When Google officially sunsetted Jamboard, it was tough trying to figure out how we were going to replace those fast, collaborative sticky-note brainstorms.
Those quick and easy lessons where students jump onto a shared digital space, drop their ideas in real time, and make learning truly visual.
I was a hugeJamboard fan and when it was gone I was genuinely worried about finding a tool that could fill the gap without adding ten extra, head-scratching steps for teachers. But here is the secret sauce: the edtech world stepped up in a massive way. We didn't just find replacements—we hit the jackpot with tools that do everything Jamboard did, and so much more!
If you are looking for ways to keep your students fully engaged with interactive canvases, you have plenty of incredible options.
5 Creative Google Jamboard alternatives to try today
1. FigJam by Figma
If you loved Jamboard's simplicity, FigJam is going to feel like moving from a cozy starter home into a luxury mansion. It offers sticky notes, stamps, audio notes, voting tools, and interactive widgets.
The Best Part: Figma made FigJam 100% free for K-12 educators and students!
đź’ˇ Pro Tip: They created a seamless importer tool so you can convert old Jamboard files directly into FigJam files with a single click.
Read more about FigJam: How to use FigJam in the classroom: 20 ideas + templates
2. Padlet Sandbox
Padlet took everything we loved about digital corkboards and completely leveled it up. Sandbox is a collaborative digital canvas where students can draw, type, record audio clips, upload videos, and build interactive diagrams. If your school already uses Padlet, this is an absolute no-brainer for your tech toolbox.
3. Canva Whiteboards
You probably already use Canva to design graphics or presentations, but their Whiteboards feature is pure magic for collaborative learning. Students get an infinite canvas packed with Canva’s endless library of:
- Animated stickers & graphics
- Color-coded sticky notes
- Built-in timers and music to keep work on track
4. Lucidspark
Perfect for upper elementary through high school! Lucidspark provides clean, powerful visual tools designed specifically for group brainstorming. Built-in features like breakout boards, voting sessions, and timers help keep small-group collaboration structured and on task.
5. Google Slides (The DIY Whiteboard)
Don't sleep on good old Google Slides! By setting a locked background image and adding moveable shapes or digital "sticky notes," you can turn a single slide deck into a collaborative workspace.
How to do it: Give the whole class edit access to one file—assigning one slide per student or group—and you've built your own custom whiteboard tool without having to sign up for a single new app!
Read more about collaborative slides activities: Student collaboration in shared Google Slides
What's Next?
Ditching an old standby tool is never easy, but stepping into these new platforms opens up so many creative possibilities for your classroom. What's your favorite Jamboard alternative? Share in the comments!
