As an educator or a professional, you may have grown accustomed to using Google Jamboard for collaborative whiteboarding and brainstorming. However, with Google’s announcement of discontinuing Jamboard by the end of 2024, it’s time to explore alternative tools to meet your whiteboarding needs. In this post, I will provide an overview of seven such alternatives that can help you elevate your whiteboarding experience.
Alternative 01: Miro Whiteboard
One of the standout alternatives to Google Jamboard is Miro Whiteboard. Miro is an exceptionally versatile application that often remains under the radar until users discover its remarkable capabilities. Let’s take a closer look at why Miro is a compelling option for educational settings.
Upon opening Miro, you’re greeted with recommended templates, making it easy to get started. Clicking the plus icon allows you to create a new whiteboard, which Miro conveniently populates with various templates. These templates range from visual tables to brainwriting and brainstorming formats, providing you with a head start in your whiteboard sessions.
Miro also offers an array of building blocks, including sticky note packs and grids. These building blocks can be seamlessly incorporated into your whiteboard to enhance collaboration and organization. For example, the sticky note table feature allows you to create dynamic tables of notes, each of which can be personalized in terms of color, size, and content.
The platform’s interface allows for smooth navigation, with the ability to zoom in and out and scroll horizontally, making it more flexible than Google Jamboard in terms of canvas size and workspace.
Collaboration is a hallmark of Miro, much like Jamboard. You can easily share your board with others and collaborate in real-time. Additionally, Miro allows users to see where others are working on the board, promoting seamless teamwork. The platform also provides a clear attribution feature, showing the author of each element on the board.
Miro enhances interaction through tags and emojis, enabling users to label and react to elements on the board. This feature is valuable for brainstorming and collaborative projects.
Furthermore, Miro’s pen tool offers a range of options, including highlighters and smart drawings, making it versatile for various use cases. Users can customize the tool’s width and color, and frequently used settings can be saved in a quick dial for quick access.
Overall, Miro Whiteboard is a powerful alternative to Google Jamboard, offering a rich set of features for educators and professionals alike.
Alternative 02: Lucidspark and Lucidchart
Lucidspark and Lucidchart, products by the Lucid company, provides a comprehensive solution for whiteboarding, diagramming, and brainstorming. Lucidspark is specifically tailored for whiteboarding purposes, making it a noteworthy alternative to Jamboard.
Lucidspark offers various templates, making it easy to kickstart your whiteboarding session. You can create mind maps, brainstorming boards, and more. The platform’s interface is user-friendly and intuitive, catering to both educators and professionals.
Similar to Jamboard, Lucidspark provides essential tools such as pens, shapes, text, and sticky notes. It allows for real-time collaboration, enabling multiple users to work on the same board simultaneously.
One notable feature is Lucidspark’s accurate live cursor tracking, which shows the positions of collaborators’ cursors on the board. This feature enhances collaboration by providing a clear view of where team members are working. I also really enjoy the Emoji integration for quick feedback and reactions.
Lucidchart, on the other hand, specializes in creating charts, diagrams, and flowcharts. While it may not be a direct alternative to Jamboard, it complements Lucidspark by offering advanced diagramming capabilities.
Lucidchart features a vast library of templates for various diagram types, including flowcharts, org charts, and more. It is a versatile tool for creating visual representations of concepts and processes.
Both Lucidspark and Lucidchart are excellent alternatives to Jamboard, catering to a wide range of visual collaboration needs and it has tons of Integrations with your favourite apps.
Alternative 03: Figma FigJam Board
Figma FigJam is a unique alternative to traditional whiteboarding tools. Figma, known for its design capabilities, extends its offerings to include FigJam, a collaborative whiteboard.
Figma FigJam provides templates for different purposes, such as brainstorming, mind mapping, and more. Its interface is intuitive and user-friendly, making it accessible to educators and professionals alike.
The pen tool in FigJam allows users to draw, write, and sketch freely on the canvas. It also offers a range of colors and features like highlighting and masking.
Collaboration in FigJam is seamless, with real-time editing and cursor tracking. Users can leave reactions, add tags, and interact with others in a collaborative environment.
One notable feature is FigJam’s background tool, which allows you to choose different backgrounds, including lined paper. This feature is particularly useful for educators and students who may prefer a structured writing surface.
I’m also a huge fan of the Stickers that can make your content more engaging and interesting, especially for younger learners.
FigJam is a versatile tool that can be used for both creative brainstorming and educational purposes, making it a compelling alternative to Google Jamboard.
Alternative 04: Canva Whiteboard
Canva, a popular design platform, offers a whiteboarding application as part of its Canva for Education suite. Canva Whiteboard provides a user-friendly interface and a wide range of templates to choose from.
With Canva Whiteboard, you can access templates for planning, brainstorming, project management, and more. This flexibility allows you to tailor your whiteboard to your specific needs. It also has tons of Edu specific Whiteboard templates such as the one you see here on the 5Ws.
The platform integrates seamlessly with Canva’s existing design elements, such as text, shapes, and graphics. This means you can create visually appealing and informative whiteboards with ease.
Canva Whiteboard also offers a pen tool for freehand drawing and annotation. It’s an excellent choice for educators looking to enhance their online teaching materials.
Collaboration is another key feature of Canva Whiteboard, as multiple users can work together on the same board simultaneously. The live cursor tracking ensures that you can see where others are working in real-time.
Canva Whiteboard is an attractive option for educators and professionals who appreciate the design capabilities and ease of use that Canva brings to the table.
Alternative 05: TutorialsPoint Online Whiteboard
TutorialsPoint Online Whiteboard is a straightforward, no-frills whiteboarding tool that requires no sign-up. It’s a convenient option for quick whiteboarding sessions and sharing ideas.
This online whiteboard offers basic drawing tools, including a pen, eraser, and shape tools. While it may lack some advanced features found in other alternatives, it serves its purpose well for simple whiteboarding tasks.
One notable feature is the availability of lined backgrounds, making it suitable for tasks that require structured writing, such as mathematical equations or handwriting and sentence building explanations.
TutorialsPoint Online Whiteboard does not require users to create accounts, making it privacy-friendly. You can easily download and upload whiteboard files, allowing you to revisit your previous work without the need for an account.
While it may not be as feature-rich as some other alternatives, TutorialsPoint Online Whiteboard is a practical choice for those seeking a straightforward and temporary whiteboarding solution.
Alternative 06: Web Whiteboard by Miro
Web Whiteboard by Miro offers a lightweight and temporary whiteboarding solution. It is particularly useful for quick collaboration sessions that don’t require long-term storage of boards.
No sign-up is required to use Web Whiteboard. You can access it directly from the website. Each whiteboard created using Web Whiteboard is live for 24 hours before it is automatically deleted, making it suitable for short-term projects and discussions.
The platform provides essential drawing tools, including a pen, eraser, and shape tools. While it lacks the extensive features of Miro’s full version, it serves its purpose for brief interactions.
Web Whiteboard allows users to collaborate in real-time, making it suitable for spontaneous discussions and idea sharing. You can share the board with others via a link and work together seamlessly.
The simplicity and temporary nature of Web Whiteboard make it a practical choice for those who need a quick and privacy-conscious whiteboarding solution.
Alternative 07: Microsoft Whiteboard
For users in the Microsoft ecosystem, Microsoft Whiteboard offers a comprehensive solution for digital whiteboarding and collaboration. It seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft Office applications.
Microsoft Whiteboard provides a wide range of templates, including brainstorming, daily stand-ups, workshops, and more. Its templates cater to various needs, making it suitable for both educators and professionals.
The platform’s interface is user-friendly, allowing for easy navigation and quick access to essential tools. You can draw, write, and add various elements to your whiteboard, enhancing its visual appeal.
Real-time collaboration is another core feature of Microsoft Whiteboard, enabling multiple users to work together simultaneously. Cursor tracking shows the positions of collaborators, promoting efficient teamwork.
Microsoft Whiteboard is particularly valuable for users already familiar with Microsoft Office applications, as it seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, and other Microsoft tools.
Conclusion
In conclusion, as Google Jamboard approaches its end-of-life, there are numerous alternatives available to meet your whiteboarding and collaboration needs. The seven alternatives discussed in this blog post offer a range of features and functionalities, catering to diverse use cases and preferences. But is far from an extensive list.
Whether you’re an educator looking for interactive teaching tools or a professional seeking efficient collaboration solutions, these alternatives provide viable options to enhance your whiteboarding experience. Explore these alternatives, assess their suitability for your specific requirements, and choose the one that aligns best with your goals and workflow.
The transition from Google Jamboard to one of these alternatives can open up new possibilities for creativity, collaboration, and effective communication in both educational and professional settings. Embrace the change, adapt to new tools, and continue to foster innovation and learning through digital whiteboarding.
If you prefer to see a live demo of these 7 alternatives, here is a YouTube video I’ve made to highlight key features and user interfaces, so you too can make an informed decision.