Key features:

• Text-to-presentation generation with better layout variety
• Document-to-slides conversion (actually works, unlike SlidesAI's "Coming Soon")
• Slide editing with AI: rewrite, translate, and reformat existing content
• PowerPoint support that functions better than SlidesAI's
• SOC 2 Type II compliance for enterprise security

Pricing:

• Basic: $10/month (billed annually)
• Pro: $20/month (billed annually)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

What it does well:

• More reliable than SlidesAI—features actually work as advertised
• Better PowerPoint export quality
• Document-to-slides conversion is functional
• Stronger enterprise security compliance

What it lacks:

• No consulting-grade charts (waterfall, Mekko)
• Google Slides experience still better than PowerPoint
• No offline access
• Higher price than SlidesAI for similar core features

Our experience:

Plus AI produces higher quality output than SlidesAI with more layout variety. If you're committed to Google Slides but frustrated with SlidesAI's limitations and "Coming Soon" features, Plus AI is the upgrade. However, for PowerPoint users, neither tool is ideal.

Best for: Google Workspace users who want SlidesAI's core value proposition but with better reliability and quality.

3. Gamma#

Best for: Teams who want AI presentations without traditional slide constraints

Website: gamma.app

Gamma takes a fundamentally different approach than SlidesAI, emphasizing creative flexibility over traditional slide structures. Instead of rigid slide-by-slide layouts, Gamma uses a block-based system (similar to Notion) that enables more narrative flow.

Key features:

• Block-based layout system for flexible design
• AI-generated presentations from prompts
• Card-style format that works for web and presentations
• Embed support for videos, tweets, and interactive content
• 70+ million users—the largest AI presentation platform

Pricing:

• Free: Limited credits, Gamma branding
• Plus: $8/month (more credits, custom fonts)
• Pro: $18/month (unlimited generation, premium templates)

What it does well:

• Creative flexibility beyond traditional slide formats
• Lower price point than SlidesAI Premium
• Modern, web-native design aesthetic
• Good for narrative-driven presentations

What it lacks:

• Not a PowerPoint add-in—standalone platform
• Exports to PowerPoint have formatting issues
• No consulting-grade charts
• Less suitable for data-heavy presentations
• Different paradigm requires workflow adjustment

Our experience:

Gamma works well for internal presentations and content where narrative flow matters more than data precision. However, exporting to PowerPoint revealed formatting inconsistencies, and the lack of waterfall and Mekko charts made it unsuitable for consulting workflows.

Best for: Startups, marketing teams, and creative professionals who want to break free from traditional slide constraints and don't need PowerPoint compatibility.

4. Beautiful.ai#

Best for: Design-focused teams who prioritize visual polish

Website: beautiful.ai

Beautiful.ai is an AI-powered presentation platform that automates slide design—you add content, and the software handles layout, spacing, and visual consistency.

Key features:

• AI-powered slide layouts that adapt as you add content
• 50+ smart templates including timelines and org charts
• Automatic formatting for design consistency
• Real-time collaboration
• Presentation analytics

Pricing:

• Pro: $12/month (billed annually)
• Team: $40/user/month (billed annually)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

What it does well:

• Strong design automation—output looks polished without design skills
• Good template variety for common business needs
• Collaboration features for remote teams
• Better visual output than SlidesAI's generic results

What it lacks:

• Cloud-based only—no offline access
• PowerPoint exports have formatting problems
• No consulting-grade charts
• Team pricing is expensive ($480/user/year)
• Limited customization for pixel-perfect control

Our experience:

Beautiful.ai produces visually polished presentations quickly, similar to Plus AI. However, we encountered the same core limitation: no waterfall charts, no Mekko charts, and problematic PowerPoint exports.

Best for: Marketing teams and internal communications where visual polish matters more than data precision or PowerPoint compatibility.

5. Microsoft Copilot for PowerPoint#

Best for: Organizations already invested in Microsoft 365 Enterprise

Microsoft's own AI assistant integrates directly into PowerPoint, offering AI-powered slide generation, content suggestions, and design assistance.

Key features:

• Generate presentations from prompts within PowerPoint
• Create slides from Word documents
• Summarize existing presentations
• Suggest design improvements
• Integrated with Microsoft 365 ecosystem

Pricing: $30/user/month (requires Microsoft 365 Business/Enterprise subscription)

What it does well:

• Deepest PowerPoint integration possible (built by Microsoft)
• Works across Microsoft 365 ecosystem
• Natural language queries within familiar interface
• Continually improving with Microsoft's AI investment

What it lacks:

• No specialized consulting charts (waterfall, Mekko)
• Expensive at $360/year per user on top of Microsoft 365 costs
• Quality varies—output can be generic
• Requires Microsoft 365 Business or Enterprise

Our experience:

Copilot for PowerPoint felt most natural for users already embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem. The integration is seamless, but output quality for data-heavy consulting presentations didn't match specialized tools. At $360/year on top of Microsoft 365 licensing, it's the most expensive option we tested.

Best for: Large enterprises with existing Microsoft 365 Enterprise licenses who want AI capabilities without additional vendor relationships.

Comparison Table#

Which SlidesAI Alternative Is Right for You?#

Choose Deckary if:#

• You work primarily in PowerPoint (not Google Slides)
• You need waterfall charts, Mekko charts, or Gantt charts
• Your clients expect editable PowerPoint files
• You want AI slide generation at a lower price point ($49-119/year vs $100-200/year)
• You need Excel-linked charts that update reliably
• You present offline frequently

Stay with SlidesAI if:#

• You work exclusively in Google Slides
• You need basic text-to-slide conversion
• You don't need specialized business charts
• Budget is under $100/year and you can work within character limits
• You're okay with generic output that needs editing

Choose Plus AI if:#

• You want a more polished Google Slides experience
• You need document-to-presentation conversion that actually works
• Enterprise security compliance (SOC 2) is a requirement
• You can accept the higher price for better reliability

Choose Gamma if:#

• You want to break free from traditional slide formats
• Creative flexibility matters more than PowerPoint compatibility
• You're building narrative-driven presentations
• Your work stays within Gamma (no export needed)

Choose Microsoft Copilot if:#

• Your organization has Microsoft 365 Enterprise
• You want a single vendor relationship with Microsoft
• Budget is not a primary concern
• You don't need specialized chart types

The Honest Assessment#

After testing SlidesAI and its alternatives over 60 days, here's what we concluded:

SlidesAI does what it promises at a basic level—it converts text into slides quickly. For educators and content creators who work in Google Slides and need fast first drafts, it delivers value at a reasonable price point.

But for business professionals who need PowerPoint compatibility, the limitations become apparent quickly:

1. PowerPoint support is incomplete. Full functionality remains Google Slides only, despite marketing claims.

2. Many features don't work. Document upload, webpage conversion, and multiple themes/layouts are still "Coming Soon" after years of development.

3. No consulting charts. You cannot create waterfall charts, Mekko charts, or Excel-linked visualizations—the chart types that define professional strategy and finance presentations.

4. Generic output for specialized content. AI-generated slides follow repetitive formulas that require significant editing for technical or specialized topics.

Deckary solved these specific pain points for our consulting workflows: AI slide generation that works natively inside PowerPoint, plus waterfall and Mekko charts that SlidesAI cannot create. At $49-119/year versus SlidesAI's $100-200/year, the value proposition is clear for PowerPoint-centric teams.

What disappointed us: SlidesAI's Trustpilot rating (2.6/5) versus its Google Marketplace rating (4.3/5) suggests a disconnect between first impressions and long-term user experience. The billing complaints and "Coming Soon" features indicate a product that hasn't fully delivered on its promises.