With the AI Slides 5.0 launch, we ran a series of tests across modes to see how credit usage and output quality compare. All runs used the same source document with no post-generation refinement.
What the numbers look like
Standard, Creative, no skill: 457 credits, 7 slides (~65 per slide, ~2–3 min). Genspark asked 5 clarifying questions upfront and drafted a sample slide for approval before generating the rest. Clean output. This run used 3:4 format for a LinkedIn carousel, though Creative Mode also supports 16:9, 9:16, and 1:1.
Ultra, Creative, no skill: 557 credits, 5 slides (~111 per slide, ~4–5 min). 4 questions upfront, smooth process. Same 3:4 format.
Standard, Professional, skill + given content: 524 credits, 6 slides (~87 per slide, ~2–3 min). Only 2 follow-up questions. After finishing, Genspark provided a detailed breakdown of every slide including visuals, content, and a quality verification step.
Ultra, Professional, skill + given content: 860 credits, 10 slides (~86 per slide, ~4–5 min). Table of contents, section dividers, data spread across multiple slides. Visually the most polished output of all runs, though the post-generation breakdown was lighter than the Standard runs.
Standard vs. Ultra
Standard is more credit-efficient per run and came with better post-generation documentation. Ultra produces more polished, structurally complete slides. The credits-per-slide difference is smaller than it looks once you account for slide count — roughly 65–87 per slide for Standard vs. 86–111 for Ultra. If you're not planning to refine heavily, Ultra is worth it for the quality bump.
Two things that made a real difference
Build with a vision before you open AI Slides. Use AI Chat to summarize your content or map out the deck structure first, then bring that into AI Slides. It reduces re-iterations, which is where credits add up.
If you have a specific visual direction, create a skill first. Upload reference images or generate them with AI Image, and add details about your brand, tone, and project type. Genspark follows the references closely and asks smarter questions upfront. For quick drafts, skip it.
Two features worth knowing
Guide Mode walks you through five phases before generating: Strategy, Substance, Structure, Design, and Build. Best for high-stakes presentations like board decks, client proposals, or investor pitches.
Creative Mode goes beyond slides. Posters, social carousels, 9:16 mobile stories, 1:1 square posts — each slide is a fully rendered image. Credits are higher per slide, but the visual output is in a different category from Professional mode entirely.
You can track exactly where your credits are going at genspark.ai/credit-usage.