Last updated on 29 April 2025
OpenBoard, is an ally of teachers who want to make their courses more alive, without too many complications or big budget. A completely free digital whiteboard that makes it easy to create and share interactive content with his pupils or students.
Available on Windows, macOS and Linux, it combines, without overdoing it, simplicity of use and well-thought-out features to give your courses a real boost.
Born in Swiss classrooms and adopted by thousands of teachers around the world, this Open Source Software shakes up the codes of digital education by proving that innovation and free education can go hand in hand.
Table of Contents
What exactly is OpenBoard and why is it worth a try?
So, in two words (or almost): OpenBoard is one Interactive whiteboard Designed specifically for the world of education. Concretely, you can project any document, modify it on the fly, annotate, enrich … Brief, make your courses more dynamic.
Unlike other proprietary software that is expensive, OpenBoard is open source and completely free, without mandatory registration. A breath of fresh air for tight budgets and those who want to avoid commercial solutions.
Behind OpenBoard, there are two simple ideas: listen closely to the needs of teachers and bet on a quick grip. You don’t have to be a geek to get there. This is probably why it is used all over the world.
How was OpenBoard born?
OpenBoard did not fall from the sky overnight. At its core, this is an evolution of Open-Sankoré 2.0, itself born from Uniboard, developed at the University of Lausanne in 2003. This long history explains why it is so reliable and adapted to the realities of the field.
Today, OpenBoard is supported by the Department of Public Education in Geneva, with a helping hand from the University of Lausanne. As a result, there is no commercial logic behind: the objective remains strictly pedagogical.
The latest stable version (1.7.3) was released in December 2024, proof that the project continues to evolve quietly but surely. Updates regularly come to fix small bugs and add cool new features.
A quick overview of features
OpenBoard is not only practical, it is also rather comprehensive, without drowning in options.
A clear and flexible workspace
The screen is organised into four main areas. You move from one function to another without thinking about it, and you can even hide or rearrange the menus to your liking. It is quite nice to be able to personalise your space as you store your own desk.
Effective writing and annotation tools
It's all here: different pencils, highlighters, gums and even the possibility of draw lines straight or type text. You can have fun highlighting what you want, correct directly, add comments … A real time saver.
Manage objects and integrate multimedia
With OpenBoard, manipulating images, videos or sounds becomes a breeze. You can move, duplicate, lock, hide … And if you like to play with objects, the Magic Finger tool will become your best friend.
Built-in apps to go further
OpenBoard has a few handy gadgets on board: compass, rapporteur for math courses, Google Maps for geo, a timer so as not to lose track of time, and even direct access to Wikipedia or the Wiktionary.
Concrete examples of use
Examples and possible use cases are limited as for most digital whiteboards.
During math, for example, a college teacher can draw a freehand triangle, move it, resize it, and measure angles with the built-in rapporteur. Then he saves all this in PDF to share with the students. Simple as hello.
In college, in art history, a teacher can project her PowerPoint slides filled with famous works, annotate directly on them with her stylus, zoom in on details, and capture parts to enrich her presentation. What to make his course much more alive.
Remotely, in full online virtual classroom, a trainer can continue to use OpenBoard to Explain your lessons live, keeping the link with his students without changing anything to his habits.
On the installation side, it’s fast
Compatible with Windows, macOS and Linux, OpenBoard installs without a headache. On Windows, just download the 186 MB file and click a few times. On Linux (like Ubuntu), there are two-three more steps, but nothing insurmountable thanks to the clear guides available.
Why OpenBoard is really worth a visit for teachers
A real economic choice No subscription, no hidden fees: OpenBoard is licensed under GPLv3 and you can use it freely. Ideal for schools that want to focus on hardware or training rather than software licenses.
An open and lively project
The code is on GitHub: Everyone can take a look, propose improvements and participate. This keeps the software close to the needs of the field, rather than following modes imposed by marketing.
Whether you use a graphics tablet, a projector or just your PC with a mouse, OpenBoard adapts. It does not impose a way of doing things, which is rather rare.
An ideal tool?
The perfect tool does not exist. Despite all its qualities and the pleasure I had in testing it, OpenBoard has some limitations that should not be underestimated when choosing:
Contrary to what one might think, OpenBoard is not so light. He requires substantial hardware resources to function properly, with a recent processor, 4 GB of RAM (8 GB recommended), an HD graphics card and 500 MB of disk space. Otherwise, you run the risk of annoying slowdowns, especially when using the whiteboard intensively with multimedia elements.
OpenBoard alone is not enough. To exploit its full potential in the classroom, some essential equipment is needed: a powerful projector (3000 lumens minimum) or an interactive screen, a graphic tablet to write comfortably, quality speakers, and a stable internet connection.
Finally, the proper use of the tool requires a gradual take-over. Do not rely too much on the slogan ‘easy to use’. If basic functions are accessible, full control of OpenBoard takes time.
To be tested to get an idea
In a context where digital education is taking an increasing place, OpenBoard offers a proven solution, maintained by public institutions and enriched by an active community. To energize a course or for institutions seeking to harmonize their digital tools, OpenBoard is an option to consider seriously.
Feel free to download the latest version from the official website and to explore for yourself the possibilities offered by this interactive whiteboard that has already won over many educators around the world.
Two useful resources:
• Widget gallery for OpenBoard: openedu.fr
• Self-help forum: https://github.com/OpenBoard-org/OpenBoard/discussions
Advantages and disadvantages of OpenBoard
| ✅ Benefits | ❌ Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Free and open source (GPLv3 license) | Not available on tablet (iOS/Android) |
| Compatible with Windows, macOS and Linux | No direct import of PowerPoint files (.pptx) |
| Simple and intuitive interface | Not Collaborative Writing in real time |
| Quick installation without account creation | Advanced widgets to add manually |
| Full privacy (no cloud imposed) | Requires a computer and projector for optimal use |
| Many Integrated Pedagogical Tools (compasses, rapporteur, … timer) | Some small display bugs on Linux |
| Video recording of courses (Podcast mode) | Synchronization between devices to be manually configured |
| Public development supported by Geneva and Lausanne | Learning curve to exploit all widgets |
| Easy export of courses in PDF or video | Functional but visually sober interface |
Questions you may have about OpenBoard
- Can I use OpenBoard on a tablet? Not at the moment. It works on computer (Windows, macOS, Linux) but not on iPad or Android. It is best to use a computer connected to a video projector or a graphics tablet.
- How do I use my PowerPoint? Simply export your presentation as a PDF and open it in OpenBoard via Documents › Import. You can annotate each quiet slide.
- How do I add widgets? Download the .wgt file from a community gallery, then drag and drop it into OpenBoard. And hop, it appears in the Widgets tab.
- Is my stylus compatible? Most graphics tablets (Wacom, XP-Pen, Huion) work worry-free, as long as the drivers are up to date. If it bugs a little, go to "mouse mode", it often solves the problem.
- Can I synchronize my documents across multiple workstations? No integrated cloud, but two simple solutions: either use a USB stick or go through a third-party cloud service (Drive, OneDrive, Nextcloud), changing a small setting in the OpenBoard.config file. Geneva is already using this trick in its schools.
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