"Can we just use a Slidesgo template and tweak it a bit? That should be good enough, right?"
This question came from a marketing lead at a mid-sized tech company during a project discussion with our Creative Director. It wasn’t the first time someone had suggested a Slidesgo template as a quick fix, and it definitely won’t be the last. With deadlines looming and limited design expertise in-house, many professionals gravitate toward free or low-cost templates like Slidesgo.
Our Creative Director responded candidly: “Slidesgo can work for basic, low-stakes presentations. But if you’re aiming for something impactful, persuasive, or tailored to your brand’s story, you’re asking for a lot from a template that thousands of others might also be using.”
This conversation got us thinking. As a remote presentation design agency, we’ve seen countless situations where clients started with a Slidesgo template and ended up feeling underwhelmed or stuck. We believe in offering honest, actionable advice, so in this blog, we’ll dive into the good, the bad, and the alternatives to using Slidesgo templates.
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The Good: What Slidesgo Gets Right
Let’s give credit where it’s due. Slidesgo has become immensely popular for good reasons.
Ease of Use
Slidesgo is designed for anyone, even those with zero design experience. The templates come preloaded with layouts, icons, and placeholder content that make it easy to plug and play.
Variety of Options
From corporate decks to education-focused slides, Slidesgo offers a range of themes for different purposes. For quick and straightforward needs, the variety is a bonus.
Cost-Effective
Many templates are free, and even the premium options are priced within reach for individuals or small teams. If your budget is tight, this can be an attractive starting point.
Time-Saving
If you’re crunched for time and need something presentable in an hour, Slidesgo can be a lifesaver.
For internal team meetings or low-stakes presentations where design isn’t a priority, Slidesgo can do the job. But here’s the catch: when you rely on these templates for high-stakes presentations, you’re likely to encounter some serious drawbacks.
The Bad: Where Slidesgo Falls Short
Despite the convenience and ease of use that Slidesgo templates offer, they come with significant limitations that can seriously undermine both the quality and impact of your presentation.
Overused Designs
One of the most obvious drawbacks of using Slidesgo templates is the sheer volume of people relying on them. Since many of the templates are free or low-cost, they’re widely accessible, which means your competition could be using the exact same design for their pitch, product demo, or corporate meeting. This isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about your message. When you use a template that’s been seen time and time again, it immediately diminishes the uniqueness of your presentation. In the fast-paced world of business, standing out is crucial, and relying on a widely used design makes you blend in rather than shine.
Lack of Customization
At first glance, the Slidesgo templates may seem like a convenient shortcut, with their pre-built layouts, colors, and placeholders. However, once you dig deeper, you’ll realize the customization options are far more limited than you’d expect. Adapting these templates to align with your specific brand guidelines or crafting a tailored narrative can quickly become a cumbersome and frustrating process. The rigid structure of the templates doesn’t allow for flexibility, leaving you with limited control over how your content is presented. This can result in a disjointed presentation that doesn’t fully reflect your brand or effectively communicate your message.
Mediocre Visual Hierarchy
Effective design is all about guiding the viewer’s eye and helping them process information in a clear, organized way. Unfortunately, many Slidesgo templates fail to achieve this with their cluttered visuals. They often pack too much into a single slide—bold, competing colors, distracting decorative fonts, and an overload of icons and images. Instead of enhancing the presentation, these design elements pull attention away from your message, making it harder for the audience to focus on what’s most important. When your visual hierarchy is weak, you risk confusing or overwhelming your viewers rather than leading them smoothly through your content.
Not Designed for Persuasion
If your presentation is part of a high-stakes business pitch, investor meeting, or strategic planning session, you need more than just pretty slides. You need a narrative structure that builds momentum, evokes emotion, and, most importantly, drives action. That’s where Slidesgo templates fall short. While they may look visually appealing, they don’t have the built-in persuasive design elements required for such presentations. High-converting decks demand specific storytelling techniques, psychological principles, and a logical flow—elements that are carefully crafted with intent and cannot be fully achieved with a generic template. Slidesgo’s offerings lack the nuances that a professional designer would incorporate to move your audience toward a decision.
Brand Dilution
Lastly, one of the most glaring issues with using Slidesgo templates is that they are not designed to reflect your unique brand identity. Templates, by their very nature, are one-size-fits-all. While they may work for generic purposes, they fail to capture the specific essence of your brand—your tone, your voice, your values, and your visual identity. Using a pre-made template for a key presentation is like showing up to a meeting in someone else’s uniform. It doesn’t fit, it doesn’t look right, and it certainly doesn’t represent you in the best possible light. This is especially problematic when you’re presenting your company to potential investors or clients. You want them to see you as professional, polished, and distinctive—not as just another company that cut corners with a free template.
These pitfalls often mean that what starts as a “quick and easy” solution ends up taking longer to fix—or worse, results in a presentation that fails to achieve its purpose.
What's the alternative?
Partner with our team—an expert presentation design agency that specializes in crafting custom presentations from scratch. We don’t just apply a generic template; we take the time to deeply understand your audience, goals, and brand. Our process includes comprehensive research to ensure your message resonates, your visuals are aligned with your brand identity, and every slide is strategically designed to achieve your specific objectives. Whether you’re pitching to investors, launching a product, or training your team, we create presentations that are compelling, impactful, and uniquely yours.
Why Taking the Right Approach Matters
Your presentation isn’t just a collection of slides; it’s a reflection of your brand, your vision, and your expertise. Using a template like Slidesgo might seem convenient, but it’s a shortcut that can cost you in terms of credibility and impact. Imagine pitching to investors or addressing key stakeholders with a deck that feels generic and uninspired. That’s not the impression you want to leave.
On the flip side, a well-designed presentation communicates professionalism, builds trust, and reinforces your message. Whether you’re closing a deal, educating an audience, or rallying your team, investing in a strong presentation pays off in ways a free template never will.
Slidesgo templates are a decent option for low-stakes, internal presentations or as a quick fix. But when it comes to critical moments that define your brand or business, they’re simply not enough. You deserve a presentation that stands out, tells your story, and leaves a lasting impression.
Get help from our team
If you find this a challenging task and need professional help, it’s very easy to get started with us. Just click on the “Start a Project” button on our website, make the payment, and get started. If you’d prefer to talk first, reach out to us through the contact section of our website.
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