That Presentation You Keep Avoiding: Pick Your Deck Design Tool and Get It Done

One of the most common questions I get is: What tool should I use to design my presentation? Canva?

Google Slides? PowerPoint?  And honestly... it's a good question. Because most presentation problems people run into aren't about design; they're about: 

• Sharing or screen sharing struggles 

• Version control nightmares 

• It looking great on your screen but funky in the meeting 

• Or just wrestling the damn controls while everyone stares at you 

So let's break this down with a no-fluff comparison of the three most popular options. 

Quick Comparison 

Feature / Tool	PowerPoint	Google Slides	Canva
Sharing & Access	Email attachments, OneDrive	Easy sharing via link	Can be clunky if not a Canva user
Version Control	Easy to mess up (v3_final2.pptx)	Live updates, good tracking	Decent, but easy to overwrite
Looks Great When...	You present from your laptop	Web-based is consistent	Often gorgeous but slow to load
Controls & Navigation	Reliable but old-school	Intuitive and web-friendly	Can lag or misbehave
Offline Use	Yes	Limited	Limited
Design Templates	Tons, some outdated	Basic but customizable	Beautiful, drag-and-drop
Best For...	Big decks, heavy content	Team projects, quick updates	Visual storytelling, branding

This or that?

So Which One's Best? 

Depends on your situation. Here's my no-BS breakdown: 

• Use PowerPoint if you're deep in corporate, need complex animations, or want guaranteed offline reliability. Just be ready for "final-final-FINAL.pptx" syndrome. 

• Use Google Slides if you're collaborating with a team or presenting from random devices. It's not fancy, but it rarely fails. 

• Use Canva if you want to look like a designer without being one. Just test your deck before the meeting; it can lag or look wonky in live presentations. 

Pro Tips 

• Always test on the device you're presenting from. Don't assume it'll look the same everywhere. 

• Keep a PDF backup in case tech fails you. 

• Build for clarity, not just beauty. A great-looking slide that's confusing is still a bad slide. 

What We Recommend at FutureNova 

At FutureNova, we've seen every kind of deck under the sun; investor pitches, clinical trials, product demos, the works. Our take? 

• Use Google Slides for live collaboration and reliability. It's the most forgiving when you're switching devices, updating last-minute, or juggling multiple presenters. It's not glamorous, but it shows up when it counts. 

• Use Canva when design matters and the deck is mostly static. For brand storytelling, leave-behinds, or presentations where you're not toggling slides under pressure, Canva makes it look damn good. 

• Avoid PowerPoint unless you absolutely need complex formatting or offline access. It's powerful, sure, but too easy to break or fumble in a live setting. 

Bottom line: Prioritize clarity, test your setup, and don't let the tool get in the way of your message. Your slides are there to support your voice, not replace it. 

But honestly? The easiest way to cross "presentation" off your to-do list? 

Send it our way. At FutureNova Health, we take decks from "ugh, I need to fix this" to "ready to present" faster than you can debate platforms. No tool wrestling, no formatting nightmares, no version control chaos. 

Ready to stop wrestling with slide decks? Upload your deck to our PPT Portal and we'll return it as soon as tomorrow.