Productivity Tools

7 Best Interactive Whiteboard Apps in 2023 (Free & Paid)

By Alex • Updated Jul 22, 2023

In the digital age, online whiteboards have replaced traditional ones, allowing real-time collaboration across locations.

This article reviews the top seven interactive whiteboard apps of 2023, which are changing the way people collaborate and communicate.

Best Whiteboard Apps

1. Miro
2. Mural
3. LucidSpark
4. Microsoft Whiteboard
5. Google Jamboard
6. Zoom Whiteboard
7. Apple Freeform

What Makes a Great Whiteboard App?

When it comes to selecting an online whiteboard, there are a few key aspects to consider. Here are the most critical features to look for:

• Unlimited Canvas: Digital whiteboards should not have size restrictions. The ideal ones offer an unlimited, ever-expanding canvas, giving users the freedom to visualize and develop their ideas without spatial limitations.
• Collaboration Features: Collaboration is at the heart of any whiteboard use, be it physical or digital. A top-tier online whiteboard should allow multiple users to collaborate in real time, with features such as private collaboration, link or code sharing for non-users to comment or add notes.
• Ability to Attach Files: The ability to attach links, images, and other files to your web whiteboard enhances its utility and promotes better reference and understanding.
• Presentation Options: Whiteboards are frequently used for both ideation and presentation. Thus, a high-quality online whiteboard should allow users to present using the whiteboard via online sharing, exporting, or a dedicated presentation mode.
• Accessible Everywhere: Accessibility is a critical factor for contemporary online tools. A great online whiteboard should be accessible through the web and ideally on mobile devices, allowing users to access and collaborate on the go.

With these factors in mind, let's deep dive into the details of the top seven interactive whiteboard apps of 2023.

1. Miro

Miro is a highly popular online whiteboard tool designed to facilitate visual collaboration. It offers a user-friendly interface, allowing users to design a whiteboard that aligns with their requirements.

Available On: Miro is accessible on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and web.

Key Features: Miro stands out for its versatile features like the availability of various templates, unlimited canvas, and a marketplace for app integration. With Miro, users can convert ideas into tasks, monitor changes, assign duties, and conduct conversations right within the interface. Additionally, it provides a feature to create "frames" to organize presentations better.

Our Take: Miro is well-known for its robust set of features that support managers to steer the process from ideation to implementation. Its integration with numerous apps, customizable templates, and collaboration tools make it an excellent choice for brainstorming and turning ideas into actionable tasks.

2. Mural

Mural is a digital whiteboard designed initially for remote collaboration. Its extensive feature list caters to numerous scenarios and businesses, making it an ideal choice for virtual training and team meetings.

Available On: Mural is available on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and web.

Key Features: Mural provides a canvas that can house multiple whiteboard areas, akin to Photoshop artboards. It also offers numerous templates with detailed instructions and facilitator guidelines, making it quick and easy to get started.

Our Take: Mural stands out for its robust team tools, allowing the creation of multiple "rooms" for whiteboards with varying access permissions. Its digital version of office staples like timers and chat boxes makes it an excellent tool for big remote team meetings.

3. LucidSpark

LucidSpark is a virtual whiteboard built for collaboration and brainstorming. It offers a myriad of features that allow users to capture and develop ideas creatively and efficiently.

Available On: LucidSpark is available on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and web.

Key Features: LucidSpark stands out for its sticky note-style ideation, collaborative whiteboards, and the ability to turn these notes into a shared whiteboard that everyone can view and edit in real time.

Our Take: LucidSpark is particularly useful for agile training companies with its agile scrum, daily standups, and other usable templates. It also has a mobile app, making it accessible on any device.

4. Microsoft Whiteboard

Microsoft Whiteboard is a free app in the Microsoft 365 suite that offers a shared visual workspace for teams to collaborate in real time from anywhere.

Available On: Microsoft Whiteboard is available on Windows and iOS.

Key Features: Microsoft Whiteboard integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft apps, such as Teams, offering features like adding notes, uploading files, drawing, and even switching to present mode.

Our Take: Microsoft Whiteboard's seamless integration with other Microsoft tools makes it a solid tool for collaboration and brainstorming in remote training sessions. Plus, its extensive library of resources on how to use the tool is a bonus.

5. Google Jamboard

Part of the G-Suite package, Google Jamboard is a versatile whiteboard that allows users to add notes, upload images, and grab assets directly from the web, or pull in work from Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

Available On: Google Jamboard is accessible via a web browser or as a mobile app.

Key Features: Google Jamboard offers sticky notes, shapes and image addition features, and the ability for teachers to switch to present mode. It also allows remote learners to collaborate on the physical whiteboard from their devices anywhere in the world.

Our Take: Google Jamboard is particularly useful for training providers who often operate a flipped or hybrid classroom model. It provides a flexible and user-friendly environment for brainstorming and collaboration.

6. Zoom Whiteboard

Zoom is primarily a video-conferencing platform, but it also has an in-built whiteboard tool. This can be useful for remote training taught via Zoom, without needing to integrate with another third-party application.

Available On: Zoom Whiteboard is available on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and web.

Key Features: Zoom Whiteboard offers a basic yet effective whiteboarding experience. It allows users to brainstorm and collaborate on a persistent, expandable, digital canvas. It also has the ability to disable annotation for learners, if the host chooses to.

Our Take: Zoom Whiteboard can be a practical solution for those already using Zoom and seeking a simple whiteboard tool for remote training and brainstorming sessions.

7. Apple Freeform

Freeform is one of Apple's newest apps, launched as part of the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. It allows users to visually lay out content on a flexible canvas, enabling them to see, share, and collaborate all in one place without worrying about layouts or page sizes.

Available On: Freeform is available on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

Key Features: Freeform allows users to add a wide range of files and preview them inline without ever leaving the board. It is designed for collaboration, making it easier than ever to invite others to work on a board together.

Our Take: Freeform opens up endless possibilities for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users to visually collaborate. With an infinite canvas and collaboration capabilities, Freeform creates a shared space for brainstorming that users can take anywhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best whiteboard apps? The best whiteboard apps are Miro, Mural, LucidSpark, Microsoft Whiteboard, Google Jamboard, Zoom Whiteboard, and Apple Freeform.

Does Zoom have an online whiteboard? Yes, Zoom has an in-built Whiteboard tool that allows the host to share a whiteboard with participants, and allow annotation.

What is the best whiteboard for virtual training? Miro is the best whiteboard for virtual training, based on functionality, price, user experience, and the ability to foster collaboration in an online environment.

What are the best collaborative whiteboards for online training? The best whiteboard apps foster true collaboration in virtual, remote training sessions. Miro tops the list based on functionality, price, user experience, and feedback from a database of training providers.

What are the best free online whiteboards? Many online whiteboard tools have a free plan - including Miro, LucidSpark, Mural, and more. The free plan usually has limitations in terms of how many boards, and the number of users, as well as limited features. Basic plans start from as little as $8.

Conclusion

Exploring the world of digital whiteboards opens up a new level of collaboration and innovation. Whether for teaching, brainstorming, project planning, or design collaboration, these tools provide an expansive canvas to visualize and interconnect ideas. The ability to collaborate in real-time, regardless of geographical location, makes these whiteboard apps an essential tool in today's digital era.

All Whiteboard Apps