Updated after Padlet's June 30, 2026 change
Padlet alternatives for teachers and tutors, now that Sandboxes count
Padlet's free plan has been limited to 3 padlets since 2018. For a while, Sandboxes, Padlet's Jamboard replacement, were unlimited. That ended on June 30, 2026: boards and Sandboxes now share the same 3, and extras turned read-only. Here is what that means and what to use instead.
Updated
The short answer
- Padlet Free allows 3 padlets in total, boards and Sandboxes combined.
- The next plan for one teacher is Platinum at $120 a year. The cheaper Gold plan is no longer on Padlet's pricing page.
- For whole-class posting without student accounts, Padlet is still the best fit. For drawing, a live call and one board per student, try Instaboard.
What changed on Padlet's free plan
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| April 2018 | Free accounts were limited to 3 padlets. |
| December 2024 | Padlet removed the Archive folder, so free users had to export or delete old padlets. |
| September 2025 to June 30, 2026 | A promotion let free accounts make unlimited Sandboxes. |
| July 1, 2026 | Free accounts are back to 3 padlets in total, boards and Sandboxes combined. Extras became read-only. |
From Padlet's pricing page, help center and blog, checked October 22, 2026.
Nothing over the limit was deleted. Extra padlets are frozen: you can still open and export them, but to make a new one you have to trash some or upgrade.
Padlet and Instaboard side by side
| Padlet | Instaboard | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 3 padlets (boards and Sandboxes), unlimited posts | 5 boards, 150 cards and items (pen strokes don't count) |
| Paid, one teacher | Platinum $120 a year ($15 monthly) | Pro $59.99 a year ($7.99 monthly) |
| Students post without an account | Yes, by default | No: students view without an account and sign in free to write |
| Drawing | In Sandboxes: pen, highlighter, shapes | Pressure-sensitive pen, highlighter and laser pointer on an open board |
| Live video call | No (video recordings in posts) | Yes, on the board, free up to 1 hour |
| Tasks and dates | No | Checklists, assignees, due dates, calendar lists |
| Moderation and school admin | AI moderation, Classroom and School plans, LMS | No |
| Offline | No offline mode | Yes |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Padlet facts from padlet.com/site/subscriptions and Padlet's help center, checked October 22, 2026.
When to stay on Padlet
- Whole-class walls. Thirty students can post at once, anonymously, without accounts.
- Formats. Exit tickets, timelines, maps and slideshows are built in.
- School safety. AI moderation, plus Classroom and School plans with student accounts, LMS integration and SSO.
- Your school already pays for it.
- Languages. Padlet is in 47 languages.
When Instaboard fits better
- Tutoring and small groups. Start a call on the board, your student writes on the same page, and the board is still there next week.
- One board per student or unit, with your PDF worksheets imported as pages you can write on.
- Lesson planning: lists, due dates and a timer next to your drawings.
- Unlimited boards for half the price of Padlet Platinum.
What to know before you switch
- Students need a free sign-in (Google, Apple or email) to write. That's a poor fit for young children without accounts.
- There are no moderation tools or school admin features.
- The free plan has 5 boards, 150 cards and items, and 3 images per board.
- No Padlet import. Export a padlet as a PDF and import the PDF into Instaboard.
Start from the ready board
It opens in your browser in a few seconds, with nothing to install. Sign in for free when you want to save it and share it.
Questions
How many padlets can I have for free?
Three in total. Since July 1, 2026, Sandboxes count toward the same limit as boards.
What happens to padlets over the free limit?
They're frozen as read-only. You can still open and export them, but you can't make a new padlet until you're under the limit or upgrade.
Is Padlet Gold still available?
Not for new subscribers. Padlet's pricing page lists Free, Platinum ($120 a year), Team and school plans; Gold is only mentioned for existing subscribers.
Is Wakelet still a free Padlet alternative?
Not an unlimited one. Since November 2025, Wakelet's free plan allows 3 editable collections, and its classroom plan costs $160 a year.
Can students use Instaboard without an account?
They can open and view a shared board without one. To write on it, they sign in for free with Google, Apple or email.
Is Instaboard free?
Yes. The free plan includes 5 boards, 150 cards and items across your account (pen strokes, arrows and sections don't count), 3 images and 1 file per board, unlimited collaborators and video calls up to an hour. Pro is $5 a month billed yearly ($59.99 a year), or $7.99 monthly, and the people you invite join free.
Sources
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