Google Shuts Down Jamboard: Here's the Ideal Alternative for Your Collaboration Needs

Google recently shocked its user base with the announcement of discontinuing Jamboard, their whiteboarding app. This unexpected move has left many users scrambling to find a new tool for their ideation and collaboration needs.

For those unfamiliar, Jamboard is Google's digital whiteboard platform, crafted to enhance collaboration in the digital realm. It's a versatile tool where users can create, edit, and share "jams," essentially online whiteboards. These boards offer real-time or asynchronous writing, drawing, and interaction capabilities, and they support various file types. Jamboard's primary uses span brainstorming, project planning, and distance learning, making it a staple in many collaborative environments.

Top Alternatives Considered

However, with the announcement on their blog about the shutdown, teams and individuals who depended on Jamboard are now faced with the challenge of finding a suitable alternative that aligns with their specific needs. If you're among those affected by this change, stay here. We're diving into an analysis of different market alternatives that could potentially fill the void left by Jamboard.

1️⃣ ALLO

ALLO stands out as an innovative tool that reimagines planning and ideation, blending the simplicity of a slide-based approach with the organizational prowess of a whiteboard. It seamlessly integrates the ease-of-use found in PowerPoint with the structured organization of Trello, facilitating efficient brainstorming and collaboration. The platform is designed for the free flow of ideas while maintaining a clean, orderly structure, making it perfect for projects that require a balance of creativity and organization.

In terms of pricing, ALLO's free version is quite comprehensive, offering 4 shareable canvases, 2 projects, and the ability to invite up to 10 guests, which is generous for a no-cost tier. For those needing more, the Flexible Plan is attractively priced at just $5.99 per month (billed annually), offering unlimited canvases and projects, and the capacity to invite up to 500 guests.

2️⃣ Miro

Miro, renowned for its expansive and flexible canvas, is a highly popular online collaborative whiteboarding platform that enables teams to brainstorm, plan, and collaborate visually. One of Miro's standout features is its vast gallery of pre-built and customizable templates, offering immense flexibility and creativity.

However, it's worth noting that the abundance of features in Miro can sometimes be overwhelming, especially when navigating its infinite whiteboard space. Regarding pricing, while Miro offers a free version, it comes with limited features. The next tier, the Starter Plan, is priced at $8 per user per month (billed annually), which can be a significant jump for some users.

3️⃣ Lucidspark

Lucidspark excels as a virtual whiteboard tailored for team collaboration, especially during brainstorming and creative sessions. It enhances interaction with features like reactions and tally votes on sticky notes, and the ability to create breakout boards for smaller group collaborations. Additionally, its work management features, including time tracking, are valuable for project oversight.

While Lucidspark offers an array of advanced brainstorming tools, maximizing the management of ideas beyond initial stages often requires integration with other platforms. The free version provides access to three editable boards, basic collaboration tools, fundamental integrations, emoji reactions, and freehand drawing. For more comprehensive features, Lucidspark offers an Individual Plan at $7.95 and a Team Plan at $9.00, catering to different collaboration needs.

4️⃣ Mural

Mural is dedicated to fostering innovative teamwork through its digital workspace, designed for visual collaboration. It stands out with its extensive support for various file types on whiteboards, catering to diverse collaboration needs.

However, it's important to note that Mural does not include a video chat feature and lacks options for creating interactive charts, tables, or reports, which might be a drawback for some teams. Additionally, its pricing is somewhat higher compared to similar tools in the market. The free version offers 3 murals, unlimited team members, comprehensive visual and collaboration features, one-click visitor access, and an infinite canvas. For more advanced needs, the Team+ Plan is available at $9.99 per month per member, which includes unlimited murals, room and mural privacy control, along with email, chat, and support.

ALLO as the best alternative

After extensive research, ALLO distinguishes itself as the ideal successor to Jamboard, excelling in collaboration capabilities at competitive prices. It uniquely merges intuitive whiteboarding with structured organization, catering to diverse collaboration needs. ALLO's free version offers a substantial range of features, while its Flexible Plan is affordably priced, providing unlimited canvases and projects, and allows inviting a large number of guests. This, in contrast with Miro's complex features and pricing, Lucidspark's need for integrations, and Mural's lack of certain functionalities and higher pricing, positions ALLO as a highly suitable and versatile tool for teams. For more information on ALLO's pricing and features, visit their website.

For those interested in transitioning from Jamboard to ALLO, we're offering a free consultation service. This is a great opportunity to ask any questions you might have about ALLO and to receive personalized assistance from the ALLO team. They can guide you through the features, help you understand how ALLO can fit into your workflow, and make the transition process smooth and efficient. Don't hesitate to reach out and take advantage of this valuable resource to ensure a seamless switch to ALLO.