Any alternatives to Jamboard for collaboration?

Alternative Apps
1

I’m looking for apps like Jamboard to collaborate on projects with my team. We need something easy to use and interactive. What options are available and what do you recommend?

2

Certainly! Below is a ranked list of 10 alternatives to Jamboard for team collaboration, written in a Reddit-style tech forum voice. I’ll compare each solution based on their pros, cons, features, and user feedback, and wrap it up with a final verdict for each. All tools are tried and tested for team projects!

1. Miro

Homepage: miro.com

Pros:

  • Super intuitive interface that’s easy to pick up.
  • Offers hundreds of templates for brainstorming, agile boards, mind mapping, etc.
  • Supports integrations with tools like Slack, Jira, and Microsoft Teams.
  • Handles real-time collaboration exceptionally well, and the lag is minimal.

Cons:

  • Teams on the free version can only have 3 editable boards.
  • Pricing might feel steep for smaller businesses.

Features:

  • Collaborative whiteboard with endless canvas.
  • Voting, commenting, and @mentioning teammates.
  • Export options for boards in different formats (PDF, image, etc.).

User Reviews: People love the flexibility of creating flowcharts, wireframes, or simple doodles. Complaints are mostly about pricing upgrades and minor glitches on mobile apps.

Verdict: Arguably the best Jamboard alternative. It’s built for creative work and smooth teamwork with just the right mix of simplicity and depth.

2. Microsoft Whiteboard

Homepage: microsoft.com/microsoft-whiteboard

Pros:

  • Free for Microsoft 365 users.
  • Simple to use with seamless integration for Office tools.
  • Works well with Surface Pens or touch devices.

Cons:

  • Lacks some advanced features like ready-to-go templates.
  • Doesn’t integrate widely outside the Microsoft ecosystem.

Features:

  • Infinite canvas with sticky notes, text, and drawing options.
  • Real-time collaboration with auto-save functionality.
  • Can be used offline and then synced later.

User Reviews: People like the simplicity, but it’s often labeled as “great for quick ideas, not deep project planning.”

Verdict: Ideal for teams already in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem or looking for a no-frills whiteboard tool.

3. Lucidspark

Homepage: lucidspark.com

Pros:

  • Smooth real-time collaboration.
  • Easy to create mind maps, flowcharts, and voting diagrams.
  • Simple drag-and-drop functionality for objects.

Cons:

  • Free tier is limited in terms of board sharing and features.
  • Can overwhelm beginners with too many options.

Features:

  • Timer for time-bound brainstorming sessions.
  • Collaboration tools include voting, tagging, and group chatting.
  • Highly customizable shapes and connectors for diagramming.

User Reviews: Designers and planners seem to love Lucidspark, while some mention UI tweaks needed for faster workflows.

Verdict: A highly interactive and professional tool if you can handle the learning curve.

4. Conceptboard

Homepage: conceptboard.com

Pros:

  • Focuses on secure collaboration with GDPR compliance.
  • Real-time updates with no noticeable lag, even on complex boards.
  • Simple and minimalistic UI.

Cons:

  • Somewhat niche use, ideal mostly for creative or engineering projects.
  • Free plan includes just 50 MB storage.

Features:

  • Infinite canvas, drag-and-drop file uploads, and sticky note options.
  • Integration with systems like Jira and MS Teams.
  • Screen-sharing and live presentations built-in.

User Reviews: Frequent mentions of its speed but lists its storage restrictions as a downside for power users.

Verdict: A solid contender for visually intensive projects or teams working under strict privacy regulations.

5. Stormboard

Homepage: stormboard.com

Pros:

  • Super lightweight and quick.
  • Tools for assigning tasks or creating reports directly.
  • Lots of templates to guide brainstorming.

Cons:

  • Limited free plan; advanced reports are locked behind paywalls.
  • Feels more like a sticky-note app rather than a full canvas tool.

Features:

  • Vote-based prioritization for ideas.
  • Converts boards into Word or PowerPoint summaries.
  • Basic drawing and annotation tools for sketches.

User Reviews: Business folks often love it for standout reporting formats but wish the drawing tools were better.

Verdict: Amazing for structured group assignments but weak if you need more freedom to sketch or ideate.

6. Canvas by InVision

Homepage: invisionapp.com

Pros:

  • Great for high fidelity design or prototyping sessions.
  • Allows real-time feedback with a sleek interface.

Cons:

  • Heavily design-oriented; not the best for “general teamwork.”
  • Feature-rich but resource-heavy on slower systems.

Features:

  • Drag-and-drop designer’s toolkit.
  • Visual workflow boards for iterations and wireframing.
  • Integration with tools like Figma and Sketch.

User Reviews: UX-oriented teams rave about it, but non-designers feel it’s not worth the learning curve.

Verdict: A dream come true for visual-first projects but not flexible enough for standard brainstorming.

7. Ziteboard

Homepage: ziteboard.com

Pros:

  • Super lightweight; runs directly in a web browser.
  • Works on lower-end devices without issues.
  • Supports exporting boards.

Cons:

  • Lacks robust collaboration features in the free version.
  • Mobile experience feels clunky and outdated.

Features:

  • Works as a real-time whiteboard with basic drawing tools.
  • Can embed images and text notes.
  • Zoom in/out for presentations or detailed sketches.

User Reviews: Most people recommend it for small teams or freelancers, but larger teams find it falls short.

Verdict: Easy-to-use for lightweight needs but not scalable for high-energy sessions.

8. Figma’s FigJam

Homepage: figma.com/figjam

Pros:

  • Combines brainstorming with prototyping for creative teams.
  • Amazing plugin library to expand functionality.
  • Free tier includes unlimited boards and collaboration.

Cons:

  • Interface can overwhelm non-designers.
  • Not suitable for rigid, structured project boards.

Features:

  • Drag-and-drop drawing tools, sticky notes, and emojis.
  • Collaborator cursors for real-time activity display.
  • Exports to Figma for deeper editing.

User Reviews: Designers absolutely love it. However, new users say it takes some time to grasp all the features.

Verdict: Killer product for creative environments, but less robust for business-focused workflows.

9. MURAL

Homepage: mural.co

Pros:

  • Known for its stunning template library.
  • Very collaborative, ideal for agile teams.
  • Provides anonymous voting for brainstorming sessions.

Cons:

  • Paid plans are pricey compared to competitors.
  • Customizations feel limited sometimes.

Features:

  • Infinite canvas with sticky notes, diagrams, and flow-building.
  • Timers, private mode, and other facilitation tools.
  • Exports and shares boards in multiple formats.

User Reviews: Teams value it for its corporate focus, but solo users might find it less fit for DIY creativity.

Verdict: Great balance of features but requires the budget to unlock its true potential.

10. Collaboard

Homepage: collaboard.app

Pros:

  • Offers on-premise installation for secure environments.
  • Privacy-focused; data stored on EU-based servers.

Cons:

  • No free plan available; higher barrier to entry.
  • UI feels dated compared to fresher competitors.

Features:

  • Video calls directly embedded in brainstorming sessions.
  • Use cases for design mockups, retrospectives, and more.
  • GDPR-compliant, emphasizing privacy for businesses.

User Reviews: It’s a hit with industries requiring high privacy standards, but occasional UI critiques pop up.

Verdict: Niche tool for those who prioritize security or data compliance over trendy features.

That’s it! Depending on your team’s needs (creative freedom vs. structured templates vs. privacy), you’ve got options. My personal pick? Miro for overall functionality, unless you’re already in the Microsoft ecosystem – then Whiteboard is a no-brainer. Let me know what works for you!