9 Games Like Kahoot (Free for Teachers): Big Classes, No-Device Options & Team Games

9 games like Kahoot for teachers, sorted by your room: 1:1 devices, one screen, or no tech at all. Free plans checked November 2026, plus a 3-question game finder.

Learning Guides · Teaching Tools · Games like Kahoot

Quick picks

Best overall: AhaSlides (50 players free)

Most game modes: Blooket

Big class, free: Wayground or Gimkit

Team race: Socrative

No student devices: Baamboozle or Plickers

Zero tech: 3 games with supplies

Not sure which fits your class? Answer 3 questions in the game finder.

We checked every free plan on the tools’ own pages on November 5, 2026. Plans change, so confirm before you rely on one. Some links are affiliate links: if you sign up or buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Worksheet365 earns from qualifying purchases. How we handle this.

Games like Kahoot for teachers: AhaSlides, Baamboozle and Plickers homepages with their free player limits

Why teachers look for games like Kahoot

Kahoot is still the game most students know. The catch is the free plan: Kahoot’s own help center says free accounts are typically limited to between 10 and 40 players, depending on the account type, and several question types (polls, type-answer, word clouds) sit behind the paid plans.

10 to 40players on a free Kahoot account
50players per game on AhaSlides’ free plan
100students on Wayground’s free Basic plan
0student devices needed for Baamboozle or Plickers

So the right “Kahoot alternative” depends less on features and more on your room: how many students you have, whether every student has a device, and whether you want noise or quiet focus.

Game finder Free

Three taps. You’ll get the games from this list that fit your class on a free plan.

1. Devices in my room

2. Students playing at once

3. The mood I want

★ Our #1 pick for most classrooms

1. AhaSlides: the quiz game and the whole lesson in one deck

AhaSlides homepage, a game like Kahoot for the classroom: 50 players free
50students can play free in each game
Unlimitedquizzes you can create on the free plan
No appstudents join from a browser, no login

Kahoot does one thing: the quiz race. AhaSlides does the race and what a teacher needs around it: a poll to check confidence, a word cloud for vocab, a spinner wheel to pick who explains, all in the same deck you present from the board.

Start free with AhaSlides ↗

No credit card. Free plan checked on AhaSlides’ pricing page, November 5, 2026.

Everything it can do for review day

7 quiz formatsPick answer, short answer, true or false, match pairs, correct order and categorise, plus a leaderboard slide.Free plan
Real game feelTimers, points, streaks and a live leaderboard. Faster right answers score more.Free plan
Join in 10 secondsStudents scan a QR code or type a short code. No app, no student account.Free plan
Polls & rating scalesCheck opinions or confidence between questions, with results shown live.Free plan
Word clouds & brainstormEvery answer appears on the board. Great for vocab and exit tickets.Free plan
Live Q&A & open questionsShy students can ask or answer without raising a hand.Free plan
Spinner wheelPick a student, a team or a question at random, in front of the class.Free plan
Self-paced modeSend the quiz as homework or a retake; students finish on their own time.Free plan
AI quiz from your filesUpload a PDF, PowerPoint or Word doc and get a draft quiz to edit (5 a month free).Free plan
Works with your slidesImport PowerPoint or PDF; add-ins for PowerPoint and Google Slides.Free plan
Team playStudents answer as teams and share a team score.Pro plan
ReportsSee every answer, spot the questions that tripped students up, export results.Pro plan

Your first review game in 4 steps (real screens)

AhaSlides editor: write a quiz question, tick the right answer and turn on faster answers get more points
1
Write your question

Create a free account, choose Quiz, type the question and the options, then tick the right answer. Keep “faster answers get more points” on for a race, or turn it off for a calmer round.

AhaSlides present mode: students join with a QR code or a short code at ahaslides.com
2
Hit Present

Your board shows a QR code and a short join code. Students scan it or type it at ahaslides.com. They don’t need an account or an app.

AhaSlides on the student side: enter a name and emoji, then pick an answer before the points run down
3
Students answer on any device

They type a name, pick an emoji and wait for your first question. The points bar drops as the clock runs, so quick right answers score more.

AhaSlides live results chart and leaderboard with points after a quiz question
4
Show the results, then the leaderboard

The chart shows how the class answered. Stop here and talk about the wrong options before you reveal the leaderboard.

Free or paid?

Start hereFree

$0

  • Up to 50 participants per presentation
  • Unlimited presentations
  • All the quiz, poll and word cloud slides above
  • 5 AI quiz drafts a month
Essential

$7.95/month, billed yearly

  • Up to 100 participants
  • Unlimited interactive slides
  • 20 AI quiz drafts a month
Pro

$11.15/month, billed yearly

  • Up to 2,500 participants
  • Team play and answer shuffling
  • Reports and Excel export

AhaSlides also lists discounted education plans for teachers and students. Prices from AhaSlides’ pricing page, November 5, 2026.

Try it with tomorrow’s lesson. Turn 5 questions into a warm-up race: you’ll know in one class whether it fits.

Create my free account ↗

More games for classes with 1:1 devices

Students join on a Chromebook, tablet or phone with a code. These feel the most like Kahoot.

Tablet on a classroom desk showing a live quiz, annotated: every student answers on their own tablet
Blooket homepage, a game like Kahoot for the classroom: students join with a game ID

2Blooket

Pick a question set, then a game mode. Students play live in class or later as homework.

Free
Free to host live and homework games
Paid
Plus (see site)
Students need
One device per student (join with a game ID)

✓Classes that get bored of the same game format

!Some modes and reports need Plus

Try Blooketfree plan available↗
Gimkit homepage, a game like Kahoot for the classroom: earn, spend, upgrade

3Gimkit

Students earn in-game money for right answers and spend it on upgrades. Built by a student.

Free
Play with as many students as you want; a few modes rotate
Paid
Pro $14.99/mo or $59.88/yr
Students need
One device per student

✓Older students who like strategy

!Free modes change; most modes need Pro

Try Gimkitfree plan available↗
Wayground homepage, a game like Kahoot for the classroom: the new name of Quizizz

4Wayground (formerly Quizizz)

Quizizz changed its name to Wayground. Students answer at their own pace, with memes and power-ups.

Free
Basic plan free: up to 100 students, 20 saved resources
Paid
Paid plans (see site)
Students need
One device per student

✓Self-paced review and homework

!Free plan limits question types

Try Waygroundfree plan available↗
Socrative homepage, a game like Kahoot for the classroom: Space Race team mode

5Socrative

Quick checks and Space Race, a team race where each correct answer moves your team’s rocket.

Free
1 room, 50 students, 5 saved quizzes
Paid
Essentials $10/mo per teacher or $120/yr
Students need
Own device, or one device per team

✓Fast exit tickets and team races

!Reports are kept 30 days on free

Try Socrativefree plan available↗
Mentimeter homepage, a game like Kahoot for the classroom: polls + quiz leaderboard

6Mentimeter

Live polls, word clouds and quiz questions with a leaderboard on your slides.

Free
50 participants a month, plus one unlimited session a month
Paid
Education plans (see site)
Students need
One device per student (join with a code)

✓Warm-ups, opinion polls and quick checks

!The monthly cap runs out fast with several classes

Try Mentimeterfree plan available↗

Need questions fast? Our free worksheet maker and flashcard maker turn a word list into review material you can paste into any of these games.

Games for one screen (no student devices)

No Chromebook cart this week? These run from your board or your phone, and students play as teams or with paper.

Baamboozle homepage, a game like Kahoot for the classroom: one screen, no devices

7Baamboozle

Teams take turns picking tiles on the board. Power-ups can steal or swap points at the last second.

Free
Free plan to make and play games
Paid
Baamboozle+ $7.99/mo or $4.99/mo billed yearly
Students need
None: play from one screen

✓Young students and language classes

!Only one team answers at a time

Try Baamboozlefree plan available↗
Plickers homepage, a game like Kahoot for the classroom: paper cards + your phone

8Plickers

Each student holds up a printed card. You scan the room with your phone and see every answer.

Free
Free plan
Paid
Plickers Pro (see site)
Students need
None: printed cards + your phone

✓Checking every student’s answer with no screens

!Multiple choice only

Try Plickersfree plan available↗
Factile homepage, a game like Kahoot for the classroom: game-show board for teams

9Factile

A game-show board with categories and point values. Teams pick a square and answer.

Free
3 games, 5 teams
Paid
Basic $4/mo or $48/yr (unlimited games, buzzer mode)
Students need
None needed: teams play from the board

✓Big end-of-unit review

!Phone buzzers are a paid feature

Try Factilefree plan available↗

Games with no tech at all

When the Wi-Fi is down or screens are off-limits, these three formats give the same “everyone answers” energy as an online quiz. Each one needs one set of supplies that lasts for years.

Classroom projector showing live quiz results, annotated: the whole class sees the question and results
Mini whiteboards teacher pick: class pack of 30 with markers and erasers
Whiteboard showdownOhuhu mini whiteboards, class pack of 30

Read a question, count 3-2-1, and every student holds up an answer at the same time. You see the whole room in one look, nobody copies the fastest kid, and it works for math, spelling, vocab and science.

What to look for

  • 30 boards, 30 markers and 30 erasers in one box
  • Double-sided: plain on one side, lined on the other
  • Store markers tip-down so they last longer
See the price on Amazon ↗
Answer buzzers teacher pick: set of 4, 4 fun sounds, no app or Wi-Fi
Buzzer battleLearning Resources Answer Buzzers, set of 4

Split the class into two or four teams, one buzzer per team. First team to buzz answers; a wrong answer passes the question to the other team. It turns any question list into a game show in two minutes.

What to look for

  • 4 colors and 4 different sounds, one per team
  • The classic set teachers have used for years
  • Runs on AAA batteries (check if they are included)
See the price on Amazon ↗
Colored index cards teacher pick: 300 neon cards for A-B-C-D answers
A-B-C-D color cardsAmazon Basics neon index cards, 300 pack

Give each student four colors (A, B, C, D). Show a multiple-choice question and everyone raises a color. It’s the idea behind Plickers, with no app, no phone and no Wi-Fi.

What to look for

  • 300 ruled 3×5 cards in bright neon colors
  • Write A, B, C, D in big marker, one color per letter
  • Enough for a full class set, plus flashcards
See the price on Amazon ↗

Photos show the type of product, not a specific listing. Amazon links open a search so you can compare sizes, pack counts and current prices. As an Amazon Associate, Worksheet365 earns from qualifying purchases.

All 9 at a glance

Tap a row to jump to the game.

“See site” means the price wasn’t shown on the tool’s public page when we checked. Most of these services set a minimum age or need a teacher account for younger students: check each tool’s terms and your school’s rules.

Make review day work (any game)

Classroom with a long whiteboard, annotated: a board, paper cards and a buzzer are enough
  1. Write 10 good questions, not 30. A short game played twice beats a long one played once. The second round is where students fix mistakes.
  2. Pause after the hardest question. Ask a student who got it right to explain how. That minute does more than the points.
  3. Mix speed and accuracy. Fast modes reward quick students. Alternate with a mode where time doesn’t count so slower thinkers stay in.
  4. Use teams for shy classes. Team modes (Socrative Space Race, Baamboozle, Factile) let students talk before answering.
  5. Keep the results. The questions most students missed are your plan for tomorrow’s warm-up.

Printable lessons with games and answer keys, ready for review day, from our store on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Browse Worksheet365 on TPT ↗

Grading after the game? The free rubric maker builds a printable rubric in a minute, and our guide to Turnitin alternatives for teachers covers checking written work.

Questions

Is there a free version of Kahoot?

Yes, but free accounts have low player caps. Kahoot’s help center says free accounts are typically limited to between 10 and 40 players, depending on the account type. Paid Kahoot!+ plans raise the cap.

What is the best free game like Kahoot for a big class?

When we checked, Wayground’s free Basic plan allowed up to 100 students, Gimkit’s free plan let you play with as many students as you want (with a few rotating game modes), and AhaSlides’ free plan allowed up to 50 players per game.

Which review games work without student devices?

Baamboozle runs from one screen, Plickers uses printed cards that you scan with your phone, and Factile is a game-show board that teams play from the front of the room. Mini whiteboards and buzzers work with no tech at all.

Is Quizizz still free?

Quizizz is now called Wayground. Its Basic plan is free for teachers, with up to 100 students and a limit of 20 saved resources. Wayground’s Free-For-Schools program moved to the Starter (Basic) plan on September 1, 2026.

Can students play these games as homework?

Yes. Blooket lets you run live or homework-style games, and Wayground is built for self-paced practice. AhaSlides also has a self-paced mode.

The bottom line

If your students have devices and you teach classes of up to 50, start with AhaSlides: it’s the closest to Kahoot with a roomier free plan, and it covers polls, word clouds and Q&A in the same deck. Want game variety, pick Blooket; a bigger free class, Wayground or Gimkit. No devices at all? Baamboozle, Plickers or a set of mini whiteboards will get every student answering.

Ready for review day? Build your first AhaSlides quiz free in about 10 minutes.

Start free with AhaSlides ↗

Sources

Every price and free-plan limit in this guide comes from the tools’ own pages, checked on November 5, 2026.

  1. Kahoot Help Center · How many participants can play a kahoot? (free accounts: typically 10–40 players)
  2. Kahoot · Plans for schools
  3. AhaSlides · Pricing (Free, Essential, Pro)
  4. AhaSlides · Online quiz creator (quiz formats, AI quiz, team play on Pro)
  5. AhaSlides · Features (polls, word cloud, Q&A, self-paced, templates)
  6. Gimkit · Gimkit Pro FAQ
  7. Wayground · Plans
  8. Wayground · Starter (Basic) plan
  9. Socrative · Plans
  10. Socrative · Space Race help
  11. Mentimeter · Education plans
  12. Baamboozle · Pricing
  13. Factile · Plans
  14. Plickers · App Store listing (no student devices)
  15. Blooket · Homepage (live and homework games)

Screenshots show each tool’s public homepage or a free AhaSlides account, taken November 5, 2026. Classroom and product photos: Canva Pro stock library, used under the Canva Content License. All product names are trademarks of their owners; Worksheet365 is not affiliated with Kahoot or the other companies named here, except through the affiliate links marked above. Our editorial approach · Affiliate disclosure

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