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OpenBoard

Open-source alternative to SMART Notebook

OpenBoard is an open-source alternative to SMART Notebook that turns a computer into an interactive whiteboard. Teachers can draw, write, and annotate directly over lessons and slides using its built-in drawing tools. It runs as a desktop app on macOS, Windows, and Linux.

Best for: Teachers and trainers who present interactive lessons on a smartboard or projector.

Key features

  • Interactive whiteboard built for classroom use
  • Drawing and annotation tools for lessons
  • Desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux

Before you switch

Switching productivity tools is mostly about habits, not features. Pick one workflow — notes, tasks, or documents — and run it in the new tool for two weeks before migrating everything. Check that import tools exist for your current app; most open-source alternatives offer them. Self-hosted options give you full ownership of your data, which is worth the small setup cost if privacy matters to you.

Like every project on OpenShelf, OpenBoard is developed in the open — you can read the code, follow development, and even contribute. Check the system requirements and the project’s own documentation linked on this page before installing.