Of the 3 AI design and presentation tools we rank, Canva is our top pick at 8.6 out of 10. If you are new to this, start with Gamma. Canva: Free plan for one person. Canva paid plans: Canva Pro is US$144 a year for one person.
These tools get you from a blank page to something presentable quickly. They won't replace a designer, but they'll stop you staring at an empty slide.
Last checked : free plans and prices on each maker's own pricing page.
Every tool at a glance. Select a name to jump to our full review.
| Rank | Tool | Score | Best for | Learn it free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CanvaCanva | 8.6 / 10 | Best for beginners | Maker's own tutorials |
| 2 | GammaGamma | 8.0 / 10 | Best for beginners | Maker's own tutorials |
| 3 | Adobe ExpressAdobe | 7.6 / 10 | Best for beginners | Maker's own tutorials |
What each tool is good for, the catch, what it costs and the free course that teaches it.
Canva
The easiest way to make something look designed. Its AI features sit on top of templates most people already know.
No free course we'd recommend yet. You'll learn this one fastest by using it, and the maker's own tutorials are the best place to start.
Gamma
Turns an outline into a full slide deck in moments. It's great for getting past the blank page, as long as you rewrite the content.
No free course we'd recommend yet. You'll learn this one fastest by using it, and the maker's own tutorials are the best place to start.
Adobe
A simpler Adobe tool for everyday graphics, with Firefly image generation built in. A solid Canva alternative.
No free course we'd recommend yet. You'll learn this one fastest by using it, and the maker's own tutorials are the best place to start.
We haven't found a free course here that's good enough to recommend yet. Until we do, the makers' own tutorials are the best place to learn, and these courses teach the AI basics that carry across every tool.
What large language models can actually do for you and your team, without writing a line of code. Andrew Ng teaches it in 6 hours on Coursera, certificate paid.
The gentlest way in: a University of Helsinki course with no code and no maths beyond school level. It takes about 24 to 48 hours and the certificate is free.
Andrew Ng's non-technical primer on what AI is good for and how to plan around it at work. It takes 7 hours on Coursera, and the certificate is paid.
Our top pick is Canva (8.6/10), followed by Gamma and Adobe Express. The easiest way to make something look designed. Its AI features sit on top of templates most people already know.
Start with Canva, then try Gamma. The easiest way to make something look designed. Its AI features sit on top of templates most people already know.
Every tool here is built for beginners. Experienced users will still get the most out of Canva.
Lots of people use the same templates. Change fonts and colours so yours doesn't look generic.
We haven't found a free course good enough to recommend yet. Until we do, the makers' own tutorials are the best place to learn.
Canva, Gamma and Adobe Express have a free plan or free version.
Every course we link is free and reviewed. Browse the full catalogue to find one at your level.
