Free Pros and Cons Templates

By Kate Eby | February 6, 2024

We've compiled the top pros and cons templates to give you an efficient way to evaluate options and make informed choices. All of the templates are free to download and can be customized. Enhance your decision-making with a data-driven approach.


On this page, you’ll find Excel weighted pros and cons list templates, a tornado chart pros and cons template, a whiteboard pros and cons template, and more. You’ll also find a list of related decision-making templates, such as a SWOT analysis and other matrix templates.

Printable Weighted Pros and Cons List Template

Printable Weighted Pros and Cons List Template


Download a Printable Weighted Pros and Cons List Template for

Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF  | Google Docs


When to Use This Template: Anyone can use this template for both business and personal decision-making, such as deciding whether to accept a job offer, make a lifestyle change, or invest in new technology.


Notable Template Features: Designed in a clear T-chart format, this template allows users to list the advantages and disadvantages of any situation, while also assigning values to each factor for quantifiable analysis.

Excel Weighted Pros and Cons List Template

Weighted Pros and Cons List Example Template


Download the Weighted Pros and Cons List Template for Excel
Download the Sample Weighted Pros and Cons List Template for Excel


When to Use This Template: Use this pros and cons list template for a straightforward, structured approach to making complex decisions. The spreadsheet format works especially well for complex decisions with many pros and cons to compare, such as choosing a new healthcare policy, negotiating mergers and acquisitions, or choosing a career path. 
 

Notable Template Features: After you assign each item a rating from 1 to 10 based on value and importance, the template calculates the totals for each column, showing whether the pros outweigh the cons or vice versa. This saves time and provides weighted data to compare. The sample version of this template provides an example list of pros and cons for analyzing a job opportunity.

Pros and Cons Tornado Chart Template

Pros and Cons Tornado Chart Example Template


Download a Pros and Cons Tornado Chart Template for

Excel  | Google Sheets


Download an Example Pros and Cons Tornado Chart Template for

Excel  | Google Sheets


When to Use This Template: Use this template in risk assessment, project management, and strategic planning to visualize and weigh various factors against each other. Download the example version to see how the template can also be used for personal decisions, such as a college pros and cons list.


Notable Template Features: A tornado chart features a central axis with bars that extend to the left and right, representing different variables. Each bar's length shows the variable's impact. The left side lists the pros, or positive impacts, while the right side details the cons, or negative impacts. This layout allows for a quick, clear comparison of each side. 

PowerPoint Pros and Cons Whiteboard Template

Pros and Cons Whiteboard Template Powerpoint


Download the Pros and Cons Whiteboard Template for 

 

PowerPoint  | Google Slides


When to Use This Template: This pros and cons whiteboard template provides an organized visual aid for brainstorming sessions, allowing teams to collaboratively explore the advantages and disadvantages of various options.


Notable Template Features: Use color-coded sticky notes to prioritize pros and cons based on importance. By visually mapping out the positives and negatives, teams can clearly identify potential risks and opportunities.

Simple Pros and Cons List Slide Template

Simple Pros and Cons List Slide Example Template


Download a Simple Pros and Cons List Slide Template for

PowerPoint  | Google Slides


Download an Example Simple Pros and Cons List Slide Template for

PowerPoint  | Google Slides


When to Use This Template: Use this pros and cons slide template as part of a presentation to effectively communicate the reasoning behind your choices to colleagues or stakeholders. The simple layout works for discussions, meetings, or any scenario requiring a clear visual representation of competing considerations.


Notable Template Features: The template is designed for clarity, listing positive and negative aspects of a decision or situation in a slide format. The example version of this template shows the slide filled in with the pros and cons of bootstrapping a startup.

Pros and Cons Seesaw Slide Template

Pros and Cons Seesaw Slide Template


Download a Pros and Cons Seesaw Slide Template for

PowerPoint  | Google Slides


When to Use This Template: Use this template to facilitate decision-making discussions or enhance a presentation slide deck.


Notable Template Features: Using a visual tool to illustrate the pros and cons of a strategy, decision, or product gives viewers an immediate understanding of positive and negative points. This slide template uses color to highlight pros and cons, and the seesaw in the center suggests a weighing of both sides.

Pros and Cons Comparison Table Template

Pros and Cons Comparison Table Template


Download a Pros and Cons Comparison Table Template for

Excel  |  Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF  | Google Docs


When to Use This Template: This comparison table template is designed for evaluating multiple options. Use the template for team meetings or individual analysis of complex decisions.


Notable Template Features: The template presents a side-by-side comparison of various choices, highlighting their pros and cons. You can view the strengths and weaknesses of each option to make more informed and strategic choices.

Printable Pros and Cons Worksheet Template

Printable Pros and Cons Worksheet Example Template


Download a Printable Pros and Cons Worksheet Template for

Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF  | Google Docs


Download a Sample Pros and Cons Worksheet Template for

Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF  | Google Docs


When to Use This Template: Use the insights from this worksheet template to make informed decisions, provide solid rationale for a course of action, or support recommendations in a report or proposal.


Notable Template Features: This template allows you to evaluate one or more options with a more thorough analysis than just pros and cons. The worksheet includes sections for pros and cons, potential risks, unpredictable elements, and the best and worst possible outcomes for each choice. Download the sample template version to view a comparison of the pros and cons of job changes.

Pros and Cons Venn Diagram Template

Pros and Cons Venn Diagram Example Template


Download a Pros and Cons Venn Diagram Template for

Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF  | Google Docs


Download a Sample Pros and Cons Venn Diagram Template for

Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF  | Google Docs


When to Use This Template: This Venn diagram template visually contrasts the advantages and disadvantages of a single option or two different choices.


Notable Template Features: By placing the pros in one circle, the cons in another, and shared attributes in the overlapping area, this template provides a simple and balanced method for assessing a decision. This is particularly effective for highlighting the unique and common factors between two different choices. View the sample pros and cons template for a product comparison of two smartphones.

Types of Pros and Cons Templates

Here is a quick overview of the template formats and why you might choose one over another:
 

  • List Template: The classic list format is perfect for less complicated decisions or when you want to compile data in a simple T-chart format. 
  • Table Template: Tables offer more structure, allowing for detailed comparison of various factors and multiple options side by side. 
  • Slide Template: Slide presentations are ideal for communicating pros and cons to a team or stakeholders, as they facilitate clear and engaging discussions.
  • Weighted Template: Since each pro and con is assigned a score based on its value and importance, weighted templates are useful for more complex decisions involving many variables. 
  • Tornado Chart Template: Tornado charts visually demonstrate the potential impact of each factor on the final decision, making them an excellent choice for scenarios where visual presentation and impact analysis are key. 
  • Whiteboard Templates: With their dynamic and interactive nature, whiteboards are excellent for collaborative decision-making, encouraging real-time input from all participants.


All of the pros and cons templates above can be used when considering strategic business choices or personal life decisions. Choosing the right tool depends on the complexity of the decision, the audience, and the need for visual representation.

Related Decision-Making Templates

Templates — such as a SWOT analysis or risk-benefit assessment — allow for a deeper dive into factors, including potential risks, long-term impacts, and various alternatives, which might not be fully captured in a simple pros and cons format. If you are facing a scenario that requires more nuanced analysis, consider one of the decision-making templates listed below.

Decision Matrix Templates

Pugh Decision Matrix Template

Download free decision-making templates, including a Pugh Matrix for scoring multiple options against a baseline measure, and get step-by-step instructions for using a decision matrix, in this collection of decision matrix templates.

SWOT Analysis Templates

Basic SWOT Matrix Template


Choose from these 14 different SWOT analysis templates for Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Plus, get a breakdown of how the internal and external factors used in SWOT analysis can help guide decisions.

Cost-Benefit Analysis Templates


Our collection of cost-benefit analysis templates includes spreadsheet templates, a cost-benefit dashboard, a comprehensive report template, and other tools. Choose the template that best suits the project or issue you are analyzing.

Priority Matrix Templates

Prioritization Matrix Example


See our guides to priority matrices and Eisenhower Matrix templates to help make decisions about prioritizing projects and delegating tasks to improve efficiency and productivity.

Risk-Benefit Analysis Templates

Risk and Opportunity Matrix Template


Use a risk and opportunity template to assess risks, identify opportunities, and guide important decisions. This type of risk matrix allows you to proactively identify potential challenges and capitalize on emerging possibilities.


Whether you choose a pros and cons template or another decision-making tool, effective templates can help individuals and organizations navigate the complexities of various situations to make more informed, strategic decisions.

Enhance Your Decision-Making with Real-Time Work Management in Smartsheet

Empower your people to go above and beyond with a flexible platform designed to match the needs of your team — and adapt as those needs change. 

The Smartsheet platform makes it easy to plan, capture, manage, and report on work from anywhere, helping your team be more effective and get more done. Report on key metrics and get real-time visibility into work as it happens with roll-up reports, dashboards, and automated workflows built to keep your team connected and informed. 

When teams have clarity into the work getting done, there’s no telling how much more they can accomplish in the same amount of time. Try Smartsheet for free, today.

 

 

Discover why over 90% of Fortune 100 companies trust Smartsheet to get work done.

Try Smartsheet for Free Get a Free Smartsheet Demo