The Best Free Jamboard Alternatives for Teachers in 2026
Google discontinued Jamboard at the end of 2024, leaving millions of teachers searching for a replacement. We tested seven alternatives across two use cases — classroom projection and student collaboration — and ranked the best free options.
By David · Founder & Editor, MyClassScreen
Why Google Discontinued Jamboard
Google announced in August 2023 that Jamboard would be shut down on December 31, 2024. The reason was strategic: Google decided to partner with third-party whiteboard platforms (FigJam, Lucidspark, Miro) instead of continuing to develop its own. For Google Workspace for Education customers, Jamboard was replaced with these partner tools — most of which require paid subscriptions for full classroom use.
For teachers who loved Jamboard's simplicity — open it, draw, project — the replacement options felt overwhelming. Business-focused tools with steep learning curves are not what a 3rd-grade teacher needs on a Monday morning. This guide focuses on alternatives that are genuinely free and built for classroom use.
In the year following the official shutdown, schools have experienced major disruptions. IT departments have had to audit drawing utilities for compliance under student safety regulations. Educators who previously used Jamboard for collaborative brainstorming or individual sketching are looking for lightweight, COPPA-compliant replacements that do not require complex administrative licenses.
If you are looking for a complete display screen setup that includes timers, name selectors, and checklists along with a drawing panel, see our comprehensive guide on the best classroom screen alternatives.
What to Look for in a Jamboard Alternative
When evaluating replacements, it is essential to categorize your primary use cases. Are you using the whiteboard as a teacher-led lecture visual, or do you require individual student work spaces? Here are four key characteristics to consider during your selection process:
For classroom display, students should see the board without logging in anywhere. This eliminates password management issues and protects student data privacy.
Browser-based tools that run on your classroom computer or interactive panel. Ensure drawing gestures are responsive to stylus inputs.
Check what features you lose after the trial ends. A truly free tool should not restrict drawing canvas access or hide exporting features behind a monthly paywall.
Teaching requires managing multiple tasks at once. If a whiteboard tool requires more than three clicks to set up a clean sketching area, it will disrupt lesson flow.
Top 7 Free Jamboard Alternatives for Classrooms
We analyzed the top educational drawing apps to find the best replacements. Here is our ranked list of the best alternatives based on performance, cost, and layout features:
MyClassScreen Drawing Board
Best overall free Jamboard alternative for teachers
MyClassScreen's drawing board is a free, browser-based whiteboard designed specifically for classroom projection. No signup required — open it and start drawing instantly. You can annotate over backgrounds, use multiple colors, and save your board between sessions.
Pros
- 100% free, no account needed
- Designed for classroom projection on smart boards
- Part of a complete 18-widget toolkit (timer, noise meter, name picker)
- Save boards with a free account
Cons
- Fewer advanced collaboration features than Jamboard
Whiteboard.fi
Best for student-facing collaborative whiteboarding
Whiteboard.fi lets every student draw on their own individual whiteboard while the teacher sees all boards simultaneously. It is the closest replacement for Jamboard's collaborative sticky-note features. Free for basic use.
Pros
- Individual student whiteboards visible to teacher
- Excellent for formative assessment
- Students join with a code (no accounts)
Cons
- Requires students to have devices
- Not a display/projection tool
- Limited free plan
Explain Everything
Best for recording video lessons and tutorials
Explain Everything is a powerful interactive whiteboard app that excels at screencasting and lesson recording. If you want to draw concepts while recording your voice for a flipped classroom or remote learning, this tool is the gold standard.
Pros
- Outstanding video recording and drawing sync
- Infinite canvas with rich media import (PDF, video)
- Highly engaging interactive features
Cons
- Steep learning curve compared to Jamboard
- Free version is very limited
- Best features require paid subscription
Classroomscreen Drawing Widget
Established classroom display with premium limitations
Classroomscreen is the pioneer in classroom dashboard tools. It features a drawing board widget that lets you sketch and color on your screen next to a timer. However, saving your drawings or layouts requires their $36/year premium plan.
Pros
- Large selection of secondary widgets (26 total)
- Very stable and reliable interface
- Good community resources
Cons
- Must pay to save screen layouts or background settings
- Drawing canvas cannot be exported easily on free plan
Canva Whiteboards
Best for design-focused visual boards
Canva's whiteboard tool offers templates, sticky notes, and real-time collaboration with the polish you expect from Canva. Excellent for creating visual content and sharing with students asynchronously.
Pros
- Beautiful design templates
- Sticky notes, shapes, and images
- Real-time collaboration with team plan
Cons
- Full collaboration requires paid plan
- Designed more for business than classroom display
- No classroom-specific features
Microsoft Whiteboard
Best for schools already in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem
Microsoft Whiteboard is a powerful infinite canvas collaboration tool, integrated directly into Microsoft Teams and available via browser. If your school uses M365, it is the most seamless Jamboard replacement.
Pros
- Integrated with Teams and Office 365
- Powerful ink-to-shape recognition
- Available on all devices
Cons
- Requires Microsoft account
- Not purpose-built for classroom display
- Best features require M365 subscription
Google Canvas
Simplest drawing tool built into Chrome OS
Google Canvas (canvas.apps.chrome) is Google's own lightweight sketching app that works inside the Chrome browser. It is extremely simple: you open it, select a pen, pencil, or marker, and start drawing. Perfect for quick annotations.
Pros
- Instant load, 100% free
- Works offline on Chromebooks
- Automatically saves drawings to Google Account
Cons
- No collaboration features
- No background choice or media import
- Extremely basic features
Quick Comparison Table
This quick reference table compares the seven whiteboard alternatives across cost, login requirements, and core features:
| Tool | Price | No Login Needed | Classroom Projection | Student Collaboration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MyClassScreen(recommended) | Free | |||
| Whiteboard.fi | Free / Paid | |||
| Explain Everything | Free / Paid | |||
| Classroomscreen | Free / Paid | |||
| Canva Whiteboards | Free / $13/mo | |||
| Microsoft Whiteboard | Free (M365) | |||
| Google Canvas | Free |
How to Migrate Your Classroom Workflow from Jamboard
Switching tools mid-year feels disruptive, but the transition can be smooth with a few practical steps:
- 1. Identify how you used Jamboard. Was it mostly teacher annotation on the front board? Student sticky-note collaboration? Math diagram sketching? Your use case determines which replacement fits best. For simple drawing, you do not need complex collaborative setups.
- 2. For classroom projection and annotation, open MyClassScreen and add the Drawing Board widget. You can draw over a colored background, place helper grids, and save the board between lessons to avoid daily reconstruction times.
- 3. For student collaboration and individual checks, set up a Whiteboard.fi room. Students join with a 4-digit code — no accounts, no apps. You see all student boards simultaneously from the teacher view, making checks for understanding instant.
- 4. Bookmark your new tool to your classroom computer's home screen or browser bar. The friction of navigating to a new URL causes more tool abandonment than the tool itself. Save templates for math review, morning agenda, or spelling tasks.
Practical Whiteboard Routines for Daily Teaching
Replacing Jamboard is not just about choosing a tool — it is about keeping your classroom routines running smoothly. Here are three daily routines you can run using MyClassScreen's drawing canvas:
Morning Choice Board
Open a blank drawing widget in the center of your board. Use the Pen tool to write three quick morning prompts or warm-up choices (e.g. read silently, journal prompt, or review math facts). Students see the choices projected as they unpack. You can check off items as you go, helping students transition independently.
Math Scratchpad & Pacing
During direct math instruction, place a drawing canvas widget next to a countdown timer. Use the drawing board to model a sample calculation (e.g., long division steps) while the timer counts down student practice time. This visual pairing keeps students on task and helps them self-manage their pacing.
Exit Ticket Annotation
At the end of a lesson, project a brief graphic organizer or prompt card on the drawing board. Have students write their answers on sticky notes and place them on the smart board physical screen. You can circle, highlight, and annotate their responses in real-time, making it an interactive reflection activity.
More Free Classroom Tools You Might Like
- Free Drawing Board for Teachers — Sketch, annotate, and save board layouts for classroom projection.
- Free Classroom Timer — Visual countdown timers for activities, tests, and transitions.
- Random Name Picker — Fairly select students for tasks and group work.
- All 18 Free Classroom Widgets — See every tool available in MyClassScreen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Try the Free Drawing Board — No Signup
Replace Jamboard in under 60 seconds. Open MyClassScreen, add the Drawing Board widget, and start teaching. Your board saves automatically.
Open Free Drawing Board