Skip to content
SPECIFICTION
Get listed

Nearpod

nearpod.com

From $13.25/mo Free plan WebWindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroid
Visit nearpod.com
Spec score 8.9 #2 of 33 in Google Workspace Teacher Resources Software

What it is

Nearpod helps educators create and deliver interactive lessons, with options for live participation, student-paced work or front-of-class teaching. Teachers can build lessons from scratch or import PowerPoints, Google Slides, PDFs, videos and YouTube videos, then add formative assessments and media activities such as Draw It, Polls, Drag & Drop, VR Field Trips and PhET simulations. Its library contains more than 22,000 customizable, standards-aligned lessons, videos and activities, including K–12 content. Teachers can review real-time feedback and post-session reports to assess student understanding and work. AI Create can generate interactive lessons, activities and multiple-choice questions; the plan details list the question generator with Gold and AI Create with school and district plans. Nearpod works on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows and the web, and lessons can be embedded in an LMS through a link. Integrations include Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, Clever, ClassLink and LTI 1.3 platforms such as Canvas, Schoology and Blackboard. Silver is free; Gold costs $159 a year and Platinum $397 a year. School and district pricing is by quote.

Spec sheet

What it does
Nearpod lets educators create or upload lessons, deliver them live or self-paced, collect responses in real time, and download post-session reports.Read 14 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Purpose
Nearpod lets educators create active, interactive learning experiences for students.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Audience
Nearpod offers individual educator plans and school or district licenses, and its Library content includes K–12 lessons, activities, and videos.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Integrations
Nearpod supports LTI 1.3 with Canvas, Schoology, and Blackboard, plus assignments through Google Classroom and Microsoft Teams.Read 14 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Support
School and district licenses include a dedicated Customer Success Manager, and the LMS page describes staff training during implementation.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Founded
2012Read 23 Sep 2026 · nearpod.com
AI
AI Create can generate interactive lessons, activities, and multiple-choice questions; the pricing page lists the question generator with Gold and AI Create with school and district plans.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
AI authoring
AI Create can generate interactive lessons, activities, and multiple-choice questions from prompts or existing material.Read 14 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Assessment insights
Teachers can use real-time feedback and post-session reports to review student understanding and work.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Collaboration
Collaborate Board supports shared prompts with text, images, audio, video, and GIF responses, with optional anonymous display.Read 14 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Company founded and headquarters
LinkedIn lists Nearpod as founded in 2012, headquartered in Dania Beach, Florida, and employing 201–500 people.Read 14 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Content library
Nearpod advertises more than 22,000 standards-aligned lessons, videos, and activities in its library.Read 14 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Delivery modes
Nearpod supports Live Participation, Student-Paced, and Front of Class lesson delivery.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Developer extensibility
Public product pages document LTI 1.3, LMS connections, Google Classroom and Microsoft Teams workflows, a Google Slides add-on, and browser/device access; they do not present a public SDK.Read 14 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Documentation and support
Nearpod provides FAQs, a knowledge base, chat, email/help-desk and phone support, plus webinars, videos, documentation, and live online training.Read 14 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Formative assessment
The platform provides more than 20 assessment and media activities, including quizzes, polls, open-ended questions, Draw It, Matching Pairs, Fill in the Blanks, Collaborate Board, Interactive Video, and Time to Climb.Read 14 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Funding history
TechCrunch reported in February 2021 that Nearpod had raised more than $30 million in venture capital before its acquisition.Read 14 Oct 2026 · techcrunch.com
Gamification
Time to Climb turns multiple-choice questions into a competitive game in which students race up a mountain.Read 14 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Google Slides integration
The Nearpod add-on lets Gold, Platinum, and School or District users add Nearpod activities and content directly inside Google Slides.Read 14 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Interactive lessons
Teachers can build interactive lessons from PowerPoint, PDF, Google Slides, video, and other content.Read 14 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Interactive video
Teachers can add multiple-choice or open-ended questions at points within uploaded or YouTube videos.Read 14 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Learning activities
Lessons can use more than 20 formative assessments and dynamic media features, including Draw It, Polls, Drag & Drop, VR Field Trips, and PhET simulations.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Lesson creation
Teachers can build lessons from scratch or upload PowerPoints, Google Slides, PDFs, videos, and YouTube videos.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Library
The Nearpod Library includes 22,000+ ready-to-teach, customizable, standards-aligned lessons, videos, and activities.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
License model
Renaissance terms describe its downloadable tools as copyrighted works and prohibit redistribution, reverse engineering, and decompilation, indicating proprietary software rather than open source.Read 14 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Limit: connectivity and bugs
Reviewers report recurring student connection problems that sometimes require refreshing, while Trustpilot includes a complaint that students could not see results because of bugs.Read 14 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Limit: internet dependency
A TrustRadius reviewer says students need internet access because presentations are not downloadable.Read 14 Oct 2026 · trustradius.com
Limit: price and free-tier restrictions
Reviewers report that paid plans are expensive and that the free tier limits storage, audience size, Google Slides access, and other valuable features.Read 14 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
LMS access
Nearpod says it works with any device, browser, or operating system with an internet connection and can be embedded in any LMS through a lesson link.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Ownership
Renaissance announced a definitive agreement to acquire Nearpod on February 23, 2021.Read 14 Oct 2026 · gestest.renaissance.com
Praise: engagement and monitoring
GetApp reviewers repeatedly praise interactive lessons, differentiation, monitoring student participation, and keeping video inside the lesson.Read 14 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Praise: multimedia and assessment
TrustRadius reviewers praise seamless multimedia, clicker-style questions, polls, engagement, and immediate formative feedback.Read 14 Oct 2026 · trustradius.com
Privacy and data handling
Renaissance says the educational institution controls collection, use, retention, and disclosure of student information in its software products and that it acts on the institution’s instructions for parental inquiries.Read 7 Oct 2026 · renaissance.com
Rating on Apple App Store
3.1 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings.Read 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Rating on Capterra
4.7 out of 5 from 173 reviews.Read 14 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Rating on Chrome Web Store
3.8 out of 5 from 15 ratings.Read 14 Oct 2026 · chromewebstore.google.com
Rating on G2
4.6 out of 5 from 121 reviews.Read 14 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Rating on GetApp
4.7 out of 5 from 173 reviews.Read 14 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Rating on Google Play
2.0 out of 5 from 7.09K reviews.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Rating on Trustpilot
2.6 out of 5 from 9 reviews.Read 14 Oct 2026 · uk.trustpilot.com
Reporting
Teachers can download class or individual student reports as PDF or CSV files after lessons.Read 14 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Security and compliance
Nearpod says its practices support COPPA and FERPA obligations, and Renaissance states that its information-security program undergoes annual SOC 2 Type 2 examinations.Read 14 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Single sign-on and rostering
School and District editions support sign-in or rostering options through Google, Microsoft, Clever, and ClassLink, depending on configuration.Read 14 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Storage and session limits
The free Silver plan includes 300 MB of storage and 40 student joins per lesson; Gold includes 1 GB and 75 joins, while Platinum includes 5 GB and 90 joins.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Student pacing
Student-Paced mode lets learners complete assigned lessons independently while teachers review captured responses and reports.Read 14 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Supported devices
Nearpod supports modern browsers on Chromebooks, iPads, iPhones, Android devices, Windows PCs, and Macs; teacher apps are available for iOS and Android.Read 14 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Virtual reality
Nearpod includes virtual-reality experiences and field trips that students can explore during lessons.Read 14 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com

Plans and prices

Silver Free Free forever 300 MB storage · 40 student joins per lesson · core features Read 14 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Gold $159 a year $159/year 1 GB storage · 75 student joins per lesson · AI Create Question Generator · Google Slides add-on · Drag & Drop · Sub Plans Read 14 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
Platinum $397 a year $397/year 5 GB storage · 90 student joins per lesson · student notes · all Gold features Read 14 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
School & District Priced on request Request a quote Unlimited storage · 250 student joins per lesson · LMS/LTI/rostering · admin reporting · dedicated Customer Success Manager Read 14 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com
School or District Priced on request Request a quote Unlimited storage · 250 student joins per lesson · LMS/LTI/rostering integrations · dedicated Customer Success Manager Read 7 Oct 2026 · nearpod.com

Every Nearpod plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Offers live, student-paced and front-of-class delivery.
  • Library includes 22,000+ customizable learning resources.
  • Works with major LMS platforms through listed integrations.
  • Free Silver plan includes core features.
  • Teachers can review feedback and post-session reports.

Limits

  • Silver limits storage to 300 MB.
  • Silver allows 40 student joins per lesson.
  • Gold costs $159 a year.
  • School and district plan pricing is by quote.

Who it suits

Nearpod offers plans for individual educators as well as school and district licenses. It suits K–12 teaching that uses interactive activities, lesson libraries and student feedback.

Nearpod in depth

Read the full write-up

Nearpod is a teaching platform for turning course material into interactive lessons and checking student understanding. It suits K–12 educators who want to combine instruction, activities, and feedback; individual plans are a poor fit when class size regularly exceeds their join caps.

Overview

Teachers can build lessons from scratch or adapt PowerPoints, Google Slides, PDFs, videos, and YouTube videos. They can run a lesson live, let students work at their own pace, or present from the front of the room. That flexibility makes Nearpod useful across different classroom routines, while its storage and student-join limits make plan choice consequential rather than a minor pricing detail.

Key features

More than 20 formative assessment and dynamic media features include Draw It, Polls, Drag & Drop, VR Field Trips, and PhET simulations. The range gives teachers ways to vary instruction and gather responses within a lesson, rather than relying on slides alone. Its Library adds more than 22,000 customizable, standards-aligned K–12 lessons, videos, and activities, which can save preparation time for teachers willing to adapt existing material.

Real-time feedback and post-session reports let teachers review student responses and work during and after a session. AI Create can generate interactive lessons, activities, and multiple-choice questions, but the plan distinction matters: Gold includes the question generator, while AI Create is listed with school and district plans. Nearpod also supports live polls, quizzes, and audience reactions.

Integrations include Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, Google and Microsoft single sign-on, Clever, ClassLink, and LTI 1.3 platforms such as Canvas, Schoology, and Blackboard. Lessons can be embedded in an LMS through a lesson link. School and district licenses add a dedicated Customer Success Manager, and implementation includes staff training—useful for institutions rolling the platform out beyond one teacher.

Pricing

Nearpod is freemium, with individual educator plans and custom pricing for school or district licenses. The free Silver plan costs nothing and includes core features, 300 MB of storage, and 40 student joins per lesson. It is a sensible way to start, but limited storage and the join cap can constrain regular use with larger classes.

Gold costs $159 a year, billed $159/year. It raises storage to 1 GB and the lesson cap to 75 student joins, and adds the AI Create Question Generator, Google Slides add-on, Drag & Drop, multiple sessions, and Sub Plans. It fits individual teachers who need those capabilities and can stay within the join limit.

Platinum costs $397 a year, billed $397/year. It includes all Gold features, 5 GB of storage, 90 student joins per lesson, and student notes. The extra storage and capacity make it a better individual option for heavier use, but it still caps participation at 90 students per lesson.

School or District has custom pricing and is billed by quote. It includes unlimited storage, 250 student joins per lesson, LMS/LTI/rostering integrations, and a dedicated Customer Success Manager. Institutions that need those integrations, higher capacity, or implementation support should consider this tier; individual pricing is more predictable for a single educator, but offers lower caps.

Platforms

Nearpod supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. It works on any device, browser, or operating system with an internet connection, and its web presentation format and LMS embedding make it suitable for mixed-device classrooms.

Who it's for

Nearpod is best suited to K–12 teachers who want to turn existing materials into interactive instruction, draw on ready-to-teach library content, and review student understanding. Individual plans fit educators whose classes and storage needs fall within the tier limits. Schools and districts have a clearer case when they need institutional integrations, higher lesson capacity, or rollout support. It is less suitable for large classes on an individual plan or buyers who need individual-plan capacity above 90 joins per lesson.

Pros and cons

Pro: Teachers can import common presentation and document formats, then choose among three delivery modes, reducing the need to rebuild material for different lesson formats.

Pro: The library’s 22,000+ customizable, standards-aligned resources and more than 20 activity and assessment options offer a broad base for lessons that go beyond presentation.

Pro: Real-time feedback and post-session reports connect classroom activity with a way to review student work and understanding.

Con: Individual plans have per-lesson caps of 40, 75, or 90 student joins, so larger classes may require the school or district tier.

Con: Storage is capped at 300 MB, 1 GB, or 5 GB on the individual tiers; teachers with larger content libraries need to weigh that constraint when choosing a plan.

Con: AI features are split by tier: the question generator is on Gold, while AI Create is listed with school and district plans.

Alternatives

Consider LessonUp if a freemium lesson tool with a free account, saved lesson results, and a $7 a month Start plan is a better match; it also offers a free trial and supports Android, iOS, and web.

ThingLink may suit buyers seeking a paid creation tool with a free trial and a plan starting at $66 a month when billed annually, or $99/month billed monthly. Its listed Create Starter / Create XR plan has one creator seat and 250 views per month.

Choose BookWidgets if collecting, reviewing, and grading student work is the priority; its free plan is free, and it supports iOS and web.

Adapt Learning is a free and open-source e-learning authoring tool and framework for buyers who prefer that model; it supports web, mobile, desktop, and self-hosted platforms.

Deck.Toys is worth considering for teachers who can work within its free tier of two classrooms, three private decks, 40 students per classroom, seven-day classroom data retention, and two assigned decks per classroom.

Xerte is a free, open-source option for buyers able to install it on a web server; commercial hosting and support are separate.

Easygenerator may fit someone seeking a web-based course authoring tool with a free tier limited to one course after its 14-day trial, or a Pro plan at $116 a month when billed annually at $1,399.

eXeLearning is a free and open-source alternative for online or desktop use.

For more options, browse Interactive Lesson Makers, Interactive Presentation Software, and Interactive Classroom Software.

Verdict

Choose Nearpod if you teach K–12 and want lesson authoring, interactive activities, a large customizable library, and student feedback in one workflow. Its main strength is the breadth of classroom participation and review tools; look elsewhere or move to a school or district license if your classes outgrow individual join caps or you need institutional integrations and support.

Verdict

Nearpod combines lesson authoring, interactive activities, library content and classroom feedback in one platform. Compare the plan-specific storage and student-join limits with your needs before selecting an individual plan.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to NearpodAll alternatives →