Buyer's guide · Templates

Best places to get ready-made business templates and toolkits in 2026 (Excel, Sheets, Word, PowerPoint): 16 compared

Vendor facts checked · 16 options

The short answer

For single free spreadsheets, Vertex42, Microsoft Create, Google’s template gallery and Smartsheet cover most needs. For slides, Slidesgo and Envato Elements offer large subscriptions. For a complete working system — a guide plus linked trackers and templates for one job such as HR set-up or a project — buy a toolkit such as a Bodhih Pro Kit from $7.

A template saves a blank page; a toolkit saves the thinking. Free template sites are excellent for one spreadsheet or one slide layout. When the job is bigger — set up HR for a small business, run a project, launch a product — you also need the method, and files that work together. The sources below cover both.

Prices and licence terms were read from each provider’s own pages on 24 October 2026. Licences matter: several free sources do not allow commercial use or redistribution, so read the terms before you use a template with clients.

How we built this list

  • Included: sources where a small business, manager, HR or L&D professional can get Excel, Google Sheets, Word, PowerPoint or similar business templates today.
  • Checked for each: formats, price model, and licence terms as published.
  • Prices shown only when published by the provider; otherwise “set by seller” or “see provider”.
  • Order: Bodhih is ours, so it is listed first and labelled. The rest are alphabetical. This is a shortlist with facts, not a ranking.

Disclosure: Bodhih publishes this guide and sells the product marked “Our product”. We receive nothing from the other providers listed, and links to them are not affiliate links.

Comparison at a glance

#NameWhat you getPriceLicence note
1Bodhih Pro Kits, PowerPoint decks and Trainer Toolkits (our product)E-book + linked workbooks and templates per job; editable decksKits from $7 (₹199); decks $1.49 (₹99)Decks: single-user licence; terms on each product page
2Canva templatesDesign templates edited in CanvaFree plan; Pro paidCommercial use in designs; no resale
3Envato ElementsUnlimited-download asset subscriptionFrom $16.50/month (annual)Per-project commercial licence
4Etsy digital downloadsIndependent sellers’ filesSet by sellerPer listing
5Google Docs, Sheets and Slides template galleryBuilt-in Google templatesIncluded with Google accountGoogle terms
6GumroadCreator-made digital productsSet by creatorPer creator
7HubSpot free templatesMarketing and sales templatesFreeSee HubSpot terms
8Microsoft CreateOffice templatesMany freeMicrosoft terms
9Notion MarketplaceNotion workspacesFree and paidPer creator
10SHRM templates and samplesHR forms and policiesMembershipMembers only
11SlideModelSlide diagrams and templatesFrom $24.90 (1 day)See EULA
12SlidesgoPresentation templatesFree (3/month); $35.99/yearAttribution on free plan
13Smartsheet template articlesProject templatesFreeNot stated
14Template.netLarge document and design libraryFrom $11/month (yearly)Not stated on pricing page
15Vertex42Excel and Word templatesMostly freeCheck each template’s licence
1624Slides templatesSlide templates; design serviceFree; design from $11/slideInternal business use
  1. Our product · Bodhih Training Solutions (Bengaluru, India)

    1. Bodhih Pro Kits, PowerPoint decks and Trainer Toolkits

    Best for: Managers, HR and L&D teams and small-business owners who want a complete system for one job: a practical e-book plus linked Excel/Sheets workbooks, fillable PDFs and Word templates.

    Watch out for: Paid downloads (no free tier), and digital files are not refundable once downloaded except for duplicate charges or files that cannot be fixed.

    Pro Kits223 kits for work and life, each a 45-65 page e-book plus 10-20 tools (Excel/Google Sheets workbooks with formulas, fillable PDFs, Word templates); from ₹199 / $7, most $15-$39
    Bundles33 bundles of four to ten kits on one theme at about half the separate price
    PowerPoint decksEditable .pptx decks on business, leadership, HR and AI topics: ₹99 incl. GST or $1.49 each; sets of ten ₹599 or $7.99
    Trainer ToolkitsComplete training programmes in 14 editable Word and PowerPoint files: ₹2,999 incl. GST or $29
    DeliveryInstant download, permanent emailed link, automatic invoice; no account needed

    See Bodhih Pro Kits, PowerPoint decks and Trainer Toolkits on Bodhih · Sources: bodhih.org, bodhih.org, bodhih.org

  2. Canva

    2. Canva templates

    Best for: Non-designers producing branded handouts, certificates and slides quickly.

    Watch out for: Pro elements are watermarked on the free plan, and Canva content cannot be resold as standalone templates.

    FormatsPresentations, documents, social posts, certificates; exports include PPTX and PDF
    PriceFree plan; Canva Pro is paid (see provider for current price)
    LicenceFree and Pro content can be used commercially within designs; no reselling content as is

    Canva website · Source: canva.com

  3. Envato

    3. Envato Elements

    Best for: Agencies and L&D designers who need a high volume of presentation and design assets.

    Watch out for: After you cancel you cannot use items in new projects, and each project needs its own licence registration.

    Formats29M+ assets including presentation templates, graphics, fonts and video
    PriceCore $16.50 a month billed annually ($39 monthly); Plus and Ultimate tiers higher
    LicenceCommercial use including client work, licensed per project; no resale

    Envato website · Source: elements.envato.com

  4. Etsy (independent sellers)

    4. Etsy digital downloads

    Best for: Niche or attractively designed trackers and planners from independent creators.

    Watch out for: Digital items cannot be returned or cancelled, and quality and licence vary by seller.

    FormatsExcel and Google Sheets trackers, Canva and Word templates
    PriceSet by each seller
    LicenceSet per listing by the seller

    Etsy (independent sellers) website · Source: help.etsy.com

  5. Gumroad (creator storefronts)

    6. Gumroad

    Best for: Specialist templates bought directly from independent creators and consultants.

    Watch out for: No central quality control; refunds and licences depend on each seller.

    FormatsSpreadsheet, Notion and slide templates among other digital products
    PriceSet by each creator

    Gumroad (creator storefronts) website · Source: gumroad.com

  6. HubSpot

    7. HubSpot free templates

    Best for: Marketing, sales and customer-success teams that want free planning and reporting templates.

    Watch out for: Downloads go through HubSpot offer pages, and the range leans to marketing and sales.

    Formats285 template resources in Excel, Google Sheets, Docs, Slides, PowerPoint, Word and PDF
    PriceFree

    HubSpot website · Source: hubspot.com

  7. Microsoft

    8. Microsoft Create

    Best for: Teams on Microsoft 365 that want templates which open natively in Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

    Watch out for: Some templates and AI features need a Microsoft 365 subscription, and the free/premium split is not clearly labelled.

    FormatsWord, Excel and PowerPoint templates (budgets, Gantt charts, trackers, presentations)
    PriceMany free with a Microsoft account; some premium

    Microsoft website · Source: create.microsoft.com

  8. Notion

    9. Notion Marketplace

    Best for: Teams already using Notion that want ready-made workspaces and systems.

    Watch out for: Notion-only (not Excel, Word or PowerPoint files), and quality varies by creator.

    FormatsNotion templates from about 22,800 creators
    PriceMany free; paid templates priced by creators

    Notion website · Source: notion.com

  9. SHRM

    10. SHRM templates and samples

    Best for: HR teams that want vetted HR forms, policies and job-description samples.

    Watch out for: Locked for non-members, and the content is US-law-centred, so non-US employers need local review.

    FormatsHundreds of sample HR forms, checklists, policies and job descriptions
    PriceSHRM membership benefit

    SHRM website · Source: shrm.org

  10. SlideModel

    11. SlideModel

    Best for: Presenters who need ready-made diagrams, charts and infographics for slides.

    Watch out for: Lower tiers cap downloads, and downloading needs a login.

    FormatsPowerPoint and Google Slides templates and diagrams
    Price1-day access $24.90 (5 downloads); annual plans from $99.90

    SlideModel website · Source: slidemodel.com

  11. Slidesgo (Freepik)

    12. Slidesgo

    Best for: Low-cost, polished decks for training sessions, pitches and internal presentations.

    Watch out for: Free users must keep the Slidesgo credits slide, and the advertised monthly price is a promotion.

    Formats30,000+ templates for Google Slides, PowerPoint and Keynote
    PriceFree: 3 downloads a month; Premium $35.99 a year
    LicencePersonal and commercial use; attribution on the free plan; no resale

    Slidesgo (Freepik) website · Sources: slidesgo.com, slidesgo.com

  12. Smartsheet

    13. Smartsheet template articles

    Best for: Project and operations managers who want free Excel, Sheets and Word project-planning templates by use case.

    Watch out for: Pages promote Smartsheet trials, and some featured templates are Smartsheet-only rather than Office files.

    FormatsExcel, Google Sheets, Word and Google Docs (project plans, Gantt, action plans)
    PriceFree downloads

    Smartsheet website · Source: smartsheet.com

  13. Template.net

    14. Template.net

    Best for: People who want one subscription covering many document types with multi-format export.

    Watch out for: Pricing is credit-based and tied to AI generation, so check what a credit buys.

    FormatsDocuments, designs, forms and charts; export to PDF, Word, PowerPoint and PNG
    PriceBilled yearly: Starter $11 a month, Plus $25, Max $66

    Template.net website · Source: template.net

  14. Vertex42

    15. Vertex42

    Best for: Small businesses and managers who need a solid, formula-driven Excel tracker at no cost.

    Watch out for: Its general terms restrict commercial use and redistribution unless the template’s own licence says otherwise.

    FormatsExcel (many also for Google Sheets) and Word: invoices, budgets, Gantt charts, timesheets, inventory
    PriceMost templates free; paid Pro versions of some
    LicencePersonal use; commercial use needs permission unless the template’s licence allows it

    Vertex42 website · Sources: vertex42.com, vertex42.com

  15. 24Slides

    16. 24Slides templates

    Best for: Teams that want free slide templates plus the option to pay designers for a key deck.

    Watch out for: Downloads need an account, and the terms restrict sharing and derivative works.

    FormatsPowerPoint and Google Slides templates
    PriceTemplates free; custom design from $11 a slide

    24Slides website · Sources: 24slides.com, 24slides.com

How to choose

Template or toolkit?

A template is one file for one task. A toolkit is several files that work together with guidance on how to use them. If you already know the method and need a layout, a free template is enough. If you are doing the job for the first time — setting up HR, running a project, planning a launch — a toolkit saves the research and the mistakes.

SituationBetter fit
One invoice, budget or Gantt chartFree template (Vertex42, Microsoft Create, Smartsheet)
A deck for Tuesday’s meetingSlide templates (Slidesgo, SlideModel) or a ready-made topic deck (Bodhih, $1.49)
Set up a whole process for the first timeToolkit with a guide and linked files (Bodhih Pro Kit)
Many design assets every monthSubscription (Envato Elements, Canva Pro)

Read the licence before you share

Free does not always mean free to use with clients. Some sources allow personal use only, some need attribution, and almost none allow you to resell the template itself. If you will put a template in front of clients or into a product, choose a source whose licence says so.

Common questions

Questions people ask next

Where can I get free business templates in Excel?

Vertex42, Microsoft Create, Smartsheet’s template articles and HubSpot all offer free Excel templates. Check each one’s licence: Vertex42’s general terms, for example, restrict commercial use unless a template’s own licence allows it.

Where can I buy a complete HR toolkit for a small business?

Bodhih’s People-Ops Starter Kit includes a 59-page e-book, an HR Hub workbook (employee register, hiring pipeline, leave balances, onboarding tracker) and eight Word templates. SHRM members also get sample HR forms and policies.

What is the best place for PowerPoint templates?

For design layouts, Slidesgo (free with attribution, or $35.99 a year) and Envato Elements (from $16.50 a month) have large libraries. For finished decks on a topic, Bodhih sells editable PowerPoint decks at ₹99 or $1.49 each.

Can I use free templates for client work?

It depends on the licence. Envato Elements and Slidesgo allow commercial use under their terms; Vertex42’s general terms do not without permission. Never resell a template as is.

Why is Bodhih listed first?

Because it is ours and we say so. The others are alphabetical, facts come from their own pages, and every entry has a “watch out for” line.