Best Free Tech Tools for Teachers in 2026

By Kotobee
on Sep 08, 2026
in Elearning

Last update: September 8th, 2026
at 5:18 am

Teaching involves juggling dozens of daily tasks, but luckily for educators, the right edtech tools can lighten the load. Still, finding the right tool to use is not always simple. With so many choices, how can you, as an educator, tell which ones will work best for your classroom?

To save you the guesswork, we’ve rounded up 18 free tech tools for teachers. From lesson planning and content creation to student engagement, this guide explains what each tool does, how you can use it, and the limits that come with its free plan.

In this article:

Edtech tools definition
How to choose the right edtech tool
Tools for Teachers: Quick Comparison
Tools for Content Creation & Delivery
Tools for Communication and Collaboration
Tools for Assessment and Feedback

What Are EdTech Tools?

Short for educational technology, edtech tools can be mobile apps, online websites, or desktop software that support teaching and learning. They include digital whiteboards, quiz platforms, virtual classrooms, ebook creators, and AI assistants. Teachers can use them to plan lessons, share learning materials, communicate with their students, and check student progress.

Some of these platforms, such as Google Classroom, work as learning management systems (LMSs) that keep lessons, assignments, grades, and class communication in one place. Other tools focus on a single task. For example, one tool may help you manage assignments, while another turns a video into an interactive quiz.

How to Choose the Right EdTech Tool

Choosing the right EdTech tool starts with understanding what you want it to do. For instance, you do not need a complex lesson platform if your only goal is to create a quick quiz at the end of class. But you may need one if you want to manage lessons, track student progress, and organize course materials in one place. Once you know your objective, use the following points to find a tool that works well for you and your students:

Learning objective: Decide whether you need help with planning or presenting lessons, student collaboration, practice, or assessment. Then choose a tool designed for that purpose instead of one with features you may never use.
Ease of use: The tool should be simple enough for both you and your students. Check how long it takes to learn and use, and whether students can join without following too many steps.
Student access: Think about the devices and internet connection available to your students. If they share devices or have limited internet access, look for tools that work offline or do not require every student to have an account.
Compatibility: Check whether the tool works with your school’s learning management system and other platforms. Integrations with other edtech tools, such as Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, Canvas, or Moodle, can make it easier to share assignments and collect results.
Privacy and accessibility: Review which student information the tool collects and whether your school has approved it. You should also look for helpful features such as captions, screen-reader support, translations, and adjustable text sizes for accessibility.
Free-plan limits: A tool may be free but still restrict the number of students, activities, or saved resources. Check these limits and make sure the tool will still work if your class or content grows.

Free Tech Tools for Teachers: Quick Comparison

Because each edtech tool serves a different purpose, it helps to compare your options before choosing one. Some are completely free, while others limit certain features, users, or activities. The table below gives you a quick look at what each tool offers.

Important Note: Free plans can change, so check the provider’s website for the latest limits before signing up.

Tool	Best for	Free plan limitations
Kotobee Author	Creating interactive ebooks	Limited to 10 chapters and 20 MB per ebook
Brisk Teaching	AI lesson planning and feedback	Custom standards and school controls require payment
MagicSchool	Creating teaching materials with AI	Unlimited generations and advanced features require payment.
Canva for Education	Visual learning materials	Teacher verification is required
Wakelet	Collecting and organizing resources	Limited to three created collections
Google Classroom	Managing classes and assignments	Some advanced features require payment
Microsoft Teams for Education	Communication and online classes	School eligibility and activation are required.
Nearpod	Digital lessons and activities	Limited storage and 40 students per lesson
Padlet	Collaborative class boards	Limited to three Padlets
Miro	Collaborative whiteboards	The Education plan requires approval.
Seesaw	Student portfolios	Limited to one active class and 35 students
Google Arts & Culture	Virtual trips and cultural resources	Does not track assignments or student progress
Edpuzzle	Video-based lessons	Limited to 20 saved activities
PhET	Science and math simulations	Mainly covers STEM subjects
Kahoot!	Live quizzes and reviews	Limited question types and 40 live participants
Wayground	Quizzes and learning games	Some question types require payment. (Limited to 20 saved or customized resources.)
Formative	Real-time assessment	Advanced question types and analytics require payment.
Plickers	Assessment without student devices	Question sets are limited to five questions

Free Tools for Content Creation & Delivery

The tools in this section can help you prepare lessons, create learning materials, and keep your resources organized. Some use AI to create content, while others focus on visual design, interactive activities, or class management.

💡Important Tip: If you use an AI tool, make sure to check the generated information for accuracy before sharing it with students.

1. Kotobee Author

Kotobee Author is a desktop authoring tool that is used to create digital learning content. It can build interactive ebooks and lessons that include videos, audio, quizzes, images, and other interactive elements. Finished ebooks can be exported in different formats for web, desktop, and mobile viewing, or integrated with an LMS.

For teachers managing several ebooks, Kotobee Library helps them keep the ebooks and their embedded activities together on one digital bookshelf. It also allows them to organize their content and control which students can access each book.

For example, a science teacher might use Kotobee Author to create an ebook about the solar system. Each chapter can include an image gallery for the planets and audio explanations with review questions. Students can use the interactive ebook during class or return to it later for independent study.

Best Used For: Creating interactive textbooks, workbooks, course materials, and other digital learning resources.
Free Plan: One user can use the software on two computers and create ebooks with up to 10 pages or chapters and a 20 MB file size. Some exports ( web and desktop apps) include a Kotobee watermark, while encrypted EPUB and SCORM exports require a paid license.
Compatibility: Kotobee Author is available for Windows, macOS, and Ubuntu.
Export Formats: Ebooks can be exported for web, desktop, and mobile viewing, as well as standard ebook formats such as EPUB and PDF. LMS integration is available through several options, including SCORM, LTI, and Tin Can, but these options are not included with the free license.

2. Brisk Teaching

Brisk Teaching is an AI-powered tool that works as a browser extension. Once installed, a small Brisk icon appears on supported pages, including Google Docs, Slides, PDFs, YouTube videos, and webpages. From there, by clicking the icon, teachers can create teaching materials, adjust reading levels, provide feedback, or turn the material they are viewing into lesson plans, quizzes, and presentations, all without having to switch between several platforms.

Suppose a teacher finds a long online article for a history lesson. They could use Brisk to shorten it, change its reading level, and create a short quiz based on its content.

Best Used For: Planning lessons, adapting learning materials, and giving students feedback.
Free Plan: The free Educator plan includes more than 20 AI tools. School and district plans provide extra customization, administrative controls, and shared standards.
Compatibility: This tool works as a Chrome or Edge extension on desktop and laptop computers. It can be used inside Google Docs, Slides, Classroom, Canvas, and Microsoft 365.

3. MagicSchool

MagicSchool is an AI-powered platform made for educators. It offers tools that can help teachers create lesson plans, questions, rubrics, assignments, and classroom activities. It also includes Raina, an AI assistant that teachers can ask for help with planning and other daily tasks.

For example, a history teacher might use MagicSchool to create discussion questions about an important historical event. They could then adjust the questions for different grade levels with the help of AI, all in one place.

Best Used For: Lesson planning, creating classroom materials, and reducing routine writing tasks.
Free Plan: This platform includes more than 80 teacher tools, over 50 student tools, and basic support. Unlimited generations, longer output history, advanced features, and MagicSchool Labs require a paid plan.
Compatibility: MagicSchool works through a web browser and allows teachers to export content to Google and Microsoft tools. Direct LMS and student information system integrations are limited to enterprise plans.

4. Nearpod

Nearpod helps teachers turn presentations into lessons and invite students to interact with it. You can add questions, polls, videos, and activities to a slide-based lesson. Students join the lesson on their own devices, while the teacher controls the pace or allows them to complete it independently.

During a lesson about the water cycle, for instance, a teacher could present a short video and pause it to ask questions. Students could then label a diagram and answer a quiz on their own device before the lesson ends.

Best Used For: Presenting lessons, checking understanding, and encouraging participation.
Free Plan: Nearpod offers a free plan, the Silver plan, which includes 300 MB of storage and allows up to 40 students to join each lesson. More storage, larger classes, and some advanced activities require a paid plan.
Compatibility: Teachers and students can use Nearpod through a web browser or mobile app. LMS and LTI integrations are mainly available through school and district plans.

5. Canva for Education

Canva for Education is a visual design platform for teachers and students. It includes templates for presentations, worksheets, posters, videos, lesson plans, and classroom activities. Teachers can also use photos, graphics, animation, and simple AI tools for generating text or editing images.

During a geography unit, for instance, a teacher could create a presentation about different climates. Students could then use the same platform to design posters about the climate in an assigned country.

Best Used For: Designing lesson materials, presentations, worksheets, and visual student projects.
Free Plan: Canva for Education is free for verified K–12 teachers and their students. Individual college and university teachers may not qualify for this plan.
Compatibility: This tool can work on any modern internet browser. It also connects with Google Classroom, Canvas, Schoology, and Microsoft Teams.

6. Google Arts & Culture

Google Arts & Culture gives teachers access to digital collections from museums and cultural institutions around the world. It includes artwork, historical objects, 360-degree tours, lesson resources, and more than 400 virtual field trips. The content covers subjects such as art, history, science, geography, literature, and music.

A history teacher could take students on a virtual tour of ancient Egyptian art. Students could examine the objects closely and then choose one to research for a short presentation.

Best Used For: Virtual field trips, cultural lessons, visual research, and project inspiration.
Free Access: The website and its educational resources are free to explore. However, it does not provide classroom management, grading, or assignment tracking.
Compatibility: This platform is available through the web and the Google Arts & Culture mobile app. Teachers can share links or download lesson resources, but it does not include direct LMS integration.

7. PhET Interactive Simulations

PhET provides science and math simulations created by the University of Colorado Boulder. Students can make different choices to change values or move objects, and then see how the simulation responds to each change. The simulations cover several subjects, including physics, chemistry, mathematics, earth and space, and biology.

During a lesson about electrical circuits, students could build a virtual circuit using batteries, wires, and light bulbs. They could then test how different changes, like switching wires, can affect the flow of electricity.

Best Used For: Science experiments, visual explanations, and learning through exploration.
Free Access: The online simulations and teacher resources are free. It’s important to note, however, that PhET does not include built-in grading, class management, or detailed student reports.
Compatibility: PhET Simulations works through a web browser, and individual HTML5 simulations can be downloaded for offline use. Separate iOS and Android apps are available for offline use as well, but they are not included in the free web access.

Free Tools for Communication, Sharing and Collaboration

After preparing a lesson, teachers need ways to communicate with students, share resources, and encourage them to work together. The tools below support class discussions, group projects, idea sharing, visual collaboration, and the presentation of student work.

8. Wakelet

Wakelet helps teachers collect and organize online resources in one place. Each collection works like a shareable webpage. Teachers can place links, videos, images, PDFs, and their own notes together so students can find everything in one place. These materials can then be arranged by topic, lesson, or unit instead of sending students a long list of separate links.

Imagine a teacher who wants to share resources about climate change; they could create a Wakelet collection with a video, two articles, an infographic, and a set of discussion questions. Students would then have one clear place to find everything they need when studying for that topic.

Best Used For: Curating lesson resources, creating reading lists, and organizing research materials.
Free Plan: The Starter plan allows users to create and publish up to three collections and save up to 250 items. More collections and advanced classroom features require a paid plan.
Compatibility: Wakelet is available through a web browser and mobile apps. Collections can be shared through a link or embedded in another website or learning platform.

9. Google Classroom

Google Classroom is an LMS that helps teachers organize classes, share materials, and manage assignments online. It works with tools such as Google Docs, Slides, Forms, Drive, and Meet. You can use it to post announcements, set deadlines, create rubrics, grade work, and give feedback, all from one place.

For instance, a teacher could post a worksheet on it as a Google Doc and provide a copy for every student. Students could complete it online and submit it through Google Classroom. The teacher could then grade each response and return it with comments.

Best Used For: Managing classes, distributing assignments, collecting work, and communicating with students.
Free Plan: Google Classroom is available at no cost to qualifying schools through Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals. Paid editions add advanced teaching tools, security, analytics, and administrative features.
Compatibility: This LMS works through a web browser, as well as iOS and Android apps. It also connects with many educational apps.

10. Microsoft Teams for Education

Microsoft Teams for Education brings online classes, communication, and schoolwork into one platform. Teachers can hold video meetings, post assignments, create class channels, and share files. Students can also work together on Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, and other Microsoft files.

For example, a teacher could create a separate channel for each group working on a class project. Students could then use it to exchange ideas, edit the same document, and meet online when needed.

Best Used For: Online classes, communication, assignments, and group projects.
Free Plan: Microsoft 365 Education, including Teams, is free for students and teachers at eligible schools. Advanced security, analytics, and administrative features require a paid institutional plan.
Compatibility: Microsoft Teams for Education works on the web, desktop computers, and iOS and Android devices. It can also connect with learning management systems such as Canvas, Moodle, Blackboard, Schoology, and D2L Brightspace.

11. Padlet

Padlet is a digital board where teachers and students can post and organize content. Posts can include text, links, images, videos, audio recordings, drawings, and documents. Several students can add their work to the same board at once.

Here’s how it works: a teacher could use it to create a Padlet for students to share book recommendations. Each student could post a book cover, a short review, and a reason why others should read it.

Best Used For: Class discussions, brainstorming, resource sharing, and displaying student work.
Free Plan: Padlet’s free plan, the Neon plan, allows users to create up to three padlets. Each uploaded attachment can be up to 20 MB, and the number of posts and contributors is unlimited.
Compatibility: Padlet works through a web browser and iOS and Android apps. Boards can be shared through a link or QR code, while school plans provide further classroom and LMS options.

12. Miro

Miro is an online whiteboard where students can plan, discuss, and organize ideas together. Its boards can contain sticky notes, diagrams, images, documents, tables, and mind maps. Students can work on the same board in real time, which makes it useful for group tasks. However, it does not manage assignments or grades like an LMS, such as Google Classroom.

For a literature lesson, students could create a shared mind map about a novel. They can add its characters, themes, important events, and connections between different parts of the story.

Best Used For: Brainstorming, mind mapping, visual planning, and group projects.
Free Plan: The regular free plan includes three editable boards. Eligible educators can apply for the free Education plan, which provides unlimited boards and supports teams of up to 100 members. Some features, including video chat and full AI access, are not included.
Compatibility: Miro works on the web, through desktop programs, and on iOS and Android devices. Boards can be shared by link.

13. Seesaw

Seesaw is a digital learning journal where students can save and share their work. They can respond to activities with photos, drawings, written answers, videos, or voice recordings. Teachers can review these responses, give feedback, and share selected work with families.

For example, after a science experiment, students could upload a photo of their results and record a short explanation. The teacher could respond with feedback, while family members could view the finished work in the student’s portfolio.

Best Used For: Student portfolios, creative activities, feedback, and family communication.
Free Plan: The free plan, Seesaw Starter, supports one active class with one teacher and up to 35 students. It also allows up to 35 saved activities and five multimedia items in each post.
Compatibility: Seesaw works on the web and through iOS and Android apps. Wider LMS features, detailed progress reports, and schoolwide controls require an institutional subscription.

Free Tools for Assessment and Feedback

After presenting a lesson, teachers need to check what students understood. Practice activities and assessments can show which topics need more explanation and assess learners’ understanding. The tools in this section offer different ways to create quizzes, collect answers, and identify any topics that need further explanation.

14. Edpuzzle

Edpuzzle allows teachers to turn videos into lessons. You can choose an online video or upload your own, then add questions, notes, and audio explanations. The platform also shows whether students watched the video and how they answered each question.

A science teacher, for example, could add questions to a video about plant growth. At selected points, the video would pause and ask students to identify each stage of the process.

Best Used For: Video lessons, homework, flipped classrooms, and checking understanding.
Free Plan: The Basic free plan allows teachers to store up to 20 activities. Paid plans provide unlimited storage and extra content.
Compatibility: Edpuzzle works on the web and mobile apps. It connects with Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, Canvas, Moodle, Schoology, Blackboard, and several other learning platforms.

15. Kahoot!

Kahoot! is a quiz platform that turns review activities into class games. Teachers can create questions from scratch or use quizzes from its public library. Students earn points for correct answers, while teachers receive reports that show class performance.

Before an exam, a teacher could run a live quiz to review important terms. After each question, they could discuss the answer and explain any topic that caused confusion.

Best Used For: Class reviews, knowledge checks, and quiz-based games.
Free Plan: Kahoot! Go allows K–12 teachers to host games for up to 40 students. Many question types, advanced reports, collaboration tools, and premium activities require a paid plan.
Compatibility: This tool can be accessed on a web browser and iOS and Android apps. Teachers can share assigned games through links or other classroom platforms.

16. Wayground (Formerly Quizizz)

Wayground helps teachers create quizzes, lessons, activities, and instructional videos. Teachers can host a live class game or assign an activity for students to complete in their own time. This makes it useful for quizzes, review games, and independent practice. Afterwards, teachers can check detailed reports to see exactly how every student performed.

For example, a language teacher could assign a vocabulary quiz for students to complete at home. The report would show which words caused the most mistakes, so the teacher could review them in the next lesson.

Best Used For: Independent practice, live quizzes, homework, and lesson review.
Free Plan: The Starter free plan supports up to 100 participants in each session and stores up to 20 created or customized resources. Its library access and question types are limited.
Compatibility: Wayground works on web browsers and mobile devices. It connects with Google Classroom and Microsoft Teams, while several other LMS integrations require a school or district plan.

17. Formative

Unlike a traditional quiz that teachers check after it is submitted, Formative can show student answers as they are written. This helps teachers notice misunderstandings and provide support or feedback on the spot. Activities can include multiple-choice questions, written answers, drawings, and uploaded files.

A math teacher could use Formative to ask students to solve a problem and observe how they reach the answer. If several students make the same mistake, the teacher could stop the activity and explain that step again.

Best Used For: Formative assessment, written responses, feedback, and monitoring progress.
Free Plan: This plan includes unlimited activity creation, real-time responses, basic automatic grading, and basic question types. Advanced questions, rubrics, anti-cheating tools, and detailed analytics require an upgrade.
Compatibility: Formative works on web browsers and supports basic integrations with tools such as Google Classroom, Clever, and ClassLink. Some advanced integration and rostering features are limited to institutional plans.

18. Plickers

Plickers is a low-tech way to collect instant student feedback using paper instead of screens. Students respond to multiple-choice questions by holding up a personalized paper card rotated so their chosen answer (A, B, C, or D) faces top-center. The teacher then sweeps their phone camera across the classroom to instantly scan and record everyone’s answers using the mobile app, which matches each answer to the correct student.

During a quick review, a teacher can display a question with four possible answers. Students hold up their cards, and the app records the whole class’s responses in a few seconds. The teacher can then see who answered correctly and which topics need more explanation right away.

Best Used For: Quick classroom checks when students do not have individual devices.
Free Plan: The free plan includes unlimited classes, with up to 63 students in each class, and unlimited question sets. However, each set can contain no more than five questions.
Compatibility: Teachers can prepare questions and review reports on the Plickers website. The iOS or Android app is needed to scan cards, and responses can be collected without an internet connection.

Conclusion

EdTech tools can save time, support different learning activities, and help you assess your students’ understanding. You do not need to use all of the 18 tools mentioned here; instead, choose one that solves a current classroom problem, test it in a short activity, and ask students what they found easy or difficult. In the end, the best tool is the one that fits your lessons, your students, and the devices they already use.