Practical List of the Best Free Tools for Teachers in 2026

Teachers don’t need more apps. They need a small set of tools that save time, improve student work, and keep the routine simple.

This guide is a practical shortlist of 10 popular tools that many teachers use in 2026 and is also useful for admins and department heads who want a clear, classroom-based view of what these tools can help with.

How these tools will help you in 2026

Most tools fall into one of these categories:

• Plan and Prep: create materials, organize activities, build routines
• Engage and Check for Understanding: quick practice, formative checks, review games
• Create and Share Content: visuals, handouts, student-facing instructions
• Communicate: families, reminders, classroom updates
• Manage Access: rostering, logins, integrations
• Give Feedback and Grade: faster feedback, more consistency, better student revision

This list covers each category, with a focus on the one that takes up the most time: feedback and grading.

Are They All Free Tools?

Yes but with a caveat. Many teacher tools are free to start and then offer paid plans for advanced features, higher usage limits, or school-wide admin controls. In this post, free means at least one of the following is true:

• There’s a free tier that’s useful in real classrooms
• There’s a free plan for individual teachers
• There’s a free version that works for occasional use

If you’re evaluating for a school or district, treat this list as a shortlist to test, then confirm pricing and requirements with the vendor.

Practical List of the Best Tools for Teachers in 2026

Below, each tool has a simple format:

• Best for
• Why Teachers Use It
• Watch Outs
• Quick Start

1) CoGrader

Best for: ELA teachers grading writing, rubric-based feedback, faster scoring, and comments

Why Teachers Use It

• CoGrader is the AI Essay Grading tool that speed up essay grading by generating a strong first pass that the teacher can review and edit, provide quality feedback on essays in 80% less time.

• Supports rubric-aligned scoring so feedback is more consistent across a class

  Watch Outs

• Set clear expectations: it’s a teacher assistant.

  Quick Start

1. Start with a rubric you already use or create you
2. Run one assignment through as a pilot
3. Review, edit, and return feedback
4. Save the best comment patterns as your personal feedback shortcuts

You can test CoGrader for Free by clicking here! ✍️

2) Flippity

Best for: Quick classroom games and templates built from spreadsheets

Why Teachers Use It

• Creates simple learning activities without heavy setup

• Useful for review days, stations, and lightweight practice

  Watch Outs

• Template-based tools can feel limited if you want fully custom interactions

  Quick Start

1. Pick one template for your next lesson
2. Build it once, then reuse it with new content each unit

3) Edpuzzle

Best for: Video lessons with checks for understanding

Why Teachers Use It

• Turns videos into active practice with embedded questions

• Helpful for flipped lessons, sub plans, and reteaching

  Watch Outs

• If students have weak device access, video-based workflows can be uneven

  Quick Start

1. Start with one short video
2. Add 3 to 5 questions that match your lesson objective
3. Use results as a quick formative check

4) Canva

Best for: Teacher-made visuals, handouts, slides, posters, and student project templates

Why Teachers Use It

• Makes classroom materials look clean and consistent

• Strong for student choice boards and project deliverables

  Watch Outs

• It’s easy to overdesign. Keep templates simple and reusable

  Quick Start

1. Create one unit template for slides and handouts
2. Duplicate it for every unit to save planning time

5) Kahoot!

Best for: High-energy review and whole-class engagement

Why Teachers Use It

• Fast setup, fast engagement

• Good for retrieval practice and quick checks

  Watch Outs

• Can reward speed over thinking. Use it for review, not deep assessment

  Quick Start

1. Use it once per week as a retrieval routine
2. Add a short reflection question after the game

6) ClassDojo

Best for: Classroom culture, routines, and family communication in many K to 8 contextsWhy Teachers Use It

• Supports consistent routines and positive reinforcement

• Makes family updates easier

  Watch Outs

• If your school has strict communication policies, confirm what’s allowed

  Quick Start

1. Choose 3 class values you will reinforce consistently
2. Use it for one routine first, then expand

7) Seesaw

Best for: Student portfolios and student work sharing, often elementary and middle schoolWhy Teachers Use It

• Helps students share work and reflect

• Useful for progress documentation and family visibility

  Watch Outs

• Portfolio workflows can become time-heavy if expectations are unclear

  Quick Start

1. Pick one portfolio artifact per week
2. Use a simple reflection prompt students can repeat

8) Plickers

Best for: Fast formative checks with minimal student devicesWhy Teachers Use It

• Works well when students don’t have 1:1 devices

• Quick pulse checks during instruction

  Watch Outs

• Best for multiple-choice style checks, not open-ended reasoning

  Quick Start

1. Use it as an exit ticket twice a week
2. Track which questions consistently confuse students

9) Remind

Best for: Announcements and messaging for classes, students, and families

Why Teachers Use It

• Simplifies reminders and updates

• Helps reduce I didn’t know moments

  Watch Outs

• Messaging can expand endlessly. Set boundaries for response times

  Quick Start

1. Schedule a weekly message cadence
2. Keep messages short, consistent, and predictable

10) ClassLink

Best for: Easier access and login management in schools and districts

Why Teachers Use It

• Reduces login friction and forgotten passwords

• Helps keep tools organized in one place

  Watch Outs

• Typically more relevant at the school or district level than individual teachers

  Quick Start

1. Ask your IT team which apps are already approved
2. Start by using it for your top 3 classroom tools

For ELA K-12 Teachers

If you teach ELA, your time sink is usually not planning. It’s grading writing and giving meaningful feedback.

A practical ELA stack:

• CoGrader

   for rubric-aligned essay feedback and faster grading workflows

• Canva

   for writing organizers, exemplars, and student publishing templates

• Edpuzzle

   for short skill lessons (thesis, evidence, commentary, revision moves)

• Remind

   for deadlines, revision reminders, and family communication

Simple routine that works:

1. Students draft
2. You grade a first pass with rubric-aligned feedback
3. Students revise using 1 to 2 clear next steps
4. You do a lighter second pass focused on growth

Quick Picks (If You Want to Start Today)

• If you want to save grading time, start with CoGrader
• If you want better visuals and templates, start with Canva
• If you want fast formative checks, start with Kahoot! or Plickers
• If you want video-based practice, start with Edpuzzle

FAQ

Are These Tools Safe to Use in Schools?

It depends on your school and district policies. For school-wide use, confirm approval requirements with your admin or IT team.

For CoGrader, we have an AI policy that can help you understand that better.

Should Teachers Use One Tool for Everything?

Most teachers do best with a small stack: one tool for grading and feedback, one for content creation, and one for engagement or checks.

Which Tool Should an ELA Department Test First?

Start with the tool that reduces the biggest shared pain. In ELA, that’s usually essay grading and rubric-aligned feedback.