> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.twistly.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.twistly.ai/create-a-presentation/templates.md).

# Templates

Twistly ships with **53 professionally designed templates in 80+ color themes**, each named after a city (Tokyo, New York, Berlin, Madrid...). The Free plan includes 15 of them; Starter, Pro and Team include all 53 (see "Pro templates on the Free plan" below). Slides are composed from **25+ smart layouts** — the AI picks the layout that fits each slide's content.

## Picking a template

* **Click once** to select, or **double-click** to select and continue in one step.
* **Preview** opens a larger view with sample layouts (title, agenda, text, table, timeline) so you can judge the template on real slide types. Arrow through templates without leaving the preview.
* Your own [custom templates](/custom-templates-pro-and-team/upload-a-template.md) (Pro & Team) appear ahead of the built-in templates in the grid, right after the **AI Choice** card that lets the AI pick a template for you.
* **Filter by purpose** with the chips above the grid — for example **Business**, **Education**, **Startup** or **Report**; more, such as **Medical** and **Dynamic background**, sit under **More**. While a purpose is selected, your custom templates are hidden: choose **My templates** to see only yours, or **All templates** to see everything again.

## Start from a template

If you already know the look you want, you can pick the design first and add your content after:

1. Choose **Start from Template** in the create menu, or open the **Templates** card.
2. Pick a template from the catalog. Type in **Filter or search…** to find one by name or narrow the catalog by category. Double-click a template, or click **Create presentation** in its preview, to go straight to the next step.
3. Add your source — a topic, pasted text, or a file — all in one step. Twistly follows what you do: a longer passage is treated as pasted text, and attaching a file makes the file your source.
4. Continue to the outline and generate as usual.

The catalog has three sections:

* **Favorites** — click the star on any template to pin it here. The most recently pinned template comes first, and your favorites are saved to your account.
* **My Templates** — your [custom templates](/custom-templates-pro-and-team/upload-a-template.md) (Pro & Team), with room to add more.
* The full gallery of built-in templates.

You don't have to pick one. If you continue without a template, the footer reads **No template picked — AI will choose one that fits**, and Twistly chooses a template once it has your content. To undo a pick, use **Back to AI choice**. The catalog shows templates in a fixed order without AI Pick ribbons, because Twistly hasn't seen your content yet.

## AI Picks

When you reach the template step, Twistly analyzes your content and marks up to **3 templates with an "AI Pick" ribbon**, moving them to the front. The recommendation is **advisory only** — whichever template you click is what's used.

On the Free plan, AI Picks and the AI's own choice only use templates included in your plan.

## Pro templates on the Free plan

The Free plan includes 15 built-in templates: New York, Houston, Cambridge, Seoul, Rome, Copenhagen, Pasadena, Tokyo, Berlin, Oslo, Flower Mound, Singapore, Doha, Palm Springs and Brussels. Every other built-in template is a Pro template:

* Pro templates carry a crown, and hovering one shows **Unlock**.
* Clicking, double-clicking, or choosing **Unlock to use** in the preview opens **Unlock the full template library** instead of selecting the template. Choose **Upgrade to Pro** to see the plans, or **Not now** to keep browsing.
* If you chose a Pro template while on a paid plan and later move to Free, Twistly lets the AI choose a template for you instead.

This lock does not apply to your [custom templates](/custom-templates-pro-and-team/upload-a-template.md), which follow their own Pro & Team availability. See [Plans & What's Included](/plans-billing-and-team/plans.md) for what each plan includes.

## Colors

Each template comes with its color themes, and the original ten city templates offer several color variants. The AI applies your chosen template's palette to everything it generates — including charts and AI images, which are matched to the template's accent colors.