Apple Classroom vs NetSupport School

Apple Classroom is a free app for teachers to guide lessons, keep students focused, and share learning resources on iPad and Mac. During a session, teachers can see all student screens together and direct one student or the class to a web page, book, or app. They can launch apps, websites, and books; restrict a student to one app; lock screens; and mute device audio. Agendas can set timed tasks and launch a Classroom session. Teachers can share documents and links with AirDrop and present student work through AirPlay on Apple TV. Classes can be managed by IT or created by teachers, with students arranged into groups. Schools using Shared iPad can have students reassigned to the device they most recently used. Apple says students can connect remotely, while the App Store listing says Classroom actions take place only over the local network. Apple School Manager can connect identity providers and student information systems for class rosters. Apple says it does not sell student information or share it for third-party marketing or advertising.

NetSupport School is classroom-management and student-monitoring software for teaching, managing devices, and assessment. Teachers can monitor student screens, applications, websites, typing, and collaboration in adjustable thumbnails, then remotely control screens or blank and lock selected devices. For instruction, they can share screens, applications, presentations, videos, and websites with annotation tools. File transfer supports sending files and folders to students and collecting files from them. The software supports mixed-platform classes across Windows, Mac, Chromebooks, Android, and iOS. SIS mode integrates with ClassLink OneRoster and Google Classroom, but requires the NetSupport Connectivity Server installed on Windows Server. A 30-day trial supports up to 40 devices, includes all features, and does not require a credit card. Pricing is available on request; licensing is device-based, and a 100-machine deployment requires a 100-user license even when loaded from a server. Pricing includes free weekday support across global time zones and online training. The Android student app supports Android tablets running version 12 or later, with arm64-v8a on versions from 15.10.0003.