Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Google Slides vs Canva

Google Slides 4.7★ · Free + IAP 60
Winner Canva
Canva 4.9★ · Free + IAP 85

Canva is the better choice for most users due to its broader design capabilities and more positive user experience, especially for creative projects, while Google Slides struggles with mobile app functionality.

Full reviews: Google Slides · Canva

Canva offers a more versatile and user-friendly design experience with a vast array of templates and tools, though many advanced features are paywalled. Google Slides, while free and integrated with Google's ecosystem, is frequently criticized for its limited and glitchy mobile app functionality, especially on iPads, making it less suitable for on-the-go editing.

Head to head

Features and Functionality (Mobile App) edge: CanvaR1R4R10R12
Google Slides Google Slides users frequently report that the mobile app, especially on iPad, is severely lacking in features compared to the web version, with many essential tools like transitions, animations, background customization, and video insertion missing or difficult to access R1R10R13. Users also struggle with basic tasks like accessing images, editing text boxes, and opening larger PowerPoint files R1R4R12.
Canva Canva offers a wide range of design tools and templates, making it suitable for various creative projects beyond just presentations . However, many advanced features and premium assets are locked behind a paid subscription R60R69R75. Some users also report issues with specific features like AI tools and video editing .
Ease of Use edge: CanvaR10R16R19R31
Google Slides Many Google Slides users find the mobile app difficult to use, especially on iPad and phone, citing issues with the UI, touchscreen compatibility, editing text, and navigating slides R10R16R31. Some users prefer using the web version on a computer due to these mobile app limitations R10R19.
Canva Canva is generally praised for being easy to use and intuitive, allowing users to be creative without extensive graphic design skills . However, some beginners find it hard to navigate or not intuitive without prior experience .
Reliability and Performance tieR3R6R17R23
Google Slides Google Slides users report frequent issues with the app being glitchy, slow, freezing, or unresponsive R3R6R17R23. Specific problems include images disappearing, edits not saving, and the app getting stuck on loading screens R17R23.
Canva Canva users also experience reliability issues, including the app not working, loading problems, glitches, and designs disappearing . Video editing in particular is cited as slow, glitchy, and prone to freezing .
Price and Value edge: Google SlidesR11R60R69R70
Google Slides Google Slides is widely appreciated for being free and easy to use, especially for those already in the Google ecosystem R11.
Canva Canva's free version is seen as having limited options, with many desirable features and assets requiring a paid Pro account R60R69R75. Some users feel pressured to pay and criticize the high or increasing subscription prices R70.
Pick Google Slides if

Pick Google Slides if you primarily need a free, basic presentation tool for simple tasks, are already deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem, and mainly use it on a desktop browser rather than the mobile app R11R19.

Pick Canva if

Pick Canva if you need a versatile design tool for a wide range of creative projects beyond just presentations, value a user-friendly interface for design, and are willing to pay for a subscription to unlock its full potential .

Evidence note: Google Slides' reviews are heavily skewed towards negative experiences with its mobile app, particularly on iPad, often comparing it unfavorably to the desktop version or other apps. Canva's negative reviews frequently revolve around its pricing model and the limitations of its free tier, as well as some specific feature issues.

Frequently asked

Is Google Slides good for iPad?
Based on user reviews, Google Slides is generally not considered good for iPad, with many users reporting it to be "useless," "terrible," "bogus and scam," and lacking essential features and proper functionality compared to the desktop version R1R7R9R13.
Is Canva free to use?
Canva offers a free version, but many desirable features, templates, and graphics are locked behind a paid 'Pro' subscription, leading some users to feel that the free options are very limited and that the app pushes users to pay R60R69R75R78.
Why is Google Slides lagging on my device?
Users report that Google Slides can be slow, glitchy, and freeze frequently, with issues like typing not registering, images disappearing, and the app getting stuck on loading screens, especially on mobile devices R3R6R17R23.

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. [R1] Google Slides 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
  2. [R4] Google Slides 1/5 · US iPad issues: Can’t figure out how to access a .PPTX file
  3. [R10] Google Slides 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.
  4. [R12] Google Slides 3/5 · US I like this: The thing is always a start like I can’t get anything on my board
  5. [R16] Google Slides 1/5 · US horrible: utterly garbage ui compatibility with touchscreen
  6. [R19] Google Slides 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.
  7. [R31] Google Slides 1/5 · US Lagging: So hard to edit slide
  8. [R3] Google Slides 3/5 · US Idk read: It's ok sometimes it’s really glitchy
  9. [R6] Google Slides 3/5 · US Slow: It would freeze a lot and highlighting gets annoying, except that it’s GREAT!
  10. [R17] Google Slides 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.
  11. [R23] Google Slides 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
  12. [R11] Google Slides 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
  13. [R60] Google Slides 3/5 · GB Laggy: Takes way too long to register typing and basically any other command
  14. [R69] Canva 3/5 · US (:: I love it it’s just I hate the way you put patterns over the pictures and graphics to get people to get pro I don’t think that’s necessary
  15. [R70] Canva 1/5 · US GREEDY THIEVES!: claimed a FREE 14 day trial, got charged full price immediately. at the end of the TRIAL, i was charged full price AGAIN. they refuse to refund because my subscription is through apple and not canva directly. I’ve been supporting this app for YEARS when it was $7/month back in 2020 and the downhill this app has taken is despicable honestly. i will NEVER support this app ever again
  16. [R7] Google Slides 1/5 · US Useless: COMPLETELY USELESS. iPad mode doest work. Worst app ever. Copy of PowerPoint. Ugh.
  17. [R9] Google Slides 3/5 · US Eehhhh: You can’t use on iPad
  18. [R13] Google Slides 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
  19. [R75] Canva 3/5 · US 3/5 Review: Love this app but only worth it if you have a pro account and that sucks.
  20. [R78] Canva 3/5 · US Kinda: This is .. a good game . But you can only use the ones that don’t have little crowns 👑and that means those little crowns you have to PAY for . And im a kid. So I can’t pay for those little crowns . But anyway you have a LIMIT on EVERYTHING and then you have to Pay for more time !!!other than the price , it’s an ok app you can make pictures and videos but you don’t get the really good ones b

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