How do I get feedback on a presentation without the client editing my slides?

Give them comment-only access, not edit access. In Google Slides, share with 'Commenter' permission. In Canva, share with 'Can comment'. For Keynote or PowerPoint, the cleanest option is to export to PDF and share a link via a browser-based review tool — there's no way to edit a PDF, and they comment on the exact slide in their browser.

How do I get useful feedback instead of 'looks great'?

Ask a specific question alongside the slides — not 'what do you think?' but 'does slide 4 answer the question the client will ask in the room?' or 'is the pricing slide clear enough for someone who hasn't seen the numbers before?' Vague questions produce vague answers. One or two brief-anchored questions per round will get you more actionable notes than an open invitation to comment.

Can a client comment on my presentation without a Google account?

Not in Google Slides — the 'Commenter' link still requires a Google sign-in. For a client without a Google account, export the deck to PDF and share it via a tool that supports guest commenting. They open the link in any browser and comment as a guest — no signup, no account.

How do I collect feedback from multiple stakeholders on the same deck?

Share one link and make it the only place for notes. When one stakeholder emails you and another comments in Slides and a third marks up a downloaded copy, you end up reconciling three sources of feedback on your own. A single shared link means all reviewers see each other's notes — the person with final sign-off authority can also see where opinions conflict and resolve them in the thread rather than sending you contradictory instructions.

What's the best way to send a presentation for feedback before a meeting?

Send a link, not the file, at least 24 hours before the meeting. A file takes effort to open and annotate; a link opens in the browser with one tap. Include two or three specific questions so reviewers know what you need from them — and specify a deadline (e.g. 'by Thursday noon') so feedback arrives before you need to revise.

How do I get slide-by-slide feedback on a presentation?

The most reliable method is to export to PDF and share a review link — the client clicks the exact slide they're reacting to and pins a note right on it. Every note is automatically associated with the slide it came from. Email feedback almost never specifies 'slide 7' — clients say 'the pricing bit' or 'the one with the graph' and you spend time decoding which slide they meant.

drafty

How to get feedback on a presentation

Quick answer

To get useful feedback on a presentation, share a link — not the file. When a client downloads the deck, you end up reconciling two copies and guessing which slide their email referred to. Google Slides' 'Commenter' permission works for clients with a Google account; for everyone else, export to PDF and share a browser-based review link where they click the exact slide and pin a note with no account.

Step 1

Google Slides — share with 'Commenter' access

In Google Slides, click Share → change the recipient's permission from 'Editor' to 'Commenter'. They open the link, click any slide, and leave a note in a thread — they can't move or delete anything, and you're notified for each comment. You can reply and resolve threads inside Slides. The limit: the client needs a Google account to comment. If they don't have one (or are signed into a different Google workspace), they'll hit a permission wall and email you instead. Worth checking before you send.

Step 2

PowerPoint — use Review → New Comment before sending

In PowerPoint for Windows or Mac, open the Review tab and click New Comment to pin notes to specific slides before sharing. If you want the client to add their own, the reliable path is to upload to OneDrive and share a link with 'Can view' or 'Can edit' access — but a link with edit access lets them move your slides. To limit them to comments only, right-click the shared file in OneDrive, choose 'Manage access', and switch to 'Can comment' (this option exists in the web version of OneDrive, not always in the desktop app). Most freelancers hit this and just export to PDF instead — see step 4.

Step 3

Canva — share with 'Can comment' role

In Canva, click Share → set the role to 'Can comment' (not 'Can edit' or 'Can view'). Your client gets a link, hovers any element on any slide, and pins a note. Canva's comment system is solid for clients who are comfortable with it — each note floats above the element they clicked, and you see all comments in the right panel. The gap worth knowing: there's no thread-level resolve or reopen in Canva — once you've addressed a comment, you delete it rather than marking it done, which loses the paper trail. For a single round of feedback this works fine; for a design that goes through multiple revisions, the lack of history can make it hard to track what changed between rounds.

Step 4

Export to PDF and share a review link (works for any tool)

This works regardless of which tool you built the deck in — Keynote, Google Slides, Figma, Canva, or PowerPoint. Export the finished deck as a PDF (File → Download → PDF in Google Slides; File → Export → PDF in Keynote; Download as PDF in Canva). Then upload the PDF to a browser-based review tool and share the link. Your client opens it in any browser, clicks the exact slide, and pins a note right there — no Google account, no Canva login, no way to accidentally edit the source. All notes land in one threaded place. Tools that support this: Markup.io, GoVisually, and Drafty. The PDF export approach is also the one to use when your client will open the link on their phone — the slide renders cleanly without requiring them to have the original app installed.

The faster way

Need a client to sign off on a presentation deck before a pitch? Export it as a PDF, drop it into Drafty, and share the link. They click the slide they mean and pin a note right on it — no Google account, no way to edit your file. You see every comment in one thread, reply inline, push the revised version on the same URL. If they're on their phone at 9pm before the morning pitch, it still works.

Open a live demo

Questions

How do I get feedback on a presentation without the client editing my slides?: Give them comment-only access, not edit access. In Google Slides, share with 'Commenter' permission. In Canva, share with 'Can comment'. For Keynote or PowerPoint, the cleanest option is to export to PDF and share a link via a browser-based review tool — there's no way to edit a PDF, and they comment on the exact slide in their browser.
How do I get useful feedback instead of 'looks great'?: Ask a specific question alongside the slides — not 'what do you think?' but 'does slide 4 answer the question the client will ask in the room?' or 'is the pricing slide clear enough for someone who hasn't seen the numbers before?' Vague questions produce vague answers. One or two brief-anchored questions per round will get you more actionable notes than an open invitation to comment.
Can a client comment on my presentation without a Google account?: Not in Google Slides — the 'Commenter' link still requires a Google sign-in. For a client without a Google account, export the deck to PDF and share it via a tool that supports guest commenting. They open the link in any browser and comment as a guest — no signup, no account.
How do I collect feedback from multiple stakeholders on the same deck?: Share one link and make it the only place for notes. When one stakeholder emails you and another comments in Slides and a third marks up a downloaded copy, you end up reconciling three sources of feedback on your own. A single shared link means all reviewers see each other's notes — the person with final sign-off authority can also see where opinions conflict and resolve them in the thread rather than sending you contradictory instructions.
What's the best way to send a presentation for feedback before a meeting?: Send a link, not the file, at least 24 hours before the meeting. A file takes effort to open and annotate; a link opens in the browser with one tap. Include two or three specific questions so reviewers know what you need from them — and specify a deadline (e.g. 'by Thursday noon') so feedback arrives before you need to revise.
How do I get slide-by-slide feedback on a presentation?: The most reliable method is to export to PDF and share a review link — the client clicks the exact slide they're reacting to and pins a note right on it. Every note is automatically associated with the slide it came from. Email feedback almost never specifies 'slide 7' — clients say 'the pricing bit' or 'the one with the graph' and you spend time decoding which slide they meant.

Keep exploring

How to annotate a presentation How to get feedback on a Figma design How to get feedback on a mockup Client feedback tool

Stop emailing files back and forth.

Share one link. They comment on the exact spot — no account, always the current version.

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