Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Google Slides VS Adobe InDesign

Compare Google Slides VS Adobe InDesign and see what are their differences

Google Slides logo Google Slides

Create a new presentation and edit it with others at the same time — from your computer, phone or tablet. Free with a Google account.

Adobe InDesign logo Adobe InDesign

Adobe InDesign is a desktop publishing software application.
  • Google Slides Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-01-17
  • Adobe InDesign Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-01-14

Google Slides features and specs

  • Accessibility
    Google Slides is cloud-based, which means you can access your presentations from any device with an internet connection.
  • Collaboration
    Multiple users can work on the same presentation in real-time, making it easier to collaborate with colleagues.
  • Cost
    Google Slides is free to use with a Google account, offering a cost-effective solution for presentations.
  • Integrations
    It integrates seamlessly with other Google Workspace applications like Google Docs, Sheets, and Drive, enhancing productivity.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, making it accessible for users of all skill levels.
  • Automatic Saving
    Changes are saved automatically in real-time, reducing the risk of data loss.

Possible disadvantages of Google Slides

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to other software like Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides may lack some advanced features and customization options.
  • Internet Dependency
    Although you can work offline with certain setups, Google Slides is primarily intended to be used online, which could be a limitation in environments with poor internet connectivity.
  • Storage Limitations
    Free Google accounts have limited storage space, which could be a constraint for large presentations with extensive media files.
  • Formatting Issues
    Sometimes, importing presentations from other software can result in formatting inconsistencies that require manual adjustments.
  • Limited Offline Functionality
    Offline functionality is available but limited compared to online use, and requires prior setup.
  • Dependency on Google Ecosystem
    Full functionality often requires integration with other Google products, which may not be desirable for users who prefer other ecosystems.

Adobe InDesign features and specs

  • Professional-Grade Tool
    Adobe InDesign offers a wide array of advanced tools and features that make it ideal for professional print and digital layout design.
  • Integration with Adobe Suite
    Seamlessly integrates with other Adobe products like Photoshop and Illustrator, enhancing workflow efficiency and providing a comprehensive design environment.
  • Extensive Typography Options
    Supports advanced typography and font options, allowing designers to create visually appealing and readable text layouts.
  • Versatile Output Formats
    Enables export to a variety of formats, including PDF, EPUB, and HTML, making it easy to adapt projects for print and digital use.
  • Strong Community and Support
    Has a large user base and extensive documentation, including tutorials and forums, which makes it easier for users to find support and learn new techniques.

Possible disadvantages of Adobe InDesign

  • High Cost
    The subscription-based pricing model can be expensive, especially for individuals or small businesses.
  • Complex Learning Curve
    The software's extensive features and capabilities can be overwhelming for beginners, requiring a significant time investment to master.
  • Resource-Intensive
    Requires a powerful computer to run smoothly, which might be a barrier for users with older or less capable hardware.
  • Limited Graphic Design Tools
    While it excels in layout design, InDesign's graphic design capabilities are limited compared to Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.
  • Periodic Updates
    Frequent updates can disrupt workflow and sometimes introduce bugs or compatibility issues with other software.

Analysis of Google Slides

Overall verdict

  • Google Slides is a robust and user-friendly tool that is well-suited for individuals, businesses, and educational settings seeking a collaborative and accessible presentation solution.

Why this product is good

  • Ease of use
    Google Slides offers an intuitive interface that is easy to navigate, making it accessible for users of all skill levels.
  • Integration
    Seamless integration with other Google Workspace apps like Google Docs and Google Sheets facilitates a smooth workflow.
  • Cloud storage
    Presentations are automatically saved in Google Drive, providing easy access and version control from any device.
  • Template variety
    A wide range of available templates helps users quickly create visually appealing presentations.
  • Collaboration features
    Real-time collaboration allows multiple users to work on the same presentation simultaneously, enhancing productivity and teamwork.

Recommended for

  • Students who need to create presentations for school projects.
  • Teachers delivering lectures and educational content.
  • Professionals requiring collaborative tools for team presentations.
  • Small to medium-sized businesses looking for cost-effective presentation software.
  • Individuals who prioritize cloud-based solutions and require access from multiple devices.

Analysis of Adobe InDesign

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Adobe InDesign is considered a good tool for desktop publishing and layout design.

Why this product is good

  • Adobe InDesign is widely regarded as a leading software for creating professional-looking layouts for print and digital media. It offers a range of advanced features such as precise layout adjustments, integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud apps, powerful typography tools, and support for various file formats. Its intuitive design makes it accessible for both beginners and professionals. Additionally, it provides regular updates and improvements, catering to the evolving needs of designers.

Recommended for

  • Graphic designers
  • Publishing professionals
  • Marketing and advertising agencies
  • Desktop publishers
  • Print and digital media designers
  • Students learning graphic design

Google Slides videos

How to use Google Slides and how it can help you.

Adobe InDesign videos

What is Adobe InDesign? A quick overview

More videos:

  • Review - 5 Best New Features in Adobe InDesign CC 2019

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Google Slides and Adobe InDesign)
Presentations
100 100%
0% 0
Design Tools
27 27%
73% 73
Slideshow
100 100%
0% 0
Graphic Design Software
33 33%
67% 67

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Google Slides and Adobe InDesign

Google Slides Reviews

The 6 Best Free PowerPoint Alternatives in 2022
The new OG in the presentation tool arena. Google Slides is the one-size-fits-all inheritor of the PowerPoint mantle. If you have used PowerPoint, you’ll already be pretty familiar with Google Slides. There’s nothing fancy, nothing unexpected. It’s just a reliable web-based presentation platform that’s greatest strength lies in the familiarity of it’s capabilities and the...
The 13 Best Presentation Apps in 2018
Google Slides really shines when it comes to collaboration. Share a link to your presentation, and anyone you want can add details to your slides, write presentation notes, and anything else you want in your presentation. Add comments, similar to Google Docs, to share feedback. You can track changes with Google Slides' detailed revision log, so you don't have to worry about...
Source: zapier.com
Polleverywehere: Live interactive audience participation
Download the Poll Everywhere app for PowerPoint, Keynote, or Google Slides and add polls to your existing presentation decks in just a few clicks.
Top 10 Best PowToon Alternatives (2019)
Google drive is already a very popular tool for its built-in office solutions. Google slides remains one of the best equivalents to PowerPoint and it remains one of the finest all-around solutions for building an online presentation. Google slides may not have all of the graphical effects or ease-of-use of some of the other items, it does produce an extremely stable, secure...

Adobe InDesign Reviews

10 Best Adobe Indesign Alternatives in 2025
Appy Pie Design stands out as a cloud-based AI design platform that caters to users looking to create high-quality designs without requiring advanced technical or design skills. It helps users create designs like images, videos and animations as well as offers a wide array of customizable templates, making it a great option for individuals, small businesses, and...
Source: www.appypie.com
8 Best Postcard Design Software for Custom Postcards
Verdict: Many famous graphic designers claim that Adobe InDesign is their main tool when they need to design postcards, flyers, magazines, websites, and other materials. The program tops the list of the best postcard design software due to a variety of fonts, extensive color palettes, and integration with Adobe Stock.
Source: fixthephoto.com

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Google Slides and Adobe InDesign, you can also consider the following products

Microsoft PowerPoint - Microsoft PowerPoint empowers you to create clean slideshow presentations and intricate pitch decks and gives you a powerful presentation maker to tell your story.

Canva - Canva is a graphic-design platform with a drag-and-drop interface to create print or visual content while providing templates, images, and fonts. Canva makes graphic design more straightforward and accessible regardless of skill level.

Prezi - Welcome to Prezi, the presentation software that uses motion, zoom, and spatial relationships to bring your ideas to life and make you a great presenter.

Sketch - Professional digital design for Mac.

Keynote - Keynote for Mac, iOS, and iCloud lets you make dazzling presentations. Anyone can collaborate — even on a PC. And it’s compatible with Apple Pencil.

Adobe Photoshop - Adobe Photoshop is a webtop application for editing images and photos online.