Free Explain Everything Alternative — In-Browser Whiteboard for Teachers
Explain Everything is powerful but expensive and app-dependent. OnlineWhiteboard.org gives teachers and students a free in-browser whiteboard — draw, annotate, present, and export — no download, no subscription, no account.
Why Teachers Look for an Explain Everything Alternative
The app requirement and subscription cost are the main barriers.
Explain Everything is a highly capable interactive whiteboard and screencasting tool popular in education. However, it requires a paid subscription — plans start around $1.99 per month individually but climb quickly for school licences — and it works through an app, which means installation is required on each device.
OnlineWhiteboard.org is a free in-browser alternative. Teachers can open it in any browser on any school device — including shared Chromebooks and iPads — with no app installation, no licence fee, and no account. Draw, annotate images, use the laser pointer, and export to PDF — all for free.
Teaching Tools Included Free
Everything you need to explain, demonstrate, and present.
Drawing & Inking Tools
Pen, calligraphy, highlighter, shapes and arrows for clear visual explanations on the canvas.
Image Upload & Annotation
Upload lesson images, diagrams, worksheets, and annotate them live during teaching.
Laser Pointer
Use the laser pointer to guide student attention during screen-shared lessons and presentations.
Sticky Notes
Quick sticky note activities for student interaction and formative assessment.
PDF Export
Export your lesson canvas as a PDF to share with students or save for records.
Multiple Boards
Keep different lesson topics on separate boards within one session.
Save & Reload
Save your lesson board and reopen it for the next class — no cloud account needed.
iPad & Touch Support
Fully touch-enabled and Apple Pencil compatible — works on school iPads natively.
Presentation Mode
Fullscreen and dark mode for clear classroom projection.
OnlineWhiteboard.org vs Explain Everything
Comparing key teaching features.
| Feature | OnlineWhiteboard.org | Explain Everything |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — always | Subscription required |
| App Install Required | No — browser only | Yes |
| Account Required | No | Yes |
| iPad Support | Yes — browser | Yes — app |
| PDF Export | Free, unlimited | Subscription feature |
| Image Annotation | Yes | Yes |
| Laser Pointer | Yes | Yes |
| Video Recording | No | Yes |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OnlineWhiteboard.org free for schools?
Yes — completely free, no licence fee, no per-user cost, no account required. Any teacher or student can open it in a browser.
Does it work on school iPads without installing an app?
Yes. The whiteboard runs fully in the browser on iPad including Safari. Apple Pencil works natively for inking. See the iPad guide →
Can I record my lesson like in Explain Everything?
Screen recording is not built into OnlineWhiteboard.org — use your device's screen recorder alongside it. Explain Everything specialises in video recording which this tool does not replicate.
Can I annotate PDF worksheets?
You can upload image versions of worksheets and annotate them on the canvas. See the image annotation guide →
Is it suitable for maths teaching?
Yes — the drawing tools, shapes, and clean canvas work well for maths diagrams and worked examples. See the maths whiteboard guide →