OpenBoard

Free, open-source interactive whiteboard software for schools and universities.

Verified facts: 4 of 4
Alternatives ranked: 4
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About OpenBoard

OpenBoard is open-source teaching software for interactive whiteboards and displays, used widely in schools and universities, especially in Switzerland and France. It runs as a desktop application on Windows, macOS and Linux and is designed for presenting in front of a class: teachers write and draw with a pen or finger, display and annotate documents, PDFs, images and web pages, use built-in tools such as a ruler, compass, protractor and magnifier, and save lessons as documents to reuse. A library of interactive widgets and applications supports maths and science teaching. It needs no registration and works offline, which suits school IT. OpenBoard is released under the GPLv3 licence and maintained by the education department of the canton of Geneva with community contributors on GitHub. It is not a cloud collaboration tool, so students cannot join a board remotely, but for teachers using a classroom display it is a capable free alternative to vendor software.

Best for: Teachers presenting on classroom interactive displays who want free software.

What works

Free and open source under GPLv3
Runs offline on Windows, macOS and Linux
Teaching tools like ruler, compass and protractor

Why people leave

No cloud collaboration or remote participants
Interface looks dated
Aimed at in-room presenting rather than teamwork

Top OpenBoard alternatives

See all 4

1
Explain Everything
Cloud lessons with recording and real-time student collaboration.
66.5
2
Microsoft Whiteboard
Free for schools on Microsoft 365, with remote participation in Teams.
62.6
3
WBO
Free open-source online board that students can join by link.
59.6
4
Excalidraw
Free open-source browser canvas for shared diagrams.
57.2

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OpenBoard: common questions

Is OpenBoard free?

Yes. OpenBoard is free, open-source software.

Is OpenBoard open source?

Yes.

What platforms does OpenBoard run on?

OpenBoard is available for Windows, macOS and Linux.

What are the best alternatives to OpenBoard?

The highest-ranked OpenBoard alternatives right now are Explain Everything, Microsoft Whiteboard and WBO. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 4 OpenBoard alternatives

OpenBoard facts

4 of 4 verified

License: GPLv3; Checked Oct 25, 2026openboard.ch(opens source in a new tab); “Open Source OpenBoard is released under the GPLv3 License and maintained by the community on GitHub .”
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux; Checked Oct 25, 2026openboard.ch(opens source in a new tab); “Cross-platform Supported platforms are Windows, macOS and Linux.”
Registration: Not required; Checked Oct 25, 2026openboard.ch(opens source in a new tab); “No registration required.”
Maintainer: Geneva Education Department (DIP); Checked Oct 25, 2026openboard.ch(opens source in a new tab); “Currently, OpenBoard is maintained by the Education Department (DIP) of the canton of Geneva, in Switzerland.”