Best Free App for Online Teaching: Top Picks for 2025

Picking a free app for online teaching isn’t as simple as downloading the first thing that pops up in search. Loads of teachers jump onto a platform and then hit annoying limits or hidden paywalls after just a few weeks. The tricky part? They all promise the world on their homepage, but some shine only for a specific use—others are a pain unless you upgrade.

Before you make a choice, think about what you actually need. Are you running live video lessons, posting assignments, or just chatting with students? The right tool for posting daily quizzes isn’t always the right tool for face-to-face video. One app might be a hit with math tutors but leave language teachers scrambling for better features.

Some facts might surprise you, too: For example, a 2025 teacher tech report showed that almost 60% of teachers who switched apps last year did so because of hidden time or participant limits. A few clever tweaks—like how you schedule classes or set up groups—can help you squeeze a lot more out of even the most basic free plan. That’s exactly what we’re going to break down, so you don’t waste hours signing up for the wrong service.

• Why Free Apps Matter for Online Teaching
• Zoom vs. Google Classroom: The Heavyweights
• Underrated Free Apps Worth Trying
• What to Watch Out For: Limits and Hidden Costs
• Practical Tips for Getting the Most Out of Free Tools
• What Teachers Are Actually Using in 2025

Why Free Apps Matter for Online Teaching

Unless you work at a fancy private school with a tech budget the size of a small country, you’ve probably felt the sting of pricey subscriptions. For most teachers, schools, and independent tutors, free tools aren’t just a nice-to-have—they’re the difference between running a class and getting shut out by paywalls.

Big fact: Last year, around 67% of teachers using online tools reported they had zero budget for tech. And it’s not just teachers in public schools—tutors, after-school clubs, and instructors worldwide rely on free apps to run lessons, grade work, and stay organized. Free apps make it possible for everyone to learn or teach, whether you’re in a big U.S. city or a rural village in India.

Why do these free apps matter so much for online teaching? It comes down to access, flexibility, and fairness. When tools are free, anyone can join the learning party—no fancy gadgets needed. Plus, jumping between devices or teaching a class from your kitchen (maybe with your dog snoring next to you like my Max does), is simple because most free apps work on any phone, tablet, or laptop.

Real talk: Saving money on tech means more cash for stuff that actually helps your students. Think snacks for a study session, or maybe a better webcam if you’re tired of looking like a ghost on screen.

Don’t forget, almost every big-name online teaching app started with a solid free version. The best ones keep updating those free plans to compete and stay popular. As a teacher, that means you can stick with a tool long-term and not worry about surprise fees—unless you want fancy extras. Free apps open the door for more creative, flexible, and connected classes online. No more excuses that tech is only for the well-off.

Zoom vs. Google Classroom: The Heavyweights

If you ask teachers which app they tried first for online teaching, most will say Zoom or Google Classroom. Both are everywhere, and almost every school has dabbled with them since 2020. But what really sets them apart, and who wins for free features?

Zoom is famous for its video calls. It's simple to use, works on phones and PCs, and rarely lets people down for a quick class. Even the free plan gives you unlimited one-on-one meetings and group meetings up to 40 minutes—enough for most lessons if you keep things tight. Breakout rooms and chat are included without any sneaky fees. Want to record a lesson? You can, but only to your computer. Cloud recordings cost extra.

Now, Google Classroom isn't about live video. It's built for managing lessons, sharing homework, giving feedback, and keeping assignments from getting lost in student inboxes. Think of it as your virtual classroom whiteboard and mailbox in one. It hooks up with Docs, Drive, and Gmail easily, which is super handy if your school is already using Google stuff.

To compare the basics, check this out:

The short version: Zoom is your pick if you want reliable face-to-face video and you keep sessions under 40 minutes. Google Classroom is better if your main job is sending and grading homework, keeping resources organized, and giving feedback, especially if you want to avoid endless email chains or missing files. You can actually use both together—lots of teachers run their lessons on Zoom and manage homework in Google Classroom for a best-of-both-worlds setup.

One more thing to consider—privacy and security. Both apps are regularly patched, but Google’s system is a bit tighter for student data by default. If your school is big on safety rules, that matters a lot.

Underrated Free Apps Worth Trying

Everybody’s heard of Zoom and Google Classroom, but there’s a bunch of other free apps that quietly get the job done—sometimes better, depending on what you need. Many teachers skip these because they don’t pop up first on Google, but I can vouch that a bit of digging pays off. Here’s a closer look at the underdogs that are actually making a difference in remote teaching.

• Jitsi Meet: This open-source platform lets you start a video class in seconds without creating an account. It’s got no time limit, no user cap in normal settings (realistically, it handles up to 50 before things lag), and works in your browser. You don’t even need to install anything.
• Edmodo: Think of it as Facebook for the classroom, but without weird ads or distractions. You can post assignments, quizzes, and run polls. It’s super easy to organize students into groups, which is a lifesaver if you’ve got noisy classes or mixed ability levels.
• BigBlueButton: Especially popular in universities, this one is totally focused on online education. Breakout rooms, whiteboard, live chat, and recordings are all built-in for free. It works best if your school can host it or if you use a public BigBlueButton server. No frills, just teaching tools.
• Schoology Basic: Unlike some other LMS tools, the free version of Schoology gives you good control over quizzes, assignments, and gradebooks—plus a community of teachers for support. The design might feel old-school, but it’s rock solid if you need more than video chat.

What’s interesting is how many teachers are quietly migrating to these tools. According to a 2024 Classroom Software Trends Report, nearly 28% of online tutors said they switched from mainstream platforms to smaller, free apps to escape limits or confusing interfaces.

“I moved my classes to Jitsi last year after running into limits on the big names. No one believes it’s totally free, but I haven’t paid a penny yet,” says Laura Ng, an ESL teacher based in Toronto.

Check out this quick comparison of features:

If you’re hunting for the online teaching setup that doesn’t nickel-and-dime you, try these before signing up for another trial. A little experimentation here can save hours and dollars down the road. Nobody wants to get halfway through the semester and hit a paywall right as things get rolling.

What to Watch Out For: Limits and Hidden Costs

When you hear “free app,” don’t get too excited—there’s usually a catch. The biggest e-learning platforms love to reel you in with no up-front cost, but sooner or later you hit a wall. Suddenly, your class is cut off after 40 minutes or you try to upload an assignment and the file size is ‘too big.’ Happens to everyone at least once.

Here’s a look at how the top options stack up for hidden restrictions and sneaky costs:

Here are the most common traps to watch for if you don’t want to suddenly get locked out or asked for your credit card:

• Video Time Limits: Zoom’s 40-minute cap catches new teachers off guard every time. If you need two-hour workshops, plan for annoying breaks or jump to another tool mid-lesson.
• Storage Surprises: Uploading big PDF files? Microsoft Teams will start complaining fast unless you pay for more storage.
• Participant Caps: Teaching a big class? A lot of "free" plans secretly cap you at 100 students—sometimes less. Imagine turning students away just because you hit a digital headcount.
• Missing Must-Haves: Lots of tools toss out “free” versions but keep features like grading, analytics, or group work behind a paywall. Google Classroom is solid, but even it needs other Google services if you want to do video calls.

One quick tip: Always check the fine print on feature limits before you sign up. A survey last year found that teachers spend an average of 2 hours switching platforms every semester just because of hitting these roadblocks. Nobody talks about that part until you live it.

Look for services that are totally clear about what’s free and what’s pay-to-play. If you’re stuck, ask other teachers or check forums—someone’s always hit a limit before you.

Practical Tips for Getting the Most Out of Free Tools

Don’t settle for using these apps straight out of the box. With a little planning, you can really stretch what any free online teaching tool can do.

First tip: always check the limits before you pick a platform. For example, Zoom’s basic plan only lets you run group calls for up to 40 minutes. But here’s the trick—right after your time runs out, just send a new meeting link and jump back in. It only takes a minute, and most students are already used to it.

Google Classroom is another popular pick for online teaching. It’s totally fine for posting assignments and keeping students organized, but remember, it doesn’t offer built-in live video. Many teachers pair it with Google Meet (which works out of the box for live lessons if you’ve got a Google account). This combo keeps things free and straightforward, with solid tools for sharing files and giving feedback.

If you’re running out of storage on a free plan—like with Microsoft Teams or ClassDojo—get your students to submit work through cloud links (Google Drive, Dropbox) instead of uploading big files directly to the app. This simple move can keep your free storage from filling up too fast.

Group your lessons smartly. For platforms with user or class-size limits, try rotating your students and holding multiple shorter sessions or breakouts. Some teachers even switch between a couple of free tools (like alternating Zoom and Jitsi Meet) to dodge time or participant caps.

Here’s what helps the most:

• Keep lessons short and focused to fit time limits and hold attention.
• Share resources through links, not files, to save space.
• Record live sessions when possible, then email the link or upload it somewhere free for students who missed out.
• Set clear “tech rules” so students know what apps to check and when—this cuts down on confusion and saves you a lot of repeat questions.

Last thing—don’t try to do it all yourself. Hit up teacher groups on Facebook, Reddit, or Discord to find the newest workarounds and hacks for your platform. Other teachers are usually way ahead with simple fixes and time-saving tricks, and these communities are gold for real-time help.

What Teachers Are Actually Using in 2025

Teachers in 2025 are way more practical than people think. Instead of chasing the flashiest new app, most stick with the stuff that just works. Based on a survey from EduTrends published in March 2025, over 80% of teachers use two or more platforms together to keep things running smooth. That might sound like extra work, but mixing tools lets you play to each app’s strength while dodging their weak spots.

Here’s what’s really popular right now:

• Zoom is still the top dog for live classes and face-to-face teaching. A whopping 68% of online teachers use it, often because their school or company picked it for them. It’s rock-solid for video, but the free plan comes with that annoying 40-minute limit—teachers get around this by starting a fresh meeting when time runs out.
• Google Classroom is the go-to for organizing classwork, sharing resources, and grading. Over half of teachers surveyed (53%) swear by it for keeping students on track. The simple layout means even younger students don’t get lost, and it’s totally free with a Google account.
• Microsoft Teams is creeping up, especially for schools with Office 365. About 27% of teachers said it’s their main hub, mainly because it brings chat, file sharing, and video into one spot.
• ClassDojo is the favorite for early grades. Close to 30% of elementary teachers use it for behavior feedback and quick check-ins with parents, and it doesn’t feel stuffy or corporate.
• Discord is growing like crazy, especially for after-school tutoring and smaller group lessons. In 2025, 23% of teachers said it’s great for building class community and staying casual.

Check out this breakdown of actual usage:

Plenty of teachers still piece together their toolkit: Zoom or Teams for the video, Google Classroom for homework, and maybe a touch of Discord for fast questions. If you want to keep it simple with one all-in-one platform, Teams is closest, but most folks don’t mind stacking two or three, especially if it means better results for students.

The biggest tip from teachers in 2025? Don’t waste time looking for a perfect fit right out of the gate. Stick to popular apps with strong free plans and a big user base—there’s tons of support, way less trial and error, and you’re never stuck alone figuring out glitches. That’s the real secret to surviving—and thriving—in online teaching this year.