Tome Alternative 2026: Best Options After the Shutdown

Tome shut down its AI presentation tool in April 2025. If you're searching for alternatives, you're likely one of millions of former users who lost access to a platform that once seemed like the future of presentations.

After testing 8 Tome alternatives over a 4-month period—creating 60+ presentations across strategy, sales, and consulting use cases—we found significant differences in how each tool handles the workflows Tome users valued most: AI-powered creation, modern aesthetics, and collaborative editing.

This guide compares the best options for former Tome users, with honest assessments of where each tool excels and which limitations matter for professional work.

What Happened to Tome#

For those who missed the news: Tome's presentation tool no longer exists in its original form.

Timeline of events:

• October 2024: Tome announced a strategic pivot to focus on sales and marketing automation
• March 2025: The company confirmed it would sunset the presentation product entirely
• April 2025: All presentation features were discontinued; user data was deleted
• Post-shutdown: The original team rebranded as Lightfield (a sales intelligence company), while AngelList acquired the "Tome" brand for document summarization technology

Tome reached 20 million users in just 18 months and raised $81.6 million at a $300 million valuation. Despite this growth, the company's Annual Recurring Revenue remained under $4 million—a sign that users loved the free product but wouldn't pay for it.

In their shutdown announcement, Tome stated they "made every effort to improve Tome Slides and turn it into a viable business but ultimately failed to find a sustainable path."

For former users, this meant total data loss. Any presentations not exported before the shutdown were permanently deleted.

Why Tome Users Need Alternatives#

Understanding why Tome attracted users helps identify which alternatives truly replace what was lost:

What Tome did well:

• AI-generated presentations from text prompts
• Modern, tile-based layouts that looked fresh compared to traditional slides
• Embedded multimedia (videos, images, interactive elements)
• Real-time collaboration similar to Google Docs
• Quick content generation without design skills

What Tome struggled with:

• Export limitations: Only PDF export was available on paid plans—no native PowerPoint output
• Proprietary format: Presentations existed only in Tome's system, creating lock-in risk
• Editing rigidity: Users found layouts inflexible with limited font and formatting control
• No slideshow mode: You couldn't actually present in a slideshow—only share as read-only documents
• Platform dependency: When Tome shut down, users lost everything

The shutdown validated a concern many had dismissed: relying on a proprietary presentation platform creates dependency that standard tools like PowerPoint avoid.

How We Evaluated Tome Alternatives#

We tested each alternative over 16 weeks using real professional workflows:

• Presentations created: 60+ across consulting, sales, and marketing use cases
• Platforms tested: Windows 11 and macOS Sonoma
• Export quality: Measured formatting issues when converting to PowerPoint
• Collaboration features: Tested multi-user editing and feedback workflows
• Learning curve: Tracked time from signup to productive use

For each tool, we documented what it does well, where it falls short, and which Tome users would find it most valuable.

Tome Alternatives Compared#

1. Gamma#

Best for: Users who loved Tome's modern aesthetics and don't need PowerPoint output

Website: gamma.app

Gamma is the closest alternative to Tome's original vision. It uses a similar card-based format with AI-powered generation and modern design aesthetics.

Key features:

• AI presentation generation from prompts, text, or imported files
• Flexible card system that breaks complex ideas into digestible sections
• One-click redesign to transform visual themes without changing content
• Real-time collaboration with commenting and version history
• Import from PDF and PPTX; export to PDF, PPTX, PNG, and Google Slides

Pricing:

• Free: 400 credits for new users, up to 10 cards per presentation
• Plus: $10/month for unlimited AI, up to 20 cards per prompt
• Pro: $20/month for custom domains, analytics, up to 60 slides at once

What it does well:

• Modern, visually engaging output similar to Tome
• Better export options than Tome offered (including PowerPoint)
• AI chat interface for refining content
• Strong web sharing capabilities

What it doesn't do:

• Work natively inside PowerPoint
• Support consulting-grade charts (waterfall, Mekko, Gantt)
• Create slides that match corporate PowerPoint templates

Our testing results: Gamma's PowerPoint exports were cleaner than Tome's PDF-only approach, but still required 15-25 minutes of cleanup for professional use. The card-based format doesn't translate perfectly to traditional 16:9 slides.

Best for: Marketers, educators, and startup founders who want Tome-style presentations with better export options. Less ideal for consultants who need PowerPoint-first workflows.

2. Deckary#

Best for: Consultants and professionals who work primarily in PowerPoint

Website: deckary.com

Deckary takes the opposite approach from Tome and Gamma. Instead of building a separate presentation platform, it works as a PowerPoint add-in. AI slide generation happens inside PowerPoint, creating native slides with no export step.

Key features:

• AI slide builder that generates consulting-style layouts from text descriptions
• Works on existing decks—not just new presentations
• Consulting-grade charts: waterfall, Mekko (Marimekko), Gantt with dependencies
• Excel linking for automatic chart updates
• 600+ icon library built into PowerPoint
• Keyboard shortcuts for alignment and distribution
• Works on both Windows and Mac

Pricing:

• Starter: $49/year
• Premium: $119/year
• Lifetime: $199 one-time

What it does well:

• No export step—slides are already in PowerPoint format
• Works on existing decks, not just new ones
• Consulting-specific chart types that Tome never offered
• Flat-rate pricing with unlimited use (no credits)
• Charts link to Excel for automatic updates

What it doesn't do:

• Web-based presentation sharing like Tome offered
• Card-based scrollable format
• Interactive embedded content (polls, live elements)

Our testing results: Slide generation averaged 30-45 seconds. Zero cleanup time since slides are native PowerPoint. The MBB-style layouts matched what we'd expect from consulting deliverables.

Best for: Consultants at MBB, Big 4, or investment banks who need to iterate on existing decks and require professional chart capabilities. If your final deliverable must be a polished PowerPoint file, starting in PowerPoint eliminates Tome's export limitations.

3. Beautiful.ai#

Best for: Marketing teams who want automated design without learning design

Website: beautiful.ai

Beautiful.ai uses "Smart Slides" that automatically adjust layouts as you add content. The AI handles design decisions so you focus on content.

Key features:

• AI-powered layout suggestions that auto-format content
• Smart Slide templates that maintain professional design
• Brand theme enforcement across presentations
• Export to PowerPoint, PDF, and images
• Integrations with Slack, Dropbox, Salesforce

Pricing:

• Pro: $12/month (annual) or $45/month (monthly)
• Team: $40/user/month (annual)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing
• Free trial: 14 days with full access
• Students: Free annual Pro plan with .edu email

What it does well:

• Strong design automation—presentations look polished without effort
• Good for non-designers who struggled with Tome's formatting limitations
• Better PowerPoint export quality than Tome offered
• Team collaboration features for brand consistency

What it doesn't do:

• Work inside PowerPoint natively
• Support consulting-grade charts
• Allow editing of existing PowerPoint decks
• Offer the flexible card format Tome users liked

Our testing results: Beautiful.ai's PowerPoint exports required only 10-15 minutes of cleanup—better than Gamma, much better than Tome. However, presentations can start to look similar due to reliance on template patterns.

Best for: Marketing teams creating brand-consistent materials who don't need consulting-specific features or to edit external decks.

4. Plus AI#

Best for: Google Slides and PowerPoint users who want AI assistance without switching platforms

Website: plusai.com

Plus AI works inside Google Slides (primarily) and PowerPoint, generating native presentations without the export issues Tome had.

Key features:

• Native integration with Google Slides and PowerPoint
• AI "co-writer" that helps create outlines, drafts, and edits
• Works on existing presentations
• Generates slides from prompts or documents

Pricing:

• Basic plans start at $15/month
• 7-day free trial

What it does well:

• No export needed—slides are already native
• Works on existing decks (unlike Tome)
• Good for Google Workspace teams
• AI assists rather than replacing your workflow

What it doesn't do:

• Offer consulting-grade charts (waterfall, Mekko)
• Provide the visual polish of Tome or Gamma
• Include productivity features like shortcuts or icons

Our testing results: Plus AI performed well for straightforward text slides. For data-heavy work requiring specialized charts, it fell short compared to dedicated tools.

Best for: Teams in the Google Workspace ecosystem who want AI assistance without learning a new platform. Less suitable for consulting-quality deliverables.

5. Microsoft Copilot for PowerPoint#

Best for: Microsoft 365 subscribers who want AI integrated into their existing tools

Microsoft's Copilot adds AI capabilities directly to PowerPoint as part of the Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription.

Key features:

• Fully native PowerPoint integration
• AI slide generation from prompts
• Works on existing presentations
• Integrates with Word, Excel, and other Microsoft tools
• Built-in by Microsoft with ongoing updates

Pricing:

• $30/month as part of Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription
• Requires existing Microsoft 365 subscription

What it does well:

• No add-ins or external platforms—fully integrated
• Works on existing decks
• Microsoft support and regular feature updates
• Natural language commands familiar to Office users

What it doesn't do:

• Offer consulting-grade charts beyond basic options
• Optimize specifically for MBB-style structures
• Provide the design polish of dedicated AI tools

Our testing results: Copilot is improving but still generates generic slides that require significant formatting to meet consulting standards. Helpful for drafting, less reliable for final deliverables.

Best for: Microsoft 365 power users who want AI built into their existing subscription and can format AI-generated slides themselves.

6. Canva#

Best for: Visual creators who want design flexibility beyond presentations

Website: canva.com

Canva is an all-in-one design platform that includes presentation creation alongside graphics, social media content, and more.

Key features:

• Massive template library across design types
• AI-powered design suggestions
• Drag-and-drop interface with extensive customization
• Collaboration features for teams
• Export to PowerPoint, PDF, and video formats

Pricing:

• Free tier with basic features
• Pro: $12.99/month for advanced features
• Teams: $14.99/user/month

What it does well:

• More visual flexibility than Tome offered
• Huge template and asset library
• Video and animation capabilities
• Better for creative presentations

What it doesn't do:

• Work inside PowerPoint
• Generate presentations as quickly as AI-first tools
• Optimize for business or consulting use cases

Our testing results: Canva exports to PowerPoint reasonably well, though animations and advanced formatting may not translate. The platform is more design tool than AI presentation maker.

Best for: Creative professionals and marketers who need design flexibility and don't require consulting-specific features.

7. Pitch#

Best for: Sales teams who need CRM integration and collaborative pitch decks

Website: pitch.com

Pitch is built for team collaboration on presentations, with features designed for sales workflows.

Key features:

• Real-time collaboration with video call integration
• CRM integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot)
• Version history and feedback tracking
• Professional pitch deck templates
• Analytics on presentation engagement

Pricing:

• Starter: Free for up to 2 users
• Pro: $25/user/month
• Business: Custom pricing

What it does well:

• Strong collaboration features for sales teams
• Professional templates for pitch decks
• Engagement analytics to track viewer behavior
• Better version control than Tome offered

What it doesn't do:

• Provide AI generation as powerful as Tome or Gamma
• Work inside PowerPoint
• Support consulting-grade charts

Best for: Sales teams who collaborate on pitch decks and need CRM integration. Less suitable for consulting or individual use.

Comparison Table#

The Export Problem: Why It Matters#

Tome's shutdown highlighted a critical issue with proprietary presentation platforms: when the platform disappears, so do your presentations.

But there's a more immediate problem most users face daily: the export workflow.

The reality for professional users:

1. Clients expect PowerPoint files
2. Partners review and comment in PowerPoint
3. Firms have PowerPoint templates that must be used
4. Final deliverables need to work offline

Tools like Gamma and Beautiful.ai have better export than Tome had, but exporting still creates friction:

• Fonts may substitute incorrectly
• Layouts shift when card formats become traditional slides
• Colors and gradients may not translate perfectly
• You lose the ability to use AI features after export

For users who need PowerPoint as the final format, tools that work inside PowerPoint (Deckary, Plus AI, Copilot) eliminate this conversion step entirely.

Which Alternative Is Right for You?#

Based on our testing, here's how to choose:

Choose Gamma if:#

• You loved Tome's modern, card-based aesthetic
• Web sharing is important to your workflow
• PowerPoint output is occasional, not constant
• You create standalone presentations more than iterating on existing ones

Choose Deckary if:#

• You work primarily in PowerPoint and need to stay there
• You need consulting-grade charts (waterfall, Mekko, Gantt)
• You frequently edit existing decks rather than creating from scratch
• You want flat-rate pricing without tracking credits
• You use both Windows and Mac

Choose Beautiful.ai if:#

• Design automation is your priority
• You create marketing materials rather than consulting deliverables
• You want professional results without design skills
• PowerPoint export quality matters but native integration doesn't

Choose Plus AI if:#

• You work primarily in Google Slides
• You want AI assistance without switching platforms
• Consulting-specific features aren't required
• You need to edit existing presentations

Choose Copilot if:#

• You already have Microsoft 365 Copilot
• You want everything in one ecosystem
• You can handle formatting AI-generated slides yourself
• Budget for another tool isn't available

Choose Canva if:#

• You need design flexibility beyond presentations
• Visual creativity is more important than AI generation speed
• You create content across multiple formats (social, video, etc.)

Choose Pitch if:#

• You're on a sales team that collaborates on pitch decks
• CRM integration is valuable for your workflow
• Engagement analytics matter for tracking prospects

What Former Tome Users Should Consider#

If you used Tome regularly, consider these factors when choosing an alternative:

1. Data Portability

Tome's shutdown proved that proprietary platforms create risk. PowerPoint files are a universal standard that won't disappear if a company pivots. Tools that work inside PowerPoint or export cleanly to PowerPoint provide better long-term data security.

2. Workflow Fit

Tome attracted creative users with its modern aesthetics. If that visual style matters more than PowerPoint compatibility, Gamma is the closest match. If your work ultimately needs to exist in PowerPoint, tools that start there save significant time.

3. Feature Requirements

Tome never offered consulting-grade charts like waterfall or Mekko. If you need these capabilities, the switch is an opportunity to add functionality you didn't have before. Deckary and think-cell both offer these chart types.

4. Pricing Model

Tome used a freemium model that struggled to convert users to paid plans. Consider whether credit-based pricing (Gamma) or flat-rate pricing (Deckary, Beautiful.ai) fits your usage patterns better.

The Lesson from Tome's Shutdown#

Tome's failure offers a cautionary tale for anyone choosing presentation tools:

What went wrong:

• 20 million users generated under $4 million ARR
• Beautiful product that creative users loved but wouldn't pay for
• Proprietary format created lock-in that ultimately locked users out
• When the business model failed, users lost everything

What to look for in alternatives:

• Standard formats: Tools that work with PowerPoint or export cleanly reduce platform risk
• Clear value proposition: Tools that solve professional workflow problems (not just look cool) tend to survive
• Sustainable business model: Free tiers are nice, but the tool needs paying customers to stick around

Gamma has addressed some of Tome's export limitations. Deckary avoids the problem entirely by working inside PowerPoint. Both approaches are more sustainable than Tome's closed ecosystem.

Making the Switch: Migration Tips#

If you still have access to presentations from other platforms (or recovered Tome exports before the shutdown):

1. Audit your existing presentations Identify which ones you'll need going forward and in what format.

2. Start with one tool Test your chosen alternative on a real project, not a practice deck.

3. Allow learning time Each tool has different interaction patterns. Budget 2-3 weeks before the new workflow feels natural.

4. Create backup processes Whatever tool you choose, establish a process for keeping copies in standard formats.

Summary#

Key takeaways:

1. Tome shut down in April 2025 — the company pivoted to sales automation (Lightfield) while AngelList acquired the brand
2. Gamma is the closest aesthetic match — similar card format and AI generation, with better export options
3. Deckary solves the export problem — works inside PowerPoint so slides never need conversion
4. PowerPoint compatibility matters — most professional work ultimately needs to be in PowerPoint
5. Data portability prevents lock-in — standard formats protect against platform shutdowns
6. Pricing models vary significantly — credit-based (Gamma) vs. flat-rate (Deckary, Beautiful.ai) vs. subscription (Copilot)

The best Tome alternative depends on your primary use case:

• For Tome's aesthetic in a surviving platform: Gamma
• For PowerPoint-native AI generation: Deckary
• For automated design without AI complexity: Beautiful.ai
• For Google Slides users: Plus AI
• For Microsoft ecosystem users: Copilot