Best educational software for teachers and students 2025

Digital tools are now a part of daily life in schools. By 2025, educational software has moved from being a nice-to-have extra to a foundation for how lessons are taught, tracked, and managed. Teachers use these platforms to organize classes and assignments, and students rely on them to access materials and follow their progress. For schools and universities, these tools are now essential for supporting learning at every level.

Market research shows the global education software sector will top $450 billion this year, which says a lot about their value in classrooms everywhere. Trends behind this growth include:

• Hybrid classrooms, which remain common even as more classes return in person.
• The use of AI tools by teachers to accelerate grading and personalize instruction.
• Greater adoption of special education software to help all students participate and succeed.
• Universities expanding their digital toolkit to stay efficient and compliant, using powerful collaboration platforms and advanced education management software.

Because so much now depends on digital infrastructure, choosing the right software has never been more important.

Types of education software in 2025

To help you find what actually matters, we’ve grouped the 28 best educational tools by category: learning apps for students, platforms for teaching, LMS options, collaboration tools, virtual classrooms, interactive whiteboards, and school management systems.

Educational software for students — best apps for learning

Today’s students seek out apps that bring lessons to life, and teachers want platforms that truly support skill-building.

1. Khan Academy: A staple in classrooms for years, Khan Academy now offers adaptive learning paths, with courses beyond math that support students from elementary to university levels.

2. Quizlet: Flashcard and quiz tool that adapts to how each student learns, with smart “Learn” mode for exam prep.

3. Kahoot!: Turns reviews and quizzes into engaging games. Teachers often use it for spot-checking understanding and injecting energy into the lesson.

4. GeoGebra: Makes math visual and hands-on, great for everything from algebra to calculus and statistics.

5. Duolingo: More than a homework helper, its classroom mode helps teachers organize language lessons, with AI feedback and extra practice when students need it.

Educational software for teachers – top tools for classroom management

Planning lessons, giving feedback, and keeping up with parents is a lot. These tools help teachers manage day-to-day tasks:

6. Google Classroom: Assignments, grading, and announcements are all in one place, closely tied to Google Workspace tools.

7. ThinkUp: Provides teachers with data-driven insights, helping them spot trends in student progress and adjust their lessons on the fly.

8. Edmodo: Part social network and part classroom hub; great for sharing resources and holding class discussions.

9. ClassDojo: Helps build stronger classroom communities by making feedback and updates engaging for both students and parents.

10. Planboard: Keeps lesson planning organized and aligned with standards, so teachers can spend more time teaching and less time on paperwork.

Learning management systems (LMS)

No large institution can function today without a solid LMS, the digital home base for courses, resources, and progress tracking.

11. Moodle: The open-source gold standard, flexible enough for any institution and able to run on local servers or the cloud. Many schools use it alongside ONLYOFFICE, making collaboration smoother than ever.

12. Canvas: Known for its intuitive interface and strong analytics, Canvas appeals to everyone from IT admins to students logging in from their phones.

13. Blackboard Learn: A familiar presence at many universities, balancing course delivery with robust grading and compliance (including FERPA).

14. Schoology: Built for K-12, connecting students, teachers, and parents all in one place.

Collaboration and communication tools in education

Education today is about teamwork – within classrooms, across departments, and often across continents.

15. ONLYOFFICE Docs: Provides seamless document editing and real-time collaboration. Integrates with platforms like Moodle and Nextcloud so everyone stays in sync. Learn more about ONLYOFFICE for education.

16. Rocket.Chat: Universities value this open-source chat app for privacy and flexibility; it replaces third-party messaging with something fully in their control.

17. Microsoft Teams for education: Combines meetings, chat, assignments, and all the familiar Office tools in one place, with tight integration for teachers.

18. Nextcloud: Lets schools run their own secure file sharing and project management while data stays internal and collaboration stays easy.

Virtual classroom software for online teaching

Teachers need digital classrooms that are built for real lessons, not just business meetings.

19. Zoom for education: Still a top choice for virtual classes, offering breakout rooms, attendance, and LMS integration.

20. BigBlueButton: Open-source and tailor-made for teaching, with built-in polls, notes, and whiteboards.

21. ClassIn: A full-featured virtual classroom platform that fits both K-12 and college-level needs.

Interactive whiteboard software

Visuals drive home new ideas and support every kind of learner.

22. OpenBoard: Free, open-source, and simple for everything from doodles to complex diagrams and multimedia annotations.

23. Miro: Popular for brainstorming and group planning in university classes, Miro supports big-picture thinking and project design.

24. Excalidraw: A lightweight app that’s perfect for impromptu sketches and group problem-solving, especially in technical subjects.

School management and administration software

Great teaching depends on efficient administration and that depends on the right software.

25. OpenSIS: Open-source and perfect for budget-conscious schools handling grades, attendance, and scheduling.

26. Gibbon: Modular and customizable, supporting everything from behavior tracking to timetable planning.

27. Alma: A modern, cloud-first system that makes managing enrollment and compliance much more intuitive.

28. Fedena: For schools needing full ERP capabilities – finance, HR, reporting, and more – Fedena handles it all.

Open-source vs commercial educational software

When it comes to educational software, schools and universities often face a choice between open-source options and commercial solutions. Each has its own strengths and challenges, and the best choice depends on the institution’s size, budget, and technical capacity.

Advantages of open-source educational software

ONLYOFFICE is a great example of open-source software tailored for education. It offers flexibility to customize the platform to your school’s unique needs without the hefty license fees. This allows institutions to keep full control over their data and security, especially if they choose to host the software on their own servers. Despite being open-source, ONLYOFFICE delivers powerful tools for real-time collaboration and seamless integration with popular learning platforms like Moodle and Nextcloud. It’s a cost-effective choice for schools with IT support that want freedom and control.

Pros and cons of commercial educational software

Commercial educational software often comes ready to use, with customer support, automatic updates, and streamlined interfaces that require less technical work. Institutions benefit from built-in security and compliance with easier setup and maintenance. However, these advantages come at a cost, higher subscription fees and less ability to tweak functions or integrate with existing systems. For some schools, this means paying for features they don’t really need or missing out on customization.

Which option is better for schools and universities?

Smaller schools or those with capable tech teams often opt for open-source tools like ONLYOFFICE to save costs and gain flexibility. Large universities with complex compliance rules and support requirements may find commercial platforms more convenient. ONLYOFFICE blends the best of both worlds by being open-source yet professional and polished, making it fit for a wide range of educational institutions and needs.

How to choose the best software for education

When selecting education software, focus on solutions that effectively support the core tasks you need, such as grading, collaboration, and reporting. Consider the overall value offered; sometimes a free or lower-cost option can meet your needs just as well as premium software.

Data security is crucial, so ensure the software complies with regulations like GDPR or FERPA. Finally, check that the new platform integrates smoothly with your existing systems including your LMS, CRM, or accounting software for education, to maintain efficient workflows and avoid disruptions.

Case studies and real-world examples

• Remote learning: Many universities that switched to Moodle now use it as their hub for blended classes, showing its staying power.
• Collaboration: Jambi University supports research groups and class projects easily, thanks to integrating ONLYOFFICE Docs.
• School adoption: From Google Classroom to ClassDojo, smaller schools find free or low-cost solutions can be both easy to adopt and powerful in practice.

ONLYOFFICE – A complete office for education

Nowadays, ONLYOFFICE is much more than a document editor. Schools and universities use this education software suite to create, edit, and share documents, spreadsheets, and presentations together – securely, and from any device. Seamless integration with Moodle, Nextcloud, and other platforms makes transitions smooth, and all the must-have compliance features are built in.

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