Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
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The verdict on

Google Slides

60
User verdict / 100 High confidence Divided

Google Slides is a free and generally well-regarded presentation tool, but its mobile app, particularly on iPad, is frequently criticized for lacking essential features and experiencing significant performance issues, making it less functional than the web version.

4.7★ lifetime (402,332) Free + in-app purchases since 2014 by Google LLC updated 0.1 mo ago recent negative 39% 120 reviews across 4 regions
Missing Features Performance Issues iPad/Mobile Usability Presentation/Slideshow Mode Issues Image & Media Insertion
5★346
4★117
3★88
2★90
1★259
recent reviews across 4 regions, vs the 4.7★ lifetime average

Google Slides is a popular and free presentation application, highly valued for its ease of use and accessibility on desktop. However, recent user reviews indicate a significant decline in the mobile app's functionality and performance, especially on iPads, with many users reporting missing features, bugs, and general unresponsiveness.

What users like

  • Free to use and accessible, making it a cost-effective alternative to paid presentation software.R6R334
  • Effective for simple presentations and quick edits on the go.R5R27
  • Good for creativity and organizing ideas.R12R15R56
  • Helpful for school projects and teaching.R18R25R32

What users complain about

  • Mobile app, especially on iPad, is missing many features available on the web/desktop version, such as transitions, animations, background customization, and video/GIF insertion.R1R19R41R53
  • Frequent performance issues including lagging, freezing, unresponsiveness, and difficulty with editing or selecting elements.R4R8R10R28
  • Users report difficulty accessing or opening files, including.PPTX files and larger presentations.R17R54R95R153
  • Issues with image insertion, including inability to use Google Images, stock images, or images from Google Drive, and images disappearing.R1R87R108R178
  • The app often redirects users from the browser version, even when they prefer the more feature-rich web experience.R35R64R84
  • Slideshow or presentation mode often fails to work or display properly on mobile devices.R40R86R112R191

Latest update · v1.2026.27101

What the developer says changed (the verdict above weighs this against what reviewers report):

* Security improvements, bug fixes, and performance improvements.

Recurring themes

Missing Features negative
Many users complain that the mobile app lacks crucial features available on the desktop/web version, such as transitions, animations, video/GIF insertion, background customization, and advanced editing tools. This makes the app feel limited and less useful for serious work.R1R19R41R53
Performance Issues negative
A significant number of recent reviews highlight problems with the app's performance, including frequent freezing, lagging, unresponsiveness, and difficulty with basic editing actions like tapping text boxes or resizing images. This contradicts the developer's notes about performance improvements.R4R8R10R28
iPad/Mobile Usability negative
Many users specifically call out the iPad and mobile versions as being difficult to use, buggy, or 'useless' for creation and editing. They often recommend using a computer or the web browser instead due to the app's limitations and poor user interface on touchscreens.R1R10R19R21
Presentation/Slideshow Mode Issues negative
Users report problems with the app's ability to display presentations, with some experiencing white screens, inability to open slideshows, or issues with looping playback.R40R54R86R112
Image & Media Insertion negative
A recurring issue is the inability to easily insert images from Google Images, stock photos, or Google Drive, with some users only able to use photos from their device's library. There are also complaints about not being able to add videos or GIFs.R1R18R70R84

Who it's for

Google Slides is for users who need a free, accessible tool for simple presentation creation, organization of ideas, or quick edits, especially if they primarily use the desktop web version R6R27R56. It is particularly useful for students and educators for basic school projects R18R32. It is NOT for users who require advanced editing features, smooth performance, or reliable functionality on mobile devices, especially iPads, for complex presentations R19R21R41.

Evidence note: The recent reviews skew heavily negative, focusing on mobile app deficiencies. While the lifetime rating is high, the recent sentiment indicates a downward trajectory for the mobile experience, particularly on iPad. The developer's notes mention 'bug fixes and performance improvements,' but recent reviews directly contradict these claims, with numerous reports of ongoing bugs, freezing, and lagging.

Frequently asked

Is Google Slides good for creating presentations on an iPad or phone?
No, many recent reviews indicate that Google Slides on iPad and phone is significantly limited compared to the computer version, lacking features like transitions, animations, and proper image insertion, and is often buggy and slow R1R19R21R30.
Can I add videos or GIFs to my presentations using the Google Slides mobile app?
No, multiple users report that the Google Slides mobile app does not allow the insertion of videos or GIFs, a feature that is available on the desktop version R20R70R84R112.
Does Google Slides work well with PowerPoint files?
Some users report difficulty accessing .PPTX files and large PowerPoint presentations within the Google Slides app R17R95.
Is the Google Slides app free?
Yes, Google Slides is free to use, though it does offer in-app purchases R6R334.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R6] 5/5 · US Best presentation program: Love to use all Google apps they are free and easy to use. Don’t have to pay expensive plans
  2. [R334] 3/5 · GB Great, but it does have flaws.: The reason I gave this a three star review is because it sometimes completely freezes and I know it’s not a screen freeze because I can tap on some things. It also doesn’t have functions that I would like it to have, including coloring the full slide. But otherwise it’s a great app if you’re looking for an app to make a slide show on that’s pay free.
  3. [R5] 5/5 · US Good app: It gets the job done and it's on the go
  4. [R27] 5/5 · US Say it with Google Slides: I absolutely love Google Slides. Either desktop or mobile device, this app is easy and flexible. That’s important at age 61.
  5. [R12] 5/5 · US 5 STARS: This is why i give 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I give 5 stars cuz this is a really fun & cool app cuz you can be really creative
  6. [R15] 5/5 · US I ❤️ it.: I used it for work, I use it for creativity times, and inspirational times.
  7. [R56] 5/5 · US helps ideas: this app helps me get ideas out of my head and on my phone forever
  8. [R18] 4/5 · US VERY GOOD FOR SCHOOL: I think you should add google search to the app it’s pretty annoying to go to safari and have to go back to slide’s to just add a image
  9. [R25] 5/5 · US Spanish Follow up Slide: An excellent resource for follow up and study
  10. [R32] 5/5 · US Excelente herramienta: Google Slides es una herramienta muy útil para la enseñanza de la Palabra de Dios, ya que permite presentar estudios bíblicos de manera clara, visual y organizada. A través de imágenes, versículos, mapas, gráficos y puntos clave, facilita la comprensión y retención del mensaje bíblico por parte de la congregación. Además, su facilidad de uso y acceso desde diferentes disposi
  11. [R1] 1/5 · US Trash on iPad: I can’t use google images or stock images I thought google slides on my work iPad would be useful but no it’s not
  12. [R19] 1/5 · US Useless: COMPLETELY USELESS. iPad mode doest work. Worst app ever. Copy of PowerPoint. Ugh.
  13. [R41] 1/5 · US Can’t edit properly in app, you must have a computer: I hate that you can’t add transitions or do advanced editing in the app. You have to have a computer which is massively inconvenient.
  14. [R53] 1/5 · US No transitions: I have no transitions and animations in google slides app… I looked for them everywhere but nothing…
  15. [R4] 3/5 · US Idk read: It's ok sometimes it’s really glitchy
  16. [R8] 4/5 · US Needs a fix: In the past Google Slides has performed flawlessly. Recently while trying to set up a slide presentation on my phone or on an external device, the app continues “loading “ and never displays.
  17. [R10] 4/5 · US Becoming more and more unresponsive: I have loved Google Slides on the iPad for quick and easy slide creation or editing for a long time. Recently the app has routinely become stuck, and refuses to make edits available. “Double click to edit” and it doesn’t edit. Inserting an image from photos and the corners aren’t draggable to resize. These issues affect the seamless nature the app used to have
  18. [R28] 3/5 · US Slow: It would freeze a lot and highlighting gets annoying, except that it’s GREAT!
  19. [R17] 1/5 · US iPad issues: Can’t figure out how to access a .PPTX file
  20. [R54] 1/5 · US Frustration: Why can’t I open the slide show
  21. [R95] 3/5 · US Large presentations: It’s not allowing me to open larger power point presentations
  22. [R153] 3/5 · US Difficult to use on IPad: I’m trying to make a presentation but I am stuck in viewer mode I have fully shut the app and closed and opened the slides it’s not working also I can’t find the sticker button at all!
  23. [R87] 1/5 · US Kms: This app actually fills me with so much rage why cant i add photos its so annoying fix your stupid app its actually unusable
  24. [R108] 3/5 · US My review: I really like it it’s just that you can’t look up pictures that aren’t about you but pictures of things
  25. [R178] 3/5 · US Can’t upload doc images: Hate using this on my iPad Pro because it doesn’t let me use the Google Drive images I have to add onto my slides. I can only do this on PC somehow and not my iPad :/
  26. [R35] 2/5 · US Slow annoying not cooperative: I will always use canva this is the most annoying app if you just use it on safari way easier but its just so frustrating I cant get my work done either stick with safari or canva dont get the app.
  27. [R64] 1/5 · US too many things not added: no reason to unadd so many things. tried to go onto my browser to use word art but everything redirects me to this god awful app. add more stuff because this app is lackluster and useless without it
  28. [R84] 2/5 · US can you please fix this?: Whenever I go into the browser for slides, it always sends me into the app. It’s really annoying. Also can you please allow us to add videos and pictures on iPad?
  29. [R40] 2/5 · US Such a stupid app: Unable to loop playback in app.
  30. [R86] 2/5 · US Google slides is great using a computer but not on iPhone: I had the app since I started school and make my slides on my computer and tried to use the app to access them to study the slides. But every time I try to click presentation, it shows a white screen and it makes it useless. I made a total of 6 different slides for two semesters and it showed a white screen when I click presentation. I lov
  31. [R112] 3/5 · US Cool: Google slides is a great app to make presentations but there are 2 things that I do not like no gifs and you can’t put it in slideshow mode is that just me
  32. [R191] 3/5 · US Not Working Anymore: As of about two weeks ago, this app is good for editing only and will no longer display properly when trying to present. I use this as a teacher almost everyday and this is a huge inconvenience. I have checked with IT and ran updates on both my device and the app to confirm the issue is not on my end. I hope whatever the issue is can be addressed soon! (Feb. 12, 2026)
  33. [R21] 2/5 · US Bad for editing, good for presenting: Their web based functionality is perfect, I’m not sure what got lost in translation to the app but it was miserable trying to create a presentation. I wasn’t even getting fancy, just updating text.
  34. [R70] 1/5 · US No gifs no videos?: Cmon dude I thought that the mobile version could add videos and pictures instead of putting pictures I took
  35. [R30] 2/5 · US On IPad…..: The IPad version is terrible it is like the Chromebook’s version watered down and you can’t even use some features
  36. [R20] 4/5 · US Please add the option to insert videos!!: It's always very annoying to have to wait until I can use my PC in order to insert videos

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store